Columbia University Policy for Safe
Use of Chemicals In Laboratories
What's in this section
I. Statement of Policy
II. Chemical Hygiene Responsibilities
III. Laboratory Facility
a. Design and Equipment
b. Maintenance
c. Evaluation
IV. Chemical Hygiene Plan
a. General Laboratory Procedures
b. Engineering Controls
c. Work Habits
d. Chemical Procurement
e. Chemical Distribution
f. Chemical Storage
g. Environmental Monitoring
h. Chemical Hygiene and Housekeeping Provisions
i. Personal Protective Equipment
j. Medical Program
k. Recordkeeping
l. Signs and Labels
m. Fire Safety
n. Hazardous Chemical Releases and Spills
o. Accidents
p. Waste Disposal Program
q. Employee Information and Training
r. Peer Review of Proposed Projects
s. Policy Enforcement
Appendices
Appendix A: Occupational Safety and Health Standards for Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories
Final Rule (29 CFR 1910.1450)
Appendix B: Laboratory Checklist
Appendix C: New York City Fire Department 1-66
Appendix D: Glossary
Appendix E: Chemical Storage Scheme
Appendix F: Sample MSDS
Appendix G: Sample Permit
Appendix H: OSHA 1910.134
Appendix I: Accident Report
Appendix J: Safety Bulletin
Appendix K: Sample Chemical Waste Disposal Request Form
Appendix L: Laboratory Health and Safety Training Outline
Appendix M: Prior Approval Protocol
Appendix N: Standard Operating Procedures for Particularly Hazardous Materials
Appendix O: Standard Operating Procedures for Physical Hazards in the Laboratory
I. Statement of Policy
On January 31, 1990 the Federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration
(OSHA) adopted the Occupational Safety and Health Standards for Hazardous Chemicals in
Laboratories Final Rule (29 CFR 1910.1450,
hereinafter referred to as the Laboratory Standard and attached as Appendix A), which regulates
exposure to hazardous chemicals in laboratories.
It is the policy of Columbia University to comply with all applicable requirements of the Laboratory
Standard by addressing the unique exposure conditions
under which laboratory work is performed, and to protect laboratory workers from adverse health
effects that may result from their work in laboratories,
regardless of what hazardous substances are used. It is also the policy of the University to fully
comply with all other statutes and regulations that pertain to laboratory operations and facilities.
Accordingly, Columbia University has implemented a comprehensive training and safety program to
inform employees not only of potential hazards to which
they may be exposed, but also of whatever specific procedures and equipment are required to control
and minimize exposure to hazardous substances. Departments and Administrative Units are required to
provide this health and safety training information to their laboratory employees and to comply with
the University's Chemical Hygiene Plan as mandated by OSHA. The University Office of
Environmental Health and Radiation Safety provides university-wide assistance to accomplish this
goal.
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II. Chemical Hygiene Responsibilities
The Chief Executive Officer has ultimate responsibility for chemical hygiene within the institution,
and, with other administrators, provides continuing
support for institutional chemical hygiene.
The University Laboratory Safety Committee is responsible for ensuring that the University
complies with the Chemical Hygiene Plan and that the
Plan accurately and completely meets institutional needs and regulatory mandates. The University
Laboratory Safety Committee shall consist of the
following officers or their high level designees:
Provost of the University (Chair of the Committee)
Senior Vice President
Vice President for Facilities Management
Vice President for Arts and Sciences
General Counsel
Dean, School of Engineering and Applied Science
Director, Office of Environmental Health and Safety
University Medical Officer
Chemical Hygiene Officer
Chairs of:
Physics
Chemistry
Biology
Chemical Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Directors of:
Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory
Nevis Laboratory
The Committee will administer and enforce the provisions of the University's Chemical Hygiene Plan,
and will revise or modify it as necessary.
The Environmental and Occupational Health Office (EHRS) and/or the Lamont-Doherty Safety
officer (Raymond T. Long x8860, x8822) will:
--Provide data relative to regulated substances and their proper use;
--Provide technical support to the University Laboratory Safety Committee;
--Develop and update the Chemical Hygiene Plan on behalf of the Committee;
--Conduct laboratory surveys, including air monitoring;
--Maintain all relevant records (training, air monitoring surveys, departmental notification
procedures, etc.);
--Help Principal Investigators develop precautions and provide assistance in complying with the
Chemical Hygiene Plan;
--Coordinate repair of improperly functioning safety equipment with Facilities Management;
--Accompany any regulatory inspector having jurisdiction over health and safety matters;
--Enforce, on behalf of and in concert with the Laboratory Safety Committee, the provisions of the
Chemical Hygiene Plan;
The Principal Investigator will:
--Have overall responsibility for chemical hygiene in his/her laboratories;
--Ensure that laboratory employees are informed of, and follow, the chemical hygiene rules and
procedures;
--Ensure that appropriate personal protective equipment (gloves, lab coats, goggles, etc.) and health
and safety equipment (blast shields, spill control
material, etc.) are available and in use as required;
--Ensure that appropriate chemical hygiene training has been provided;
--Conduct a visual survey of laboratories on a periodic basis to ensure safe working conditions (See
Appendix B for a recommended checklist);
--Immediately report improperly functioning equipment directly to the Lamont-Doherty Safety Officer
(Raymond T. Long x8860, x8822).
The Project Director, who is designated by the Principal Investigator, will:
--Have primary responsibility for chemical hygiene procedures for specific operations outlined by the
Principal Investigator, including the procurement
and use of necessary health and safety items;
--Immediately report improperly functioning equipment to the Principal Investigator or the LamontDoherty Safety Officer (Raymond T. Long x8860, x8822).
The Laboratory employee will:
--Plan and conduct each operation in accordance with the general procedures specified herein, as well
as whatever additional specific procedures are
required by his/her supervisor;
--Maintain good personal chemical hygiene habits;
--Immediately report improperly functioning equipment such as fume hoods directly to the Principal
Investigator, the Project Director, or the Lamont-Doherty
Safety Officer (Raymond T. Long x8860, x8822.
The Facilities Management Office will:
--Provide regular maintenance of laboratory equipment such as fume hoods, safety showers,
eyewashes, etc.;
--Promptly repair improperly functioning equipment;
--Notify affected laboratory personnel prior to removal or shutdown of utilities or laboratory safety
equipment (hoods, showers, etc.).
The General Counsel's Office will:
--Provide oversight in matters relating to statutory issues;
--Insure that the provisions of this policy satisfy legal requirements.
The University Health Service will:
-- provide medical consultation and monitoring as required by the Laboratory Standard.
Chairs and Directors will:
--Develop notification procedures for their departmental laboratories;
--Monitor inventory program.
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III. Laboratory Facility
Design and equipment:
All laboratory facilities at Lamont-Doherty will have:
--An appropriate general ventilation system with air intakes and exhausts located so as to avoid intake
of contaminated air;
--Properly functioning laboratory fume hoods for operations that give off noxious odors, or flammable
or poisonous vapors, or radioactive materials and that:
i) are vented so that a minimum average face velocity of 100 feet per minute, with minimum face
velocity at any point not less than 75 feet per minute, is
provided.
ii) whenever possible have ducted exhaust fans located outside the building on the roof;
iii) in circumstances where perchloric acid is heated above ambient temperature must contain
wash down provisions to remove trapped vapors within the
hood and duct exhaust system.
--Fully charged ABC or carbon dioxide fire extinguishers located both at the laboratory exit and within
50 feet of any point in the laboratory. At least one
fire extinguisher shall be provided for each 2500 square feet of laboratory area;
--A fixed overhead or flexible handheld deluge shower/eyewash located within 25 feet of the
laboratory door where more than 5 gallons of corrosive
acids or flammable liquids are stored or used;
--Properly functioning laboratory sinks and drains;
--Appropriate spill control material/equipment such as sodium bicarbonate for acid spills, boric or
citric acid for alkali spills, activated charcoal for organic
solvent spills, or commercial spill control pads, pillows and booms;
--A campus telephone prominently labeled with emergency phone numbers for Fire and Medical
Emergencies, Facilities Emergencies, and EHRS.
Maintenance:
EHRS personnel will regularly inspect and test eyewashes at least once every 3 months and safety
showers and fume hoods once every year. Fire
extinguishers within and outside the laboratory shall be checked every 6 months by EHRS.
Malfunctioning safety equipment detected by laboratory
personnel during attempted use or departmental laboratory surveys and discharged fire extinguishers
should be reported immediately to the Lamont-Doherty
Safety Officer (Raymond T. Long x8860, x8822) for coordination of prompt repair or replacement.
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Evaluation:
The quality and quantity of local exhaust ventilation shall be evaluated on installation and whenever a
change in local ventilation devices is made. Hood face
velocity shall be periodically measured by EHRS (at least yearly) and upon request.
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IV. Chemical Hygiene Plan
The University Chemical Hygiene Plan has been developed to protect employees and students of
Columbia University from exposure to hazardous or
potentially hazardous laboratory chemicals through the implementation of the provisions outlined
below. These provisions, designed to comply with the
requirements of the OSHA Laboratory Standard, include such elements as general laboratory
procedures, engineering controls, chemical procurement,
distribution and storage, environmental monitoring, and employee information and training. In order
to minimize the hazards of chemical exposures, the
following provisions shall be implemented for all work involving hazardous or potentially hazardous
substances.
All laboratory personnel who handle hazardous chemicals must comply with the following standard
operating procedures. In addition, laboratory Project
Directors and Principal Investigators must develop written safety protocols for any research projects
involving specific hazards of a particular chemical or
class of chemicals. These written safety protocols must be maintained in the laboratory, used in
laboratory training, and made available upon request to
laboratory workers. Please refer to Appendices N and O regarding standard operating procedures for
"high-hazard" chemicals and physical hazards in the laboratory.
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General Laboratory Procedures:
--Avoid unnecessary or routine exposure to chemicals by any route (inhalation, skin/eyes, ingestion).
Be alert to circumstances that can result in inadvertent
exposure. Bending down to clean up a spill of an extremely volatile liquid, for example, may result
in an inhalation exposure. Chemicals can be absorbed
through the skin when clothing, shoes, or lab coats are contaminated with chemicals.
--Do not attempt to identify chemicals by smell or taste. Never use mouth suction for pipetting or
starting a siphon.
--Avoid eating, drinking, gum chewing, or the application of cosmetics in areas where laboratory
chemicals are present. Wash hands before conducting
these activities. Avoid storage, handling or consumption of food or beverages in chemical storage
areas and environmental rooms. Refrigerators, glassware,
or utensils that are used for laboratory operations must not be used for any other purposes.
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Engineering Controls:
Engineering controls such as the laboratory fume hood and the design of closed-system experiments
are the primary means of controlling or minimizing
hazardous chemical releases. The following provisions shall apply:
--Apparatus or operations that may discharge toxic chemicals shall be continuously vented or
conducted into local exhaust devices.
--Engage only in operations for which the quality of the available ventilation system is appropriate.
Factors to consider include the toxicity, quantity, and
rate of evaporation of the chemical(s), type of procedure, and frequency of exposure. For example,
use a fume hood for operations that might result in
the release of toxic vapors or dusts. Such operations include the use of volatile substances,
operations that may result in the generation of aerosols, and
any manipulation, handling, or reaction that may result in the uncontrollable release of the substance.
As a rule of thumb, use a fume hood or other local
ventilation device when working with any appreciably volatile substance with a Permissible
Exposure Limit (PEL) or Threshold Limit Value (TLV) of less
than 50 PPM or when working with any volatile hazardous chemical (those with vapor pressures
above 20 mm Hg). Procedures involving moderately or
slightly toxic chemicals (those with PELs or TLVs greater than 100 PPM and 500 PPM respectively)
may have to be conducted in a fume hood depending
on the quantity involved and the rate of evaporation. Permissible Exposure Limits are exposure
standards mandated by the Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA) and are legally enforceable. Threshold Limit Values (TLVs) are exposure
standards set by the American Conference of
Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH). (See glossary, attached as Appendix D.)
--Use only those fume hoods for which an average face velocity of 100 FPM at a sash height of 12
inches has been confirmed and noted on the fume hood
by EHRS. Do not use fume hoods that are posted as "OUT OF SERVICE-DO NOT USE THIS
HOOD."
--Keep sash openings to the height specified by EHRS to maximize flow and minimize operator
exposure.
--Minimize materials that are stored in hoods and do not allow materials or apparatus to block baffles,
vents, or air flow. Sources of emissions should be
kept at least 6 inches inside the hoods.
--Ensure that fume hoods that can be individually controlled by an on/off switch are left on when the
hood is used for the storage of toxic substances, or if it
is uncertain whether adequate general laboratory ventilation will be continuously maintained.
--Do not allow the release of toxic substances in environmental rooms (cold and warm rooms) since
these have recirculated atmospheres that may allow for
a dangerous build-up of air contaminants as well as provide an ignition source for flammable
vapors.
--Use glove boxes that have been smoke-tested, tagged, and approved by EHRS to ensure that
negative air pressure is maintained.
--Do not add to or modify local exhaust ventilation devices without the prior written approval of
EHRS.
