Laboratory Safety
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Laboratory Safety KAREN S. KELLEY, CIH DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY Laboratory Accidents Laboratory Accidents Learning From UCLA: Details of the experiment that led to a researcher’s death prompt evaluations of academic safety practices August 3, 2009│Volume 87, Number 31 │PP 29-31, 33-34 Laboratory Accidents 'A TRUE TRAGEDY': Yale student asphyxiated in lathe accident at chemistry lab, medical examiner rules A death in the lab Fatality adds further momentum to calls for a shake-up in academic safety culture. Richard Van Noorden Laboratory Accidents Blast probe finds 20 safety violations Texas Tech investigators have linked a Jan. 7 laboratory explosion that severely injured a doctoral candidate to 20 surrounding violations of the university’s safety policy, according to documents released Monday. Laboratory Accidents Laboratory Accidents Laboratory Accidents CHEMICAL REACTION University chemistry lab fire injures 2 September 26, 2011|By the CNN Wire Staff Laboratory Accidents Laboratory Accidents DOE Lessons Learned DOE Lessons Learned Graduate student at LLNL Electronics technologist at LLNL contacted an insulated high voltage wire and ground Received 10 kV dc hand-to-hand (fore arm) at an ampere rating between 1-2 amps Entry point was the middle and ring finger of the left hand and exit was from the right forearm Wire may have been previously damaged Student taken to the hospital, treated and released was troubleshooting a power supply and had de-energized the chassis Removing a circuit board that contained three capacitors when his right thumb contacted leads from one of the capacitors Received a 470 V dc <10J shock and second degree burn to his thumb Employee failed to discharge the capacitors prior to removing the circuit board Laboratory Accidents What are the common failures? Insufficient training Insufficient hazard evaluation Lack of appropriate PPE Failure to follow safety policies Today’s Program Emergency Procedures and Reporting Responsibilities Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment Personal Protective Equipment Specific Hazard Information Emergencies Emergency irrigation equipment Eyewashes Flush eye for a full 15 minutes Users should flow the eyewash weekly Facilities Management will check annually Do not block Safety showers Flush for a full 15 minutes Remove clothing under shower Facilities Management will check annually Do not block Emergencies Seek medical attention: Eye contact with chemical Significant chemical exposure Chemical exposure that results in symptoms Inhalation of any substance that causes coughing Burning or severe irritation Electric shock Laser injury Emergencies Chemical spills All spills should be cleaned up in a timely fashion Assess the spill to determine proper response: Call 911 if it is an emergency situation Contact DES for assistance if it is not an emergency 5-3960 from 8-5 5-3555 off hours and let dispatch know you need to contact DES New spill number coming soon Small spills can be cleaned up by lab staff unless: Toxic Flammable Emergencies Building evacuation or closure Stabilize reactions in progress Close fume hood sashes Notify safety or emergency response personnel if any unusual hazards exist Reporting Report incidents, near misses and unsafe conditions P.I. Compliance Officer DES FATALITY SERIOUS INJURY MINOR INJURY Opportunity to Prevent Injuries NEAR MISS UNSAFE CONDITION Responsibilities Who is responsible for safety in the lab? PI You Support DES Compliance Officer Department Hazard Identification & Risk Assessment FIND IT ASSESS IT FIX IT Hazard Identification & Risk Assessment A hazard can cause harm or adverse effects Risk is the chance or probability that a person will be harmed or experience an adverse effect if exposed to a hazard Risk Assessment is the process where you: Identify the hazards Analyze or evaluate the risk associated with that hazard Determine appropriate ways to eliminate or control the hazard Perform hazard identification and risk assessment prior to new experimental procedures and new chemical usage Hazard Identification Identify health hazards associated with the chemicals Irritant or sensitizer Carcinogen or potential carcinogen Corrosive Reproductive or developmental toxin Acute toxin Other systemic toxin Identify routes of exposure Inhalation Injection Skin/eye contact Ingestion Skin absorption Hazard Identification Identify physical hazards associated with the chemicals Flammable Air or water reactive Explosive Strong oxidizer Cryogen Compressed gas Other physical hazard Identify process hazards associated with the experiment Pressure Vacuum Heat Electricity Other process hazards Risk Assessment Identify circumstances of use, handling and storage Quantity Experiment location Concentration Storage location Frequency of use Evaluate hazards posed by chemical changes over course of experiment Pressure changes Gas production Heat generation Other products of reaction Consider additional hazards posed by scaling up a reaction Risk Assessment Identify appropriate controls Administrative Training Procedures Signage Prior approval Engineering Local exhaust ventilation Gas cabinets Storage cabinets Shielding/isolation Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Eye protection Face protection Gloves Clothing Respiratory protection Hazard Information Resources Chemical container label Chemical name and CAS number Supplier identification Signal words Warning Danger Hazard statements Hazard symbols/pictograms Numerical hazard rating system Numbers from 0-4 indicate severity of hazard for health, flammability and reactivity Higher the number, higher the hazard Hazard Information Resources Hazard Statement Hazard Pictogram Hazard Information Resources Signal Word and Hazard Statement Numerical Rating System Hazard Information Resources Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) contain: Manufacturer information Chemical name, synonyms, CAS number Ingredients, if applicable Exposure limits Detailed hazard information Health Physical Environmental Symptoms of overexposure and first aid information Chemical and physical properties Precautions for safe handling, use and disposal Hazard Information Resources Hazard Information Resources MSDS resources: Internet Paper