mfety in the chernkol loborotory
edited bv MALCOLM M. RENFREW Univer~ityof Idaho
Moscow, ldaho 83843
Safety in Academic Departments with Graduate and Undergraduate Programs John A. Landgrebe University of Kansas, Lawrence KS 66045
Hldorlcai Perspectives It is well known that many departments of chemistrv in academic institutions do not have as rigorous asafety program ay is found in the \.ariuusrhemical m d u v r i ~ sAlthough . one ran argue that mdu.trinl operatiunr present unique safety problems not eneountered in a university, there are numerous potential hazards in both undergraduate and graduate laboratories, and students working in these facilities are less experienced than their industrial counterparts. In addition, the university has a n obligation to educate young scientists so that a good "safety ethic" pervades their everyday professional activities. Safe practices need t o become a habit from the day laboratory work begins. Even if no other argument for a formal safety program seems convincing, the presence of such a program reduces and limits potential liability problems. The Department of Chemistry a t the University of Kansas teaches approximately 2000 undergraduate students each semester and has s graduate program with about 6570 graduate and postdoctoral students. Prior to 1975, matters of safety were handled informally. However, the need to develop a comprehensive and more formal safety program was finally recognized, and the program was implemented in 1978. Regulations ---
Comprehensive Regulations While it is desirable for safety regulations to be as simple as possible, the diversity of hazards in graduate chemical research and undergraduate courses requires a compromise between brevitv and thorouehness. K r y u l a t i m r must rover all major hazards, but be ~ 3 s )tu learn, and Pas? to adminrswr andmfurce. With these c w s t r a i n t i in mind, a single document (15 pages) was first prepared with the Table of Contents outlined in Table 1. All faculty and graduate students and any undergraduate students involved in research receive a copy of the doeument. The primary responsibility for safety in each research group lies with the faculty research director, but ultimately rests with the chairman of the department. Any laboratories in which there are biohazards or which require special eye protection have a distinctive label on the door together
~p
John A. Lsndgrebe received h i BS horn the University of California at Berkeley (1959) and his PhD from the University of llllnois at Urbane in organic chemistry (1962). He is a professor of chemistry at the University of Kansas where he has been for the past 23 years. He was chairman of Me department (1970-1980) and currently chairs the Institutional Biohazard Committee on the Lawrence campus.
A310
were drafted by a committee of the department and adopted a t a departmental meeting of faculty and student representatives. The willful noncompliance of any student or faculty member with the adopted regulations is deemed to be a serious offense sub. ject to disciplinary action.
Journal of Chemical Education
11.
Ruler of Conduct in the Labwetory A. Safety equipment B. Eye protection C. Woking arrangements D. Handling chemicals E. Food, beverages, and smoking F. Ganeral behavior G. Housekeeping H. Labeling I. Clothing J. Before Leaving the Laboratory
111. Specific Safe Laboratory Practices A. 8. C. D. E. F. G. H. I. J. K. L. M.
Fume hoods Safety shields Explosion hazards Flammable and combustible solvents and other materials Gas cylinders Oil baths Refrigerators Spraying or splattering of chemicals Glass tubing Pipets Glassware Reagent addition Stoppers and stopcocks
IV. Chemical Hazards A. Scheduled laboratory courses 8. Research C Genera consderat~onrof toxlc ry D D~sposa101 chemfcas E SOC I BS 01 nlarmat on
V. Safety Inspections Table 1. Content of Comprehensive Safety Regulation Document
A. By classified personnel B. By faculty and student teams VI. Training and Records
I.
In Case of an Accident A B C D.
lnltlal act on an0 ftrst aod Addlllona medm1 am Report ng acc dents and Injures Fire alarm
A. 8. C. D. E.
Undergraduate laboratory courses Advanced courses and research Annual safety training Accident reports Safety records
with the name and phone number of someone who can be called in the event of an emergency. Although the faculty research director has the responsibility for seeing that students under his or her direction are aware of the potential hazards of chemicals and apparatus and the safe handling procedures for both, the individual researcher is expected to take the initiative to determine the hazardous properties of specific chemicals by consulting the library of references maintained by the department.