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Work Habits:
--Handle and store laboratory glassware with care. Do not use damaged glassware. Discard broken
glass in the designated glass waste container.
Use extra care with Dewar flasks and other evacuated glass apparatus. Shield or wrap them to
contain chemicals and fragments should implosion occur.
Use equipment only for its designated purpose.
--Avoid practical jokes or other behavior that might confuse, startle, or distract another worker.
--Confine long hair and loose clothing. Wear shoes at all times in the laboratory. Do not wear shorts
or open-toed shoes in the laboratory.
--Keep work areas clean and uncluttered. Clean up the work area upon completion of an operation.
--Clearly label and properly store all chemicals and equipment.
--Do not wear contact lenses in the laboratory since the lens material absorbs and thus concentrates
many common chemicals. Additionally, contact lenses
will impede a thorough flushing of the eye(s) in the event of a chemical splash.
--If possible, do not conduct hazardous operations or procedures alone. If it is not possible to have
someone working with you, inform Security and ask to
be checked at regular intervals.
Leave laboratory lights on when an operation is unattended. Place an appropriate sign on the door,
briefly stating the nature of the experiment, contact person,
and phone number. Provide for the containment of the toxic substances in the event of failure of an
engineering control such as a fume hood or utility service.
For example, working stills should be shielded with a blast shield and the hood sash should be lowered
to the minimum working distance.
--Wear the appropriate personal protective equipment (goggles, gloves, face shield, etc.) designated by
the Principal Investigator.
--Thoroughly wash areas of exposed skin before leaving the laboratory.
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Chemical Procurement:
Departments shall be responsible for maintaining an inventory of materials ordered or on hand, and
must produce inventory control records at the request of
regulatory agencies or the Chemical Hygiene Officer.
--Before a substance is used, information on proper handling, storage, and disposal should be made
known to those who will be exposed to it. A Material
Safety Data Sheet (MSDS), accompanying the shipment of the material, is one such source of
information(sample MSDS is attached in Appendix E).
These Material Safety Data Sheets are maintained at the receiving point (such as Chemstore,
Biology Stockroom, etc.). In addition, the EHRS office has
Material Safety Data Sheets on file on a computerized data base that contains approximately 54,000
Material Safety Data Sheets.
--In the event that MSDS information is incomplete, or in cases where the chemical is generated by the
laboratory itself, additional informational material may
be necessary and must be provided before the operation begins. Many health and safety reference
books are available in the EHRS library as well as in the
Departmental libraries for such use, and may be consulted at any time by any laboratory worker.
--Whenever possible, all chemical shipments must be received and logged in at designated
departmental locations (such as Chemstore, Biology Stockroom, etc.)
in order to satisfy inventory control requirements. Shipments may not be received directly by a
Principal Investigator, Project Director, laboratory worker, or
student.
--Expiration dates must be clearly marked for materials known to deteriorate or to become unstable or
reactive, including:
picrics originating at less than 10% hydration
perchlorates
peroxides
peroxidizable materials
polymerizers that react violently in polymerization or become hazardous after polymerization
--Stored chemicals must be examined periodically (at least annually) for deterioration and container
integrity. Dated chemicals must be disposed of before
expiration. Since ethers form explosive peroxides over time, they must be disposed of either 12
months after date of receipt or 6 months after being
opened, whichever comes first.
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Chemical Distribution:
When chemicals are hand-carried, they should be placed in a suitable outside container or bucket.
"Freight-only" elevators should be used if possible. Dumbwaiters must be used whenever they are
provided.
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Chemical Storage:
IN STOCKROOMS OR STOREROOMS:
--Hazardous substances shall be stored so that incompatible substances are properly segregated. Refer
to the recommended "Storage Scheme" in
Appendix F.
--Flammable materials (those with flashpoints <100 F) must be stored in premises that fully comply
with the Title 3, Chapter 10, RCNY.
IN LABORATORIES:
--Hazardous chemicals (flammable liquids, flammable solids, oxidizers, unstable/reactives) may be
stored only in amounts that comply with the Title 3,
Chapter 10, RCNY limits for Type 1 laboratories which are: 15 gallons flammable liquids, 3 pound
flammable solids, 20 pounds oxidizing materials,
and 2 pounds unstable/reactive materials.
--Storage and use of flammable gases within the laboratory units must be in accordance with Title 3,
Chapter 10, RCNY, which allows a maximum
capacity of 15.4 cubic feet per laboratory. Flammable gases may be stored only in laboratory units
where there is an on-going operation requiring their
use. Such operations shall allow for storage of flammable gases sufficient to meet the operating
requirements of the equipment in that laboratory plus an
equal reserve. A FLAMMABLE GAS sign must be posted at the entrance of the laboratory.
--Acids must be stored so that the container does not contact bare metal. Containers of acid can be
stored on plastic trays.
--Store nitric acid on plastic away from other acids, bare metals, and wood.
--Avoid storage of chemicals on bench tops, in fume hoods, on the floor, or near exits.
--Avoid exposing chemicals to heat or direct sunlight.
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Environmental Monitoring:
The EHRS office periodically conducts laboratory air monitoring surveys. Historical monitoring data
have indicated that airborne levels of hazardous
chemicals at Columbia University are well below the Permissible Exposure Limits mandated by
OSHA. Thus, regular monitoring of airborne concentrations
is not usually required. However, air monitoring is always conducted upon request by a laboratory
employee, Project Director, Principal Investigator, etc. Additionally, all laboratories are periodically
surveyed (at least annually) by EHRS staff who are trained industrial hygienists. When work methods
or conditions indicate a potential for exposure at or above the action level, air monitoring is conducted.
Such work methods or conditions may include:
i. use of an open vessel instead of a closed system;
ii. use of a procedure that involves significant quantities of hazardous chemicals over an
extended period of time;
iii. signs or symptoms of exposure (skin and eye irritation, shortness of breath, nausea,
headache, etc. experienced by laboratory workers).
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Chemical Hygiene and Housekeeping Provisions:
Principal Investigators shall conduct a visual survey of their laboratories on a periodic basis (at least
quarterly) to ensure safe working conditions. Please see Appendix B for a LABORATORY
CHECKLIST, part of which is excerpted below.
Safe laboratory working conditions require:
--Clear walkways, with unobstructed exits and no slipping/tripping hazards such as containers on the
floor or outlet strips or extension cords across
walkways;
--Unobstructed access to safety equipment such as fire extinguishers,
eyewashes, and safety showers;
--Equipment in safe operating condition, including: electrical wires in good condition and not
overloaded to any one outlet, pumps, mercury bubblers vented
to fume hoods, belt guards on pumps, all equipment electrically grounded, and refrigerators
properly designated and used (food/chemicals/flammables);
--Reasonably neat and clean counter tops and shelves;
--Maintenance: Malfunctioning safety equipment detected by laboratory personnel during attempted
use or visual surveys and used fire extinguishers should
be reported immediately to the Lamont-Doherty Safety Officer (Raymond T. Long x8860, x8822) to
coordinate prompt repair or replacement. See the
"Laboratory Design and Equipment" section on page 6 for additional maintenance responsibilities.
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Personal Protective Equipment:
Personal protective equipment (PPE) shall be used as necessary to augment the protection provided by
engineering controls, experiment design, standard
operating procedures, and good work practices. PPE should not be used as the primary means of
controlling hazardous chemical exposures! Selection
of PPE shall take into account a variety of factors including the identification of the hazards and taskspecific conditions, the routes of exposure (inhalation,
skin absorption, eye or skin contact, and /or ingestion), and the performance of the PPE materials in
providing a barrier to these hazards. PPE selection should
be specified by the Principal Investigator or Project Director in conjunction with the EHRS office.
Respirator use in the laboratory must be approved by the
EHRS office and must comply with respiratory protection requirements specified by OSHA 1910.134.
(See Appendix H.)
In general, the following PPE procedures shall apply:
--All persons, including visitors, must wear appropriate eye protection where chemicals are stored or
handled.
--Appropriate gloves must be worn when the potential for skin contact with a toxic material exists.
Glove selection should be based on the dermal toxicity
of the chemical, the chemical resistance of the glove material, and the exposure potential (potential
for splash, immersion, etc.). Chemical permeation
glove selection charts are available from specific manufacturer or the EHRS office. Inspect reusable
gloves before each use, wash them with soap and
water after use and replace them as needed.
--All other personal protective equipment such as face shields, lab coats, shoe covers, etc. specified by
the Principal Investigator or Project Director
must be used as directed.
--PPE such as laboratory coats must be removed immediately upon significant contamination.
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Medical Program:
Certain situations or exposure conditions may warrant medical consultation or monitoring of
laboratory employees, which will be conducted by physicians
at the Columbia University Health Service at no cost to the affected employee(s). Medical monitoring
of laboratory personnel, including follow-up exams,
shall occur when:
--An employee develops signs and symptoms of exposure to a hazardous chemical. Such symptoms
may include headache, rash, nausea, coughing,
tearing, irritation or redness to the eyes, irritation of the nose or throat, dizziness, or loss of motor
ability or judgment; An employee has direct skin or eye
contact with a hazardous chemical;
--A chemical emergency release (spill, leak, fire, explosion) results in the likelihood of a hazardous
exposure;
--Air monitoring results reveals an airborne concentration of a hazardous substance routinely above
the OSHA action level (or in the absence of an action
level, the OSHA PEL) for an OSHA regulated substance for which there are exposure monitoring
and medical surveillance requirements.
Emergency treatment is available twenty-four hours a day. Such treatment is coordinated through the
Security Office, and includes the dispatching via radio
of an ambulance staffed by certified Emergency Service Technicians and/or transportation to a
hospital.
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Recordkeeping:
DEPARTMENTAL EMPLOYEE ACCIDENT REPORTS (appendix I) are required in the event of
any job-related injury or illness involving an University
employee. The Departmental Accident Report is retained in Personnel Services, 315 Dodge Hall, and a
copy is forwarded to the EHRS office. The copy is
reviewed to determine whether further industrial hygiene and safety investigations are warranted, or
whether training programs should be revised or modified.
LABORATORY HEALTH AND SAFETY TRAINING RECORDS are maintained in the EHRS
office. Any laboratory health and safety training
conducted by Department or Administrative Units must be documented and must contain the
following information: date, training outline, length of training,
persons conducting the training, and employee's printed name, signature, and Social Security number.
A copy of the information must be sent to the EHRS
office. For training specifications, see the "Employee Information and Training" section below.
HAZARDOUS CHEMICAL WASTE DISPOSAL REQUEST FORMS and manifest records are
retained by the EHRS office.
MEDICAL RECORDS are retained by the University Health Service in accordance with New York
State and federal regulations.
DEPARTMENTAL "CHAIN OF NOTIFICATION" PERSONNEL AND PROCEDURES are
retained by the Department or Administrative Unit
and a copy is also filed with EHRS.
CHEMICAL EMERGENCY RELEASES AND INCIDENT REPORTS are prepared and
maintained by the EHRS office.
INVENTORY CONTROL RECORDS pertaining to hazardous chemicals are maintained at the
Department and will be made available to the EHRS office
upon request.
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Signs and Labels:
The entrance to every laboratory must have the following signs prominently posted:
LABORATORY
POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES
NO
SMOKING
The following signs must be posted at the laboratory entrance if any materials listed below are used or
stored in the laboratory:
Water-Reactive Materials
Flammable Gases
Radioactive Material
Biohazardous Material
Poisonous Gases
These and most other recommended and required signs (including emergency telephone labels) are
available from the EHRS office upon request.
Warning signs shall be posted at areas or near equipment where special or unusual hazards exist,
including laser hazards, high voltage hazards, etc.
Location signs shall be prominently posted to indicate safety showers, eyewash stations, other safety
and first aid equipment, exits, and where food and
beverage consumption and storage are permitted
All chemical containers must be clearly labeled with the chemical identity and the major hazard as
well as the manufacturer's name and address. Waste
containers must be clearly labeled with the chemical identity, the major hazard and the name of the
generating research group. Squirt bottles must also be labeled.
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Fire Safety:
Weekly inspections of the laboratories and corridors will be conducted by the Certificate of Fitness
holder on his/her floors. These inspections must include,
but are not limited to the following:
LABORATORY INSPECTION:
--Means of egress from the laboratory must not be blocked. An unobstructed path to the exit must be
maintained at all times.
--Access to emergency equipment, safety showers, eyewashes, fire extinguisher, first aid kits, etc.
must not be obstructed.
--Exposed chemical storage must be limited to daily needs only. Chemicals not required for the
procedure(s) in progress are to be promptly stored per the
requirements of Title 3, Chapter 10, RCNY.
--Fire extinguishers must be tagged, charged and dated.
CORRIDOR INSPECTION:
--Exit signs on the floors illuminated.
--Weekly check of fire extinguishers: tagged, charged and dated.
--Stairwell doors operational.
--Stairwells clear and unobstructed.
EVACUATION:
Upon hearing the fire alarm:
i. Total evacuation of the building is required each and every time the alarm sounds!
ii. Exit your laboratory, turning off all equipment in your path of travel, and close the laboratory
door as you exit.
iii. Exit the building via the staircase. Never use the elevator. Do not reenter the building for any
reason until you are permitted by Security, the SPARKILL
FIRE DEPARTMENT, THE ORANGETOWN POLICE DEPARTMENT or the LamontDoherty Safety Officer (Raymond T. Long, x8860,
x8822).
