Module 1 - Laboratory Safety and Practices PDF

MODULE 1: LABORATORY SAFETY AND PRACTICES Reading: Textbook, Chapters 2 & 3 General Laboratory Safety Rules 2 1. Before doing an experiment, know the safety rules and procedures, and any hazards particular to the experiment being performed. 2. Know personal protective equipment requirements (safety...

MODULE 1: LABORATORY SAFETY AND PRACTICES Reading: Textbook, Chapters 2 & 3 General Laboratory Safety Rules 2 1. Before doing an experiment, know the safety rules and procedures, and any hazards particular to the experiment being performed. 2. Know personal protective equipment requirements (safety glasses/goggles, long lab coat, close-toed shoes, long pants, gloves). 3. Know location and operation of safety equipment (emergency eye wash, emergency showers, fire extinguishers, fire blankets, fire alarms), and location of emergency exits. General Laboratory Safety Rules 3 4. Never work alone. 5. When working with hazardous materials, always give a proper warning to fellow colleagues. 6. Focus on the task at hand when performing an experiment. 7. No food or drinks in the laboratory. 8. No loose-fitting clothing or hair. 9. Never pipet by mouth. 10. Before handling a chemical, determine if gloves are required, and if so, the type of gloves that should be worn. 11. Wash your hands before leaving the lab. General Laboratory Safety Rules 4 12. Never use chemicals in unlabeled containers. 13. Dispose of chemicals correctly (see SDS for disposal instructions). 14. Never heat flammable materials with an open flame. 15. Only heat Pyrex containers on open flames. 16. Never point a test tube being heated at anyone. 17. Never pour water into concentrated acid (Remember PAW!) General Laboratory Safety Rules 5 18. For reactions producing gases, always use a fume hood or vent. 19. Waft chemicals to smell them; never smell directly. 20. Always lubricate glass tubes and thermometers before putting in ax cork or stopper. 21. Any student who is pregnant or has a medical condition that could impair their performance in the lab, should contact a Program Advisor to discuss lab safety and their options for lab enrollment. 22. Your lab professor may give you other safety rules and precautions that are specific to the lab being performed. It is very important to be present at the beginning of the lab period during the prelab talk when these safety rules are outlined. If you are more than 5 minutes late for the lab, you will not be allowed to perform the experiment. Criminal Case against Chemistry Professor Centers on Lab Accident and Death of Chemistry SheriAssistant Sangji Research Bad Chemistry | Wired Science | Wired.com acceptance from her first choice schoo 13-01-10 11:06 AM Harran had only recently come to UCLA from Texas, where he had gained renown for his work in Deborah Blum, Wired, Published July 31, 2012 synthetic chemistry, such as lab-created toxins that might be used to treat cancer. You might Share (http://addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=250&username=xa-4d2b47597ad291fb) | (#) (#) (#) (#) imagine that this kind of work involves some very dangerous materials. I’ve written before, in a more The start of the story is this: In December 2008, a 23-year-old research assistant named Sheri Sangji (http://www.darkdaily.com/category/laboratory-pathology/compliance-legal-and-malpractice) , Laboratory Management and Operations (http://www.darkdaily.com/category/laboratorylight-hearted way, about the wonderfully explosive nature of chemistry, the kinds of fiery explosions accidentally set, Laboratory herself fire while working in a chemistry laboratory at the University of pathology/management-and-operations) Newson (http://www.darkdaily.com/category/laboratory-pathology/laboratory-news) , Laboratory Operations that teachers sometimes generate to dazzle their students. Chemistry |Angeles. Wired Science | She Wired.com 13-01-10 AM Bad ChemistryBad | Wired Science | Wired.com 13-01-1011:06 11:06 AM California, Los died 18 daysPathology later(http://www.darkdaily.com/category/laboratory-pathology) in a hospital burn unit. (http://www.darkdaily.com/category/laboratory-pathology/laboratory-operations) , Laboratory , Management & But no one jokes about the compound that Sangji was working with on that quiet December day. It Last week, nearly four years later, the University of