Chemical Safety Overview

Chemical Safety

• Chemical safety is crucial for preventing exposure to chemicals and mishaps in research laboratories
• Understanding potential hazards and precautions is paramount
• Accidents involving chemicals are unfortunately common, despite the improbable nature of them
• Avoiding the belief that "it won't happen" is crucial to prevent accidents
• A shift in mindset is necessary, focusing on preventative measures to avoid accidents
• Chemical safety and security is significant for institutions due to chemistry's role in our understanding of the physical and biological world
• Chemistry labs are centers for developing new materials for use in various fields (science, engineering, etc.)
• Chemicals used in manufacturing processes can benefit society but some pose potential harm
• Various threats exist, including theft of sensitive information, and high-value equipment theft

Security Risk Terms

• Hazard: A source that has the potential to cause harm
• Risk: The likelihood of an unwanted event involving a hazard or threat, and its consequences
• Perception of risk is critical
• Threat: A person or group intending to cause damage to an institution
• Asset: A valuable item from the perspective of a company or a potential threat

Chemical Security

• Chemical security focuses on preventing unauthorized access, loss, theft, misuse, diversion, or intentional release of hazardous materials or energy
• The acquisition of dual-use equipment or information could be used for chemical weapons
• Chemical safety protects people from chemicals
• Chemical security protects chemicals from people

Hazardous Materials

• Explosive materials, flammable materials, radioactive materials, pyrophoric solids, or liquids, are physical hazards
• Acute toxicity, carcinogenicity, mutagenicity, reproductive toxicology, and respiratory sensitizers are health hazards
• Incompatible chemical storage, high or low pressure, magnetic fields, and extreme temperatures are conditions hazards.
• Scale-up of a reaction, addition of a catalyst to a reaction, and storage/transportation of hazardous materials are activity hazards
• Chemical risks can have negative outcomes and harm if not properly monitored

Globally Harmonized System (GHS)

• GHS is an internationally recognized system for classifying chemical hazard criteria
• Includes criteria for classifying substances and mixtures based on physical, health, and environmental hazards
• Communication of hazards is through labels and safety data sheets (SDS)
• GHS is described in the "purple book", updated every two years, and available in the UN's official languages

GHS Hazard Pictograms

• GHS uses pictograms to illustrate various chemical hazards like Explosives, Flammable, Oxidizing, Compressed Gas, Corrosive, Toxic, Harmful, Health Hazard, Environmental Hazard

Additional Chemical Hazards

• Toxic substances, solvents, corrosives, flammables, irritants, carcinogens, teratogens, mutagens, explosives, and radiation are additional hazards

Chemicals as Hazards

• Corrosives: Cause destructive burns by chemical action, affecting respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts
• Oxidizers: Reacts readily under conditions generating oxygen, can cause explosions
• Flammables: Easily catch fire and burn in air; vapor released from flammable liquid can be a fire hazard; Flash point, flammability and ignition temperatures determine hazard level

Safety Precautions

• Laboratories generally need protocols for handling materials (don't work alone, unauthorized experiments are avoided, etc.)
• Equipment positioning, PPE usage, handling, knowledge of emergency equipment and hazards posed by others, proper heating and glassware cooling are crucial for safety
• Diluting acids/bases carefully, maintaining a clean, uncluttered work area, and following manufacturer's recommendations for equipment maintenance are necessary precautions
• Heating flammable and combustible materials should avoid open flames and utilize appropriate methods

Emergency Measures

• Chemical spills require evacuation of non-essential personnel, ventilation, and fire suppression if possible.
• Personal protective equipment and containment kits are used to contain and remove spills.
• Chemical splashes require immediate water flushing and contaminated clothing removal.
• Eyes must be flushed with copious water for at least 15 minutes.