General Laboratory Safety Training

Presented by Martina SchmelingAdapted from UC Davis

Staying safe means that you…

• Read labels on containers of chemicals

• Read Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)

• Handle chemicals with care• Use correct protective clothing and

equipment• Remember emergency procedures

Chemical Labels • Every container of chemicals is labeled

by the manufacturer. • The label will tell you

– Name of chemical– Name, address and emergency phone

number of manufacturer– Physical and health hazards– Precautionary measures– First-aid instructions– Proper handling/storage instructions

Health Hazards on a Chemical Label

• Carcinogen• Highly toxic agent• Toxic agent• Reproductive hazard• Irritant

• Corrosive

• Sensitizer

• Hepatotoxin

• Nephrotoxin

• Neurotoxin

Typical Precautionary Measureson a Label

• Do not breathe vapors

• Use in well-ventilated areas

• Keep container closed when not in use

• Avoid contact with skin

• Wash thoroughly with soap and water after handling

• Keep away from sparks, heat, and flame

• Do not store near combustible materials

• Store in tightly closed container

• Remove and wash contaminated clothing promptly

• Keep from contact with clothing and other combustible materials

Common Signal Wordson Labels

• Danger – Can cause immediate serious injury or death

• Warning – Can cause potentially serious injury or death

• Caution – Can cause potentially moderate injury

Special Symbols Used on Labels

Helps you recognize kind of hazard a chemical could present if you are not careful

– Toxicity– Corrosivity (acids and bases)– Ignitability (flammable solvents and

certain solids)– Reactivity (sodium and various water-

reactive reagents)

Color and Number Coded Label Systems

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24

Colors represent kind of hazard

• Red = fire• Yellow = instability• Blue = health• black = specific hazard

& personal protection

Numbers show degree of hazard

• 0 = Minimal• 1 = Slight• 2 = Moderate• 3 = Serious• 4 = Severe

NFPA-type label

Color and Number CodedLabel Systems

NFPA-type labels

3

24COR

Black = specific hazard

• OX = Oxidizer

• ACID = Acid

• ALK = Alkali

• COR = Corrosive

• W = Use no water

• Other symbols:

Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)

Provides more detailed information about a chemical, including

– Composition, information on ingredients (Section 2)

– Hazards identification (Section 3)

– First aid measures (Section 4)

– Accidental Release measures (Section 6)

– Handling and Storage (Section 7)

– Exposure controls, personal protection (Section 8)

– Stability and reactivity (Section 10)

– Toxicological information (Section 11)

MSDS (cont’d)

Hazards Identification– Inhalation: Respiratory tract (lungs) through inhalation– Ingestion: Digestive tract through eating or smoking

with contaminated hands or in contaminated work areas – Absorption through the skin or eyes: Dermatitis or

damage to the liver, kidney, or other organ systems– Injection: Percutaneous injection of a toxic substance

through the skin

MSDS (cont’d)

Specific possible health hazards:

– Acute poisoning (rapid assimilation of substance, i.e., carbon monoxide)

– Chronic poisoning (prolonged exposure, i.e., lead poisoning)

– Cumulative poisons (numerous chronic exposures, i.e., heavy metals)

– Substances in combination (synergistic effect, i.e., exposure to alcohol and chlorinated solvents)

MSDS (cont’d)Potential Health Effects

– Eye irritation– Nausea– Dizziness– Skin rashes– Headache– Existing medical conditions possibly

aggravated by exposure

• Emergency/first-aid procedures to follow

• Accidental Release MeasuresWhat to do if substance spills and leaksHow to correctly dispose of substanceEquipment/procedures for cleaning up

spills and leaks

MSDS (cont’d)

MSDS (cont’d)

Handling and Storage– How to handle and store substance safely– Any other precautions (i.e., grounding

containers during transfer of flammables)

MSDS (cont’d)• Exposure Controls, Personal

ProtectionRespiratorGlovesEye protectionProtective clothingVentilation

• Special work and hygiene practices that should be followed

• Exposure Limits Threshold Limit Value (TLV)

TLV-CTLV-STELTLV-TWA

Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL)Recommended Exposure Limit (REL)

MSDS (cont’d)

• Toxicological InformationLC50: median lethal concentration by

inhalation in a single exposure over a specified time period

LCLO: lowest reported LC50

LD50: median lethal concentration by a route other than inhalation

MSDS (cont’d)

So, what is “highly toxic”?

