Initial Laboratory Safety
Training (GPILS)
Updated 08/26/20 S. Houng
Who We Are
Environmental Health and Safety (EHS)
We Enhance the Safety of our Community
through EDUCATION and SERVICE
www.umaryland.edu/ehs
714 W. Lombard St. Baltimore MD 21201
(410)706-7055 or 6-7055 from a campus phone
EHS Programs
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Biosafety
Chemical Safety
Radiation Safety
Fire Safety
Hazardous Waste Removal
Injury Reporting and Occupational Health
Services and Resources
• Training (BBP, Lab Chemical Safety, Hazardous Waste, Radiation
Safety) as well as optional training (DOT infectious and biological
material shipping, reactive chemicals) - MyEHS
• Research Registration for Biosafety and Radiation safety –
review protocols for safety and health hazards and ensure that
you obtain the proper training – CICERO IBC and RSC
• Perform general and radiation safety audits – SHAREPOINT
• Provide hazardous waste removal including chemical,
radioactive, and special medical waste
• Administrate Injury reporting and Workers compensation in the
case of an incident
Key EHS Contacts
Steven C. Deck, DM, MBA, ARM, CIH, CSP, CHMM, CBSP- Director
sdeck@umaryland.edu
Kenneth Brenneman, PhD- Radiation Safety Officer
kbrenneman@umaryland.edu
Matthew Fischer PhD, Assistant Director and Biosafety Officer
matthew.fischer@umaryland.edu ; 410-706-7845
Kevin Nichol, Manager, Operations
knichol@umaryland.edu
Simone Houng- Assistant Biosafety Officer
simone.houng@umaryland.edu
Training Topics Covered Today
Bloodborne Pathogens
Chemical Safety in the Laboratory
Hazardous Waste Management
Emergency Procedures
Note that annual refresher training on these topics is
required and can be accessed on the EHS website
Bloodborne Pathogens
“Pathogenic microorganisms that are present in
human blood and can cause disease in humans.”
(as defined by Occupational Safety and Health Administration- OSHA)
Includes:
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Hepatitis B
Hepatitis C
HIV
Many other viral and bacterial pathogens
Other Potentially Infectious Material
(OPIM)
In additional to blood the standard covers:
• Human body fluids (cerebrospinal fluid, pleural fluid,
pericardial fluid, peritoneal fluid, synovial fluid, amniotic
fluid, saliva from dental, semen, and vaginal secretions)
• Any unfixed tissue or organ from a human
• Human cell or tissue cultures
OSHA’s Bloodborne Pathogen
Standard
Mandates:
• Development of a written exposure control plan
• Implementation of engineering controls and safe work
practices
• Use of personal protective equipment
• Hepatitis B Vaccination –provisions or declination
• Post exposure evaluation and follow-up
• Information and training
• Record Keeping
UMB BBP Exposure Control Plan
Available on the EHS website and covers:
• Exposure Determination
• Methods of Compliance
• Personal Protective Equipment
• Work Practice Controls
• Housekeeping
• Hepatitis B Vaccination Program
• Communication of Hazards
• Information and Training
• Recordkeeping
• Post-Exposure Evaluation and Follow-up
Jobs at the University with Potential
Exposure to Blood or OPIM
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Health Care Workers
Researchers
Housekeepers
Maintenance Staff
Police Officers
Hepatitis B Virus(HBV)
What is the Hepatitis B Virus?
