1

CHEMICAL SAFETY LEVELS FOR

SCHOOL LABORATORIES

A SYSTEM FOR IDENTIFYING RISKS UPON ENTERING A LAB

2

CLASSIFICATION OF LABS

• CSL PROPOSED AS A GUIDELINE TO ASSIST CHO AND STAFF

• CSL DETERMINED BY:

– RISK OF EXPOSURE TO HAZARDOUS

CHEMICALS

– FACILITY SURVEY

– TYPES OF PROCEDURES BEING USED

3

CLASSIFICATION OF LABS• DESIGNATION BASED ON:

– HAZARDS OF CHEMICALS BEING USED• TOXICITY• FLAMABIITY• REACTIVITY• TOXICITY

– NATURE OF THE WORK OR PROCESSES BEING USED

4

CLASSIFICATION OF LABS

• DESIGNATION DETERMINED BY CHO AND DEPARTMENT CHAIR

• DESIGNATION CRITERIA– SAFETY EQUIPMENT AVAILABLE

• EYE WASH• DELUGE SHOWER• FUME HOOD• PURGE FAN

– PERSONAL PROTECTION EQUIPMENT

5

CLASSIFICATION OF LABS- DESIGNATION CRITERIA

• CHEMICALS BEING USED• LAB ACTIVITIES OR OTHER PROCEDURES• APPROPRIATE SUPERVISON• NATURE OF THE STUDENTS

– AGE– LEVEL OF TRAINING

• ROOM DESIGN– EXITS– CLEAR AISLES

6

CSL 1 LOW RISK• WORK DOES NOT REQUIRE

SPECIAL DESIGN FEATURES OR CONTAINMENT EQUIPMENT

• CHEMICAL USE HIGHLY RESTRICTED– LOW HAZARD REAGENTS– SMALL VOLUMES

7

CSL 1 LOW RISK

• WORKERS ALL TRAINED AND USE GOOD LABORATORY WORK PRACTICE, FOLLOW DISTRICT POLICY (CHP)

• EXPOSURE RISK LOW

• EXAMPLE:– INSTRUMENT ROOM

8

CSL 2 MODERATE RISK• CHEMICALS WITH LOW TO

MODERATE RISK USED OPENLY– REAGENTS OF HAZ LEVEL 1 AND 2

• VOLUMES OF HAZ LEVEL 3 REAGENTS ARE RESTRICTED– > L. (LIQUIDS)– > 0.5 KGM (SOLIDS)

9

CSL 2 MODERATE RISK• HAZARD CLASS 4 REAGENTS NOT

PERMITED EXPECT BY PRIOR WRITTEN SPECIAL EXEMPTION FROM CHO

• RISK LEVEL MODERATE

• EXAMPLE: HIGH SCHOOL CHEM LAB

10

CSL 3 SUBSTANCIAL RISK • ENGINEERING CONTROLS REQUIRED

– FUME HOODS

– PURGE FANS

• CHEMICALS OF SUBSTANCIAL AND HIGH (2,3)

RISK UNRESTRICTED

• HAZARD LEVEL 4 REAGENTS PERMITED BUT

MUST BE REPORTED

11

CSL 3 SUBSTANCIAL RISK• QUANTITIES OF REAGENTS LIMITED

BY NEED AND FIRE CODE• RISK SUBSTANCIAL

– CONTROLLED BY ENGINEERING DEVICES, MINIMIZING QUANTITIES, AND CAREFUL WORK PRACTICES

• EXAMPLE UNIVERSITY CHEM LAB

12

CSL 4 HIGH RISK• SPECIAL ENGINEERING FEATURES

AND CONTAINMENT EQUIPMENT

• WORK PRACTICES WITH MULTIPLE BARRIERS FOR WORKER PROTECTION

13

CSL 4 HIGH RISK• CHEMICAL USE IS UNRESTRICTED;

GOVERNED BY PRESCRIBED PROTOCOLS FOR HANDLING, STORAGE AND DISPOSAL

• SPECIAL FACILITY DESIGN AND EQUIPMENT REQUIRED

14

CSL 4 HIGH RISK• RISK HIGH RISK OF EXPOSURE AND

CONTAMINATION

• EXAMPLE RESEARCH LABS

SOME INDUSTRIAL LABS

GOVERNMENT/MILITARY

LABS

15

STANDARD SAFETY EQUIPMENT CSL 1-4

• FIRE EXTINGUISHERS• PPE

– GOGGLES– APRONS– GLOVES– RESPIRATORS (NOT FOR HS LABS)