Because it was clear that undergraduates need not worry about many of the specialized hazards that might be present in a graduate research laboratory, a small subset of the more comprehensive regulations was printed for distribution to all undergraduates taking laboratory courses. The topics addressed in these regulations were Arctdtnts requiring emergency artion Heporting nrrldents and injuries Safety equipment Eye protection Working hours Handling chemicals Food, beverages, and smoking Behavior Housekeeping Unauthorized experiments Clothing Flammable and combustible solvents and other materials Spraying or splattering chemicals Glass tubing Pipes The instructor and teachine" assistants bear primary responsibility for seeing that safe standards are maintained in these laboratories. Safety orientation is part of the first laboratory session of every undergraduate course. Safety regulations are dis. cussed, and students are shown the location and use of safety showers, fire blankets, eye washes. and fire extineuishers. The students must then take a short, written, open-book examination (nine multiple-choice questions as shown in Fig. 1) and pass with a score of 100% before any laboratory work can be started. Students who miss questions are given a second opportunity. The examination paper is then signed by the student and kept on file. The process is repeated every semester far eve& laboratory course taken. This nrocedure ensures that no student doine work in an undereraduate laboratmy is ignorant ofthe safety regulation~of the dcpnrtment Several different examinn. tiuns hnw twrn prepared u,hich arr used alternately each semester ~
P
wim: a. a steam bath. b. a Bunssn burner. C. an infrared lamp in vertical upward position. d. an ordinary hot plafe. 2. Which of the following is permined? a. drinking or eating in the laboratory. b. running unauthorized experiments that involve minor varietions in starting reagents. c. pipening liquids by use of arubber bulb. d. wearing sandals. 3. Which of the following is an improperpra-
Undergraduate Regulations
~~
1. Flammable solvents may be heated safely
~
~
Safety Equipment The institutiw of a romprehensivr program carries uith it the responsibility to hnve appwpriare mfet) equipment avail-
cedure for inserting a glass tube into the hole in a rubber stopper? a. twist the tubing slowly with minimum force. b. make certain the hole Is not too smsll. C. grasp the tubing as near as possible to stopper. d. grasp the Nbing directly with the hand rather than with a cloth towel. 4. In the event that any individual has been
splashed With a corrosive material: a. pour baking soda an the wound
b, dousemeaffected area quickly with running water. C. remove clothing carefully from the affected area foliowed by application of running water. d, cover the wound with a clean tow1 end take the victim to the teaching assistant or StoCkrWm keeper. 5. Undergraduate laboratory work is permined only: a. during the exact hours when the iabaratory is scheduled. b, when a teaching assistant (or faculty member) is present C. when at least several students are prerent.
d. when stockroom personnel are on duty.
6. Appropriate eye protection for any labora-
tory activity potentially harmful to the eyes: a. consists of plain lens safety gaggles or ordinary prescription glasses. b, need not be used by a person with contact lenses. C. is mandatory for everyone in the iaboratory. d. is not mandatory for the teaching assistant or instructor. 7. Which of the following daes nothave to be
reported to your teaching assistant? a. a small amount of spilled chemical. b. a thermal burn to the hand. C. a cut finger. d. a person smoking outside the laboratory but near the door. 8. The recommended initial procedure when a
Corrosive substance is splashed into the eye is to: a. irrigate the eye with plenty of water for 10-15 minutes. b. wash the eye with e weak solutbn of boric acid in an eye cup. C. swab the eye with a piece of conon saturated with water. d. place a loose clean bandage or cloth over the eye and get the victim to a physician. 9. Which of the following is good practice
when handling chemicals? a. assume that ail chemicals are nontoxic and noncorrosive unless you have specific knowledge. b. when a chemical contacts the skin. wash the area only if there is apparent imitation. C. wash your hands thoroughly before you leave the laboratory. d. chemical spills should be ieli for the ieaching assistant to &an.
Figure 1. Sample undergraduate safety examination
able. All large research and teaching laboratories have eye washes, safety showers, and appropriate fire extinguishers. Because of their capability to put out large solvent fires quickly, dry chemical extinguishers supplement the existing carbon dioxide units. Fire blankets are located in each hall. An oxygen breathing apparatus is located an each floor for use by trained emergency personnel. Vented, double-walled, steel solvent cabinets are in all laboratories where large amounts of flammable or toxic solvents are being used. Ground fault interrupters are used in place of conventional circuit breakers in all laboratories where water and electrical equipment are used in order to minimize the danger of electric shock.
