General Laboratory Safety Training

1. General Laboratory Safety Training Presented by Martina Schmeling Adapted from UC Davis

2. Staying safe means that you… • Read labels on containers of chemicals • Read Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) • Handle chemicals with care • Use correct protective clothing and equipment • Remember emergency procedures

3. Chemical Labels • Every container of chemicals is labeled by the manufacturer. • The label will tell you • Name of chemical • Name, address and emergency phone number of manufacturer • Physical and health hazards • Precautionary measures • First-aid instructions • Proper handling/storage instructions

4. Health Hazards on a Chemical Label • Carcinogen • Highly toxic agent • Toxic agent • Reproductive hazard • Irritant • Corrosive • Sensitizer • Hepatotoxin • Nephrotoxin • Neurotoxin

5. Typical Precautionary Measureson a Label • Do not breathe vapors • Use in well-ventilated areas • Keep container closed when not in use • Avoid contact with skin • Wash thoroughly with soap and water after handling

6. Keep away from sparks, heat, and flame • Do notstore near combustible materials • Store in tightly closed container • Remove and wash contaminated clothing promptly • Keep from contact with clothing and other combustible materials

7. Common Signal Wordson Labels • Danger – Can cause immediate serious injury or death • Warning – Can cause potentially serious injury or death • Caution – Can cause potentially moderate injury

8. Special Symbols Used on Labels Helps you recognize kind of hazard a chemical could present if you are not careful • Toxicity • Corrosivity (acids and bases) • Ignitability (flammable solvents andcertain solids) • Reactivity (sodium and various water-reactive reagents)

9. Color and Number Coded Label Systems • Colors represent kind of hazard • Red = fire • Yellow = instability • Blue = health • black= specific hazard& personal protection NFPA-type label 3 4 2 • Numbers show degree of hazard • 0 = Minimal • 1 = Slight • 2 = Moderate • 3 = Serious • 4 = Severe

10. Color and Number CodedLabel Systems NFPA-type labels • Black = specific hazard • OX = Oxidizer • ACID = Acid • ALK = Alkali • COR = Corrosive • W = Use no water • Other symbols: 3 4 2 COR

11. Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) Provides more detailed information about a chemical, including • Composition, information on ingredients (Section 2) • Hazards identification (Section 3) • First aid measures (Section 4) • Accidental Release measures (Section 6) • Handling and Storage (Section 7) • Exposure controls, personal protection (Section 8) • Stability and reactivity (Section 10) • Toxicological information (Section 11)

12. MSDS (cont’d) Hazards Identification • Inhalation: Respiratory tract (lungs) through inhalation • Ingestion: Digestive tract through eating or smoking with contaminated hands or in contaminated work areas • Absorption through the skin or eyes: Dermatitis or damage to the liver, kidney, or other organ systems • Injection: Percutaneous injection of a toxic substance through the skin

13. MSDS (cont’d) Specific possible health hazards: • Acute poisoning (rapid assimilation of substance, i.e., carbon monoxide) • Chronic poisoning (prolonged exposure, i.e., lead poisoning) • Cumulative poisons (numerous chronic exposures, i.e., heavy metals) • Substances in combination (synergistic effect, i.e., exposure to alcohol and chlorinated solvents)

14. MSDS (cont’d) Potential Health Effects • Eye irritation • Nausea • Dizziness • Skin rashes • Headache • Existing medical conditions possibly aggravated by exposure

15. MSDS (cont’d) • Emergency/first-aid procedures to follow • Accidental Release Measures • What to do if substance spills and leaks • How to correctly dispose of substance • Equipment/procedures for cleaning upspills and leaks

16. MSDS (cont’d) Handling and Storage • How to handle and store substance safely • Any other precautions (i.e., grounding containers during transfer of flammables)

17. MSDS (cont’d) • Exposure Controls, Personal Protection • Respirator • Gloves • Eye protection • Protective clothing • Ventilation • Special work and hygiene practices that should be followed

18. MSDS (cont’d) • Exposure Limits • Threshold Limit Value (TLV) • TLV-C • TLV-STEL • TLV-TWA • Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) • Recommended Exposure Limit (REL)