Upon discovering a fire:
i. Evacuate the area, closing all doors in your path of travel.
ii. Alert all occupants by sounding the building alarm system from the manual pull stations located at
the exit stairways throughout the building.
iii. Notify the Security desk (x99) from an adjoining building to assure their reception of the alarm
signal.
iv. The individual discovering a fire must report as much information as possible to arriving Security
and fire fighting forces including floor of incident,
room number, type of room (laboratory, of fine, storeroom, etc.), substances and materials
involved if known, and any other pertinent information
such as explosives, water-reactives, etc.
FIRE EXTINGUISHMENT: Extinguishment should only be attempted on small fires that can be
extinguished with the available portable fire extinguisher
by an individual who has been trained in its use. In general:
--Remove the extinguisher from its bracket, maintain the means of egress to your back to provide a
means of escape in the event the fire is not extinguished.
--Remember "PASS"
P ULL the pin
A IM nozzle at the base of the fire
S QUEEZE the handle to discharge the product
S HOOT the product at the base of the fire, moving the nozzle in a sweeping motion from side
to side.
--DO NOT STOP THE DISCHARGE OF PRODUCT FROM THE EXTINGUISHER UNTIL YOU
HAVE BACKED AWAY FROM THE
FIRE SOURCE.
--Upon extinguishment, the University Security office (x99) and EHRS office (x4-8749) must be
notified for inspection and the proper removal of burned
and/or contaminated materials.
FIRE DRILLS: Scheduled fire drills will be conducted three times a year per the requirements of the
laws of New York State, Chapter 392 and New
York City Fire Prevention Directive 9-64(R).
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Hazardous Chemical Releases and Spills:
Laboratory emergencies require prompt action to prevent or reduce undesirable effects. Laboratory
employees must be able to immediately take control
of the situation and quickly assess the existing and potential hazards and carry out the appropriate
response actions. Immediate hazards of fire, explosion,
and release of toxic vapors and gases are of prime concern. The following written emergency response
procedures contain minimum specifications that must
be followed by all Columbia laboratory workers. In addition, written emergency response actions for
specific hazards in the laboratory (such as skin contact
with hydrofluoric acid) must be developed by the Principal Investigator, approved by the EHRS office,
and provided to the laboratory workers. These
written emergency response procedures must also specify the proper spill control equipment or
material to be used.
SPILL CONTROL EQUIPMENT:
The Principal Investigator shall make available appropriate spill control items in each laboratory. Such
items may include commercial spill control products as absorbent pads, pillows, rolls, booms, etc.
and/or other suitable neutralizing or absorbing items such as sodium bicarbonate for acid spills, boric
acid or citric
acid for alkali spills, or activated charcoal for solvent spills. The Environmental Health and Safety
Office is available for assistance in selecting proper spill
control equipment.
SPILL CONTROL FOR ACIDS, ALKALIES,AND SOLVENTS:
As a general guideline, spills of less than 1 liter of these materials are considered small. However,
spills of particularly hazardous substances, regardless
of the amount spilled, may require immediate EHRS notification and assistance. Particularly
hazardous substances include select carcinogens, reproductive
toxins and substances with a high degree of acute toxicity. Whenever a spill occurs, treat the spill as a
potentially dangerous situation until the spill is cleaned
up or there are positive indications (for example, instrumental monitoring provided by EHS) that no
hazard is present. Principal Investigators, in conjunction
with EHS and the Lamont Safety Officer, must develop spill response contingency plans to deal with
potential releases of extremely hazardous materials: The following are generic standard operating
procedures:
--Quickly assess whether there are any injured persons and attend to any person who may have been
contaminated.
--Follow the departmental notification procedures for your laboratory. (Departments and
Administrative Units must file a copy of their departmental
notification procedures with the Environmental Health and Safety Office.) Promptly alert the
predetermined "chain of notification" personnel, i.e. Graduate
Instructor, Project Director, Principal Investigator, etc. Report large spills (> 1 L) to Security (x555) who will then coordinate spill response with the
Lamont Safety Officer (Raymond T. Long x-8860, x-8822) and the EHS office. Be sure to give as
much information as possible (chemical name and
chemical category [corrosive, flammable, toxic, reactive], amount, location, etc.) Request an
ambulance if there appear to be serious injuries. Do not
call an ambulance directly. Even if ambulance personnel arrive on campus quickly, they do not
know the campus buildings. Response should be coordinated
through Security.
--Evacuate the immediate area until the hazardous release has been characterized and controlled. A
spill of a hazardous chemical can produce a very
dangerous situation or can be fairly minor, depending on many factors, such as chemical toxicity,
physical state, vapor pressure, reactivity, and temperature.
In the event of a flammable spill, extinguish ignition sources on your exit route and remotely shut off
electrical power to the laboratory if possible. Shut
the laboratory doors after everyone has safely exited in order to control the potential spread of the
release.
--Conduct clean-up of small spills (< 1 L) only if you have the proper spill control materials and
personal protective equipment. NEVER HESITATE TO
CONTACT THE LAMONT SAFETY OFFICER (Raymond T. Long x8860, x8822) or EHRS!
i.) Wear personal protective equipment such as laboratory coats, eye goggles, face shield, and
gloves that will provide adequate protection against
most materials. Respirators may be necessary even in a small spill clean-up, depending on
the substance. Only those employees approved by
EHRS to wear respirators can attempt spill clean-up requiring respiratory protection.
ii) Use the proper spill clean-up material. Commercial pads, pillows, booms, rolls, etc. are
available from several manufacturers, but vary in what
substances they control. For example, many commercial absorbents cannot be used with
hydrofluoric acid spill clean-up. In addition, to
commercial absorbent pads, pillows, booms, etc. the following can be used:
Sodium bicarbonate for acid spills
Boric acid or citric acid for alkali spills
Activated charcoal for solvent spills
iii) Confine the spill to a small area. Do not let it spread. Dispose of all spill-clean up material
in an appropriately marked hazardous waste bag
(available from EHRS) and label the contents. Fill out an incident report form and contact
EHRS for follow-up and to arrange correct disposal.
--Incident report forms are carefully analyzed by EHRS with the results distributed to all who might
benefit. EHRS Safety Bulletins are the most common
means of such distribution. (See the attached sample, Appendix I).
MERCURY SPILLS: Regardless of the size of the spill, you must contact the Lamont-Doherty Safety
Officer (Raymond T. Long x8860, x8822) who
will coordinate response the EHRS office. EHRS has a mercury vapor analyzer to measure airborne
concentrations of mercury and a vacuum designed
specifically to clean-up mercury spills. For tiny amounts (< 2 cc) of spilled mercury, use available
mercury spill control kits or mercury spill amalgam to
minimize vaporization while awaiting response from the Safety Officer. Never use laboratory sinks or
drains to dispose of mercury or mercury-contaminated
waste.
BIOHAZARD SPILLS:
--Quickly assess whether there are any injured persons and attend to any person who may have been
contaminated. Remove contaminated clothing
immediately and decontaminate. (EHRS is available for assistance in the selection of proper
disinfectants.)
--Close the laboratory door.
--Follow the notification procedures for your laboratory. In case of small spills (<1L), follow the
departmental "chain of notification personnel" procedures.
Report large spills (>1L) to Security (x555) who will then coordinate spill response with EHRS
office.
--To clean up the spill and decontaminate the area, wear personal protective equipment (lab coat,
mask, goggles and 2 pairs of gloves) and:
i.) Cover spill area with an absorbent material;
ii.) Apply a 1:10 sodium hypochlorite (household bleach) solution directly to the spill area;
iii.) Allow the solution to remain for at least 30 minutes before rinsing;
iv.) Dispose of all material using a mechanical device such as forceps and place in autoclavable
BIOHAZARD BAG.
RADlOACTlVE SPlLLS: (as excerpted from the "Radiation Safety Code of Columbia University, 4th
Edition, 1987", pp. 8-9, which in its entirety
applies to work with these substances):
Minor Spills:
i.) NOTIFY: Notify persons in the area that a spill has occurred.
ii.) PREVENT THE SPREAD: Cover the spill with absorbent paper.
iii.) CLEAN UP: Use disposable gloves and remote handling tong. Carefully fold the absorbent
paper and pad. Insert into a plastic bag and dispose
of in the radioactive waste container. Also insert into the plastic bag all other contaminated
materials such as contaminated gloves.
iv.) SURVEY: With a low-range thin-window GM survey meter, check the area around the
spill, hands, and clothing for contamination.
v.) REPORT: Report incident to the Radiation Safety Officer.
Major Spills:
i.) CLEAR THE AREA: Notify all persons not involved in the spill to vacate the room.
ii.) PREVENT THE SPREAD: Cover the spill with absorbent pads, but do not attempt to clean
it up. Confine the movement of all personnel
potentially contaminated to prevent the spread.
iii.) SHIELD THE SOURCE: If possible, the spill should be shielded, but only if it can be done
without further contamination or without
significantly increasing your radiation exposure.
iv.) CLOSE THE ROOM: Leave the room and lock the door(s) to prevent entry.
v.) CALL FOR HELP: Notify the Radiation Safety Officer immediately.
vi.) PERSONNEL DECONTAMINATION: Contaminated clothing should be removed and
stored for further evaluation by the Radiation Safety
Officer. If the spill is on the skin, flush thoroughly and then wash with mild soap and
lukewarm water.
LEAKING COMPRESSED CAS CYLINDERS:
Occasionally, a cylinder or one of its component parts develops a leak. Such leaks often occur around
the manifold in areas such as valve threads, safety
device, valve stem, and valve outlet. If a leak is suspected, use a flammable gas leak detector or soapy
water or other suitable solution. If the leak cannot be remedied by tightening a valve gland or a
packing nut, follow the departmental notification procedures and also notify the Lamont-Doherty
Safety Officer
(Raymond T. Long x8860, x8822) and the supplier. Laboratory employees should never attempt to
repair a leak at the valve threads or safety devices.
The following are generic standard operating procedures:
--Follow the notification procedures for your laboratory. Promptly alert the predetermined "chain of
notification" personnel, i.e., graduate instructor, Project
Director, Principal Investigator, etc.
--Flammable, inert or oxidizing gases: Move the cylinder to an isolated, well-ventilated area and, if
possible, post warning signs describing the hazard
and precautions to be taken.
--Corrosive gases: Corrosive gases may increase the size of the leak during release and some
corrosives are also oxidizers or flammable. Move the
cylinder to an isolated, well-ventilated area and, if possible, use suitable means to direct the gas into
an appropriate chemical neutralizer. Post warning
signs describing the hazard and precautions to be taken.
--Toxic gases: Move the cylinder to an isolated, well-ventilated area and use suitable means to direct
the gas into an appropriate chemical neutralizer.
Post warning signs describing the hazard and precautions to be taken.
EQUIPMENT FAILURE:
Malfunctioning laboratory equipment that presents a health and safety hazard, e.g. mantles that
overheat, should be immediately removed from service
and labeled as malfunctioning. The equipment should be promptly repaired or discarded.
Facilities equipment failure such as circuit breaker overload, ventilating equipment, or door closers,
should be reported to the Lamont-Doherty Facilities Management Department at x8600.
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Accidents:
--Accidents or injuries that occur in the laboratory and that require medical treatment must be reported
immediately to the Department or Administrative
Unit, the Lamont-Doherty Safety Officer (Raymond T. Long x8860, x8822) and to EHRS. Accident
records shall be written and retained. For any
injury which appears to require emergency first aid, call Security (x555) and request an ambulance.
--Accidents and spills: Whenever there is skin or eye contact with a chemical, promptly flush the
affected skin area with water and remove any contaminated
clothing, and seek medical attention. Any clothing that has been significantly contaminated should
be removed immediately.
--When there is acute inhalation of a hazardous material, escort victim to a source of fresh air; seek
medical attention if necessary.
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Waste Disposal Program:
The aims of the waste disposal program are to assure that minimal harm to people, other organisms,
and the environment will result from the disposal
of waste laboratory chemicals, as well as to ensure compliance with all applicable city, state and
federal waste disposal regulations.
As a generator of hazardous waste, the University is legally required to institute a hazardous waste
minimization program to reduce the volume or toxicity
of hazardous waste. All Departments and Administrative Units must reduce the volume or toxicity of
hazardous waste whenever possible. Waste
minimization methods include:
--Use purchasing methods to reduce the quantity and variety of products. Reduce to a minimum the
number of different products used. Implement
micro-level or small-scale operations. Order chemicals in smaller containers, and order only the
amount of material needed for a project. Contact EHRS
for a list of companies that will ship chemicals in small quantities, such as milligram amounts, at
competitive prices.
--Substitute less toxic materials whenever possible. An example of substitution is the use of non-toxic,
non-flammable scintillation cocktails.
--Properly segregate and consolidate wastes. Never mix a hazardous waste with a non hazardous waste
as this renders the whole mixture hazardous.
--Recycle, reclaim, and reuse hazardous materials whenever possible.
