Chemistry Graduate Student Orientation Safety Training

Chemistry Department Safety Officer: Melinda Box, mcbox2@ncsu.edu (919) 515-2537

Safety Goals

Prevent acute injuries to yourself and othersPrevent cumulative exposure to yourself and

othersPrevent damage to materials and facilities

NOTE: This training is an INTRODUCTION. It is not all-inclusive, so if you’re ever

unsure, ASK!

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Know the Space

NASA astronaut, Tim Kopra, using a Microgravity Glovebox aboard the International Space Station 3

Know the Space

safety shower eye wash first aid kit fire

extinguisher fire alarm pull spill kit

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Know the Space

evacuation route(s)(either posted or in binder of safety plan)

telephone (as back-up) contact numbers for incident,

accident, or assistance: 911 or (919) 515-3000

street address and room number (not just building name)

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Know the Space ventilation hoods

(types and how to operate)

chemicals present (note that in teaching labs these may change regularly)

waste collection arrangements (type, location)

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Lab Safety Info Door Sign info

contact person hazards inside lab

Safety Plan – in binder in lab

Lab Safety Officer

SAFETY PLAN

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Know the Chemical Hazards

Globally Harmonized System (GHS) of Labeling – a first indication of type of hazard posed

further information from SDS is usually needed

GHS Health Hazard Category Limits

GHS Physical Hazard Category Limits

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Know the Chemical Hazards

SDS’s and the GHS – Example of Sigma Aldrich format

for Lithium Aluminum Hydride GHS Hazard Sta

tements

GHS Precautionary Statements

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Know the Chemical Hazards

MSDS formats – no two distributors are alikeExample from ScienceLab.com

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Know the Chemical Hazards

Common Hazards Irritant – avoid skin contact and breathing Sensitizer – avoid repeated contact

Carcinogen – eliminate or minimize exposure

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Know the Chemical Hazards

Common Hazards

Toxin – OR OR

avoid internal exposure

NOTE: internal exposure can be caused by touching contaminated gloves, hands, or cell phones to the face

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Know the Chemical Hazards

Toxic Substance Working Limits

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Know the Chemical HazardsCommon Hazards Corrosive – respond rapidly to eye or skin

contact;also store in a cabinet designed for that purpose (lower conc’s of ≤ 1 L may be kept at the bench)

Oxidizer – keep away from flammable andcombustible materials, including organic reagents, clothing, and wooden shelves and cabinets

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Know the Chemical Hazards

Common Hazards Flammable – keep away from heat

and flames and store volumes ≥ 1L in a cabinet designated for that purpose

Uncommon Hazards Pyrophoric (ignites spontaneously

in air at temps 130 oF or 54.5 oC)– get training from senior group members or PI

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Know the Chemical Hazards

Uncommon Hazards Explosive – use a blast shield or hood sash

Teratogen (causes harm to developing fetus) – avoid handling while pregnant or while near someone who is pregnant

Mutagen (causes genetic mutation) - eliminate or minimize exposure (may be associated with carcinogenicity)

Lachrymator (causes eyes to water) – always handle in a fume hood

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Know the Chemical Hazards EH&S email –

gives safety info & goes to purchaserex’s – peroxide formers, air/water reactives, highly toxics

Experience of lab mates

Lab manual and SOPs

JUST ASK!

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PPE Requirements and Support

Always wear safe attire in lab:

safety glasses or goggles long pants (to the

ankles) closed toed shoes covered torso and

shoulders gloves as needed lab coat as needed

Resources: Glove Selection:

Ansell Chemical Resistance Guide

North Chemical Resistance Guide

FREE Prescription Safety Glassesat NCSU

Getting a Lab Coat – contact Alan Harvell 18

Ventilation Hood Use Use the hoods properly:

keep sash height below marked limit close sash when not in use turn off bench top hoods when not in use keep work ≥ 6 inches inside the hood

Always work in a hood when handling: volatiles (i.e. easily form vapor, low b.p.) dust irritants toxic solids that may generate dust

(including weighing) explosion risks

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Know the Physical Hazards

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Know the Physical Hazards

Compressed Gases cap in transport or while not in use chain tanks to a cart or brace

only open caps and valves with an approved tool

don’t force connections

don’t use lube or tape on threads21

Know the Physical Hazards

U/V rays – cumulative eye and skin damage

don’t look directly into the lamp

use a UV filtering window or safety glasses to look under lamp

Silica Gel – breathing hazard irritation not scarring transfer in a hoodOR with a dust mask and eye

protection outside a hood22

Know the Physical Hazards

Cryogens – dry ice and liquid nitrogen wear cyrogenic gloves when touching

anything cooled by the cryogen wear eye and face protection when

handling cryogen avoid breathing exhaust from a relief valve never fill a dewar more than 80% move away from a spill keep flammables away from liquid nitrogen

cold traps that may condense oxygen

Additional Training in NCSU EHSCryogen Safety Video

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Know the Physical Hazards

Burn prevent - alert lab mates to hot glassware treat - run cold water or place on ice

for 15 minutes

Fire stop, drop, and roll

and/or use the safety shower on objects, may use

fire extinguisher (optional) on pyrophoric fires, fire sand is more

effective and easier to clean up 24

Know the Physical Hazards

Crush/Pinch Point ask for assistance use proper means of moving, lifting, or transport

Electrocution be vigilant around modified electronics do not override interlocks

Loud noises white noise or sudden - wear hearing protection get pre-screened before exposure

to high decibel background on-line Hearing Conservation Training

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Follow Ergonomics for Computer Use

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Taking Responsibility

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Safety Training Needed

For all NCSU employees: Manager’s Safety Checklist

(including research group’s SOP’s)

For anyone who might handle chemicals:

Chemical Hygiene Plan Hazardous Waste Manageme

nt

To Whom It May Apply: BioSafety Formaldehyde Hearing Conservation Trainin

g Laser Safety Radioactive Material Safety Respiratory Training X-ray Safety Nanomaterials 28

Biohazard and Laser Safety Basics

Do not enter these designated spaces

without official training!

