General Laboratory Safety

Training
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
 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
 Health Hazards on
a Chemical Label
• Corrosive
• Carcinogen
• Sensitizer
• Highly toxic agent
• Hepatotoxin
• Toxic agent
• • Nephrotoxin
Reproductive hazard
• Irritant • Neurotoxin
Typical Precautionary Measures
on 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
• Keep away from sparks, heat, and
flame
• Do not store near combustible
materials
• Store in tightly closed container
• Remove and wash contaminated
clothing promptly
• Keep from contact with clothing and
other combustible materials
 Common Signal Words
on Labels
• Danger – Can cause immediate serious
injury or death
• Warning – Can cause potentially
serious injury or death
• Caution – Can cause potentially
moderate injury
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 and
certain solids)
– Reactivity (sodium and various water-
reactive reagents)
Color and Number Coded Label
Systems
Colors represent kind of hazard
NFPA-type label
• Red = fire
• Yellow = instability
• Blue = health
3 • black = specific hazard
& personal protection
4 2
Numbers show degree of hazard
• 0 = Minimal
• 1 = Slight
• 2 = Moderate
• 3 = Serious
• 4 = Severe
 Color and Number Coded
Label Systems
NFPA-type labels
Black = specific hazard
• OX = Oxidizer

3 • ACID = Acid
• ALK = Alkali
4 2 • COR = Corrosive
COR • W = Use no water
• Other symbols:
 Material Safety Data Sheets
(MSDS)
Provides more detailed information about a chemical, including
– Composition, information on ingredients

– Hazards identification

– First aid measures

– Accidental Release measures

– Handling and Storage

– Exposure controls, personal protection

– Stability and reactivity

– Toxicological information
 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
 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)
 MSDS (cont’d)
Potential Health Effects
– Eye irritation
– Nausea
– Dizziness
– Skin rashes
– Headache
– Existing medical conditions possibly
aggravated by exposure
 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 up
spills and leaks
 MSDS (cont’d)

Handling and Storage

– How to handle and store substance safely
– Any other precautions (i.e., grounding
containers during transfer of flammables)
 MSDS (cont’d)
• Exposure Controls, Personal
Protection
Respirator
Gloves
Eye protection
Protective clothing
Ventilation
• Special work and hygiene practices
that should be followed
 MSDS (cont’d)
• Exposure Limits
 Threshold Limit Value (TLV)
TLV-C
TLV-STEL
TLV-TWA

Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL)

Recommended Exposure Limit (REL)
 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
 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 gms
OR
– LD50  200 mg/kg by continuous contact for 24 hrs with
skin of albino rabbits each weighing between 2 and 3 kg
OR
– 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
 How can an MSDS be
“Decoded”?
• See the glossary produced by CCOHS

http://ccinfoweb.ccohs.ca/help/msds/msdstermse.html
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
 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
 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
 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
Inside storage room
• safety cans, or
• an inside storage room
 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
 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
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
 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
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
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
 Chemical Hygiene Plan (CHP)
Outlines specific work practices for all work
involving hazardous substances in the lab
• Gives procedures to follow when working
with 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
 Chemical Hygiene Plan (CHP)
Outlines specific work practices for all work
involving hazardous substances in the lab
• Gives procedures to follow when working
with 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