--Improve housekeeping practices to reduce the production of waste. For example, arrange for prompt
repairs of leaking equipment or spill cleanup.
It is the responsibility of each department or Principal Investigator to develop and implement
procedures to ensure safe, efficient and legal waste disposal
practices, consistent with the University's hazardous waste program. Each Department will set up its
own specific handling procedures in coordination
with the EHRS office. The following procedures specify how waste is to be collected, segregated,
stored, and removed:
--Deposit chemical waste in appropriately labeled waste containers. Waste containers must be clearly
labeled with the chemical category
(i.e., flammable solvents, corrosive, etc.), list of contents, and the name and telephone number of the
generating research group. Acceptable containers
for waste are the following:
Flammable Solvents: glass bottles or 5-gallon metal cans
Chlorinated Solvents: glass bottles, 5-gallon metal cans (if nonaqueous), or polyethylene
containers
Contaminated Acids: glass bottles or polyethylene containers glass bottles or 5-gallon
polyethylene containers
Solids: Sealed beakers and/or plastic bags
Silica Gel: Double plastic bags
Broken Glass: Designated boxes or white cans
Needles/Syringes: Approved disposable plastic containers
Solutions of Heavy Metals: Glass bottles
Mercury: Capped container
Radioactive Wastes: black 5-gallon metal can with the universal radiation symbol
--Never mix incompatible materials in the same waste container. For example, do not mix acid and
solvent waste. Segregate containers of incompatible
materials.
--All hazardous waste disposal must be coordinated through the Lamont-Doherty Safety Officer
(Raymond T. Long x8860, x8822) EHRS. To initiate
disposal of hazardous waste, send a completed Chemical Waste Disposal Request Form (see
Appendix K) to the EHRS office. There are regularly
scheduled bulk solvent and laboratory lab pack pick-ups. Special pick-ups can be arranged by the
Lamont-Doherty Safety Officer (Raymond T. Long
x8860, x8822)EHRS as needed.
Disposal of hazardous waste chemicals by pouring them down the drain or by adding them to mixed
refuse for landfill burial is absolutely forbidden!
Such chemicals include:
concentrated acids or bases
organic solvents
aqueous solutions containing toxic organic solutes
heavy metals
radioactive
isotopes
highly toxic, malodorous, or lachrymatory substances
In addition, substances that might interfere with the biological activity of waste water treatment plants,
create fire or explosion hazards, or cause structural
damage or impede water flow must not be poured down the drain. If there is any doubt as to what
chemicals may go down the drain or into the solid
refuse stream, contact the EHRS office for assistance.
--Fume hoods must not be used for evaporative disposal of volatile chemicals.
--Unlabeled containers of chemicals and solutions should undergo prompt disposal; if partially used,
they should not be reopened since some substances
form unstable decomposition products.
--Before the termination of a research project, chemicals that have been used or processed during the
project must be properly disposed of or returned
to storage. This procedure should be coordinated through the Departmental Office or Administrative
Unit with the Lamont-Doherty Safety Officer
(Raymond T. Long x8860, x8822). Responsibility and payment for proper disposal of all
accumulated hazardous chemicals will subsequently devolve
on the department, school, or unit.
--EHRS-approved disposal by recycling, consolidation, or chemical decontamination or deactivation
(neutralization, precipitation, etc.) should be used
whenever possible.
--Empty, uncapped chemical containers, free of visible residue and contamination, can be placed in the
hallway to be taken out with the regular trash.
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Employee Information and Training:
A comprehensive training program is the single most important aspect of employee protection. The
aim of the institutional training program is to ensure
that all individuals at risk are adequately informed about the operations and substances in their
laboratory, their risks, and what to do if an accident occurs.
Department and Administrative Units are required to provide health and safety training and
information to their laboratory employees. The EHRS office
provides university-wide assistance to accomplish this goal. Employee training shall include the
methods and observations that may be used to detect the
presence of hazardous chemicals in the work area, including the control measures Columbia
University has instituted; the physical and health hazards
associated with chemicals in the work area; appropriate protection measures including emergency
procedures; and the details of the Columbia University
Chemical Hygiene Plan. Copies of the Chemical Hygiene Plan have been distributed to every
laboratory and Principal Investigator; additional copies are
located in Departmental Offices and the EHRS Office. All training must follow the training outline in
Appendix L. In addition, it is the responsibility of the
Principal Investigator to inform his/her laboratory employees of specific hazards related to the work or
research conducted in his/her laboratory, as well
as any associated methods of control for dealing with those specific hazards.
All employees must be trained at the time of initial assignment and prior to the use of a new hazardous
chemical or procedure. Refresher training shall be
determined by the Principal Investigator.
All training must be documented and contain the following information:
i) Date, location, length of training program
ii) Employee name, signature and Social Security Number
iii) Training outline
Copies of all training documentation must be sent to the EHRS of fine for evaluation and record
retention.
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Peer Review of Proposed Projects:
Certain kinds of research, because of the materials, equipment, or operations they require, or because
of the disposal materials they generate, or for
other reasons, may present issues of laboratory safety that require prior approval of the Laboratory
Safety Committee. The Committee itself shall
develop criteria to identify such projects, as well as mechanisms to insure enforcement of such
procedures it shall be devised, not later than 31 April 1991,
which shall thereupon become part of this Policy.
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Policy Enforcement:
In order to assure compliance with the mandated policies of the Columbia University Laboratory
Safety Policy, a series of corrective actions will
address policy infractions in order to provide a mechanism to ensure compliance. Poor safety practices
and inadequate counseling and training can result
in personal injury, property damage, legal liabilities, and lost productivity.
Any practice that violates any provision of this Policy must be immediately reported to the Chemical
Hygiene of finer, who may refer it to the Chair of the
Laboratory Safety Committee, for appropriate action which may lead to cessation of laboratory
operations, revocation of laboratory privileges, and/or
termination of employment.
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Appendices
APPENDIX A
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE TO HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS IN LABORATORIES. 1910.1450
link to OSHA Regulations: Occupational exposure to hazardous chemicals in laboratories
http://www.osha-slc.gov/OshStd_data/1910_1450.html
NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL RECOMMENDATIONS CONCERNING CHEMICAL
HYGIENE IN LABORATORIES (Non-Mandatory) - 1910.1450AppA
link to OSHA Regulations: National Research Council Recommendations Concerning Chemical
Hygiene in Laboratories (Non-Mandatory)
http://www.osha-slc.gov/OshStd_data/1910_1450_APP_A.html
REFERENCES (Non-Mandatory) - 1910.1450AppB
link to OSHA Regulations: References (Non-Mandatory)
http://www.osha-slc.gov/OshStd_data/1910_1450_APP_B.html
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APPENDIX B
Laboratory Standards January 18,1991
I. Chemical Inventory/Storage
All chemical containers should be clearly labeled and stored according to the following
regulations:
1. Flammable Liquids
Liquids flashing below 100 F (acetone, hexane, etc.); bottles have red labels Maximum of 15
gal/lab (Chandler) and 25 gal/lab (Hav), including
waste solvent If stored in refrigerator, refrigerator must be explosion proof
2. Flammable Solids
White phosphorus, sodium, potassium, etc.: Maximum of 3 Ibs. per lab
3. Oxidizing Materials
Chlorates, permanganates, peroxides, nitrates, etc.: Maximum of 20 Ibs. per lab Store away
from flammable materials
4. Unstable/Reactive Materials
Organic peroxides, nitromethane, ammonium nitrate, etc.; Maximum: 2 Ibs./lab Expiration
dates should be given on Peroxides, Picrics,
Perchlorates, Ethers "Water-reactive" chemicals should be stored in separate, labeled cabinets
5. Gases
Compressed gas cylinders (including empties) must be secured in upright position with chains,
straps, or special stands; capped if not in use
Compressed flammable gases (Hoot hydrocarbons) cannot be stored; must be in ongoing
operation
Poisonous and flammable gases require signs at lab entrance
Maximum of about 8 large cylinders of flammable gases per lab
6. Acids & Bases
should be stored separately Store nitric acid on plastic away from other acids, bare metals, and
wood.
7. Radioactive/Biohazardous Material
Store in labeled areas
II. Waste Management
Waste containers should be clearly labeled with:
1) Chemical Category (e.g. flammable solvents)
2) List of Contents/Date
3) Name of Research Group and Telephone Number
Acceptable containers for waste are as follows:
1. Flammable Solvent: glass bottles or 5-gallon metal cans
2. Chlorinated Solvent: glass bottles, 5-gallon metal cans (if nonaqueous), or polyethylene
containers
3. Contaminated Acid: glass bottles or 5-gallon polyethylene containers
4. Contaminated Base: glass bottles or 5-gallon polyethylene containers
5. Solids: Beakers and/or plastic bags
6. Silica Gel: Double plastic bags
7. Glass: Designated white cans
8. Needles/Syringes: Approved disposable plastic containers
9. Solutions of Heavy Metals: Glass bottles
10. Mercury: Capped container
11. Radioactive: Special containers (Health Physics: ;4442)
Laboratory Standards
III. Safety/Emergency Response
The following items should be available in each laboratory:
1. Safety Shower: within 25 ft. of any point in the lab
2. Eyewash:
3. ABC and/or CO2 Fire Extinguishers (Charged): by door/within 50 ft. of any point in the lab
4. Fire Blanket: mounted near safety shower
5. First Aid Kit: wall-mounted near safety shower or in Chandler hallways and containing: finger
bandages, large bandages, gauze/tape, antiseptic,
bum spray, aspirin, cotton, eye dressing packet, tweezers, scissors, first aid manual
6. Spill Control Equipment:
Sodium bicarbonate for acid spills
Boric add for base spills
Pads/pillows for solvent
7. Visitor Safety Glasses Dispenser: Mounted in Geochemistry hallway between Rm.'s 2 & 3 (above
water fountain), Marine Biology hallway across
from Rm. 7 (next to Hazardous Spill cabinet) and Core Lab 2nd fl. next to Rm. 204 (above
water fountain). Laser labs should be designated with
signs and should have appropriate goggles available
8. Gloves, Shields, Aprons: available in labs
9. Broom and Dustpan
10. Emergency Telephone Numbers: stickers on all phones
IV. Housekeeping
Safe laboratory working conditions require:
Clear Walkways
No slipping/tripping hazards such as bottles on the floor or extension cords across walkways
Unobstructed exits
Ready Access to Safety Equipment Unobstructed fire extinguishers, eyewashes, safety showers
Equipment in Safe Operating Condition, including
Electrical wires in good condition
Pumps/Hg bubblers vented to fume hoods
Belt guards on pumps
All equipment electrically grounded
Outlet strips off the floor
Refrigerators properly designated (food/chemicals/flammables)
"Reasonably" neat/clean counter tops and shelves
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APPENDIX C
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APPENDIX D
GLOSSARY
Absorption - 1) The penetration of a substance into the body of another
2) The process of soaking up or taking up hazardous substances to prevent enlargement of the
contaminated area
Action level - a concentration designated by OSHA for a specific substance, and calculated as an 8hour time-weighted average, which initiates certain
required activities such as exposure monitoring and medical surveillance
Acute effect - An adverse effect upon the human body following a short exposure to a dangerous
substance or materials. An acute reaction or illness
occurs immediately after exposure or over a short term (usually less than 24 hours)
ACGIH - American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists; a professional organization
composed of personnel in governmental agencies or
educational institutions engaged in occupational safety and health/industrial hygiene. programs ;
develops and publishes recommended occupational
exposure limits (TLVs) for hundreds of chemical substances and physical agents
Acid - a corrosive compound with a low pH (6.0 or below), which in the presence of certain solvents
or water, reacts to produce hydrogen ions; turns
litmus paper red; reacts with an alkali (base) to form a salt and water
Aerosols - suspension of liquid droplets or solid particles in air so small as to remain dispersed for a
period of time
Alkali - corrosive compounds with a high pH (8.0 or above) which have the ability to react with an
acid to form a salt and water; also referred to as bases;
alkali splashes in the eyes are potentially more damaging than acid eye splashes; alkalies turn litmus
paper blue
Alkali metals - water-reactive metals such as lithium, sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium and
berrylium
Alpha particles - particulate ionizing radiation consisting of helium nuclei (two protons and two
neutrons) traveling at high speed; extremely toxic if inhaled
or ingested
Anhydrous - free from water; ex: anhydrous ammonia
Asbestos - a naturally-occurring mineral used extensively in fireproofing, as an insulator against heat,
cold, noise and electricity and as a reinforcing agent;
defined by the Environmental Protection Agency as any material containing more than 1 percent
asbestos by weight
Asphyxiation - suffocation from lack of oxygen; simple asphyxiants such as nitrogen displace oxygen
and are harmful to the body when they become so
concentrated that they reduce the normal oxygen concentration in the air to dangerous levels; chemical
asphyxiants such as hydrogen cyanide combine
with hemoglobin to reduce or prevent the blood from transporting oxygen
Autoignition temperature - the minimum temperature at which a material will ignite without an
ignition source
Beta particles - high speed electrons produced from radioactive decay which have the ability to
penetrate skin and clothing
Biocide - any substance designed to destroy living organisms such as insecticides, pesticides, and
herbicides; when absorbed will cause illness or death
or growth retardation or shortening of life
Biohazard - biological hazard; infectious agents presenting a risk or potential risk to the well being of
humans or other animals either directly through
infection or indirectly through disruption of the environment
Biological hazardous wastes - substances of human or animal origin, other than food wastes, which are
to be disposed of and could harbor pathogenic
organisms including, but not limited to, pathological specimens such as tissues, blood elements,
excreta, secretions and related substances; includes wastes
from health care facilities and laboratories
BLEVE - Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapor Explosion; explosion believed to result from rapid
depressurization of a hot, saturated liquid; the temperature
of the hot liquid must be above the superheat limit temperature at 1 atmosphere, and the drop in (tank)
pressure must be very rapid; this acronym has now
come to stand for virtually any rupture of a tank of liquid or liquefied compressed gas and has been
expanded to include all vapor explosions
Boiling point - the temperature at which a liquid changes to vapor state at a given pressure usually at
sea level; materials with low boiling points are fire
and explosion hazards
Breach - any opening in a hazardous materials container through which hazardous material can or does
escape
Canister - air-purifying container filled with sorbents and catalysts that remove
gases and vapors from air drawn through the air-purifying unit; the canister may
also contain an aerosol (particulate) filter to remove solid or liquid particles
Carbon monoxide - chemical asphyxiant; odorless, colorless toxic gas generated by any process
involving the incomplete combustion of carbon-containing
substance and is also a by-product of many chemical reactions.
