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Aspects of Chemical Laboratory Safety

Materials Engineering OHSE Induction to Chemical Use

Doug Rash

Convenor

Zone 13 (School of Chemistry)

Deputy Safety Officer and Environmental Officer

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Some basic laboratory safety rules

• Do NOT consume food or drink (includes water) in laboratories

• Safety Glasses MUST be worn in laboratories where chemicals are stored or are in use

• Wear closed in footwear• Do not run in laboratories or corridors• Tie back/contain long hair, loose clothing and

accessories

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Aspects of chemical laboratory safety

• Understand the properties of materials• Ensure labelling is correct and adequate • Ensure correct storage, handling and use of

chemicals• Make proper use of fume-cupboards• Ensure good housekeeping is maintained• Prepare for spill management• Conduct good chemical waste disposal practices

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PROPERTIES OF MATERIALS

• Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS’s) give you lots of information about the materials (chemicals) you plan to use.

• Make sure you understand the key features

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Dangerous Goods and Hazardous Substances

• Chemicals are best classified by dangerous goods class.

• Dangerous Goods are those reflecting the physico-chemical properties; acute and immediate effects mostly to property (e.g. explosion, fire, corrosion).

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Dangerous Goods

• The Physico-Chemical properties we use to DO chemistry are what makes something a Dangerous Good

• The volatility and flammability of a low molecular weight hydrocarbon solvent

• The corrosivity of Hydrochloric Acid• The toxicity of Mercury compounds

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Example - Flammable Liquid Diethyl Ether

• Diethyl ether (C2H50C2H5) is a very flammable liquid (bp 34.6), a low flash point (-45) and a dense vapour (2.56).

These characteristics are the main reason diethyl ether is a dangerous good

It is in packaging group 1 i.e. a high level of danger

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Acids and Bases

• Corrosivity; generally corrosion to metals and other materials.

• Corrosion of the skin can also occur and these effects vary depending on the acid or base concerned.

• Acids and bases are class 8 Dangerous Goods

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Corrosion

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Example Nitric acid

• Nitric Acid (HNO3) is a corrosive liquid, an oxidising and nitrating agent.

• It is a Dangerous Good class 8 (corrosive). • It has a subsidiary class of 5.1(oxidising

agent)

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Example - Ammonia

• Ammonia gas (NH3) anhydrous is a toxic gas that is a class 2.3 dangerous good. It also has a subsidiary risk for being corrosive and therefore can also be designated class 8

• Ammonia solution is a class 8 dangerous good due to it’s corrosivity

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Hazards posed by powders

• Generally, the smaller the particle size of solids, the greater the hazard

• Nano particles are under international review in relation to their hazardous nature

• As mentioned with Dangerous Goods, a coarse material reduced to a powder can change it from being harmless to being a significant hazard e.g. Iron, Wheat, Sugar

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Incompatibilities

The physico-chemical behaviour (reactivity) of dangerous goods causes some classes to be incompatible with others

It is this very reactivity which allows us to undertake chemical processes

Care must be taken to separate goods which may react with each other during storage and transport

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Example - Class 5.1 and Class3

• Class 5.1 materials are oxidizing agents and react with many class 3 materials, sometimes vigorously causing fires.(e.g. Potassium Nitrate)

• Class 3 materials are flammable liquids and are often used as fuels. (e.g. Ethanol)

• It is this reactivity ( the chemical properties of the materials) that allows us to do chemistry, however it is the reason (incompatibility) we do not store and transport such materials in close proximity

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Hazardous Substances

• Having the potential to harm human health

• Hazardous Substances are subject to the controls of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2007 Part 4.1 Hazardous Substances

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Example - Benzene

• Benzene is a highly volatile solvent and chemical feedstock (reagent) for a number of polymers, especially styrene production

• It is a class 3 dangerous good but is also a toxic material and a scheduled Carcinogen. It has a subsidiary class of 6.1

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LABELLING

All containers of hazardous substances must be labelled with:

• Product name• Name, address, phone no. of Australian

manufacturer or importer • Ingredients, if applicable• HAZARDOUS or words that indicate the severity of

the hazard, eg dangerous poison, warning, caution

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Labelling of decanted substances

• A container into which a hazardous substance is decanted must be labelled unless:

– the substance is used immediately,

– the container is cleaned or the contents rendered non-hazardous

• The unlabelled container must not be left unattended

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Labelling - guessing game 1

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Labelling - guessing game 2

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STORAGE, HANDLING AND USE

• See local OHSE requirements and AS/NZS 2243.10

• Laboratories have load limits for Dangerous Goods set by Monash policy and these should be adhered to (e.g. 100L class 3 flammable liquid)

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Shelf life of Chemicals

• Chemicals have differing shelf lives; mixtures such as etchants and standard solutions should be dated, clearly labelled and disposed of in accordance with local safety rules

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Chemical containers

• The material the chemical is stored in can impact on it’s shelf life; plastic containers generally should be considered to have reduced integrity after say 3 years for solids

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Chemical containers

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Chemical storage in refrigerators

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Ventilated storage cabinet (strong odours)

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The need for eye protection (especially when handling chemicals)

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FUMECUPBOARDS

• A fume cupboard is a piece of laboratory equipment designed to protect the individual from exposure

• It should be kept clean and well maintained and NOT used as a storage area

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Fume cupboard

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“Temporary storage of chemicals!”

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HOUSEKEEPING

• Keep benches clean and tidy• Clean up after each stage of an operation

and rinse apparatus containing harmful chemicals

• Return all reagents, equipment and glassware not in use to their proper place in a clean condition

• Clean up any spill immediately, using a suitable procedure for that substance

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Cluttered bench

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Uncluttered bench

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SPILL MANAGEMENT

• Spill Response/Management depends on the material in question, it’s physical form and the relative amount

• Again, the Risk Assessment should have considered this

• Monash OHSE have provided all areas using chemicals with spill kits

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Spill kit and Self Contained Breathing Apparatus

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Eye Wash

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CHEMICAL WASTE DISPOSAL

• Ensure all waste is placed in properly labelled containers and that incompatible materials are not placed in these – there have been unfortunate incidents resulting from this!

• Have waste removed from site regularly and count it as a Dangerous Good

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Waste in correctly labelled container

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Badly labelled waste

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Environmental Issues

• Discharges to drain

• Discharges to air

• General waste

• Reduce

• Reuse

• Recycle