Safety in the Lab

1. Safety in the Lab Timothy Styranec, Chemical Storekeeper/ Safety Officer Chemistry Department Youngstown State University

2. Lab Safety in Academia • The bottom line in lab safety is knowing what the hazards might be and how to avoid them • Lab Safety always comes back to paying attention to proper procedure • “We have to change the paradigm where faculty and students say they never have had an accident.” • Schools have a 10 to 50 times greater frequency of accidents than does the chemical industry, though they tend to be smaller.(Source James Kauffman, Lab Safety Institute)

3. Reason for Today. • Some things to think about in regards to safety in the academic lab.

4. A huge difference exists, he says, between university and industry labs. “There are industrial labs where the first time you are caught not wearing appropriate eye protection, you’re fired. That would never happen in an academic lab. It is a difference in culture.” • (DuPont?) has a policy that if you get caught in lab without eye protection, you get warned the first time, sent home for the day the second time, and fired the third time. • Source: http://pubs.acs.org/cen/government/88/8805gov1.html

5. Causes of Lab Accidents • Lack of working understanding of hazards • Improper or unintended use of equipment • Inexperienced • Distractions, lack/loss of attention to task • Broken, damaged glassware or equipment • Other

6. Procedures to protect yourself • Wear the proper personal protective equipment • Do not leave operations unattended • Do not work alone • Complete the proper safety training • Have regular safety inspections

7. Incidents at other Universities • UCLA. • Texas Tech. • Ohio State. • Hudson, Ohio High School Chemistry Lab. • Many others.

8. Texas Tech • According to CSB, the injured Texas Tech student received severe burns and lacerations to his face and hands when a mixture of nickel hydrazine perchlorate exploded during the afternoon accident in the chemistry building. [Ni(N2H4)3][ClO4]2

9. Texas Tech

10. Texas Tech Accident • Dumb: Against protocol, Brown made a 10 g batch of the NHP. • Dumber: The explosion occurred when Brown was finishing grinding  a 5 g  sample of his NHP with a mortar and pestle because it was “lumpy”.  These types of compounds are known to be shock sensitive. • Moronic:  Brown wasn’t wearing eye protection or using a blast shield at the time.

11. Insane: According to the police report, Brown routinely took explosive compounds home with him in his pockets.  The report made it sound as if he was testing them at his house.  The police bomb squad was called to his residence to confiscate the vials, and they conducted a controlled detonation of the samples. • Brown was routinely in the habit of working unsafely.  His luck finally ran out.

12. University of Colorado • Grad Student was cleaning glassware with ethanol and nitric acid. • She put the mixture in a waste bottle and began taking off her protective clothing and goggles. • She thought the reaction was done when the bottle detonated. Received acid burns on her body and face, and glass blasted her clothing and was embedded in her side. The glass cut a nerve in her elbow. • She wound up with stitches and burns, but didn’t need surgery. • There was never a thorough investigation

13. University of Colorado • Mulcahy(Graduate Student) was using an old, but common technique, she says, and “one that others in my lab were also using. There were even references to it online.” Her adviser was unaware students were using the practice and ended it after her accident. • Mulcahy points out that many graduate students and faculty can tell a story about their near-miss.

14. Fire at OSUColeman Lab: Three-alarm blaze 2005 Improper Chemical Storage • Gallons of hexane were being stored on a shelf. After several gallons fell and broke open, the graduate students soaked in hexane left, having been overcome by the fumes. • Moments later fire broke out. • Luckily, no harm came to anyone.

15. Case Study: Laboratory Fire KillsUCLA Researcher • A 23-year-old research assistant working at UCLA who was seriously burned in a lab fire in December 2008 died from her injuries. • • She was trying to transfer up to 2 ounces (~50ml) of t butyl lithium (pyrophoric chemical), which was dissolved in pentane from one sealed container to another by a 50 ml syringe. • • The barrel of the syringe was either ejected or pulled out of the syringe, causing liquid to be released. • A flash fire set her clothing ablaze and spread second- and third-degree burns over 43% of her body.

16. UCLA Accident

17. Root Causes of the Accident • Poor technique and improper method • Used a 50ml syringe to transfer~50 ml pyrophoric chemical • Should have used a 100 ml syringe • Should have used Cannula Method for transferof pyrophoric chemical > 50 ml • Lack of proper training • No safety training record in the research group and UCLA chemistry Department.

18. Root Causes of the Accident • Lack of supervision • No follow up actions had been taken after received a UCLA safety inspection report with over a dozen of deficiencies • Solo operation in the laboratory

19. Root Causes of the Accident Poor housekeeping • Flammable materials and water- and air reactive chemicals were stored improperly • Improper use of fume hood • The tempered-glass vertical sash that probably was not lowered enough, otherwise, only her hands and forearms would have been burned

20. Root Causes of the Accident • No proper personal protective equipment • Eye protection, nitrile [rubber] gloves and lab coats were not worn by laboratory personnel • Lab coat would have been less flammable and easier to remove than the sweater which caught on fire • Victim not familiar with emergency response equipment • The injured researcher ran away from a nearby emergency shower instead of toward it

21. New articles from Lab Safety Institute • Lab Accident Leaves Student Uninjured (February 2004) • Four Hurt In Lab Explosion (January  2004) • Science Lab Safety Upgraded After Mishaps (April 2003) • Study Shows High School Science Labs Could Be Safer (February 2003) • Sulfuric acid spill causes scare(1/30/09,News update) • Omaha college student burned with sulfuric acid(1/27/09) • Accident at Mercer lab causes explosion(2/17/09) • USF grad student burns face in lab accident (11/26/08)

22. Safety Website for ACS http://pubs.acs.org/cen/safety/

23. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) • Goggles • Gloves • Lab Coats • Appropriate Clothing

24. Emergencies • In an emergency, immediately call 911, ext. 3665 or 3700. • 911 will go directly to campus police

25. Waste Handling and Disposal • Red Containers: Organic Waste Halogenated and Non-Halogenated Each time waste is dumped, fill out the form on the container. • Aqueous Waste goes in a separate container. Use a chemical waste form to label the bottle. • Mercury, lead, etc. All heavy metal waste goes in a separate container. • Solid waste goes into a separate container. Use a chemical waste form. • Label everything.

26. Miscellaneous Comments • Do not throw away empty containers. • Throw glass in the crocks, not in the garbage. • MSDS’s are available in the chemistry office, YSU police department, and the Chemical Management Center. • Report all incidences(eg., injuries, etc.)

27. Questions or Concerns • Any questions or concerns direct to me. • Tim Styranec Ext. 3665 Room 5053. • Cell phone 330-518-7637 • The chemistry procurement and safety site is a good resource.

28. The End