Symptoms might include:
• HBV is a disease of the liver
• Yellow skin or yellowing of the
whites of your eyes (jaundice)
• CDC estimates that 1.2 million people in
the United States are chronically infected
with HBV
• Dry blood can contain HBV up to 7 days
• Symptoms occur on average 12 weeks
after exposure
• Symptoms occur in about 70% of
patients
• Risk of infection after an injury from a
contaminated needle is from 6% to 30%
(unvaccinated)
• Vaccine is available
• Tiredness
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea
• Abdominal discomfort
• Dark urine
• Clay-colored bowel
movements
• Joint pain
HBV Vaccination
• Required to be offered to employees, students, or volunteers
reasonably anticipated to have contact with blood or OPIM in
performance of their duties at a UMB facility
• This includes assigned work, volunteer tasks, academic programs,
and practicum experiences
• To obtain the vaccine, contact UMaryland Immediate Care (UMIC)
at (667)214-1899
• To decline the vaccination, complete the Hepatitis B vaccine
declination form on the EHS website and give a copy to your
supervisor
• If you have previously obtained the vaccine or have any questions,
contact UMIC
Hepatitis C Virus (HCV)
What is the Hepatitis C Virus?
• HCV is a disease of the liver , most
common blood disease in the United
States
• Leading indication for liver transplants in
the United States
• CDC estimates 3.2 million people in the
United States are infected with HCV
• Can survive outside the body up to 4 days
• Currently there is NO vaccine available
Symptoms might include:
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jaundice
fatigue
dark urine
abdominal pain
loss of appetite
nausea
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
HIV is the virus that causes Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
(AIDS)
• HIV effects the immune system and decreases the body's ability to fight
infections and certain cancers
• 1.1 million people in the United States live with HIV/AIDS
• HIV does not survive more then a few hours in dried blood
• Some people may be symptom free for several years, 1 in 5 may not be
aware that they are infected.
• Currently there is NO vaccine available
Warning signs include:
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Rapid weight loss
Dry cough
Recurring fever or profuse night sweats
Profound and unexplained fatigue
Swollen lymph glands
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Diarrhea lasting more than a week
Unusual spots on the tongue, mouth, or throat
Pneumonia
Blotches on the skin or inside the mouth, nose, or
eyelids
Memory loss, depression, and other neurological
disorders
How can I be infected at work?
• Contact between mucous membranes and
infected blood or body fluids (eyes, nose, or
mouth)
• Contact between broken or damaged skin and
infected blood or body fluids
• Injury with a contaminated needle or sharp
Always Use Universal Precautions
OSHA defines universal precautions as an
approach to infection control in which all human
blood and certain body fluids are treated as if
known to be infectious for bloodborne
pathogens
Handling Sharps
• Always point sharps away from yourself and others
• Do NOT bend, break, shear off, or attempt to recap needles into the sheath
• Sharps must be disposed of in an appropriate sharps container
– Made of heavy duty plastic
– Able to be closed with a tight fitting, puncture resistant lid that does not allow sharps to
come out
– Upright and stable during use
– Leak resistant
– Properly labeled outside to warn of sharps/hazardous contents
• Do not overfill sharps container (no more than ~ ¾ full)
• If you have contaminated broken glass, do NOT use your hands to pick up,
use a broom and dustpan for disposal
• Request pickup of full container through EHS website
Sharps with safety features
When possible, use devices with safety controls built in, such as syringes with
Luer lock fittings.
Retractable needle system
Luer-lock systems
If no alternative to recapping or removal of the needle is
possible, a one-handed technique or mechanical device must be
used and justified to the Institutional Biosafety Committee
One-handed
technique
Engineering Control:
Biosafety Cabinets (BSC’s)
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Provides laminar/directed air flow, creating an air curtain behind the sash
VERY IMPORTANT not to block airflow and to work behind the curtain (~6”
behind sash)
Class II provides personnel, environmental, and product protection
Must be certified annually or whenever moved
Clean Air Bench (not appropriate)
• Directed airflow TOWARD the
user
• Provides only product
protection
DO NOT USE WITH
INFECTIOUS MATERIAL
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Always wear appropriate PPE, which, at a minimum, includes:
• Gloves when hand contact is expected
• Protective clothing (laboratory coat) when the potential for
splattering body fluids exists
• Eye protection when the potential for splashes or sprays exist
General rules for using PPE:
• Make sure it fits properly
• Check for damage before use
• If damaged during use, remove and replace immediately
• Do not wear sandals or perforated shoes
• Remove PPE when leaving the laboratory
Gloves
• Glove selection should be based on resistance to the materials you
are working with
• They are intended for incidental contact, not extended contact. If
extended contact with a hazardous material is anticipated, consider
thicker reusable, purpose-specific gloves
• Gloves frequently used in labs are disposable (thin, sold in boxes,
for single use). Some lab operations require use of thicker reusable
gloves (cryogenic, heat-resistant, cut-resistant, etc)
• Do NOT reuse thin single-use gloves. Do not blow on them to
reinflate, twirl around rapidly to reinflate, pull on the potentially
contaminated outside to reinflate, wash and dry to use again
• Dispose of all used disposable gloves in a biohazard box
When not to wear your PPE
• In the lunchroom
• In the bathroom
• Using your office
computer
• Using your cellphone
• On the UM shuttle
What about between lab spaces?
