DOW + U = Lab Safety
Roberta Eiker
University of Minnesota
Principal Environmental Health & Safety Technician
Department of Environmental Health & Safety
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Initiative
Through a partnership with Dow Chemical
the Department of Chemistry, Chemical
Engineering, and Materials Science are
leading a campaign to improve and sustain
the safety culture in laboratories.
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JST
The Joint Safety Team (JST) is a researcherled organization focused on improving the
culture of safety in chemical laboratories at
the University of Minnesota. The JST
consists of all graduate student or postdoc
Laboratory Safety Officers (LSOs) within the
Departments of CHEM and CEMS.
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JST Events
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September 24th, 2012: Kick-Off Event
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November 5th-December 17th, 2012: Student-Led Laboratory Walkthroughs
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January 7-11th, 2013: Cleanup Week
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January 16th, 2013: LSO Training and Website Launch www.jst.umn.ed
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March-April, 2013: Second Round of Student-Led Laboratory Walkthroughs
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April 30th, 2013, : Workshop on Standard Operating Procedures
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June 10th - 14th, 2013: Cleanup Week Part II: Electronics/Equipment Disposal
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July 29th, 2013: All LSO Meeting
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CARE Campaign
Compliance: improve compliance with lab standards on hazardous waste
handling, sample and chemical storage, lab cleanliness, and the wearing of
personal protective equipment (PPE);
Awareness: improve awareness of safety hazards, best practices, and
available resources around the theme of “Safety Starts with U!”
Resources: improve the quality of and access to safety resources,
including the standardization of laboratory signs, development of safety
websites, and PPE such as goggles, lab coats, and gloves; and
Education: improve the training and ongoing education of laboratory
safety officers and researchers.
JST Website www.jst.umn.edu
Compliance
Reduce Clutter
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Not Enough Information
Waste Collection & Labeling
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Collection bottles and lids must be compatible with the chemicals stored in them.
Label must have the words HAZARDOUS WASTE, START and FILL DATE.
Legible listing of contents and their percentages.
Check box for each Hazard that is applicable to the waste.
Chemical Waste
DCC (Drum Designator Code):
Hazard class code
2 numbers and 2 letters
##XX
UofM, DESH
http://www.dehs.umn.edu/hazwaste_chemwaste_umn_cwmgbk_sec2.htm
Disposal type code
Waste Storage In Labs
• Collection bottles must be kept capped, properly labeled and
stored in a safe location in the lab.
• Bottles containing liquids should be stored with secondary
containment.
• Never store containers with an open bung or a funnel in them.
• Waste containers should be stored in appropriate locations,
ideally in flammable liquid or acid storage cabinets. Keep
them out of the way of foot traffic and away from drains.
What NOT to do!
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Awareness
Joint Safety Team in the news
February 8, 2013: UMNews
October 29, 2012: C&EN News
October 01, 2012: Minnesota Daily
September 25, 2012: University of Minnesota
Department of Chemistry
• May 4, 2012: Science Careers Blog
• May 2, 2012: C&En Safety Zone Blog
• April 30, 2012: The Dow Chemical Company press
release.
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Resources
JST Website
www.jst.umn.edu
LSO Guidebook
Four sections to binder
1) LSO Roles & Responsibilities
2) Standard Operating Procedures
3) Record Keeping
4) Information and Templates
Unknown Testing
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Unknown Testing Results
• Instruction to 38 LSO’s and grad students on unknown
chemical testing
• Identified 188 chemicals for Chemical Engineering and
Material Sciences
• Identified 133 chemicals for the Dept of Chemistry.
• DEHS involvement saved $4494- $11235
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Preparing Waste for Transport
 Segregate and package waste using DDC code.
 Complete waste forms.
 Package waste appropriately.
 Submit waste forms to the Chemical Waste Program, or S43
for Smith and Koltoff Labs.
 Once forms have been reviewed by CWP, boxes will be
collected by Haz Mat Technicians.
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Pure Compounds
• Segregate chemicals by DDC code.
• Use arrows to indicate multiple containers.
• List amounts in Kilograms (solids) and Liters (liquids
Packaging Waste
• Use sturdy and appropriate sized boxes.
• All bottles must be tightly capped and packed in an upright position.
• Use absorbent material to separate the inner containers; acceptable materials
include vermiculite (preferred choice), cardboard dividers, or crumpled
newspaper.
• There should be no "clinking" sound heard from contact between glass bottles.
Education
Training
Laboratory users with the CHEM and CEMS
Departments
The following are required for all laboratory users
with the CHEM and CEMS Departments:
• Introduction to Research Safety
• Chemical Safety
• Chemical Waste Management
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Safety Moments
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Safety Articles & News
Emergency Procedures
Learning Experience Moments
PPE
Safe Working habits
Chemical Exposure
Chemicals=Aqua Regia, peroxide forming, H2S,Hg, HF
Equipment
Hazardous Waste
Resources
Ergonomics
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Future