Laboratory Safety

1. Laboratory Safety Safety Training for Research Laboratories at Stanford University http://safetytrain.stanford.edu

2. Topics We’ll Cover: • Chemical hazard awareness • Control of chemical exposures • Chemical storage/transportation/shipping • Chemical waste management • Emergency response

3. PLAN USE STORE DISPOSE RESPOND Introduction: Overview

4. PLAN: Gather Information • Sources • Labels • MSDS • Reference books • Chemical safety database • Toxic gas table • EH&S • Exposure limits listed in: *Cal/OSHA Regulationshttp://www.dir.ca.gov/title8/5155table_ac1.html *ACGIH TLV and BEI booklet

5. PLAN: Gather Information • Cal/OSHA’s Lab Standard (8 CCR 5191 – Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories) • http://www.dir.ca.gov/title8/5191.html • Appendix A of regulation provides basic rules and procedures for working with chemicals • SU’s Chemical Hygiene Plan • http://www.stanford.edu/dept/EHS/prod/researchlab/lab/chemhygiene/index.htm • Each laboratory responsible for developing Lab Safety Plan

6. PLAN: Gather Information • MSDS • http://stanford.chemquik.com • quality varies • presumes industrial use • helpful info included: • Visual appearance or odor of hazardous chemical when being released • signs/ symptoms of chemical exposure • permissible exposure limits (if established)

7. PLAN: Gather Information

8. PLAN: Gather Information • Chemical Safety Database • Stanford system • Basic safety info • Storage code designations • Access through on-line inventory or EH&S web page (http://chemsafetydata.stanford.edu)

9. PLAN: Gather Information

10. PLAN: Know The Chemical Hazards • Physical Hazards: • Flammability, corrosivity or reactivity • Health Hazards: • Acute Health Hazards • High concentration (ceiling limit), short exposure duration • Damage happens quickly • Chronic Health Hazards • Low concentration, long exposure duration • Long latency (symptoms may appear long after exposure)

11. PLAN: Know Routes of Exposure • Inhalation • Absorption (skin or eye contact) • Ingestion • Injection (cuts, puncture)

12. PLAN: Assessing Hazard Level • Depends on: • Chemical: toxicity, concentration • Use: duration, frequency, amount • Evaluation may include: • Baseline survey or audit • Observation of work practices, personal protective equipment (PPE), engineering controls • Air monitoring

13. The Dose Makes The Poison Men Hospitalized for Eating Chili 1999 Darwin Awardee, Honorable Mention (May 1999, Philippines) Three men attempting to land in the Guinness Book of World Records were hospitalized in Legaspi after eating huge amounts of chili peppers. They were treated for acute gastritis and high blood pressure, and released.

14. PLAN: Controlling Hazards 1) Substitute to less toxic material or less hazardous procedure (microscaling expt.) 2) Use of engineering controls • Ventilation, isolation 3) Use of administrative controls • Ensuring safe work practices, rotating staff 4) Use of personal protective equipment • Gloves, safety glasses/goggles

15. PLAN : Waste Reduction • Purchase only what you plan to use • Check inventory prior to any purchase Inventories only remain as accurate as your lab keeps it!

16. PLAN: Updating Inventory SCIMSweb at: http://scims.stanford.edu/stanford Update SCIMSweb inventory to: • Add chemicals new to the lab • Delete old chemicals no longer used • Report increases or decreases in average volumes kept • Contact EH&S at 3-9667 to gain inventory access

17. . Reproductive Health Protection Program University promotes early recognition of potential reproductive hazards. Reproductive Hazards: • Chemical, biological, radiological or physical agents that can damage reproductive systems of males and females. • Can result in infertility, spontaneous abortion, developmental impairment or death of fetus or child. EH&S services include: • Evaluates work areas. • Recommend proper procedures to reduce workplace exposures • Tier II training. • Contact the IH/Safety Program at 3-0448 for assistance.

18. PLAN USE STORE DISPOSE RESPOND Overview

19. USE: Labeling • Label every container • Change the label when you • change the contents • Label water! • Spell out the common chemical name • Add date to label when received

20. Inhalation: Lab hoods Designed to: (1) Exhaust contaminant out of breathing zone of worker (2) Provide some splash protection (3) Not designed to contain or withstand explosions. Never put your head inside the hood! Close chemical containers USE: Exposure Control

21. USE: Exposure Control Inhalation: Lab hoods • For proper performance: • Ensure certification is current • Lower sash to required height • Do not place anything within 6” of the front and back • Elevate large equipment off surface • Minimize storage in the hood • Do not disable flow alarm

22. Energy Conservation • A substantial amount of energy is used to heat and cool air that goes out fume hoods. • A 6-foot fume hood can cost Stanford as much as $6,200 per year to operate. • Please keep hood sashes closed and lights off when not in use.* * Applies to Moore (aka McCullough Annex), McCullough, and Green Earth Sciences.