If you are moving materials or equipment between labs or
buildings,
• Where possible, use secondary containment like a bucket
• “one glove policy”- one glove on to hold the material, one
ungloved hand to open doors, push elevator buttons, etc.
• If you cannot hold the material in one hand, use a cart and/or
request help from a lab mate
Work Practice Controls
• Wash your hands immediately after removing your gloves
• Do not eat, drink or apply cosmetics in the laboratory
• Follow University guidelines for disposing of biomedical waste
• Maintain the laboratory in a clean and orderly manner
• Promptly clean-up spills of biological material
• All procedures involving blood or OPIM must be performed in
a manner that minimizes spraying, splattering or generation of
aerosols
Labeling and Waste
Equipment, containers, and waste must be
properly labeled; this includes
• Containers of regulated waste
• Refrigerators & freezers
• Containers used to store, transport or ship blood or
OPIM
• Centrifuges
• Any potentially contaminated waste should be
disposed of through the special medical waste
stream at UMB EHS; biohazard boxes and bags
are provided by request at 6-7055 or on the EHS
website
• No chemical, radioactive, or liquid waste should
be placed in the biological waste disposal
containers
Decontamination
Anything that comes in contact with blood or OPIM must be
decontaminated or sterilized before next use or in the event of a
spill. Always wear appropriate PPE when cleaning up.
Use a 1:10 dilution of household bleach, let stand for at least 10
minutes, then clean off with water or 70% ethanol. An EPAapproved disinfectant may also be used.
(https://www.epa.gov/pesticide-registration/selected-epa-registered-disinfectants )
What to do if you have an exposure
• Stop work immediately, inform others in your area
• If a splash or spill: Wash exposed area with soap and water for
15 minutes; irrigate mucous membranes with water for 15
minutes
• Seek medical care if needed.
During business hours, on or near campus
UMB Immediate Care (UMIC) 408 W. Lombard St., (667)214-1899,
Open M-F 7am to 5pm.
After hours, seek attention from the UMMC Emergency Room,
your personal physician, or a local hospital
• Report the incident to your supervisor/sponsor and EHS ASAP,
but do not delay medical treatment if needed
In an emergency, call 911 (campus phone campus police;
personal phone Baltimore police)
Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC)
Any work with any human materials (including human cell
lines)/recombinant DNA/viruses must be registered with the IBC.
All personnel working on these materials must also be listed.
Does my research need to be registered with the IBC? Contact
EHS at 6-7055, we’ll let you know!
How do I submit a protocol? Use the CICERO research
evaluation portal at https://cicero.umaryland.edu
Note for ANIMAL work: please be aware that the IACUC will not
approve your protocol until you have received IBC approval
Biosafety questions? Contact Matthew Fischer, Biosafety Officer,
at 410-706-7845
Questions about Bloodborne
Pathogens?