Carboy - large glass bottle, up to 15 gallons, in a protective device, usually a crate; may also be a small
plastic drum that ranges from 10 - 15 gallons
Carcinogen - substance known or suspected of causing cancer; see "Select carcinogen"
Catalyst - substance which changes the speed of a chemical reaction but undergoes no permanent
change itself
Caustic - A corrosive chemical with a high pH (basic or alkaline)
Central Nervous System (CNS) -Body system made up of the brain and spinal cord.
"C" or Ceiling -maximum concentration of a chemical, dust, or physical agent that is allowed at any
time under federal standards, not to be exceeded
even momentarily
CAS - Chemical Abstracts Services; a Columbus, Ohio organization which indexes information
published in "Chemical Abstracts" by the American
Chemical Society and provides index guides by which information about particular substances may be
located in the Abstracts when needed; CAS numbers
identify specific chemicals but not every chemical has been assigned a CAS number
cc - cubic centimeter; equal in capacity to one milliliter; a volume measurement in the metric system
CDC - Center for Disease Control; a federal agency located in Atlanta, Georgia responsible for health
activities under the Environmental Protection
Agency's Superfund for cleaning up hazardous wastes; offers advice on decontamination, medical
surveillance, and treatment of contaminated victims;
maintains hotline (404) 329-3311 from 8 AM to 5 PM (EST) and (404) 329-2888 evenings and
weekends
CERCLA - Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (1980);
"Superfund"
CGA - Compressed Gas Association
Chemical Name - The correct name that fully defines the chemical composition of a substance. "silica"
and "ethyl cyanoacetate" are chemical names;
"infusorial earth" and "cyanoacrylate adhesive" are generic names, and "Celite" and "Peavey Print
Superglue" are trade names. The generic name is
frequently referred to as the exact description, but it actually refers to categories such as metals or
solvents
Chemical cartridge - type of absorption unit used with an air- purifying respirator for removal of
vapors and gases; for example organic vapor cartridges
are used for organic vapors such as toluene; acid gas cartridges are used for hydrogen chloride gas, etc.
Chemical hygiene officer - an employee who is designated by the employer, who is qualified by
training or experience, to provide technical guidance in the
development and implementation of the provision of the Chemical Hygiene Plan
Chemical hygiene plan - a written program developed and implemented by the employer which sets
forth procedures, equipment, personal protective
equipment and work practices that are capable of protecting employees from the health hazards
presented by hazardous chemicals used in that particular
workplace
Chemical protective clothing (CPC) - personal protective clothing designed to provide some level of
skin protection against chemical exposure
CHEMTREC - Chemical Transportation Emergency Center; a national center established by the
Chemical Manufacturers Association (CMA) in
Washington, DC in 1970 to relay pertinent emergency information concerning specific chemicals on
request . CHEMTREC has a 24-hour toll free
telephone number (800) 42s9300 intended primarily for use by those who respond to chemical
transportation emergencies
Chlorates - powerful oxidizers containing chlorine and oxygen
Chromosome - Part of the cell's genetic material. Damage to chromosomes can cause harmful changes
to an individual's body and may also result in
birth defects
Chronic Effect - An adverse effect upon the human body which develops from a long-term or frequent
exposure to a harmful substance such as a
carcinogen. Chronic effects or diseases may not show up for years after exposure
CMA - Chemical Manufacturers Association
Combustion - process in which fuel is rapidly oxidized; requires fuel, oxygen, and heat (ignition
source) and usually produces heat and light or other
forms of energy
Combustible - term used by NFPA, DOT, OSHA to classify by flashpoints certain liquids that will
burn; generally defined as liquids that have flashpoints
above 100 F. and below 200 F
Combustible liquid (OSHA) - has a flash point at or above 100 F and below 140 F.; combustible
liquids have higher flash points than do flammable liquids
Combustible liquid (DOT) - has a flash point 100 F to 200 F
Combustible gas detector (CGI) - portable, battery-powered field survey instrument used to detect the
presence of combustible gas mixtures by
measuring 0 to 100% of the Lower Explosive Limit (LEL)
Compatibility chart - chart that compares the chemical resistance of a protective clothing material
against exposure to a specified chemical; generally
provides degradation, penetration and permeation information
Compressed gas - material packaged in a cylinder, tank or aerosol under pressure exceeding 40 psi at
70 f or other pressure parameters as identified
by the US DOT
Concentration - the relative amount of a substance when combined or mixed with other substances;
Example: 50 micrograms of lead in one cubic meter
of air is the concentration. (50 ug/m3)
Contaminant - Poison, toxic substance - anything that makes air or water dirty or unfit for human
consumption
Contact Dermatitis - (See Dermatitis) Dermatitis of the skin due to direct contact with irritating
substance.
Corrosive - a material that degrades or destroys living tissue or other materials; liquids that have a
severe corrosion rate on steel may be regulated by DOT
example: hydrofluoric acid
Cryogenic gas - cryogen comes from the Greek work kyros which means icy cold; cryogens are gases
that must be cooled to less than -150 0F before they
can be liquiefied
Cylinder - container having 1000 pounds or less in accordance with DOT specifications and generally
includes any compressed gas or liquefied gas
container
Dangerous When Wet - label required for certain shipped materials under DOT, ICAO, and IMO
regulations; such materials may produce flammable
gases when in contact with water or moisture and in some cases these gases are likely to spontaneously
combust
DCM - Dangerous Cargo Manifest
Daughter - isotope formed by the decay of a given radioactive isotope; the daughter may be
radioactive or stable
Decontamination - the removal and containment of hazardous materials by physical and chemical
means
Degradation - the movement of a liquid through chemical protective clothing resulting in the
molecular breakdown of the CPC due to contact with the liquid;
signs of degradation include swelling, weight changes, and color changes; degradation charts
(excellent, good, fair, poor) tell how long the clothing will last
Dermal toxicity - adverse effects resulting from skin exposure to a substance
Dermatitis - Inflammation of the skin, such as redness, rash, dry or cracking skin, blisters, swelling, or
pain. May result from exposure to toxic or abrasive
substances
Designated area - an area which may be used for work with "select carcinogens", reproductive toxins
or substances which have a high degree of acute
toxicity; a designated area may be the entire laboratory or a device such as a laboratory hood
Dilution - method of reducing the concentration of a chemical, usually through the use of water,
except when the possibility of a chemical reaction exists
Disposal drum - used to refer to overpack drums; proper DOT shipping name is Salvage drum
DOT - Department of Transportation; regulates transportation of chemicals and other substances
DOT Hazard Classifications - designations for specific classes of hazardous materials; example:
Flammable Liquid
DOT Identification Number - four-digit identification number assigned to a hazardous material by the
DOT
Dose - the amount of energy or substance absorbed in a unit volume or an organ or individual
dps - disintegrations per second
Dust - Airborne solid; particles that are created by work processes, such as grinding
Ecology - branch of science concerned with the interrelationship of organisms and their environment
Edema - a swelling of body tissues due to fluid retention
Emergency - any occurrence such as, but not limited to, equipment failure, rupture of containers or
failure of control equipment which results in an
uncontrolled release of a hazardous chemical into the workplace
EPA - Environmental Protection Agency; federal agency which regulates and enforces protection of
the environment; administers Clean Air Act,
Clean Water Acts CERCLA, FIFRA, RCRA, TSCA and other federal environmental laws
Epidemiology - the science that deals with the study of disease (epidemics) in a population
ERT - Environmental Response Team; a group of highly trained, specialized experts available through
EPA's 24-hour hotline
Etiologic agent - microorganisms or their toxins wheich may cause human disease or contaminate the
environment
Evaporation rate - the rate at which a particular material will evaporate (vaporize) when compared to
the rate of vaporization of a known material,
generally butyl acetate or ethyl ether
Engineering controls - prevention of worker exposure to contaminants by work process changes or
ventilation, rather than by requiring workers to wear
protective equipment. PESH regulations require that exposure to airborne contaminants be addressed
wherever possible by engineering controls rather than
by the use of respirators
Exhaust Ventilation - Removes air contaminants from workplace air by sucking them away from the
breathing zones of workers by means of hoods,
canopies, or ducts. Exhaust ventilation is the most efficient means of controlling air contaminants
because it moves smaller air volumes with less heat loss
(in winter) than general exhaust ventilation
Explosion-proof equipment - equipment enclosed in solid casing that will not provide an ignition
source in the presence of flammable atmospheres
Explosive - any chemical compound, mixture or device functioning primarily by detonation or
deflagration
Explosive, Class A - any of nine types of explosives as defined by DOT (Title 49 CFR 173.53 and
CFR 172.101); any chemical compound, mixture or
device having the primary or common purpose to function by detonation with substantial
instantaneous release of gas and heat
Explosive, Class B - explosives as defined by DOT (Title 49 CFR 172.101 and CFR
173.88);explosives that function by rapid combustion rather than
detonation; includes special fireworks, flash powders, some pyrotechnic signaling devices, and solid or
liquid propellant explosives
Explosive, Class C - certain types of explosives as defined by DOT (Title 49 CFR 172.101 and CFR
173.100) that contain Class A or Class B explosives,
or both, as components, but in restricted quantities, as well as certain types of fireworks
Explosive Level - The concentrations of gas in air which can explode. It is usually expressed as a
range between a "lower explosive level" (LEL) and an
"upper explosive level" (UEL). It is commonly measured by an explosimeter which reads out the
concentration of a possibly dangerous gas in percent per
volume
Exposure - When a worker takes in a toxic substance by breathing, eating, skin absorption or other
means, he or she is exposed to that substance.
Exposure is measured over time and in amounts (dose).
Film badge - a pack of photographic film and filters used to determine radiation exposure
Flammable gas - a gas that, at ambient temperature and pressure, forms a flammable mixture with air
at a concentration of 13 percent by volume or less;
or a gas that, at ambient temperature and pressure, forms a range of flammable mixtures with air wider
than 12 percent by volume, regardless of the lower limit
Flammable liquid - as defined by OSHA, any liquid with a flash point below 100°F, except any
mixture having components with flashpoints of 100°F or
higher, the total of which make up 99 percent or more of the total volume of the mixture
Flammable solid - any solid material, other than one classed as an explosive, that under normal
conditions is liable to cause fire through friction or retained heat
from manufacturing or processing; or can be ignited readily, and when ignited burns so vigorously and
persistently as to create serious storage hazards; defined
by DOT in Title 49 CFR 173.150; flammable solids ignite easily and burn with explosive violence
Flammable Range - the range of a gas or vapor concentration (percent by volume) that will burn or
explode if an ignition source is present; the range of
concentrations between the lower flammable (explosive) limit (LFL/LEL) and the upper flammable
(explosive) limit (UFL/UEL)
Flash point - the minimum temperature at which a liquid will give off enough vapors to form an
ignitable mixture with air
Friable - capable of being crushed by hand as relates to asbestos; friable asbestos becomes easily
airborne
Fully encapsulating suits (YES) - full chemical protective suits offering full body protection from
chemicals having both toxic inhalation and dermal effects;
includes self-contained breathing apparatus and/or airline respiratory protection
Fume - small hot particles that become airborne and condense when a solid material is heated or
burned. Example: Welding with lead solder creates lead
fumes
Gamma radiation - high energy electromagnetic radiation
Gas - A chemical that is normally airborne at room temperature, rather than solid or liquid. Examples:
Carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulfide.
General Ventilation - Lessens airborne contamination by diluting workplace air by ceiling or window
fans
Generic Name - The correct name for a whole group or class of substances which have similar
characteristics
Hazard Abatement - The process of controlling and eliminating hazards.