BioSafety Golden Rules: 1)Anything that may have touched a contaminated surface should be

disposed in biowaste. 2)Use dedicated lab coat, pens, calculators, etc to keep bio-

contamination from leaving lab.

Laser Safety Golden Rules: 3)Wear laser safety glasses when the laser may be on. 4)Don’t wear anything reflective or shiny, particularly loose jewelry. 29

Know Chemical Labeling and Transport Requirements

Use secondary containment (ex’s: bucket, bin, or cart with lip)

Labeling – storage bottles - full name of all

components and approx. comp. rxn in progress - nature of contents

(ex’s: aqueous, organic, etc) vials - date and lab notebook page

Ethanol

NOTE: restraining rail

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Know Waste Mgmt Practices keep waste in secondary containment keep waste capped when not in use for lidded/latching funnels –

fully latch when not in use make sure lid is open before pouring in

segregation, common examples: keep acids from bases, organics, and

metals highly toxics from all else questions?

Contact Bruce Stewart (919) 515-6307) Sodium Cyanide

1%Water 99%

Nitric Acid 10%Water 90%

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Know Waste Mgmt Practices

labels must list full names of all substances disposed in container (e.g. not “acid waste” or “halogenated waste”)

waste may not be removed from location of generation, except by authorized personnel

waste must be removed within 90 days (so it’s recommended to use a smaller container than anticipated need)

segregate Biowaste and treat properly (i.e. must be autoclaved as directed – check with senior group members for details)

in teaching labs, only down the drain or in the regular trash when directed

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Know Response for Eye Wash and Safety Shower Use

Assist affected person to shower or eye wash and make sure user rinses for 15 minutes

send someone to get assistance while you stay with the affected person and call 911 for emergency assistance

stop all work in the room & make sure students shut down experiments safely

prepare for flooding of the room

make sure user of safety shower disrobes

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Know How to Respond to an Accident or Incident

For fire evacuation, medical, or spill, call 911 from a campus or personal phone

Provide building address and emergency situationto campus dispatchers

Remain on location until responders arrive Stay with the affected student; send someone else to get

assistance For a spill, evacuate the room and close the door if the

substance may pose a breathing hazard. Then call 911. EH&S has someone on call to deal with spill clean-up.

Fill out a report form –one of the following: teaching labs’, department’s, university’s on-the-job injury

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Follow Best Practices

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Follow Best Practices Never work alone in lab No lab items in office spaces No lab coats or gloves in the

bathroom or other non-lab space

Never Eat or Drink in Lab Use good ergonomics for heavy

lifting 36

Follow Best Practices in Lab

Always make a plan, preferably written, before starting an experiment.

Considerations in making an experimental plan: chemical, physical, and health hazards work flow waste management other resources and equipment

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Follow Best Practices in Lab

Allow extra time to do things(rushing tends to undo progress)

Maintain good housekeeping (for improved experimental success and for consideration of lab mates)

keep bench organized and uncluttered return materials to shared storage keep work space open and not crowded by

storage38

Never’s and Always’s Always mark peroxide formers, such as

diethyl ether and THF, with the date of receipt and the date of opening. Then follow these time restrictions for disposal:

After Receiving After Opening

Class A – Peroxide Hazard on Storageex‘s: Isopropyl Ether, Potassium metal,

Sodium Amide3 months 3 months

Class B – Peroxide Hazard on Concentration

ex‘s: THF, isopropanol, diethyl ether, benzyl alcohol, acetaldehyde

12 months 6 months

Class C – Peroxide Initiation of Polymerization

ex‘s: butadiene, vinyl chloride, methyl methacrylate, styrene

12 months or 24 hours w/o

inhibitor 39

Never’s and Always’

Never use perchloric acid in an unapproved hood (i.e. one specially designed to prevent explosive crystal collection in the ducts and hoods)

Always request EH&S assistance in cleaning up a mercury spill (to insure thorough and safe removal)

Never use a hood that is not working properly (i.e. alarming, no flow, low flow, or excess flow) 40

Campus Safety and Security

For emergency - call 911 from any phone For assistance – call campus police at

(919)515-3000 For info about campus safety alerts,

automatic and requested, including natural disasters - https://www.ncsu.edu/emergency-information/

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Helpful Resources

EH&S Website https://ehs.ncsu.edu/ Chemistry Dept Safety Info

https://www.ncsu.edu/chemistry/about/safety.html

Hazardous Waste Management – Bruce Stewart (919) 515-6307

Radiation Safety – Amy Orders (919) 515-5208 BioSafety – Darren Treml (919) 515-6858 Laser Safety – Simon Lappi (919) 515-6871

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Case Study Discussions

Get into groups of 6 members each, as much as possible, by discipline: Organic (2 groups) – Peroxide Formers Biochem (2 groups) – Hazardous Waste Segregation Analytical/Physical (2 groups) – Laser/Electrical Safety Theoretical /Other/Undecided (2 groups) – Student

Fainting

Each group discusses these questions:What could have been done differently

to prevent the accident?What repurcussions do you expect

from the accident?43

Contributors

Lab Safety Officers - Rosalynd Joyce, Madison Davidson, Leiah Carey, Cameron Stevens, Brandon Zoellner, Maans Ekeloef, Amanda Cooper, Christina Martinez, Xiaohu Xie, Alec Falzone, Sara Martin, David Daley

Undergraduate Lab Supervisor – Marcie Belisle

Undergraduate Lab Manager – Maria Gallardo-Williams

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