Chemical Safety in the Laboratory
OSHA Standard for Occupational Exposure to
Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories
Requires that the University provide:
• Written chemical hygiene plan
• Chemical exposures assessments
• Information and training on working with chemicals
• Medical consultation
• Proper labeling of chemical containers
• Access to information on chemical health hazards
• Designation of a chemical hygiene officer
• Recordkeeping
UMB Chemical Hygiene Plan (CHP)
The Standard requires employers to establish methods to detect the presence or
release of hazardous chemicals, to communicate physical and health hazards of
chemicals in the lab environment, identifies measures employees can use to protect
themselves.
These elements are summarized in the University CHP, available online, which includes:
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Safe work practices
Personal hygiene
Storing chemicals
Transporting chemicals
Compressed gas cylinders
Leaving operations unattended
Laboratory safety equipment
• Labeling chemicals
• Chemical hazards
• Emergency and spill response
procedures
• Reporting injuries or illnesses
• Medial consultation
• Personal Protective Equipment
The GHS
As of March 2012, the U.S. adopted the UN’s Globally
Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals
(GHS). Subsequently, OSHA revised the Hazard Communication
Standard (HCS) to align with the majority of the elements of the
GHS.
The GHS is an internationally standardized approach to hazard
communication that provides a harmonized system of
classification and labeling and revised organization of safety data
sheets (SDSs).
What does this mean to you?
Three main areas of standardization:
• Classification of hazards
• Labeling requirements
• Safety data sheets
GHS Labeling
Chemicals will now be labeled using the following
elements when applicable:
• Pictograms (9) – graphic element encompassed by a red
diamond
• Signal Words – “Danger” or “Warning” to signify relative
severity of the hazard
• Hazard Statements – to describe the nature and degree of the
hazard
• Precautionary Statements - to describe recommended
measures to minimize or prevent adverse events
Safety Data Sheets (SDS)
16 sections under GHS:
1. Identification
2. Hazard(s) identification
3. Composition/information on ingredients
4. First-aid measures
5. Fire-fighting measures
6. Accidental release measures
7. Handling and Storage
8. Exposure controls/personal protection
9. Physical and chemical properties
10. Stability and reactivity
11. Toxicological information
12. Ecological information
13. Disposal considerations
OSHA does not regulate sections 12-15
14. Transport information
15. Regulatory information
16. Other information
Routes of Body
Exposure for Chemicals
Inhalation
Ingestion
Absorption
Injection
Carcinogens
• Carcinogens can cause the disease we call cancer. Simply
stated, cancer is uncontrolled cell growth
• Examples include:
– Aflatoxin, benzene, benzidine, ethylene oxide, acrylamide,
acrylonitrile, 1,3-Butadiene and formaldehyde
• Always use a fume hood when working with carcinogens
Corrosives
• Damage skin and eyes upon contact
• Damage your respiratory tract if inhaled
• Examples include:
– Hydrochloric acid and Sulfuric acid
– Sodium hydroxide and Ammonium hydroxide
• Store corrosives below eye level
• Use eye protection, wear protective gloves and a laboratory
coat
• If airborne exposure is suspected, use a fume hood
• If splashed in your eyes or on your body, wash the effected
area with water for 15 minutes and seek medical attention
Flammable Liquids
• Have flash points below 100oF
• Minimum temperature at which a liquid gives off
vapor in sufficient concentration to ignite if exposed
to a source of ignition
Examples:
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Hexane
Toluene
Xylene
Benzene
Ethanol
Isopropyl alcohol
• Ethylene glycol
• Ethers such as diethyl ether and
tetrahydrofuran
• Acetone
• Ethyl acetate and butyl acetate
Handling flammable liquids
• Keep away from sources of ignition
• Refrigerators used to store flammables
must be explosion proof
• Cold rooms are not appropriate
storage locations for flammable liquids
• Should be stored in a flammable
storage cabinet
Oxidizers
• Oxidizers are chemicals that support
combustion
• Oxidizers should never be stored with
flammable liquids
• Examples include
– Oxygen, chlorine, peroxides, nitric acid,
perchlorates, and permanganates
Cryogens
• Cryogens are chemicals that have temperatures
below NEGATIVE 100oF. Examples include helium and
nitrogen
• Can cause severe damage to your skin or eyes
• Wear gloves designed for working with cryogens and
a face shield
Peroxide-Forming Chemicals
• Can be an explosive hazard