Volume 62
Handling Accidents Because the campus clinic is only a fiveminute walk from our building, we encourage that only the most essential first aid be given following a minor accident. The individual is thenescorted to the clinic where he or she can be checked by trainedprofessionals. If anv dressing or bandaee is needed. it is applwd a t thr clikc, nut i n t h e lal,ora;ory This limit, the porentlnl hahrlity uf the instructur or traching assistant. In the went
(Continued on page A312)
Number I2 December 1985
A311
Room Inspected:
Date:
Faculty or staff re~poosibkfor safely in this rm:. TO the inspection team: Submit the completed and signed form to the Business Manager as soon as
possible. Tome responsible faculty members: if unsafe conditions have been noted on me copy of this form that YOU receive. submit a written response to the Business Manager within one week with specific information of how and when the unsafe conditiolu have been (will be) corrected.
of a more serious accident, an ambulance can be called to the building within a few minutes.
Items to be Checked (Refer to Safely Regulations for more information) Safe 1. 2. 3. 4.
lnspectlons
.
In addition to inspections by the State Fire Marshal and personnel from the State Department of Labor, both graduate students and faculty are involved in safety inspections of all laboratories and offices on an annual basis. The building is divided into zones each of which can be inspected in less than two hours. A faculty member and at least two graduate students are assigned to inspect a zone outaide of their own area of the building. A one-page inspection form (Fig. 2 ) is filled out for each room in the zone, signed and given to the Chairman of the Safety Committee, who then distributes a copy a f t h e report to the faculty member in charge of the roam inspected. The rasponsihle faculty member is required to respond in writing within one week with specific information of how and when any unsafe conditions will be corrected. A follow-up inspection is performed to insure that the deficiencies are corrected and the reports with notations are kept on record. Not only do such inspections serve to locate and correct
5. 6. 7. 8. 9.
10. 11. 12.
13. 14. 15. 18.
Eye protection
Food, beverage* and smoking Oeoeral behavior Housekeeping (bench tops, aisles, flwrs. exits) Clothing Labeling ot chemicals Fume hoods (uncluitered. not used for storing chemicals) Flammable solvents (proper heating devices, reasonable quantities and storage anangements) Gas cylinders (properly strapped, valve OHwhen not in use) Oil baths (proper oil, no excessive temp.. no water in oil) Refrigerators (containers sealed end iabeied. defrosted) Glassware (properly supported glass joints, stoppers and hose connections secure. stirring motors aligned, safety shield or hood wed when appropriate, note attached for overnight operation) Electrical connections (no hayed cords, ungrounded plugs. multiple extension cords in series) Fire extinguishers (sealed) Moving mechanical devices (proper shielding) Other hazards
Note any unsafe conditions in me space below.
Signature of faculty member of inspection team
'mis I l m will be completed by it.BUslners Manager after Me report is nlod. Figure 2. Inspection form tor individual r w m or labaratov.
unsafe conditions, they heighten the awareness of both faculty and graduate students to good safe practices. Because there is a need to cheek the eondition of safety equipment more often than the safety inspection described above provides, classified personnel in the department are assigned the responsibility of checking the items listed in Table 2 on a more regular hasis.
Table 2.
item Eye washes
What does a safety program such as the one described accomplish? Our records show that we experience only a small number of very minor accidents in undergraduate laboratories each year. These accidents number about 15-20 per year (there are about 4000 students per year in laboratory
Conditions to be Checked
Frequency
water flow, clean water
monthly
Fire blankets
proper location, good conditlon
monthly
Fire extinguishers
sealed, proper charge, sign, tag with proper date
monthly
First aid cabinets
stocked with proper supplies
monthly
Refrigerators
alarm working, proper signs, check temperature, chemicals labeled and sealed, thermostat outside. properly defrosted
monthly
Solvent cabinets
air flow, maor running, vents open
monthly
Safety showers Safetysigns
water flow, clean water properly located
quanerly quarterly
Tralnlng An important component of the annual orientation for new graduate students and faculty is safety training, which includes what to do in case of accidents, safety responsibilities of instructors and teaching assistants, fire hazards, toxic and corrosive chemical hazards. reactive chemical hazaraa, wastr dmposnl, and barlour o r h ~ safe r practicrs in add~tlon,~ p e c ~ 8nfety al aemlnars are given on an irregular basis during the year.
lnspectlon of Safety Equipment
courses) and include minor thermal and chemical burns and minor cuts. I t has been more than five years since we experienced any potentially serious accident in a research laboratory. For these reasons we feel that the program is working and has raised neonle's awareness of safetv throuehout - the hedartment. We would he happy to supply a copy of our regulations on request. In addition, we call your attention to a recent provocative editorial and excellent check list titled "41
Volume 62
Steps for a Safer Laboratory" in the July, 1985, issue of American Laboratory (which is an expanded version of the "38 steps" by James A. Kaufman in this column, J. Chem. Educ. 1978,55, A337).
Number 12
December 1985
A313
