General Laboratory Safety
Training
Presented by Martina Schmeling
Adapted 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 Measures
on 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 Words
on 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 waterreactive reagents)
Color and Number Coded Label
Systems
NFPA-type label
3
4
Colors represent kind of hazard
•
•
•
•
2
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
Color and Number Coded
Label Systems
NFPA-type labels
Black = specific hazard
• OX = Oxidizer
3
4
• ACID = Acid
2
COR
• 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
MSDS (cont’d)
• Emergency/first-aid procedures to follow
• Accidental Release Measures
What to do if substance spills and leaks
How to correctly dispose of substance
Equipment/procedures for cleaning up
spills and leaks
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
Protection
Respirator
Gloves
Eye protection
Protective clothing
Ventilation
• Special work and hygiene practices
that should be followed
MSDS (cont’d)
• Exposure Limits
 Threshold Limit Value (TLV)
TLV-C
TLV-STEL
TLV-TWA
Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL)
Recommended Exposure Limit (REL)
MSDS (cont’d)
• Toxicological Information
LC50: 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
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 gms
OR
– LD50  200 mg/kg by continuous contact for 24 hrs with
skin of albino rabbits each weighing between 2 and 3
kg
OR
– 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 working
with 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/