Hazard class - a category of hazard associated with hazardous materials or hazardous waste that may
be an unreasonable risk to health, safety and property
when transported; the DOT hazard classes are: Explosive (Class A, B and C), Flammable Liquid,
Flammable Solid, Corrosive Material, Oxidizer, Poison A,
Poison B. Radioactive Material, Nonflammable Gas, ORM-A, ORM-B,ORM-C, ORM- D, ORM-E,
Etiologic Agent, Irritating Material, Organic Peroxide, Combustible Liquid, Flammable Gas, and
Blasting Agent
Health Hazard - Any type of job-related noise, dusts, gases, toxic chemicals, substances, or dangerous
working conditions which could cause an accident,
injury, disease or death to workers
Hazardous chemical - a chemical for which there is statistically significant evidence based on at least
one study conducted in accordance with established
scientific principles that acute or chronic health effects may occur in exposed employees; includes
chemicals which are carcinogens, toxic or highly toxic
agents, reproductive toxins, irritants, corrosives, sensitizers, hepatotoxins, nephrotoxins, neurotoxins,
agents which act on the hematopoietic systems, and
agents which damage the lungs, skin, eyes, or mucous membranes
Hazardous material - any substance or mixture of substances that poses an unreasonable risk to health,
safety or property
Hazardous Waste - any material as defined by RCRA (Title 40 CFR 261, Subpart C and listed in
Subpart D) that is corrosive, ignitable, reactive or toxic
Hazardous Waste Manifest - the shipping document, originated and signed by the hazardous waste
generator containing the information specified in
Title 40 CFR 262, Subpart B
Hepatitis - inflammation of the liver
Herbicide - any poison that kills plant life or vegetation
HMTA - Hazardous Materials Transportation Act (1975)
Hypothermia - condition of reduced body temperature
Ignition temperature - minimum temperature of a substance at which combustion is initiated or selfsustained independent of the heating or heated element
Incompatible - materials which could cause dangerous reactions from direct contact with one another;
example: sodium cyanide and hydrochloric acid react
to form the highly toxic hydrogen cyanide gas
IDLH - Immediately Dangerous to Life and Health; represents the maximum concentration of a
substance in air from which, in the event of respirator failure,
one could escape within 30 minutes without experiencing any escape-impairing or irreversible health
effects
Ignitable - defined by EPA as having a Cashpoint less than 140 F.; a solid or liquid waste exhibiting a
"characteristic of ignitability" as defined by RCRA
may be regulated by EPA as a hazardous waste
Industrial Hygiene - The technical specialty concerned with the recognition, evaluation, and
elimination of workplace hazards. Industrial hygienists study
ventilation techniques and other engineering controls, as well as methods for determining the identity
and concentration of chemical, physical, and radiation
hazards
Infectious waste - waste that contains pathogens or consists of tissues, organs, body parts, blood and
body fluids that are removed during surgery or other
procedures; (Title 42 CFR Part 72)
Inflammable - Means the same thing as flammable: a material that can burn easily
Inflammation - A condition of the body or portion of the body characterized by swelling, redness, pain
and heat
Inhalation - The process of breathing something into the lungs
Ingestion - The process of taking a substance through the mouth
Inorganic compounds - compounds that do not contain the element carbon; example: water, sodium
chloride
Insecticide - a chemical product used to kill and control nuisance insect species
Irritant - any substance producing inflammation at the site of contact; example: solvents, soap,
detergents, acids, alkalies
ISO - International Organization for Standardization
kg - kilogram, a metric unit of weight, about 2.2 US pounds
Lethal - capable of causing death
LC/50 - Lethal Concentration/50; the concentration of a material which on the basis of laboratory tests
is expected to kill 50 percent of a test population
of animals when administered as a single exposure
LC/low - Lethal concentration low; the lowest concentration of a substance in air, other than LC/50,
which has been reported to have caused death in
humans or animals
LD/50 - Lethal dose/50; a single dose of a material which on the basis of laboratory tests has been
shown to kill 50 percent of a test population of animals;
usually expressed as milligrmas or grams of material per kilogram of animal body weight
LD/low - Lethal dose low; the lowest dose of a substance introduced by any route except inhalation,
reported to have caused death in humans or animals
Label (DOI) - diamond-shaped, square-shaped, or rectangular-shaped attachment to a package that
identifies the hazardous nature of the material
(Title 49 CFR Part 172, Subpart E)
Laboratory - a generic term denoting a building, space, equipment to operations wherein testing,
research or experimental work is conducted and shall
include laboratories used for instructional purposes; a facility where relatively small quantities of
hazardous chemicals are used on a nonproductive basis
Laboratory building - a structure consisting wholly or principally of one or more laboratory units
Laboratory scale - work with substances in which the containers used for reactions, transfers, and other
handling of substances are designed to be easily
and safely manipulated by one person
Laboratory unit - an enclosed, fire-rated space used for testing, research, experimental or educational
purposes; laboratory units may or may not include
offices, lavatories, and other contiguous rooms maintained for or used by, lab oratory personnel, and
corridors within the units and may contain one or
more separate laboratory work areas
Laboratory work area - a room or place within a laboratory unit for testing, analysis, research,
instruction or similar activities which involve the use of
chemicals or gases and may or may not be enclosed
Latent period - the time which elapses between exposure and the first sign or manifestation of damage
LEL or LFL - Lower Explosive Limit or Lower Flammable Limit; the minimum concentration of a gas
or vapor in air that will produce a flash of fire when
an ignition source is present; at concentrations below the LEL, the mixture is too lean to burn
Local Effect - Means that the action of the chemical takes place at the point of contact, such as
dermatitis caused by skin contact with solvents.
(Compare with systemic effect)
Marking - applying the required descriptive name, instructions, cautions, weight, or specifications or
combination thereof on containers of hazardous
materials or hazardous waste (Title 49 CFR 171.8)
Melting point - the temperature at which a solid substance changes to a liquid state; for mixtures, the
melting range may be given
Mg/M3 - Milligrams per cubic meter of air. A unit for measuring the amount of a chemical or
substance in the air. 1000mg equals one gram
Microorganism - a living organism not discretely visible to the unaided eye; example: bacteria, fungi
Mitigate - to lessen or reduce the adverse effects of a hazardous materials incident
Mist - Airborne liquid droplets that are created by a gas going into the liquid state or by a liquid being
splashed, foaming or atomized. Examples: oil mist
from cutting, grinding, or from pressure; paint mists from spraying
ml - milliliter, a metric unit of capacity, equal in volume to one cubic centimeter or about 1/16 of a
cubic inch
mm - millimeter, a metric unit of length, equal to 1/1000 of a meter or about 1/25 of an inch
MSDS - Material Safety Data Sheet; a chemical fact sheet required by OSHA to be generated by the
manufacturer and shipped downstream to all
employer/users of hazardous products; contains information on the specific identity of hazardous
ingredients, health effects, first aid, chemical and
physical properties, spill response, personal protective equipment, etc.
Mucous Membrane - The moist, soft covering of the nose, mouth, and lining of eyes
Mutagen - substance capable of causing genetic damage
Mutation - A change (usually harmful) in the genetic material of a cell. When it occurs in the sperm or
egg, the mutation can be passed on to future generations
NA number - North American identification number; NA preceding a four-digit number indicates that
this identification number is used in the United States
and Canada to identify a hazardous material in transportation
Narcosis - destruction of body tissue
Neutralization - the process by which acid or alkaline properties of a solutions are altered by the
addition of certain reagents to bring the pH to 7, the value
of pure water; sodium bicarbonate is commonly used to neutralize acid s pills
Neutralize - to make harmless anything contaminated with a chemical agent
NFPA - National Fire Protection Association, an international voluntary membership organization to
promote and improve fire protection and prevention
and establish safeguards against the loss of life and property by fire; best known for th e National Fire
Codes (16 volumes)
NFPA Hazard Classification - the numerical designations of relative accident potential at fixed sites
based on probable outcomes should an accident occur
NIOSH - National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health of the US Department of Health and
Human Services (DHHS); federal agency which
conducts occupational health and safety research, tests and certifies respiratory equipment and ai r
sampling detector tubes, recommends occupational
exposure limits and assists OSHA and MSHA in safety and health investigations
Nitrates - compounds containing oxygen and nitrogen, many of which are potent oxidizers; react with
paper and wood products to form combustible
compounds; example: nitric acid reacts with wood to form nitrocellulose
Nonflammable gas - any material or mixture in a cylinder or tank having an absolute pressure
exceeding 40 psi at 700F, or exceeding 104 psi at 1300F
(Title 49 CFR and CGA); nonflammable gases will not form a flammable mixture in air but may
support combustion
NPIN - National Pesticides Telecommunications Network; a national pesticide poison control center
restricted to use by health professionals; assists in
diagnosing and managing pesticide poisoning 24 hours a day
Nuisance dust - generally non-toxic dust but may be irritating at high concentrations
Olfactory - relating to the sense of smell
Organic peroxide - very reactive and unstable organic compounds containing the -O-O (oxygen)
structure and which may be considered to be a structural
derivation of hydrogen peroxide where one or both of the hydrogen atoms has been replaced by an
organic radical; organic peroxides heated above their
transportation temperatures are likely to explode
ORM (A-E) - Other Regulated Materials as defined by DOT
OSHA - Occupational Safety and Health Administration of the US Department of Labor; federal
agency which regulates and enforces safety and health for
most US industries and businesses and public employers in those states with state-approved OSHA
plans
Overpack - an enclosure used to provide protection or convenience in handling a package or to
consolidate two or more packages
Oxidizer - a chemical other than a blasting agent or explosive that initiates or promotes combustion in
other materials, causing fire of itself or through the
release of oxygen or other gases
Oxidizing agent - a chemical which brings about an oxidation reaction; the agent may provide the
oxygen to the substance being oxidized or it may receive
electrons being transferred from the substance undergoing oxidation; example: chlorine contains no
oxygen but is a very good oxidizing agent for
electron-transfers
Pathogen - any microorganism capable of causing disease
PCB - Polychlorinated biphenyl
PCO contaminated electrical equipment - any electrical equipment, including transformers, that
contains at least 50 PPM but less than 500 PPM PCB
(Title 40 CFR 761.3)
PCB item - any item containing PCBs at a concentration of 50 PPM or more (Title 40 CFR 761.3)
PCB transformer - any transformer that contains PCBs at a concentration of 500 PPM or more (Title
40 CFR 761.3)
PCDF - Polychlorinated dibenzofurans; a class of very toxic chemical compounds occurring as a result
of thermal degradations of PCBs
Pesticide - a poison that kills small pests, especially rodents and insects
PF - protection factor referring to the level of protection offered by respiratory equipment; the higher
the PF, the more protective the respirator
pH - the symbol of hydrogen ion concentration; ph of ?. is neutral while higher values (greater than
7.0) indicate alkalies and lower values (less than 7.0)
indicate acidity
PEL - Permissible exposure level; the numerical level of a chemical or substance above which a
worker cannot legally be exposed. Example: the PEL for
lead exposure is 50 ug/m3 for a forty-hour week.
Penetration - refers to the bulk movement of a liquid through personal protective equipment openings
such as zippers, seams, pinholes, etc.
Permeation - the movement of a substance on the molecular level; the process by which a chemical
dissolves into the CPC material and evaporates on the
other side; permeation data reveals how safe chemical protective clothing is to wear while degradation
data reveals how long the clothing will hold up
Pig - a lead container used to ship radioactive materials
Peroxides - highly reactive and unstable compounds; powerful oxidizing agents
Physical hazard - a chemical for which there is scientifically valid evidence that it is a combustible
liquid, a compressed gas, explosive, flammable, an organic peroxide, an oxidizer, pyrophoric, unstable
(reactive) or water-reacti ve
Placard - a DOT-regulated sign that identifies hazardous materials on large containers such as tanker
trucks and railroad tank cars
PPE/Personal Protective Equipment - Devices worn by workers to protect them against work-related
hazards such as air contaminants, falling materials,
and noise. While it is important to wear such equipment when required, it should b e remembered that
these devices usually only provide minimal protection
to workers and should only have to be worn when all other efforts have been initiated to correct an
unsafe working environment. Examples of personal
protective equipment include hard hats, ear plugs, respirators and steel-toe work shoes
Pneumoconiosis - pulmonary disease caused by the inhalation of toxic dusts
Pneumonitis - inflammation of the lungs characterized by an outpouring of fluid in the lungs;
pneumonia is the same condition but involves greater quantities
of fluid
PPM - Abbreviation for parts per million; the ratio of the amount of a substance to the amount of air.