• Examples include:
– Diethyl Ether
– Tetrahydrofuran
• Should be dated upon receipt and opening, stored away from
light, heat, and contact with atmospheric oxygen
• Should be disposed of within 6 months of opening or by the
expiry date, whichever comes first
If you use peroxide-forming chemicals in your lab,
please take EHS training on Working with Reactive
Chemicals
Formaldehyde
• Formaldehyde is covered by the OSHA Formaldehyde
Standard 29 CFR 1910.1048
• Additional information can be found on the OSHA
Formaldehyde Fact Sheet
• Individuals using formaldehyde and/or its derivatives
(paraformaldehyde, formalin) must contact EHS for
additional training
Chemical Storage and Incompatible
Chemicals
• Chemicals should not be stored based on alphabetical
order
• Examples of incompatible material:
– Acids and bases
– Oxidizers and flammable liquids
– Acids with bleach, cyanides, nitrites, and sulfides
• See EHS website for resources to help with Chemical
Segregation
Compressed Gas Cylinder Safety
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Cylinders are both physical hazards as well as hazards due to their
contents
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Secure them to wall or vertical clamp
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Use a cylinder cart with a chain restraint in place to move
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Valve protection caps should be installed on cylinders at all times
when not in use
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NEVER stick anything into the cylinder cap holes in an attempt to
loosen the cap
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Use an adjustable strap wrench to remove stuck caps
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If the cap is still difficult to remove, attach a tag or label to the
cylinder identifying the problem and return the cylinder to the
supplier
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Report a leaking cylinder
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CO2 and N2 are oxygen displacers- do not use in confined spaces,
ensure adequate ventilation
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N2 is a cryogen
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O2 is an oxidizer (will make other material more likely to explode or
react)
Engineering Control: Fume hoods
• Used for chemical work
• Do not store material in a fumehood
• Tested annually by EHS
– If fume hood fails testing, remove all
materials from the hood, discontinue use,
and post a sign indicating that hood may not
be used
• If the fume hood alarm sounds or
lacks adequate air flow, contact
Facilities Management for repair
Keep Fume Hoods and Biosafety
Cabinets Clear Of Storage and
Unnecessary Material
Door Signage System
Check and make sure doors into your lab are appropriately
signed, with emergency contact information, and appropriate
hazard symbols
New or updated door signs may be requested for free at MyEHS
Labeling Chemical Containers
• Anytime you transfer a chemical into a separate container, the
new container must be labeled with the full name and
percentage of all components and any hazard information
associated
• Ensure that labels on chemicals are not removed or become
illegible
General Good Practices when
Working with Chemicals
• Read and understand the University CHP
• Learn about chemical hazards associated with your research
by looking up the SDS
• Post and follow any warning signs
• Use proper PPE – gloves, eye protection, lab coat
• Assume that any unfamiliar chemical is hazardous
• Consider that a mixture of chemicals is at least as hazardous
as its most hazardous element
• Do not use any unlabeled substances
Where to find more information
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The EHS website and Chemwatch SDS system
Your supervisor
Your fellow labmates
Call EHS! We’re happy to help x6-7055
Keep Areas Around
Safety Equipment Clear
Eye Wash Stations
Check weekly to ensure clear water flow
Safety Showers
Keep area under safety showers clear of all material
Electrical Panels
Electrical Panels must be kept free from obstructions
• Sufficient access and working space shall be provided
and maintained about all electric equipment to permit
ready and safe operation and maintenance of such
equipment.
Questions about Chemicals Safety
in the Laboratory?
Hazardous Waste Management
Program
Who is required to receive this training?
If you…
• Decide which wastes are hazardous wastes
• Add or remove hazardous waste to or from accumulation
containers
• Respond to spills, fires, explosions involving hazardous
waste
• Conduct tasks involving occupational exposure to
hazardous waste
What does this training entail?
