November 2011 Laboratory Safety 2 Introduction Regulatory agencies and laboratory safety Occupational Safety amp Health Administration New York State Department of Labor Public Employees Safety amp Health ID: 1015943
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1. Lehman CollegeEnvironmental Health & SafetyNovember 2011Laboratory Safety
2. 2IntroductionRegulatory agencies and laboratory safety
3. Occupational Safety & Health AdministrationNew York State Department of Labor Public Employees Safety & HealthNew York City Fire Department(NYS DOH, NYC DOHMH – Radiation Safety)City University of New York3Federal, State, and NYC regulatory agencies
4. OSHA Lab Standard adopted by NYS PESHWritten plan for protecting employees from chemical exposureElements of the Chemical Hygiene Plan:Employee exposure monitoringTrainingMedical consultationHazard identificationRespirator useFume hoodsRecordkeeping4OSHA Lab Standard: Chemical Hygiene Plan
5. 5FDNY: Fire Protection for Laboratories Using Chemicals Updated (2008) regulations for fire prevention in non-production chemical laboratoriesCovers all academic labs: elementary, high school, college, hospital, research, etc.C14 Certificate of Fitness based on these new regulations
6. 6Annual FDNY InspectionsLabs are inspected by FDNY starting in JanuaryLabs must be in compliance with FDNY regulationsFDNY inspector may also cite other types of violations not specifically covered by regulationsViolation orders must be corrected before new permit can be issued
7. Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)Federal EPA regulations for hazardous wasteAll hazardous waste is disposed through Environmental Health and SafetyNo drain disposal of hazardous materials EVER!
8. 8CUNY Environmental Management System (EMS)Environmental requirementsComposite of federal, state, NYC, other environmental regsAspects of the EMS relevant to labs will be covered in the next unit, Hazardous WasteAlso covers petroleum, air emissions, pesticidesReporting requirements, training, inspections procedures
9. Lehman EH&SCUNY EH&SNYC Dept of Environmental ProtectionEnvironmental Protection AgencyMore about inspections later9Laboratory Inspections
10. 10Hazard recognitionWhat are the chemical and physical hazards in the lab?
11. Hazards in the laboratoryChemical hazards:FlammableCorrosiveReactiveToxicCan be a combination of one or more hazard classesPhysical hazards:ElectricalCryogenic(lasers)(radioactive)
12. Flammable LiquidsFlashpoint < 100F (FDNY)Flashpoint: “the lowest temp at which a liquid emits enough vapor to form an ignitable mixture in air”Incompatibilities: oxidizers, acidsFlammable storage limits: 15 gallons per lab (FDNY)Ex. – most nonhalogenated organic solvents (alcohols, benzene, alkanes, alkenes, alkynes; ethers; dichloroethane; etc. etc. etc.)
13. Need to refrigerate your flammables?Flammable materials (liquids) must be stored in flammable- or explosion-proof refrigerators only“No flammables flashing <100F” signs are posted on “Regular” lab refrigerators (FDNY)Cool flammable liquids in dry ice/acetone or ice bath instead
14. Flammable SolidsCauses fire upon exposure to air, water, or spontaneous chemical reactionwhite phosphorusAlkali metalsFinely-divided metalsNitrocelluloseDinitro-, trinitro compoundsOrganic peroxidesFDNY storage limit: 2 lbs
15. Flammable gasesForm explosive mixturesin air:HydrogenCarbon monoxidePart of ongoing processes onlyConnected to equipment requiring flam gas useone cylinder in use, plus one cylinder in reserveStore separate from oxidizing gases
16. Corrosive materialsLiquids(Solids)GasesPhysical form must also be considered when evaluating the degree of hazard
17. Most commonly encountered in the labAcids: hydrochloric, sulfuric, nitric, perchloric, (hydrofluoric)Bases: NaOH, KOH; base bathOrganic solventsEven non-fuming types tend to fumeAlways work in a fume hoodWear gloves, goggles, labcoatCorrosive liquids
18. More seriously hazardous than liquids or solidsRespiratory tract as well as surface tissues vulnerableRegion of respiratory tract affected is directly related to degree of water solubilityCorrosive gasesHigh solubility: HCl, HF - upper respiratory tractMedium solubility: Cl, oxides of N - bronchiLow solubility: phosgene - alveoli
19. Everything is toxic; the dose makes the poisonLocal or systemic effectRoute of entryTarget organTypes of toxic effectsIrritantSensitizer/allergenCarcinogenMutagenToxic materials
20. Purchasing ChemicalsPlease limit the amounts of chemicals to your immediate needsDo not stockpile chemicalsold chemicals = inherently waste-like , when stored with newer chemicals of the same typeTest peroxidizable chemicals every 6 months
21. Physical Hazards: Electrical HazardsInspect electrical equipment for frayed cords, exposed wiresIntact or damaged equipment = spark sourceRepair/replace worn electrical equipment!Post High Voltage signs at electrophoresis setups and power suppliesWhen working with flammables, use intrinsically safe electrical equipment only
22. 22Hazard ControlAdministrative controlsEngineering controlsPersonal Protective Equipment
23. Administrative controlsEmployee information and trainingMaterial Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)lab inspections by EH&S, othersEngineering controlsChemical fume hoodsPersonal Protective Equipment - PPEEye protectionProtective clothing (labcoats, gloves)Respiratory protectionHazard Protection