• EYEWASH STATIONS• DELUGE SHOWERS

16

STANDARD SAFETY EQUIPMENT CSL 1-4

• FURNITURE– BENCH TOP NON POROUS,CHEMICAL

RESISTANT– STURDY WORKABLE FURNITURE IN

GOOD REPAIR

• AISLES – MIN. 44 IN WIDE– NOT USED FOR STORAGE OR

EQUIPMENT PLACEMENT

17

STANDARD SAFETY EQUIPMENT CSL 1-4

• LAB AIR NOT RECIRCULATED TO REST OF BUILDING

• NEGATIVE AIR PRESSURE WITH RESPECT TO CORRIDORS

• OUTDOOR INTAKES LOCATED SO AS TO NOT RECAPTURE LAB VAPOR EXHAUST

18

SPECIAL SAFETY EQUIPMENT FOR CLS 2

• DEDICATED STORAGE UNITS

– FLAMMABLE SOLVENTS

– CORROSIVES

– TOXINS

19

SPECIAL SAFETY EQUIPMENT FOR CLS 2

• CARTS OR SAFETY CARRIERS FOR

TRANSPORTATION OF BOTTLES OF

HAZARDOUS REAGENTS

• SPILL KITS

20

SPECIAL WORK PRACTICES FOR CSL 2

•CONTROL MOVMENT OF VISITORS

• CHEMICALS OF HAZARD CLASS 2-4 SHOULD BE USED IN FUME HOODS

• FACILITY SHOULD BE LOCKED DURING NON WORKING HOURS

• SEPARATE WORK AND DESK AREAS

21

EXAMPLES OF HIGH RISK CHEMICALS CLASS 4

• CARCINOGENS– BENZINE– CHROME VI IONS– FORMADEHYDE

• REACTIVE / EXPLOSIVE– PERCHLORIC ACID– PICRIC ACID– HYDROGEN PEROXIDE

22

EXAMPLES OF HIGH RISK CHEMICALS CLASS 4

• STRONG OXIDIZING AGENTS– NITRIC ACID– CHLORINE– OXYGEN

• HIGHLY TOXIC– SODIUM CYANIDE– BROMINE– SODIUM DIAZIDE

23

EXAMPLES OF HIGH RISK CHEMICALS CLASS 4

• FLAMMABLE (NFPA 4 )– DIETHYL ETHER– ACETALDHYDE– HYDROGEN SULFIDE

• SPECIAL HAZARDS (EHSO LIST)– HYDROFLUORIC ACID– ETHIDIUM BROMIDE

24

STANDARD SAFETY PRACTICES FOR CSL 1 - 4

• MINIMIZE EXPOSURE TO ALL LABORATORY CHEMICALS– QUANTITY IN LAB, AND, IN

PROCEDURES– VENTILATION / ENGINEERING

CONTROLS

• EYE PROTECTION REQUIRED

• PROTECTIVE GLOVES

25

STANDARD SAFETY PRACTICES FOR CSL 1 - 4

• PLANNING PRINCIPLES– CHEMICALS WITH INHERENT HAZARDS

AND BE USED IN FACILITY– SUBSITUTE LESS HAZARDOUS

REAGENTS WHEN POSSIBLE– USE SMALLEST QUANTITY POSSIBLE– PURCHASE MINIMIUM QUANTITY

NEEDED FOR LAB PROCEDURES

26

STANDARD SAFETY PRACTICES FOR CSL 1 - 4

• LIMIT ACCESS TO LAB DURING OPERATIONS

• SIGNAGE– HAZARDS IN USE– LOCATION OF SAFETY EQUIPMENT– EXITS– CONTACTS – CSL DESIGNATION

27

STANDARD SAFETY PRACTICES FOR CSL 1 - 4

• GOOD HOUSEKEEPING– NEAT– ORDERLY

• LABELS ON ALL SECONDARY CONTAINERS

• ANNUAL CLEAN UP OF REFRIGERATORS