California agreed to a settlement to avert felony Operations (http://www.darkdaily.com/category/laboratory-pathology/management-operations) belongs to a class of materials called pyrophoric, which means that they ignite when exposed to air. negligence charges in Sangji’s death. The chemistry professor responsible for the laboratory, Patrick Published: September 10 2012 One of the best chemistry bloggers I know, Chemjobber, later wrote a post on the subjectPage called “If I file:///Users/Katie/Desktop/Lab%20Accidents/Bad%20Chemistry%20_%20Wired%20Science%20_%20Wired.com.htm Harran, still stands accused of willfully violating occupational health and safety standards; it is 1 of 9 were working with tert-butyllithium...” detailing its dangers and how to guard against them. (As an actually the first time that a professor in the United States has been charged with a felony related to aside, Rating: 5.0/5 (3 votes cast)if you really want to follow this story in much better, nuanced detail, you can’t go wrong here the death of a worker. with Chemjobber or the terrific reporting by Chemical & Engineering News). If found guilty, Harran faces the possibility of another precedent: up to four years jail time. But was liquid measure tert-butyllithium with a syringe — a method that Case in Sangji Los Angeles may createtransferring a precedent for liability inaresearch laboratory settings as wellof as forthe accidents in pathology or clinical laboratories Harran’s lawyers say that the damning report from California’s Division of Occupational Safety and other chemists warn can be considered less than ideal with a material this hazardous — when the Health, the on which charges were based, can’t be Because — Clinical chemists, particularly thoseone working in academic centerfelony medical laboratories (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clinical_laboratory) andtrusted. research labs, mayWhy? be interested in theunder progress they’ve of Harran’s device came apart in her hands. She had done this successfully once before somewhat — ofdug into thethe past ofdiedthe report’s author and, they claim, discovered a criminalsupervision. case that was filed in improbably California following the death a 23-year-old research associate. She in 2008 whileexploded conducting experiments in a chemistry laboratory at thefierce University offlame.that he But this second time, compound into impossibly was ablaze teenage murderer. California, Los Angeles (http://www.ucla.edu/) (UCLA). The set her rubber gloves on fire. And they were her primary protection. She had not been Cal/OSHA has responded (“The lab defendants’ most recent attempt to deflect attention from instructed to always wearangrily a shielding coat or provided with flame-retardant gear. She was the charges simply does not relate in anyway to the circumstances of Ms. Sangji’s death or the actual Court proceedings are moving forward and the university has enteredthing a settlement.— Thataleaves the felony chargesyarn against thesweater. professor to be resolved. Some knowledgeable observers have wearing exactly the wrong synthetic It melted. Neither she nor the other evidence…”). The investigator, Brian Baudendistel, has denied the story. Still enough have Patrick Harran suggestedstudents that the chemistryin professor been “thrown the bus”trained by his academic institution. On thatfor point alone, case will be informational to professors ofSangji clinical chemistry thehaslab hadunder been to rush an this emergency shower. ranquestions screaming around A follow up investigation by Cal/OSHA was even more scathing. Investigative journalists at been raised that the judge has postponed a decision on the charges against Harran until early (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clinical_chemistry) , pathology tried (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pathology) , and medical laboratory (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medical_laboratories) the room; one student to smother the flames with a lab coat; another medicine. splashed water from a California Watch obtained a transcript of Cal/OSHA’s interview with Harran, which I’ll quote from September. sink. briefly here: Harran’s colleagues believe this damaging revelation could be a very successful moveacross by hismore than 40 CriminalWhen Charges Filedshe Against Chemistryto Professor