one part benzene vapor per million parts of air is 1 ppm
Poison Class A - poisonous gases or liquids of such a nature that a very small amount mixed with air is
dangerous to life (Title 49 CFR 173.326) Examples:
phosgene, nitrogen peroxide; shipping containers for poisons do not have pressure relief devices and
may BLEVE under fire conditions
Poison Class B - a DOT term for substances (other than Class A poisons) which are so toxic as to
present a health hazard during transportation
(Title 49 CFR 173.343)
Poison Control Centers - nationwide network of poison control centers set up by the Food and Drug
Administration and the Department of Health and
Human Services; usually established in local hospitals
Polymerization - a chemical reaction in which one or more small molecules combine to form larger
molecules; hazardous polymerizations are ones which
take place at such a rate that large amounts of energy are released
psi - pounds per square inch; a unit measuring the pressure a material exerts on the walls of a
confining vessel or enclosure
Pyrophoric - a chemical that will ignite spontaneously in air at a temperature of 130 F. or less
rad - a unit for the measurement of radioactivity; one rad is the amount of radiation that results in the
absorption of 100 ergs of energy by 1 gram of material
Radioactive - any type of substance that liberates radioactive particles or energy due to unstable atoms
that have disintegrating nuclei
RAM - radioactive material; may be subject to the licensing requirements of Title10 CFR
RCRA - Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, a federal law administered by the EPA regulating
disposal of all wastes; manages hazardous wastes through
a "cradle to grave" tracing system by controlling their generation, treating , storage, transportation and
disposal
Reaction - a chemical transformation or change; the interaction of two or more substances to form new
substances
Reactivity - tendency of a substance to undergo a chemical reaction with the release of energy; also a
RCRA classification for hazardous waste triggering
regulation
Recovery drum - drum used to overpack damaged or leaking hazardous materials
Reducing agent - the substance that combines with oxygen or loses electrons in an oxidation-reduction
reaction
rem - a measure of radiation dose meaning roentgen equivalent man; calculated by multiplying the
dose in rads by the relative biological effectiveness of the
radiation considered
Reportable quantity - substances in quanitities listed by DOT or EPA that must be reported; specified
by DOT in (Title 49 CFR 172.101) or by EPA in
(Title 40 CFR 173)
Residue - defined by DOT as the hazardous material remaining in a packaging after its contents have
been emptied and before the packaging is refilled, or
cleaned and purged of vapor to remove any potential hazard (Title 49 CFR 171.8); empty poison
containers are very dangerous due to remaining residue
Risk - the probability that damage to life, property and/or the environment will occur if a hazard
manifests itself
Roentgen - measure of the charge produced as rays pass through the air
Salvage drum - drum with a removable metal head used to transport damaged or leaking hazardous
materials for repackaging or disposal
SARA - Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986
SCBA - self-contained breathing apparatus
Select carcinogen - any substance which meets one of the following criteria: 1) it is regulated by
OSHA as a carcinogen; or 2) it is listed under the category
"Known to be carcinogens" in the Annual Report on Carcinogens published by the National
Toxicology Program (NTP); or 3) it is listed under GROUP l
("Carcinogenic to humans") by the International Agency for Research (IARC) Cancer Monographs; or
4) it is listed in either GROUP 2A OR 2B by IARC
or under the category "Reasonably anticipated to be carcinogens" by NTP, and causes statistically
significant tumor incidence in experimental animals in
accordance with any of the following criteria: a) after inhalation exposure of 6-7 hours per day, 5 days
per week, for a significant portion of a lifetime to dosages
of less than 10 mg/M3; b) after repeated skin application of less than 300 mg/kg of body weight per
week; or c) after oral dosages of less than 50 mg/kg of
body weight per day
Sensitizer - A substance that causes an individual to react when subsequently exposed to the same or
other irritant, as in a skin reaction or allergy.
Short-Term Exposure Limit (STEL) - A standard for the permissible occupational exposure limit for a
brief (not over 15 minutes) period. Usually only
four short exposures a day are permitted, each at least 60 minutes apart.
"SKIN" - a notation sometimes used with the PEL or TLV to indicate a substance readily absorbed
through the skin; this additional exposure must be
considered part of the total exposure to avoid exceeding the PEL or TLV
Smoke - an air suspension (aerosol) of particulates, often originating from combustion or sublimation
SOP - Standard Operating procedures
Solubility in water - term expressing the percentage of a material by weight that will dissolve in water
at ambient temperature
Solution - mixture of one or more substances in another substance, usually a liquid in which all the
ingredients are dissolved
Spontaneously combustible - solids or liquids capable of spontaneously heating or igniting
Solvent - A substance (usually a liquid) capable of dissolving another.
Stability - ability of a material to remain unchanged; a material is stable if it remains in the same form
under expected and reasonable conditions of storage
and use
Storage room - a room where chemicals or gases regulated by the New York City Fire Department 166 Laboratory regulation are stored and not otherwise
used or reacted
Storage cabinet - a cabinet for the storage of not more than 60 gallons of flammable liquid which is
designed and constructed in accordance with the OSHA
General Industry Standards
Superfund - the trust fund set up under CERCLA to provide money for hazardous waste cleanups
Synergistic - Two or more agents that act together to produce a total effect greater than the sum of the
separate effects.
Systemic Effect - A chemical's effect on the body that takes place somewhere other than point of
contact. For example, some pesticides are absorbed
through the skin (point of contact), but affect the nervous system (site of action).
Teratogen - Substances or agents that cause birth defects or other abnormalities in offspring, when
exposure occurs during pregnancy.
Threshold - the level where the first health effects occur; also the point at which a person just begins to
hear that a sound becoming audible
Threshold Limit Value (TLV) -The recommended limit (by ACGIH) allowed for worker exposure to
toxic chemicals, substances, and airborne contaminants.
It is believed that a worker can be repeatedly exposed to the TLV without adverse effects.
Time Weighted Average (TWA) An OSHA standard based on exposure over eight hours, using timeintegrated sampling.
Toxic - Poisonous; capable of causing any sort of injury to the body. This includes noise, radiation,
heat, cold, along with chemical and mineral substances.
Trade Name - Any arbitrary name a company chooses to use for a chemical or product for advertising
reasons or in order to keep secret the ingredients.
"Formacil" or "Methotrexate" are trade names. See generic names and chemical names.
TSCA - Toxic Substances Control Act (1976)
TSDF - Treatment, Storage and Disposal Facility
Title III - the federal Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act; mandates emergency
response planning at the State and Local levels through
State Emergency Planning Commissions (SERCs) and L ocal Emergency Planning Committees
(LEPCs); mandates automatic reporting of extremely hazardous
substances at fixed facilities as well as reporting of toxic releases; provides for citizen access to all the
above information
UEL or UFL - upper explosive or flammable limit; the maximum concentration of a vapor or gas in air
that sustain a flame when an ignition source is present; mixtures above the UEL/UFL are too rich to
burn
UL - Underwriters Laboratories, Inc.
Ug/M3 - Micrograms per cubic meter of air, l000 micrograms equal one milligram.
Vapor - the gaseous form of a substance that normally is a liquid or solid; examples: water vapor,
vapors of organic solvents such as toluene vapors; please
note it is incorrect to say "paint fumes" as the correct term is paint vapors
Vapor density - the weight of a vapor or gas compared to the weight of an equal volume of air;
materials with vapor densities less than l.0 are lighter than air
and materials with vapor densities greater than l.0 are heavier than air
Vapor pressure - the pressure exerted by a saturated vapor above its own liquid in a closed container;
the higher the vapor pressure (reported in millimeters
of mercury on an MSDS), the more readily a substance evaporates; the lower the boiling point of a
substance, the higher its vapor pressure
Ventilation - A duct and fan system that takes contaminants (fumes or dust) in the air out of the work
area, thereby reducing worker's exposure. The most
effective type of ventilation is local exhaust ventilation, placed close to the source of airborne fumes or
dust and drawing it away from the worker
Volatile - Tendency for a liquid to evaporate or vaporize rapidly.
Water-reactive materials - any substance that readily reacts with or decomposes in the presence of
water with substantial release of energy; examples:
sodium metal, magnesium metal
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APPENDIX E
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APPENDIX F
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APPENDIX G
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APPENDIX H
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH STANDARDS
SUBPART I PERSONAL PROTECNVE EQUIPMENT
link to OSHA Regulations: Personal Protective Equipment - General Requirements.
http://www.osha-slc.gov/OshStd_data/1910_0132.html
EYE AND FACE PROTECTION - 1910.133
link to OSHA Regulations: Personal Protective Equipment - Eye and face protection.
http://www.osha-slc.gov/OshStd_data/1910_0133.html
RESPIRATORY PROTECTION - 1910.134
link to OSHA Regulations: Personal Protective Equipment - Respiratory Protection.
http://www.osha-slc.gov/OshStd_data/1910_0134.html
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APPENDIX I
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APPENDIX J
THE NEED FOR LABORATORY SOPs
Three laboratory accidents recently occurred on Main campus within a two week period. All three
accidents had serious or potentially serious
outcomes which might have been avoided if standard operating procedures (SOPs) and emergency
response procedures had been in effect.
A chemistry graduate student was inspecting a sealed, evacuated Pyrex tube he had just prepared when
it imploded without warning,
apparently due to an imperfection in the glass. Fragments of the tube went underneath his goggles
(Norton 180) and severely cut his right cornea.
Although the injury was very severe and three glass shards are permanently embedded in his cornea, it
could have been much worse. A few more
millimeters of penetration would have meant loss of his right eye. The Norton 180 goggles did not
provide adequate protection for this type of
procedure. Evacuated glass tubes and apparatus should be regarded as hazardous at all times, not just
during use. Always wear eye protection
when working near a vacuum line. Use a full face shield or goggles that protect the eyes from below
as well as from the side.
The second incident occurred at 7:00 pm in the evening while two students were cleaning up a
laboratory. During the clean-up, a bottle of ethylamine
was accidentally broken and ethylamine splashed onto the arms of one of the students. Because the
student was not aware of the safety shower, the
ethylamine was not immediately washed off, resulting in chemical burns.
The third accident also occurred in the evening and involved an explosion in a hood. Fortunately, no
lab work was being done nor was anyone in the
room at the time of the explosion. Although the exact cause of the explosion could not be determined,
it is believed that someone mistakenly poured
waste acid into a methylene chloride bottle. This mixture can result in a violent reaction and possible
explosion. Glass fragments were spewn throughout
the area, one with enough force to completely cut through a plastic hose attached to a water source.
These three accidents all underline the need for written standard operating procedures for each phase
of laboratory work. For example, written SOPs
for chemical handling, storage and disposal should have been in effect. Such written SOPs should also
specify the proper protective equipment
to be used. Everyone in the lab should be thoroughly familiar with all of these procedures.
If your laboratory would like assistance in developing standard operating procedures, waste disposal
procedures and emergency response actions,
please contact the Lamont-Doherty Safety Office (Raymond T. Long x8860 or x8822). We are here to
assist you.
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APPENDIX K
CHEMICAL WASTE DISPOSAL
Date: ___________________________
Request by: _________________________ Telephone:___________________
Division_____________________________
Principal Investigator: ____________________________
Account #
Location of Chemicals
Building:_______________________________ Floor:___________________________ Room
No.:_________________________
Location within room:______________________________________________________
Chemical Name
Volume of Each Container
(be specific)*
Number of Containers
*All containers MUST be labeled with specific chemical name. Request can not be processed without
this information.
Return completed form to:
Any questions, call:
Safety Office
101 Administration Bldg.
x8860 or x8822
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APPENDIX L
HEALTH AND SAFETY TRAINING OUTLINE FOR LABORATORY EMPLOYEES
Overview of Regulations
OSHA Laboratory Standard
New York City Fire Department 1-66 Laboratory Standard
Hazard Recognition
Chemical hazards: Fire/Explosion; Corrosive; Reactive, Toxic
Physical hazards: Compressed gas cylinders, electrical, ionizing radiation,
Specific laboratory hazards
Hazardous substance recognition: signs and symptoms of exposure
Labels and Material Safety Data Sheets
Medical surveillance
Hazard Control
The Laboratory Design: Engineering controls and safety equipment
Work practices
Standard operating procedures
Personal protective equipment
Housekeeping
Emergency Response
Fire/Explosion
Chemical spills
Equipment failure
Hazardous Waste
Resources
MSDSs, computer resources, health and safety references
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APPENDIX M
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APPENDIX N
STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES FOR PARTICULARLY
HAZARDOUS OR "HIGH HAZARD" SUBSTANCES: ACUTELY TOXIC,
CHRONICALLY TOXIC, REPRODUCTIVE TOXINS AND ALLERGENS
Particularly hazardous substances include reproductive toxins, allergens, acutely toxic and chronically
toxic chemicals.
Toxic effects are produced by a chemical if it reaches an appropriate site in the body at a concentration
and for a length of time sufficient to produce
a toxic response. The effects of toxic substances may appear immediately or soon after exposure
(acute toxicity) or they may take many years to appear
(chronic toxicity).
ACUTELY TOXIC SUBSTANCES
Acute effects are due to a single exposure or a few exposures usually occurring within the same 24hour period. Acute health effects range from complete
recovery, recovery with some damage, or death. Highly acute toxic chemicals include hydrogen
sulfide and hydrogen cyanide.
CHRONICALLY TOXIC SUBSTANCES
Chronic effects are due to repeated exposures to low doses of toxic substances usually over a long
period of time. Chronic illnesses can occur either from
a build-up of the chemical in the body or from an accumulation of the damage. Examples of
chronically toxic substances are the heavy metals such as mercury (central nervous system
impairment), and organic solvents such as n-hexane (peripheral neuropathy). Chronically toxic
substances also include carcinogens.