24. Chemical hazard information supplied by the manufacturer (OSHA)MSDS accompanies each chemical shipmentRequired for both pure chemicals and chemical products (mixtures) containing hazardous chemicalsAll hazardous components >1%Exact percent composition not requiredRead MSDSs from many differentsources for a single chemical for amore complete understanding of hazardMaterial Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)
25. Hazard Information: Chemical Labels: National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA) hazard rating system
26. Chemical Fume HoodsEngineering controls (fume hoods) are the first line of defense against hazardous chemical exposureHazard is removed from worker environmentLaboratory air is not recirculated; air is exhausted directly to the outdoors through the fume hoodsProper fume hood use minimizes/eliminates chemical exposures
27. 27A Biosafety cabinet is not a chemical fume hoodNot for worker protectionMost laminar flow hoods protect the product from contamination onlyDraws in HEPA-filtered air from lab to make a “curtain” of air through the front openingblows HEPA-filtered air out through topNot for use with hazardous materials (chemical vapors pass through HEPA filter)
28. Fume hood guidelinesTurn fume hood ONCheck for airflow by holding a kimwipe or tissue at the hood faceWork at least 6” inside hood to ensure capture of chemical vaporsLower the sash to 12-18” for proper face velocity, to protect the breathing zone, and provide splash protection
29. 29Perchloric acid fume hoodUsed for procedures in which perchloric acid is boiled to near-drynessPerchlorate salts settle on hood surfaces, ductsReacts violently with organic materialsWashdown feature rinses interior surfacesSingle ducted (not combined with other fume hoods)Perchlorates crystalizing on fume hood duct
30. Fume hood guidelines100 feet/minute air velocity is easily disruptedFume hoods should be located away from doors, walkwaysClutter in fume hoods affects airflowRaise large equipment on jacks to allow proper airflowClose fume hood sash when not in useFume hoods are intended for worker protection, not chemical storage
31. Personal protective equipmentPPE is the last line of defense against chemical exposureRequired PPE for all persons working in labs:Eye protectionGloveslabcoatCheck MSDS for proper glove selectionLatex exam gloves rapidly degraded by many chemicalsNitrile gloves provide greater protection
32. Respiratory protectionNot recommended!Re-examine procedures and work practices before resorting to respiratory protectionDo not obtain a respirator on your ownContact EHS for evaluationIf respirator use is warranted, Lehman will provide equipment, training, medical consultation, etc. etc. etc.
33. Emergency ProceduresChemical splash on body: minimize duration of contact = minimize injuryUse only water to remove chemicalsKnow the location(s) of the emergency eyewash and shower BEFORE anything happensDo not hesitate to use!FLOOD affected area for 15 minutes, then contact Public Safety or EHS
34. Public SafetyX7777APEX 109All hoursAfter hours, Public Safety will contact EHS personnelX8988Music Building, room B37AWorking hours, 9am – 5 pmAfter hours, EHS personnel will be contacted by Public SafetyContact InformationEnvironmental Health & Safety office
35. Chemical release in a labSmall spills are cleaned up by lab personnelLarger spills, or uncontained spills of more hazardous materials are handled by CUNY’s HazWaste contractorContact Public Safety x7777, or EHS x8988Describe nature of the spill (chemical name, amount, exact location of spill)Depending on the nature of the spill, you may be asked to evacuate the lab/floor/building
36. 36Laboratory InspectionsWho conducts inspections?What do lab personnel need to do?
37. Lehman EH&S: all areasCUNY EH&S: all areas in which potential environmental hazards existNYC Dept of Environmental Protection: chemical storage roomsEnvironmental Protection Agency: all areas in which potential environmental hazards exist37Laboratory Inspections
38. Flammable storage over FDNY limit (15 gallons for most labs)Inadequate Certificate of Fitness coveragePeroxide-forming chemicals not labeled with their opening datesIncompatible chemicals stored togetherHousekeeping issues…38Common FDNY violations
39. 39What were some of the findings of the CUNY environmental audit?What’s wrong with this picture?Unlabeled (waste?) containersAl-foil used as container caps5-Gallon waste container is too large for HazWaste collection (would take years to fill)
40. 40What were some of the findings of the CUNY environmental audit?What’s wrong with this picture?Oxidizer (NaNO2) stored with organics
41. 41What were some of the findings of the CUNY environmental audit?What’s wrong with this picture?Unlabeled (waste? reagent? sample?) container
42. 42What were some of the findings of the CUNY environmental audit?What’s wrong with this picture?Al-foil used as container capsTubing does not make a good seal with bottle Tubing does not make a good seal with waste containers
43. Colleges and Universities have always been subject to EPA regulations, but have been inspected by EPA only since the mid-1990sCUNY-EPA Audit Disclosure agreement, 2005-2010EPA agreed to not audit CUNY campuses, but CUNY EHSRM must perform environmental auditsMost senior colleges have been inspected by EPA by October 2011EPA expected to continue with inspections at CUNY43EPA Inspections
44. 44EPA InspectionsLehman College has not yet been inspected by EPAEPA focus: hazardous waste, chemical inventory issuesAt other colleges (CUNY and others), issues of laboratory housekeeping have been cited