Manufacturer/distributor website (Fisher Scientific, Sigma Aldrich, J.T. Baker, Mallinckrodt, etc.) DES website Your laboratory Request from DES Vendor Hazard Information Resources Other sources of chemical hazard information: DES staff Chemical Hygiene Plan (CHP) DES website Your laboratory’s customized CHP Standard operating procedures MSDSs Hazard Information Resources Other sources of chemical hazard information: Laboratory Chemical Safety Summaries (LCSS) www.nap.edu International Chemical Safety Cards www.cdc.gov/niosh Hazard Information Resources Administrative Controls Required laboratory safety training New Researcher Training On-line Chemical Hygiene Training Other DES required training Laser safety Radiation safety Waste generator Lab-specific training Laboratory Specific Training Template SOPs Specific hazards Equipment www.des.umd.edu/ls/form/LabTraining.pdf Administrative Controls Laboratory signage Labels specifying types of hazardous materials in lab Emergency contact information Request sign on DES website Engineering Controls Fume hoods Perform all work > 6” into hood Elevate large objects above hood deck Don’t use hood for excessive storage Follow instructions for sash position Avoid rapid movements around hood Engineering Controls Fume hoods Green or blue label when fume hood passes inspection Indicates proper sash height Orange label when fume hood face fails inspection Alarms Engineering Controls Fume hoods Types of sashes Horizontal (Sliding) Vertical Engineering Controls Fume hoods Minimize storage Engineering Controls Other laboratory ventilation Engineering Controls Storage cabinets Flammable liquids storage cabinets Corrosives storage cabinets Proper segregation and storage Flammables Acids Bases Oxidizers Water reactives Pyrophorics Engineering Controls Proper segregation and storage Engineering Controls Proper segregation and storage Engineering Controls Proper segregation and storage Engineering Controls Proper segregation and storage Personal Protective Equipment Proper laboratory attire: Lab coat Safety glasses Long pants Closed toe shoes Personal Protective Equipment Eye and face protection Safety glasses Splash goggles Face shield Gloves Disposable nitrile Accidental splash protection only Chemical resistant gloves Chemical specific Contact DES Personal Protective Equipment Respirators Contact DES Training Fit-testing Medical clearance Voluntary use Specific Hazardous Chemicals CHP requires Designated Areas for: Acute Toxins Carcinogens Teratogens Mutagens Lists on DES website Specific Hazardous Chemicals Peroxide Formers: Ethyl Ether Isopropyl Ether* Dioxane Acetal Tetrahydrofuran* Tetrahydronaphthalene Date chemicals when open Dispose of within 12 months of opening *Dispose of within 3 months of opening List on DES website Specific Hazardous Chemicals Hydrofluoric Acid Corrosive Systemic toxin > 50% immediate pain and tissue destruction 20-50% symptoms delayed 1-8 hours < 20% symptoms delayed up to 24 hours Penetrates deep into tissue prior to dissociating F- avidly binds to calcium and magnesium causing electrolyte imbalances (hypocalcemia and hypomagnesemia) First aid kit with calcium gluconate gel Cryogenic Liquids Hazards Extreme cold Asphyxiation Protective Equipment Cryogenic gloves Face shield Phase separator Compressed Gases Compressed gas cylinders have mechanical and possibly chemical hazards Large potential energy from the compression of the gas turns gas cylinders into potential rockets Compressed Gases Cylinders must always be properly secured Regulators and tubing must be compatible with gas and should never be interchanged Toxic gases must be in a ventilated gas cabinet Incompatible gases must be segregated Lecture Bottles vs. Lecture Bottles Machine Safety Do not remove or alter machine guards Wear safety glasses with side shields Remove any jewelry that can be caught in the machine, tie back long hair, roll up long sleeves Do not work on a machine until you have been trained Do not work alone Noise Rule of Thumb: If you cannot carry on a normal at 3 feet, you need hearing protection! Contact DES for noise measurements and recommendations for hearing protection Electrical Safety Extension Cords and Power Strips Extension cords for temporary set-ups only Secure extension cords to prevent tripping hazard UL listed and rated for electrical load Power strips must have circuit breaker Do not “daisy chain” Do not use any equipment with damaged cords or plugs Electrical Safety Electrical Safety Never attach an exposed connector (such as an alligator clip) to a power supply Electrical Safety General Guidelines: Avoid contact with energized electrical circuits Use guarding around exposed circuits and sources of live electricity Remove jewelry when working on electrical equipment Minimize the use of electrical equipment in cold rooms or other areas where condensation is likely If water or a chemical is spilled onto equipment, shut off power at the main switch and unplug the equipment Electrical Safety General Guidelines (continued) Disconnect the power source before servicing or repairing electrical equipment Lock Out/Tagout required on main switch when working with/on equipment Repairs of high voltage or high current equipment should be performed only by trained electricians Ensure hands are dry wear nonconductive gloves and shoes with insulated soles If it is safe to do so, work with only one hand, keeping the other hand at your side or in your pocket, away from all conductive material If an individual comes in contact with a live electrical conductor, do not touch the equipment, cord or person, disconnect the power source from the main switch or pull out the plug using a leather belt This is why it is important to have the shut off installed directly to and near the equipment! Electrical Safety Electrical Safety University electrical safety policy Lab personnel must not turn off equipment via circuit breaker panel Request a shut off be installed by FM Students, TA’s, researchers and PIs working with energized electrical equipment must have training to the level of their exposure DES is offering NFPA 70E electrical safety training at the end of June Laboratory Housekeeping Sharps Discard needles, razor blades, and scalpel blades into red, puncture resistant sharps containers Even if unused or still in packaging Questions?