The University laboratory policy mandates special handling procedures for select carcinogens. A
select carcinogen is any substance which meets one of the following criteria: 1) it is regulated by
OSHA as a carcinogen; or 2)it is listed under the category "Known to be carcinogens" in the Annual
Report on
Carcinogens published by the National Toxicology Program (NTP); or 3) it is listed under Group 1
("Carcinogenic to humans") by the International Agency for Research (IARC) Cancer Monographs; or
4) it is listed in either GROUP 2A or 2B by IARC or under the category "Reasonably anticipated to be
carcinogens"
by NTP, and causes statistically significant tumor incidence in experimental animals in accordance
with any of the following criteria: a) after inhalation exposure
of 6-7 hours per day, 5 days per week, for a significant portion of a lifetime to dosages of less than 10
mg/M3;) b) after repeated skin application of less than 300 mg/kg of body weight per week; or c) after
oral dosages of less than 50 mg/kg of body weight per day.
ALLERGENS
Chemical allergy is an adverse, antibody mediated reaction resulting from a prior sensitization to a
chemical. As with environmental allergens such as pollen and animal dander, not everyone's immune
system will become sensitized to any particular chemical. For those that do develop a chemical
allergy, sensitization usually evolves over a 10 - 21 day period, after which even a low dose exposure
to the chemical results in an allergic reaction. The reaction itself usually becomes
apparent 12 - 48 hours after exposure, and can range in severity from minor skin disturbances such as
inflammation, itching, and redness, to life-threatening anaphylaxis.
Although any compound possesses the potential to elicit an allergic response in some subpopulation of
workers, there are some chemicals that induce allergy
more commonly than others. Some common allergens include toluene diisocyanate, bery llium,
methylmethacrylate, formaldehyde, dinitrochlorobenzene,
and powdered vinyl and latex gloves.
REPRODUCTIVE TOXINS
Reproductive toxins are any compounds that interfere with the normal male or female reproductive
processes. Reproductive toxins include mutagens and
teratogens. Mutagens change a gene in the sperm or egg cell of the par ent. The parent is not directly
affected but the offspring is. Teratogens cause damage
to the growing embryo or fetus, even when present in small amounts, and cause severe birth defects.
Other types of reproductive toxins may cause diminished fertility, embryolethality (death of a
fertilized egg, embryo or fetus), retarded growth and postnatal functional deficits.
PROTECTIVE MEASURES:
1. Check the label, Material Safety Data Sheet and attached list at the end of this appendix to see if a
chemical is considered acutely toxic, chronically toxic,
a reproductive toxin or an allergen. If so, the following apply:
2. Work in a clearly designated area. Identify the area (such as fume hoods, glove boxes, lab bench
tops, and refrigerators) with proper warning signs.
If possible, demarcate the area .For example, specific areas of a laboratory bench can be demarcated
with yellow tape and labeled "suspect carcinogen.".
3. Work surfaces in the designated area should be covered with stainless steel or plastic trays, dry
absorbent plastic-backed paper or other impervious
material. Decontaminate or dispose of these protective surfaces after any procedure involving high
hazard chemicals has been completed.
4. Primary containment must be used for any volatile high-hazard chemicals or for any procedure that
results in the generation of aerosols. Primary
containment devices include chemical fume hoods, glove boxes or other suitable containment.
5. Vapors or aerosols produced by analytical instruments should be captured through local exhaust
ventilation at the site of their production or be vented
into a chemical fume hood or other suitable containment. Overtly contaminated analytical equipment
should be promptly decontaminated.
6. Appropriate personal protective equipment (eyewear, gloves, etc.) should be specified by the
Principal Investigator in conduction with the EHS office.
As a minimum, lab coats must be worn to protect street clothing. Such lab coats must never be worn
outside the laboratory. In the event of contamination,
remove the protective clothing immediately and dispose of or decontaminate it.
7. Vacuum lines including water apirators should be protected (e.g., with an absorbent or liquid trap
and a HEPA filter) to prevent entry of any high-hazard
chemical into the system. When using volatile chemicals, a separate vacuum pump should be used.
This device should be placed within or vented into an
appropriate laboratory-type hood.
8. Stock quantities of high-hazard chemicals must be stored in a clearly designated and labeled storage
area or cabinet. Maintain a listing of the stock
quantities and include the dates of acquisition. Keep working quantities to a minimum. Working
quantities should not normally exceed the amounts required
for use in 1 week.
9. Transport high-hazard chemicals in labeled, durable outer containers.
10. All hazardous waste containers must be clearly labeled with the chemical category (flammable,
reactive, corrosive, toxic ), list of contents, and the name
and telephone number of the generating research group. High-hazard chemicals and relative
percentages should be clearly designated.
11. Any spill or accidental release of any high-hazard chemical, regardless of the amount, should be
immediately reported to Security (x99) who will then
coordinate spill response with the EHS office. Evacuate the area until the hazardous release has been
characterized and controlled.
12. Laboratory personnel of childbearing age should be informed of any known male or female
reproductive toxins in the laboratory. Any pregnant employee
or any employee planning to conceive and working with reproductive toxins should contact the EHS
office. The EHS office can assess employee exposure,
inform or consult the employee's physician, and determine whether work practices or controls may
have to be instituted to minimize risk.
13. If hood or equipment failure occurs, close the hood sash and evacuate the area. Obtain help
immediately by following the notification procedures.
Do not attempt to initiate an emergency response.
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APPENDIX O
STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES FOR PHYSICAL HAZARDS IN THE
LABORATORY: ELECTRICAL HAZARDS, CRYOGENIC HAZARDS AND
COLD TRAPS, COMPRESSED GASES AND PRESSURE HAZARDS, AND
LASER HAZARDS
ELECTRICAL HAZARDS
Electrical hazards can result in shock to personnel, ignition of combustible or explosive materials,
electrical explosions, and inadvertent activation of
equipment.
The effects of electrical shock depend on the amount of current (amperage) passing through the body,
the current path and the frequency and duration
of the flow. Resistance (measured in ohms) determines amperage so low voltage can be just as
dangerous as high voltage. The resistance of the human
body to current flow is contained almost entirely in the skin, particularly the dead, scaly cells of the
outer
layer. Different parts of the body differ in their resistance to current flow. wet moist skin is much less
resistant to electron flow than dry skin.
Dry skin
100,000 - 600,000 ohms
Wet skin
1,000 ohms
Hand to foot
400 - 600 ohms
Ear to ear
100 ohms
The three levels of electrical shock are mild, severe and deadly. Mild shock is caused by brief contact
with current less than 5 milliamperes (mA).
Severe shock is caused by longer contact with current from 5 to 25 milliamperes (mA). Deadly shock
occurs when a person is frozen to an electrical
contact and receives continuous current greater than 25 milliamperes (mA).
PROTECTIVE MEASURES:
1. Use properly grounded equipment. If an electrical device is grounded, its cord will have a threeprong plug and require a three way receptacle to
accommodate it. Equipment need not be grounded if it is double-insulated; this is usually indicated by
a label.
2. Use double-insulated tools.
3. Use ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCI) which break the current whenever low levels of current
leaking to ground are detected wherever there
is a possibility of liquid/electrical contact.
4. To minimize static electricity and sparks in hazardous areas and in handling flammable solvents and
other chemicals, containers and equipment should
be properly grounded and bonded, and blanketed with inert gas when needed.
5. If power cannot be shut down when someone is receiving continuous shock, try to free the victim
from the power source. Use a non-conductive object
such as wood, plastic or rope to move the victim away from the power source. Do not touch the victim
directly or you may become part of the "circuit."
6. Inspect electrical equipment before use. Look for broken or bent plugs, frayed cords, bare wires,
smoke, sparks from switches or controls, liquids spilled
in or on equipment, or erratic operation. If you notice any of these defects, or suspect any problems at
all, do not use the equipment. Tag the equipment and
have it repaired by authorized personnel. Only qualified, trained persons should maintain electrical
equipment.
7. Electrical failure and overheating equipment should be reported to your immediate supervisor or the
EHS office.
CRYOGENIC HAZARDS AND COLD TRAPS
Cryogens are gases that must be cooled to less than -150 F before they can be liquefied. All cryogens
require special handling because they have a very high
liquid to vapor expansion, the ability to liquefy other gases and the potential to damage living tissue.
Cryogens and the surfaces they cool can cause severe
burns upon skin contact.
PROTECTIVE MEASURES
1. Gloves and a face shield may be needed when preparing or using some cold baths.
2 Immerse the object to be cooled slowly to avoid vigorous boiling and overflow of the coolant.
3. Use properly vented containers. Dewar flasks should be made of borosilicate glass and wrapped
with friction tape or a metal casing to contain flying pieces
upon implosion. Do not pour cold liquid onto the edge of a Dewar flask as the fl ask may break and
implode (e.g., do not pour liquid nitrogen out of a Dewar
flask).
4. Do not use liquid nitrogen or liquid air to cool a flammable mixture in the presence of air because
oxygen can condense from the air, leading to an explosion
hazard.
5. Cold traps used in vacuum systems should be wrapped with friction tape to contain flying pieces in
the event of an implosion.
COMPRESSED GAS CYLINDERS
Compressed gases present both mechanical and chemical hazards and thus require careful handling
procedures.
1. Compressed gas cylinders shall always be secured in an upright position with chains, straps or
special stands.
2. Compressed gas cylinders must be hydrostatically tested by the manufacturer every ten years. The
date of the latest test (month, year) is stamped into the
metal of the cylinder. Cylinders with expired test dates must be returned to the manufacturer.
3. Use a cart to move cylinders and always move cylinders with the protective cap and restraining
chain in place.
4. Only use cylinders that can be positively identified.
5. Do not open a cylinder until the correct regulator is in place.
6. After a new cylinder is hooked up and any other time the regulator or conducting tubing is disturbed
or manipulated, the potential leak points in the system
shall be leaked tested using soap solution.
7. Do not tamper, modify, force or lubricate any cylinder valve.
8. Do not use an oxygen regulator for any other gas or vice versa. Do not interchange combustible gas
regulators with those for oil-free inert gases.
9. Modification, alteration and repair of all regulators shall be done by the manufacturers. Never
attempt to modify a gas cylinder regulator to make it fit a
particular cylinder.
10. Do not empty compressed gas cylinders completely to avoid possible formation of explosive
air/gas mixtures.
11. Clearly label empty cylinders as such (either EMPTY or MT).
12. Store empty cylinders separately from full cylinders.
13. Flammable gas use: storage and use of flammable gase within the laboratory unit must be in
accordance with the New York City Fire Department
laboratory regulation 1-66, which allows a maximum capacity of 15.4 cubic feet per laboratory.
Flammable gases may only be stored in laboratory units
where there is an on-going operation requiring their use. Such operations shall allow for storage of
flammable gases sufficient to meet the operating requirements
of the equipment in that laboratory plus an equal reserve. A FLAMMABLE GAS sign must be posted
at the entrance of the laboratory.
PRESSURE HAZARDS
Shield high-pressure operations or operations under vacuum with a blast shield and always wear
protective safety goggles.
Closed systems in which reactions are carried out or to which heat is applied must be designed and
tested to withstand pressure. Pressurized apparatus must have
appropriate relief devices. If the reaction cannot be opened directly to the air, an inert gas purge and
bubbler system should be used to avoid pressure build-up.
LASER HAZARDS
1. Personnel should use light-tight interlocked enclosures to enclose the laser beam.
2. Wear laser safety eyewear whenever working in any laboratory where a laser is in operation.
3. Before turning on any laser close the door to the laboratory and post the following sign on the door.
CAUTION: LASER IN OPERATION
DO NOT ENTER
The letters must be 3 inches in height and in red.
4. On the door of every laboratory occupied by any laser and inside the laboratory the following
symbol must be posted. The symbol must be in red and
the background must be yellow or white. The letters must be-in black and one inch in height.
5. Never look directly into any laser beam. Lasers are highly intense focused forms of energy and can
permanently damage the eye upon impingement.
6.Never expose any part of your body to any laser beam. Besides being potentially hazardous to the
eye lasers can also damage the skin severely.
7. Equipment in the laboratory should consist of non-reflecting surfaces. This will prevent exposure to
indirect beams.
8. General illumination in laser radiation areas shall be at least 30 lumens per square foot, except
where conditions of laser operation require lower ambient
illumination.
9. If only part of the laser beam is to be used, terminate the unused portion with a non-reflecting
material.
10. Anybody who operates a laser must be aware of the potential hazards of laser beams. Therefore all
expected users must undergo training.
11. For appropriate signs, eyewear, enclosures and training contact the Lamont-Doherty Safety Office
at x8860 or x8822.
12. All electrical equipment and wiring in any laboratory occupied by a laser must be under routine
check for hazardous conditions. All electrical equipment
must be grounded.
13. Flammable solvents ( those with flash points less than 100F ) must be stored in premises that fully
comply with the New York City Fire Department
Directive 1-66.
14. Lasers should be placed horizontally at approximately 4 feet above the ground.
15. Lasers should not be moved from one laboratory to another.
16. Only equipment and minimum amounts of material needed for operating the laser should be
present in the laser laboratory.
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