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ENGI 9628 – Environmental Laboratory

Faculty of Engineering & Applied Science

Lecture 2

Safety in Laboratory

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Part One:

Safety in Environmental Lab

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General safety

• Lab coat & Cover shoes must be worn at all

time in the lab

• NO food & drink in working area

• Proper PPE (e.g. goggles, gloves, masks, etc)

must be worn as required

• Read MSDS before handling hazardous

substances

• Ask for HELP when in doubt or not sure

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Housekeeping

• Clean up after experiment completed

• Label all sample bottles and keep in designated

location

• Proper disposal of waste chemical

• Broken Glass to be dispose to “Sharps Bin”

• Do not use fume cupboard as storage area for

chemical

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Basic rules for laboratory safety

• Only qualified personnel should be asked to handle dangerous reagents and equipments

• Safety goggles must always be worn and, when necessary, protective gloves and other protective clothing

• All work should be carried out in well ventilated areas; an efficient fume hood must be employed when dangerous gases or fumes are released

• Chemicals should not be permitted to come into contact with eyes, mucous membranes or skin

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Basic rules for laboratory safety, cont’d

• If chemicals do come into contact with the eyes, they should be rinsed thoroughly with water or, preferably, with a special solution, with the patient in a reclining position

• Splashes of dangerous liquids on the skin should first be removed with a dry cloth, and the affected area then rinsed for a prolonged period with cold water; it should then be washed with warm water and soap

• Clothing contaminated with corrosive substances should be removed immediately

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Type of hazards in lab

• Fire

• Spillage

• Broken glass ware

• Gas cylinders

• Extreme heat and cold

• Chemical and biological factors

• Radiation

……

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Fire • Take extreme care while

using flammable substances

• Use only required quantity of the substance

• Oxidants and heat are the major source

• Work with temperature controlled heating sources

• Electrical short-circuit also can cause fire

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Fire prevention

• Escape routes must be clearly marked and kept

free from hindrances

• Fire alarms must be installed

• At least one shower per laboratory should be

provided

• All equipment for fire fighting and protection

should be marked in red

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Fire fighting procedure

• Remove the injured person from the danger zone

• Persons with burning clothing should be wrapped in an extinguishing blanket on the floor or sprayed with carbon dioxide extinguisher or pulled under the lab shower

• Fire alarm should be raised

• Flammable materials and gas cylinders should be removed

• Gas supply has to be switched of at the mains

• In the event of electrical equipment fire electricity should be cut off first

• The fire should be tackled or if this is unsuccessful, the building should be evacuated

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Fire fighting procedure, cont’d

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Spillages

• Clean the spillage

carefully

• Determine risk

associated with it before

cleaning

• Dispose of any

hazardous material as

toxic waste

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Broken glassware

• Dispose of broken

glassware in glass bin or

sharps bin and not in a

general waste bin

• Never use glassware

under pressure or

vacuum unless it is

designed for the job and

suitably shielded

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Compressed gas

• Secure gas cylinders at all time

• Ensure regulator and valve fittings are

compatible

• NEVER use oil or grease on the gas regulator

• Transport gas cylinder using gas trolley

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Cryogenic liquids

• Causes cool burn as that of thermal burn

• Cryo-gloves and eye protection should be

worn

• Adequate ventilation required to prevent build

up of vapor

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Pressure vessel

• Potential bomb if is not properly maintain or

misuse

• Check for MOM certification and testing

validity

• Always shut down and drain the pressure &

water after used.

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Electrical safety

• Do not use extension cords for permanent

wiring

• Electrical cords on equipment must be in good

condition

• Cables used must be appropriate to their

loading

• Avoid contact with water

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Radiation & laser

• Dosimeter must be worn while using Radiation

Equipment

• Control measures are required for Class 3b and

Class 4 lasers

• Protective eyewear must be wore

• Training of operators and personnel working

on or near lasers

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Mechanical safety

• Cuts & Crushed fingers

• Dangerous movable part must be provided

with guard

• Concentrate while working

• Regular maintenance

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Biosafety

• Biohazard are Infectious agent or biologically

derives infectious materials that will post risk

to human health.