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What is hazardous waste?
How do I accumulate hazardous waste?
How do I get rid of hazardous waste?
Waste Minimization/Pollution Prevention
How do I respond to emergencies involving
hazardous waste?
• Special Medical Waste (SMW) Disposal
What is Hazardous Waste?
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA),
regulated by the US Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA)
• defines hazardous waste as any waste that exhibits at least
one of four hazardous characteristics or appears on one of
the four hazardous wastes lists
• Generally applied to “solid wastes”, which has a very broad
definition, so consider most chemical waste generated in your
lab to fall under this regulation
Four Characteristics and Four Lists
Characteristics:
Lists:
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• P and U list: Hazardous waste
from pure or commercial grade
chemical products; P is “acute”
hazardous waste – generated in
labs
• F and K list: Hazardous waste
from manufacturing or industrial
processes, where K generated
from specific processes and F
from non-specific – not
generated in labs
ignitable
corrosive
reactive
toxic
Characteristic: Ignitable
• A liquid that has a flash point of less than 60oC (140oF),
• Non-liquids capable of causing fire through friction,
absorption or moisture, or spontaneously changes and
when ignited burns so vigorously and persistently that
it creates a hazard,
• An ignitable compressed gas, or
• An oxidizer
Note that some aqueous solutions (at least 50% water by
weight) that have less than 24% alcohol content lose their
ignitability designation by EPA standards so do not need to
be sent to EHS
Examples of Ignitable Wastes
• Organic solvents (i.e. xylene, methanol or ethanol greater
than 24%, hexane)
• Paint thinner
• Activated carbon
• Ether
• Silver Nitrate
• Ammonium Persulfate
Characteristic: Corrosive
• Aqueous or liquid wastes with a pH
less than or equal to 2 or greater
than or equal to 12.5; or
• Liquid that corrodes steel at a rate
greater that 6.35 mm per year at
55oC
Examples of Corrosive Wastes
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Hydrochloric acid
Acetic Acid
Sodium Hydroxide
Ammonium Hydroxide
Battery Acids
Characteristic: Reactive
Materials that, under normal conditions,
are:
• Unstable and readily undergo violent
change;
• React violently with water;
• May give off toxic gases; or
• May be capable of detonation or
explosion
Examples of Reactive Wastes
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Butyl Lithium
Lithium Aluminum Hydride
Potassium Cyanide
Nitrophenylhydrazine
Sodium metal
A cyanide or sulfide bearing
waste which when exposed to
pH conditions between 2 and
12.5 can generate toxic gases,
vapors or fumes
Characteristic: Toxic
• One of 41 chemicals in a
concentration equal to or
greater than the respective
value listed in 40 CFR 261.24
• 8 metals (As, Ba, Cd, Cr, Hg,
Pb, Se, Ag)
• 33 herbicides, pesticides,
other organics
Examples of Toxic Wastes
• Paint wastes containing lead, chromium or
silver
• Mercury waste from dental amalgams
• Silver waste from x-ray processing equipment
• Chloroform
P & U Listed Wastes
Many of the chemicals used in University research labs may fall
under the P or U-listed waste categories, as discarded
Commercial Chemical Products
Examples include:
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Osmium Tetroxide (P)
Cyanide salts (P)
Sodium Azide (P)
Phenol (P)
Nitrophenol (U)
Acrylamide (U)
Lead Acetate (U)
Tetrahydrofuran (U)
Waste Mixtures
The EPA also regulates waste mixtures, which are
defined as:
• A mixture of a non hazardous solid waste and one
or more listed hazardous wastes
• A mixture of a non hazardous solid waste and one
or more characteristic hazardous wastes, unless
the mixture does not exhibit any of the hazardous
waste characteristics
Hazardous Waste Accumulation
Requirements
Hazardous Waste may be accumulated at the site of generation
until either…
• 55 gallons of hazardous waste are accumulated; or
• 1 quart (~1L) of acutely hazardous waste (P-listed) are
accumulated
Hazardous Waste Accumulation
Requirements
• All waste generated in the laboratories must be under the control of the
operator of the process generating the waste.