19. MSDS (cont’d) • Toxicological Information • LC50: median lethal concentration by inhalation in a single exposure over a specified time period • LCLO: lowest reported LC50 • LD50: median lethal concentration by a route other than inhalation

20. So, what is “highly toxic”? • “Highly Toxic” is indicated by • LD50  50 mg/kg body wt by ingestion to albino rats each weighing between 200 to 300 gmsOR • LD50  200 mg/kg by continuous contact for 24 hrs with skin of albino rabbits each weighing between 2 and 3 kgOR • LC50  200 ppm of gas or vapor inhalation (or 2 mg/L of mist, dust, or fumes) for one hour by albino rats each weighing between 200 to 300 gms

21. How can an MSDS be “Decoded”? • See the glossary produced by CCOHS http://ccinfoweb.ccohs.ca/help/msds/msdstermse.html

22. Handle Chemicals with Care • Dispose of chemicals, broken glass, and other waste in approved containers • Clean up broken glass and spills immediately • Keep the lab clean and neat • Store incompatible chemicals in separate storage areas

23. Chemical Storage • Labs have established separate storage areas for • Flammable and combustible organic liquids and solvents • Acids • Dry poisons, salts, and oxidizers • Bases • Chemicals are stored in • Chemical storage cabinets • Flammable storage refrigerators (No food) • Chemical storage refrigerators/freezers (No food) • On shelves with retaining barriers

24. Storage Fundamentals • Identify incompatible chemicals – check the Material Safety Data Sheet • Isolate and separate incompatible materials • Isolate by storing in another area or room • Degree of isolation depends on quantities, chemical properties and packaging • Separate by storing in same area or room, but apart from each other

25. Storage of Flammable and Combustible Liquids • Storage must not limit the use of exits, stairways, or areas normally used for the safe regress of people • Storage must be in: • closed metal containers inside a storage cabinet, or • safety cans, or • an inside storage room Inside storage room

26. Storage Cabinets • Not more than 60 gal of Class I and/or Class II liquids, or not more than 120 gal of Class III liquids permitted in a cabinet • Must be conspicuously labeled, “Flammable - Keep Fire Away” • Doors on metal cabinets must have a three-point lock (top, side, and bottom), and the door sill must be raised at least 2 inches above the bottom of the cabinet

27. Use correct protective clothing and equipment • Eye Protection • Safety glasses – flying particles, chemical splashes, dust • Splash goggles – corrosive liquids, solvents, powders • Face Shields – high pressure systems • Respiratory Protection – normally not needed at LUC • Skin and Body Protection • Gloves – see the MSDS • Aprons and lab coats – strong acids and bases • Shoes – always worn in lab, closed toe and closed heel • Hearing Protection – normally not needed at LUC

28. Do not • Use damaged glassware • Store chemicals near heat, sunlight, or other substances with which they might react • Store materials on floors or other places where people could trip over them • Leave equipment unattended when its operating (unless it is designed to do so or you have an SOP) • Put custodians and fellow workers in danger

29. If Overexposed to a Hazardous Substance • Get medical help immediately! • Inform your lab supervisor • Check MSDS for first-aid instructions. • Some general guidelines are • Eyes: Flush with water for 15 minutes • Ingestion: Follow label and MSDS instructions • Skin Contact: Stand under emergency shower and remove contaminated clothing immediately • Inhalation: Get to fresh air and get prompt medical attention

30. Other Emergency Procedures • Fire: call 911, activate building fire alarm; safely use fire extinguisher on small fires • Hazardous Chemical spill (over 1 pint): evacuate the room; close door; call 911; consider evacuation of building

31. Emergencies can happen, so • Avoid working alone in the lab • Know where emergency phone numbers are posted • Review MSDS • Know where to go and what to do in an emergency • Know the location of the closest safety showers, eyewashes, and fire extinguishers

32. Chemical Hygiene Plan (CHP) • Outlines specific work practices for all work • involving hazardous substances in the lab • Gives procedures to follow when workingwith hazardous chemicals • Provides details on how your chemical exposure will be monitored and limited • Assures that you have the right personal protective equipment (PPE) • Specifies that some hazardous tasks to be approved in advance by the PI