Exposure control

• Gloves, Mask & Biological Safety Cabinets

• Cleaning/ Disinfecting/ Sterilization

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Biohazard waste disposal

1) Labeled clearly

2) Disinfect (Chlorox)

3) Autoclave in autoclavable bags

Special Disposal Required

• All sharps, e.g. glass implements, needles,

syringes, blades, etc.

• Biologically-cultured stocks & plates, human

blood or tissues

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Chemical safety

• Chemical Hazards - Health, Fire and Explosion

• Read MSDS & understand the hazardnessbefore handling

• Definition:

MSDS contains information on chemical identification, composition, and physical properties along with health, physical, environment hazards and disposal consideration

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Chemical handling & storage procedures

• Wear proper personal protective equipment (PPE)

• Use fume hoods or other ventilation equipment to control exposure to airborne substances

• All containers must be labeled with chemical name, concentration and hazardous warning.

• Do not store materials in the fume hood or on the floor

• Posting of warning sign near dangerous equipment or experiment

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Classification of chemical wastes

• Non-chlorinated organic solvent waste

• Chlorinated organic solvent waste

• Diluted inorganic acid waste

• Other aqueous chemical waste

• Separate storage for special chemical (e.g.,

developer, fixer, photoresist, perchloric acid,

mercury, HF, etc.)

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Emergency preparedness • Material safety data sheet

• First aid kit

• Fire extinguishers

• Fire blanket

• Eye wash station

• Spill kits

• Fill escape

• Personal protective equipment

• Eye protection/protection coat/gloves/respiratory protection

• Signage

• Documentation

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Memorial university policies

• Disposables/glass/equipment

• Safety oriental policy

• Safety standards and policy

• Laboratory safety policy

• Hazardous material spill and gas leak policy

• Cpr and first aid

• training and awareness competence

• Workplace hazardous materials information system (whmis)

• Working with materials and products which may emit dust

• Hand protection

• Eye and face protection

• Sharps disposal

• Emergency preparedness and response

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Part Two: Workplace Hazardous Material Information

System (WHMIS)

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Chemical hazard information sources

• Work Place Hazardous Materials Information

System (WHMIS)

• A national system to ensure employer obtain the

info to inform and train employee about HM in

workplace

• Only applies to controlled product

• Comprises: labels, MSDS, and worker education

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Container labeling

• Chemical Name

• Hazard Statement

• Warning Symbol

• Precautionary Measures

• First Aid Measures

• MSDS Reference

• (Supplier Name)

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Lab created label

Required when

• Hazardous materials are decanted out of the lab

• Original label damaged or lost

• Unmarked sub- container in larger package

Must include

• Chemical name

• Hazard statement

• Precautionary measures

• First aid measures

• MSDS reference

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Labeling

Container labeling with chemical name

only sufficient when

• Product was decanted in the lab and will

be used in the lab

• Product produced in the lab for research and

development work in the same lab

• Do not over write

• Cover or remover completely old labels

NO FORMULAS, NO ACRONYMS, ENGLISH ONLY

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Other identification requirements

• Chemical storage cabinets

• Content identifier

– Solvents, corrosives etc.

• Piping systems, reaction vessels, cleaning

bath etc.

• Chemical name

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Laboratory labels

• Every chemical in the lab must have a label

• Containers with unknown contents can not be

safely handled

• Disposal of “unknowns” is not possible

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MSDS

Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)

• are used to obtain hazard information including

physical hazards and health hazards

• describe the physical and chemical properties

• recommend precautions for handling, storage

and disposal

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MSDS Information

• Hazardous ingredients

• Physical properties • Reactivity data • Fire hazard • Toxicology

information • Safe work

procedures • Emergency

procedures • First aid

MSDS Access

• Hard copy

• Internet Based

Systems:

– Canadian Centre

Occupational Health and

Safety (www.ccohs.ca)

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Worker education

• WHMIS labels and MSDSS

• Hazard information

• Identification code

• Procedures for safe use,

storage and handling and

disposal of controlled

products

All persons who work with controlled products

must be provided with WHMIS worker education

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CP: A - Compressed gas

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CP: B – Flammable and

combustible material

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CP: C – Oxidizing material

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CP: D – Poisonous and

infectious material

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CP: E – Corrosive material

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CP: F – Dangerously reactive material