• Waste containers must be at or near the process generating the waste.
• Incompatible wastes cannot be placed into the same container if the
placement could lead to a hazardous chemical reaction
• Containers holding hazardous waste must be kept closed except when it is
necessary to add or remove waste.
• Containers must be managed to avoid releases
• Do not completely fill containers
• Keep ignitable and reactive wastes away from ignition sources
• Use secondary containment as required
Hazardous Waste Labeling
Any container used to contain or accumulate hazardous waste
MUST be labeled with:
• The words “Hazardous Waste”
• The date waste was initially added to the container
• All chemical constituents and their concentrations (% by weight,
add up to 100%)
• no abbreviations, chemical formulas, or trade names
• written in English
Examples of correctly labeled
Hazardous Waste
Containers to hold Hazardous Waste
Commercial containers may be reused to hold hazardous waste
if:
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The container is in good condition;
Waste placed into a container is compatible with the container;
The original label has been completely obscured or removed; AND
The original container did not contain a P-listed waste
EHS can also provide hazardous waste
containers (plastic only)- call 6-7055 or
request on the chemical waste removal
online form
How to Dispose of Waste
Submit a request for hazardous waste removal from
EHS at
http://www.umaryland.edu/ehs/
Waste will be removed within three working days
Special Instructions for Removal
• Make sure to include both building name and room
number on your request form
• Do not place hazardous waste in areas accessible to
the general public, in the general trash or an area
where it may be mistaken for trash
• Segregate hazardous waste from chemicals in use, in
a safe but conspicuous location
Special note: Unknown Waste
Without an accurate description, chemicals can not be
disposed of in a safe manner.
• Analysis of unknowns can cost several hundred
dollars.
• EHS does reserve the right to institute a charge-back
program for the charges associated with the analysis.
To prevent costly analysis, always make sure all
containers in your lab are appropriately labeled
Special note: Ethidium Bromide (EtBr)
While EtBr is not regulated by the EPA, the
University does handle disposal as though it is
regulated
• Turn contaminated aqueous solutions into EHS for
disposal
• For contaminated solid gels, they can be disposed of
in the red biohazard bags, to be collected by EHS
Special note: Broken Glass
• EHS does not provide broken glass boxes;
they can be purchased from multiple
vendors
• Do NOT use Biohazard boxes for broken
glassware
• Do not dispose of special medical waste or
biohazards in broken glass boxes as they
enter the regular waste stream
Special note: Empty chemical bottles
In general, empty chemical containers that are not
broken may be disposed of through regular
housekeeping streams, provided:
• They are completely empty
• All labels have been obscured and can no longer be read
• They do not contain any potential biohazards
• They never contained an acutely toxic chemical (P-list)
University Policy on Waste Minimization
The reduction to the extent feasible, of hazardous wastes generated
prior to treatment, storage, and disposal, through any source
reduction or recycling activity that results in
• reduction of the total volume of hazardous waste, or
• reduction of the toxicity of the hazardous waste.
What this means to you?
• Consider if your research activity can be performed without
generation of hazardous waste
• Only purchase what you need for your work for a reasonable
amount of time
University Policy on Pollution Prevention
Relates to the use of raw materials, processes, or practices that reduce
or eliminate the creation of pollutants or wastes at the source,
including practices that reduce the use of hazardous and nonhazardous materials, energy, water, or other resources as well as those
that protect natural resources through conservation or more efficient
use.
What this means to you?