andhospital, UC Regents went the had do secondand burns seared Investigator: When Sherishe arrived, you know ifthird-degree she received any general lab safety training attorneys. to a story in that Nature News, one prediction that the UCLA could “walk percent ofAccording her What does mean? Those of us whoissuffer from the chemist occasional grease from thebody. university? On December 27, 2011, following an investigation of this lab accident, the District Attorney’s office for Los Angeles County filed three criminal counts against the Regents of the University of away” with reduced orsinge dropped charges. Harran — a But talented and respected researcher — hasof Harvard Harran: I don’t believe received generalized safety training, no. splatter or oven rack areshe lucky not to know. here’s what her sister, a graduate Californiasupport and Patrick G. Harran, Ph.D.chemistry (http://www.chem.ucla.edu/harran/harran_vitae.pdf) , whothe is ascientists Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry at UCLA. Thethat defendants were charged in the some suggested UCLA haswithprotected itself Her Didcommunity; you ever discuss characteristics of t-butyllithium with MedicalInvestigator: School, told California Watch: “Her handshave had been burned all the Sheri? way down to tendon. 6 Harran: No,health notandof t-butyllithium no. Sangji (http://sherisangji.com/about/) , who was the research three counts of willfully violating occupational standards, resulting in thespecifically, death of Sheharbano “Sheri” at each Harran’s expense. abdominal wall had beensafetyburned off.” Category: Compliance, Legal, and Malpractice file:///Users/Katie/Desktop/Lab%20Accidents/Bad%20Chemistry Harran from the beginning expressed shock and grief over the death. He described Sangji’s death as Video US World Politics Entertainment Health MoneyWatch By Bridget Clerkin/The Times of Trenton CBS/AP/ Follow April 13, 2011, 12:47 PM Top Stories SciTech Log In Sports Yale student dies in chemistry lab accident Yale student in Stumble / Email lab accident / Sharesdies / Tweets / chemistry 19 Comments 0 More + Last Updated 8:48 p.m. ET NEW HAVEN, Conn. - A Yale University nearing graduation in an accident in a chemistry lab machine shop after her hair was pulled into a piece of equipment, a Teen's body pulled student from Budd Lake; 1 stilldied missing federal official said. Share close More + / Shares / Tweets / Stumble / Email Digg Stumble Upon Reddit Michele Dufault, a seniorFark majoring in physics and astronomy, died Tuesday night after her hair became caught in a fast-spinningLast lathe,Updated university8:48 President 19 Comments p.m.Richard ET Levin said. Share Email Printby other students who had been working in the building, he said. Her body was found Christie dodges gun control, reveals Time cover fricklab.JPG NEWisHAVEN, Conn. -A Yale student nearing graduation "This a true tragedy," Levin wrote in aUniversity message to Yale students and faculty. died in an accident in a chemistry lab machine shop after her hair was pull federal official said. In a Facebook profile picture, Dufault is shown with long brown hair that fell below her shoulders. She died from accidental asphyxia by neck compression, according to the findmajoring body in chemical-laced Connecticut medicalPolice examiner's office. Michele Dufault, a senior in physics and car astronomy, died Tuesday night after her hair became caught in a fast-spinning lathe, university Her body was found by other students who had been working in the building, he said. Dufault a senior majoring astronomy from Scituate, Home was > Mercer County >inMercer Regional NewsMass., and was due to graduate in a month. "By all is reports, was an exceptional an to outstanding student and scientist, a dear friend and a vibrant member of this community," Yale Vice "This a trueMichele tragedy," Levin wroteyoung in a woman, message Yale students andyoung faculty. President Linda Lorimer wrote in a message to Yale students and faculty. "We will find ways in the next day to gather to celebrate her life and grieve her loss." Princeton University laboratory accident sends three people to the hospital In aU.S. Facebook profile picture, Dufault is shownhas with long hair her surrounding shoulders.the She died from accidental by safety neck The Occupational Safety and Health Administration opened anbrown inspection