23. USE: Exposure Control Remember: Lab hoods are NOT designed to contain or withstand explosions.

24. USE: Exposure Control Inhalation: Respirators • Generally not required in labs • May be needed if: • can’t work in fume hood • need protection in addition to fume hood • Call EH&S if you think you need one • requires medical evaluation, training and fit testing

25. USE: Exposure Control Absorption: Gloves • Disposable / reusable • disposable: drip/drop and low toxicity • reusable: high exposure and/or higher toxicity • Glove material choice balances many factors: • protection • side effects (possible latex allergies?) • ease of use (durability / tactility / grip) • cost • Double glove may be necessary • Check EH&S website for glove selection: http://www.stanford.edu/dept/EHS/prod/researchlab/lab/glove/glove_table.html

26. USE: Exposure Control Absorption: Glove use • Inspect gloves before wearing • Remove immediately if splashed or contaminated and WASH HANDS! • Dispose of contaminated gloves as hazardous waste • Remove gloves before you leave the lab • Use designated pens when wearing gloves

27. USE: Exposure Control Absorption: Eye/ Face Protection • Labs are eye hazardous areas • Safety glasses, goggles • Face shields • How about • Prescription glasses? • Contact lenses?

28. USE: Exposure Control Absorption: Protective Clothing • Also have to protect skin on other body parts • Researchers have been injured:

29. USE: Exposure Control Nitric Acid:

30. USE: Prevent Absorption Phenol

31. USE: Prevent Absorption Sodium Hydroxide

32. USE: Exposure Control Proper Lab Attire • Lab coat • Closed toe shoes • Pants are much safer than shorts and skirts • Don’t wear loose clothing • Don’t wear tight clothing

33. USE: Exposure Control Ingestion: • No mouth pipetting !!! • No eating, drinking or applying cosmetics in chemical use areas • Wash hands before leaving the lab • No food or drink storage in labs

34. USE: Exposure Control Injection: Don’t directly handle broken glassware, needles and other sharp objects

35. USE: Ergonomics • Repetitive activities • microscope • computer use • pipetting • Manual handling • heavy lifting • pushing carts • shelving items • For training or post-injury work-site evaluation, call EH&S

36. PLAN USE STORE DISPOSE RESPOND Overview

37. CHEMICAL STORAGE Provide Lab Security • Keep the public from your chemicals • Systems already in place: • Lock your lab when unattended • Do not prop open building doors • Respect the card key system

38. CHEMICAL STORAGE • Select locations away from exits • Shelves • provide earthquake protection • use overhead storage judiciously • don’t store within 18” of ceiling • Sinks • do not store chemicals over a sink • do not store chemicals in a sink

39. CHEMICAL STORAGE • Secondary containment • check volume of containment • keep them clean • Segregation • separate by storage group • letter codes

40. CHEMICAL STORAGE Flammables • Flammables storage cabinet • required for > 10 gallons of flammable & combustible liquids • inspect for rust • acetic acid

41. CHEMICAL STORAGE Flammables • Refrigerators • explosion proof • flammables • regular 1 gal of isopentanedid this

42. CHEMICAL STORAGE Compressed Gases • Store upright • Restrain • metal • two-restraints • no gang chaining • Place in safe location • Segregate incompatibles

43. CHEMICAL STORAGE • Protect the valve • Disconnect regulator • Use valve cover • NO BENCH CLAMPS • Mark once emptied • Get compressed gas safety training !!

44. STORAGE: Exercise Heavy items stored on low shelf Secondary containment and lips on shelves in use

45. STORAGE: Exercise Blocked eyewash and shower Box overhead - heavy? Food in lab Jar of juice on benchtop

46. TRANSPORTING CHEMICALS Preventing Spills • Transportation within or between buildings • use carts with secondary containment • segregate by storage group • safety carriers • Container selection • good condition • compatible

47. SHIPPING SAMPLES/CHEMICALS • All shippers (Fedex, UPS) will require you to state if a “Dangerous Good” • Determine if hazardous material • Toxic, biohazard, corrosive, flammable • Dry Ice. Compressed gasses (even air) • Proper packaging and labeling • Use only specifically designed packages • Shipping papers signed by certified person

48. SHIPPING SAMPLES/CHEMICALS • Overseas shipments require Customs Broker contract • Stanford Contract; American Overseas • Research exclusion from export controls • PI must file documentation with Dean of Research • For additional assistance, contact • EH&S at 723-5069 or, • Dean of Research at 723-9721

49. PLAN USE STORE DISPOSE RESPOND Overview

50. DISPOSE: Identify Wastes Point your browser to: hazardouswaste.stanford.edu What is hazardous waste? • First, it has to be a waste • Your decision • Surplus Chemicals not wastes • Surplus Chemicals • In original non-leaking container • Legible manufacturers label • See freechemicals.stanford.edu • Obtain chemicals or donate