• Consider if your research activity can be performed without the use
of materials that may pollute or cause waste streams to the
environment
• Use your resources efficiently and make sure you dispose of
materials appropriately to reduce impact on the environment
Chemical Spill Response
For small spills:
• Notify others in your area of the spill
• Leave the room and close the door to control
access
• Wear appropriate PPE (eye protection, lab coat,
gloves, respirator if needed)
• Control the source of the spill
• Control the spread of the spill
• Absorb any free standing liquid that has spread
behind or under equipment
• Dispose of any spill debris and clean up material
as hazardous waste
• Restock spill response supplies
If anyone is injured
CALL 911
Special Medical Waste Disposal
Special Medical Waste (SMW) is defined as :
• Cultures and stocks of infectious agents and associated biologicals, or
• Human pathological waste including tissues, organs and body parts
and body fluids and specimens of body fluids and their containers
• Human blood and blood products including items saturated and/or
dripping with human blood and their containers (intravenous bags)
• Sharps that have been used in animal or patient care or treatment
and broken or unbroken glassware that were in contact with infectious
agents (slides and cover slips)
Special Medical Waste Disposal
• Sharps must be placed into a puncture
resistant sharps container
• Laboratory materials, blood soiled
articles, Petri plates, and other dry
stock/culture materials- place into a prelined SMW disposal box (burn box)
• Whole blood or blood components can
be disposed down the sanitary sewer
• Animal carcasses must be double
bagged and frozen
How to Dispose of Special Medical Waste
• The large grey carts are generally removed from your area on
a set schedule
• If the cart has not been picked up or is full, please call EHS at
6-7055
• Burn boxes and sharps containers- submit a request for
special medical waste removal from EHS at
http://www.umaryland.edu/ehs/
Specify your building and room number, ensure the containers
are fully sealed and it is clear which container is to be removed.
Waste will be removed within three working days
Questions about Hazardous Waste
Management?
What to do in an Emergency
Fire Evacuation Plan
You should:
• Know the location of exits, fire alarms,
and your building’s muster station
• Identify your floor’s emergency
warden
• Be familiar with your building’s
Evacuation Plan
What to do in case of FIRE:
Remove Alarm Contain Evacuate
• Activate a manual pull station
• Call 911 (Campus police)
• Evacuate the building in an orderly
manner, as directed by your fire
warden
• Do not re-enter the building until
directed to do so by emergency
personnel
Safe Evacuation Practices
• Walk, don’t run
• Stay in single file in
stairways
• Obey Fire Wardens
• Don’t Panic
Don’t Use Elevators
Campus Emergency
Notification System
In the event of a campus emergency, information will be posted
at https://www.umaryland.edu/emergency/alerts/ and on the
emergency information phone line at 410-706-8622
Sign up for text message alerts for up-to-date campus
emergency information.
Lab Security
• Laboratory doors should be closed to maintain negative
pressure in the labs, especially when the lab is unoccupied
• If no one is in the lab and/or it is after hours, laboratory doors
should be closed and locked
• If you see something, say something. Behavior or
circumstances that may warrant a call to campus police:
–
–
–
–
Someone unfamiliar in your lab space or floor with no legitimate cause
A suspicious and unattended package
Anyone forcibly entering a space, or tampering with property
Suspicious or noxious odors
“Homework” after this course
• Know how to find information on the EHS website:
– How to access SDSs
– How to report an injury
– Read the University Chemical Hygiene Plan
• Know your lab:
– Look around- where are your chemicals stored? Do you work with any
particularly hazardous materials? What are the procedures for disposing of
biological and hazardous chemical waste? Where is your PPE and how do you
replace it or get it cleaned? Where is the emergency equipment and first aid
kit?
• Ask your PI:
– Whether you need additional training on Radiation Safety, Reactive Chemicals, DOT
infectious and biological materials shipping
– Are you doing any work with human materials? Recombinant DNA? Radiation? Animals?
Have you been registered with the appropriate committees?
• If you expect to work with any bloodborne pathogens and have not or
don’t know if you have received the HBV vaccine, contact UMIC to obtain
or fill out a declination form
Thanks!
If you have any questions after the course or
need more information
www.umaryland.edu/ehs
(410)706-7055