thatthat willfell lookbelow into factors accident and whether the lab asphyxia complied with Connecticut medical examiner's standards, said Ted Fitzgerald, an agencyoffice. spokesman in Boston. co Yale was offering counseling to students. The lab was closed and classes the building houses the lab. Dufault was a senior majoring in astronomy from Wednesday Scituate, Mass., andwere wascanceled due toingraduate in that a month. Stroud/For The TimesPart the nuclear magnetic resonance lab in the B level of the Bridget Clerkin, The Times of Trenton,Cie Published May 23, of2012 According to her LinkedIn profile,atDufault was aUniversity Summer Student Fellow at N.J. the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in Woods Hole, Mass., last year. Frick Chemistry Laboratory Princeton in Princeton, "By all reports, Michele was an exceptional young woman, an outstanding student and young scientist, a dear friend and a vibrant member of thi Page 2 in theat next day toUniversity’s gather to celebrate her life and PRINCETON BOROUGH—Three people were sent to the hospital this afternoon following an accident Princeton Frick Laboratory that g file:///Users/Katie/Desktop/Lab%20Accidents/princeton_university_laborator.html The Yale Daily News reported wrote Dufault in wasa amessage member oftothe Yalestudents Precision Marching Band"We and a will Saybrugian. President Linda Lorimer Yale and faculty. find ways sparked a flashRobert fire and sent said chemicals theconstantly air. Her grandfather, Dufault, Micheleinto studied and loved sports. The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration has opened an inspection that will look into factors surrounding the accident and wheth "She was a living thestudent, grandfather "She was a good, smart girl." standards, saidsaint," Ted Fitzgerald, ansaid. agency spokesman inand Boston. A female post-doctoral another Princeton student a security guard were treated for minor chemical irritations after the woman mistakenly added solvent waste to nitric acid while conducting an experiment, Trenton Fire Department Captain Michael Oakley said. An uncle called her brilliant. Yale was offering counseling to students. The lab was closed Wednesday and classes were canceled in the building that houses the lab. A female post-doctoral student, Princeton student and anothing security weretotreated forher," minor after an unplanned chemical "She's a wonderful, wonderful kid andanother that should be celebrated. There's but guard good things say about saidchemical Frederick irritations Dufault of Holliston, Mass. reaction senttoaher plume of vapors into the lab they were occupying. According LinkedIn profile, Dufault was a Summer Student Fellow at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in Woods Hole, Mass., l Dufault intended to work in oceanography after graduating and played saxophone in the Yale Band, Levin said. Trenton Department CaptainDufault Michaelwas Oakley said a solvent had been added at some point to nitric sparking a flash and the smoke, as the The YaleFire Daily News reported a member of the Yale Precision Marching Band and aacid, Saybrugian. On its website, Yale's chemistry department says it maintains a state-of-the-art machine shop in which students, faculty and staff can build or modify research instruments. chemicals were not compatible. The reaction caused the container housing the chemicals to break, some of the substance on the woman’s face, Oakley Access is limited to those who have completed a shop course, according to the website. said.grandfather, Robert Dufault, said Michele studied constantly and loved sports. Her Levin, the university president, said he has initiated a review of the safety policies and practices of laboratories, machine shops and other facilities where undergraduates have He said that she suffered minor first degree burns"She under her and was sent tois the hospital rinsing irritated area with tap water at the lab. The access to power equipment. He saidgrandfather access will be said. limited to those facilities until the review completed andafter monitors willthe be present. "She was a living saint," the was aeyes good, smart girl." security guard developed a minor rash on his arms after entering the room and was also sent to the hospital, along with the other student who was 7 8 9 Laboratory Practices Ventilation: Fume Hoods 10 Fume