• “Highly Toxic” is indicated by– LD50 50 mg/kg body wt by ingestion to albino rats

each weighing between 200 to 300 gmsOR

– LD50 200 mg/kg by continuous contact for 24 hrs with skin of albino rabbits each weighing between 2 and 3 kgOR

– LC50 200 ppm of gas or vapor inhalation (or 2 mg/L of mist, dust, or fumes) for one hour by albino rats each weighing between 200 to 300 gms

How can an MSDS be “Decoded”?

• See the glossary produced by CCOHS

http://ccinfoweb.ccohs.ca/help/msds/msdstermse.html

Handle Chemicals with Care

– Dispose of chemicals, broken glass, and other waste in approved containers

– Clean up broken glass and spills immediately– Keep the lab clean and neat– Store incompatible chemicals in separate

storage areas

Chemical Storage

• Labs have established separate storage areas for Flammable and combustible organic liquids and solvents Acids Dry poisons, salts, and oxidizers Bases

• Chemicals are stored in Chemical storage cabinets Flammable storage refrigerators (No food) Chemical storage refrigerators/freezers (No food) On shelves with retaining barriers

Storage Fundamentals

• Identify incompatible chemicals – check the Material Safety Data Sheet

• Isolate and separate incompatible materials– Isolate by storing in another area or room– Degree of isolation depends on quantities, chemical

properties and packaging– Separate by storing in same area or room, but apart

from each other

Storage of Flammable and Combustible Liquids

• Storage must not limit the use of exits, stairways, or areas normally used for the safe regress of people

• Storage must be in:• closed metal containers

inside a storage cabinet, or• safety cans, or• an inside storage room

Inside storage room

Storage Cabinets

• Not more than 60 gal of Class I and/or Class II liquids, or not more than 120 gal of Class III liquids permitted in a cabinet

• Must be conspicuously labeled, “Flammable - Keep Fire Away”

• Doors on metal cabinets must have a three-point lock (top, side, and bottom), and the door sill must be raised at least 2 inches above the bottom of the cabinet

Use correct protective clothing and equipment

• Eye Protection Safety glasses – flying particles, chemical splashes,

dust Splash goggles – corrosive liquids, solvents, powders Face Shields – high pressure systems

• Respiratory Protection – normally not needed at LUC

• Skin and Body Protection Gloves – see the MSDS Aprons and lab coats – strong acids and bases Shoes – always worn in lab, closed toe and closed

heel

• Hearing Protection – normally not needed at LUC

Do not– Use damaged glassware– Store chemicals near heat, sunlight, or other

substances with which they might react– Store materials on floors or other places where

people could trip over them– Leave equipment unattended when its operating

(unless it is designed to do so or you have an SOP)– Put custodians and fellow workers in danger

If Overexposed to a Hazardous Substance

• Get medical help immediately!• Inform your lab supervisor• Check MSDS for first-aid instructions. • Some general guidelines are

• Eyes: Flush with water for 15 minutes• Ingestion: Follow label and MSDS instructions• Skin Contact: Stand under emergency shower and

remove contaminated clothing immediately• Inhalation: Get to fresh air and get prompt medical

attention

Other Emergency Procedures

Fire: call 911, activate building fire alarm; safely use fire extinguisher on small fires

Hazardous Chemical spill (over 1 pint): evacuate the room; close door; call 911; consider evacuation of building

Emergencies can happen, so

• Avoid working alone in the lab

• Know where emergency phone numbers are posted

• Review MSDS

• Know where to go and what to do in an emergency

• Know the location of the closest safety showers, eyewashes, and fire extinguishers

Chemical Hygiene Plan (CHP)

Outlines specific work practices for all work

involving hazardous substances in the lab

• Gives procedures to follow when workingwith hazardous chemicals

• Provides details on how your chemical exposure will be monitored and limited

• Assures that you have the right personal protective equipment (PPE)

• Specifies that some hazardous tasks to be approved in advance by the PI

Useful and helpful websites regarding safety:

http://www.luc.edu/environmentalservices/safety_information

.shtml

http://www.ilpi.com/safety/

http://www.chem.uky.edu/resources/stockroom/waste.html

http://www.uttyler.edu/safety/labwastemanual.pdf

http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npg/

http: / /avogadro.chem.iastate.edu/MSDS/