hoods are used: ¨ To prevent fumes from escaping into the lab environment ¨ To prevent contact of harmful chemicals (solid, liquid, or gas) with skin, eyes and respiratory tract Ventilation: Fume Hoods 11 When in use: ¨ The window of the fume hood should be opened only enough to allow you to comfortably do the required work. ¨ The glass window of the fume hood should be between the chemicals in the fume hood and the worker’s face/nose. ¨ There is sometimes a mark on the side of the fume hood to show you the correct position of the window. When not in use: ¨ Close the window completely Ventilation: Fume Hoods 12 Which image shows correct use of the fume hood? Ventilation: Vents above Lab Bench 13 ¨ ¨ ¨ Also known as ‘elephant trunks’ Used for work with acids, bases and volatile chemicals, and chemical reactions For maximum effectiveness, the vents should be lowered over the area of the bench where fumes are produced Laboratory Practices Chemical Spills 14 ¨ ¨ ¨ First identify the type of substance spilled and apply the necessary precautions. Keep chemicals separate to prevent any chemical reaction from taking place See the SDS for proper and complete spill cleanup procedure. Solid Spills 15 ¨ ¨ Solid chemicals should be deposited into the appropriate waste container ¤ If non-hazardous, small chemical solid spills should be brushed into a dustpan and deposited in the garbage Broken glass should be carefully picked up and deposited into the broken glass container Liquid Spills 16 Acid Spills ¨ ¨ ¨ Pour a small amount of the solid acid neutralizer onto the spill and wait for any reaction to cease. Add more neutralizer until no more reaction takes place. Sweep up the solid residue and deposit in the garbage. Base (Alkali) Spills o Pour solid base neutralizer onto the spill and proceed in the same manner as for acid spills. o Note that alkalis make the floor slippery! Liquid Spills 17 Volatile and Flammable Solvents ¨ ¨ ¨ Pour solid solvent adsorber onto spill The solid remnants should be disposed of in the appropriate waste container Note that rapid evaporation may pose a fire hazard Mercury ¨ ¨ ¨ ¨ Usually from thermometers Breaks into droplets Volatile and toxic → do NOT touch with your hands Must use a specialized Mercury Spill Kit to clean up the spill Mercury Poisoning 18 o o o o Karen Wetterhahn was a professor of chemistry at Dartmouth College, who specialized in toxic metal exposure Mercury poisoning claimed her life at the age of 48 Wetterhahn, a specialist in toxic metals, was accidentally poisoned in her lab by a few drops of the toxic compound, which penetrated her protective glove. The spill occurred on August 14, 1996, but symptoms of her mercury poisoning were not detected until six months later, by which time the poisoning was irreversible. Laboratory Practices Chemical Waste Disposal 19 The main disposal methods of waste chemicals are: 1. Dilute and pour down sink 2. Convert to non-toxic chemicals 3. Incinerate 4. Landfill 5. Recycle and reuse the chemical Chemical Waste Disposal 20 Before disposing of a waste chemical you must consult the SDS or the instructor. Some general rules are: ¨ Acids & Bases: ¤ Diluted and flushed down sink with large amounts of water, or ¤ ¨ Mixed together to neutralize, tested with litmus paper and then flushed down sink with large amounts of water Organic Solvents: ¤ Separated into chlorinated (chloroform, dichloromethane) and non–chlorinated (diethyl ether, toluene, methanol, acetone) solvents ¤ Solvents are stored in glass or metal containers in the fumehood, and then incinerated Chemical Waste Disposal 21 ¨ ¨ ¨ Non-Hazardous Solids: Disposed of in garbage Strong Oxidizing Agents: ¤ Examples: potassium permanganate, sodium chlorate, calcium hypochlorite ¤ Reduced with 10% sodium bisulphite and then flushed down the drain Soluble Cyanides: ¤ Examples: NaCN, KCN ¤ Oxidized to non-toxic cyanates by reacting with bleach Chemical Waste Disposal 22 ¨ ¨ ¨ Lead, Cadmium, Antimony Salts: Converted to insoluble sulfides and buried in landfill. Peroxides: Destroyed by shaking with sodium metabisulfite solution. Silver & Nickel Wastes: Can be recovered and reused. ¤ Example: Waste silver chloride can be converted to silver nitrate in a multi-step process in the laboratory. This method is a cost-effective way to generate silver nitrate, an important reagent used in many reactions and processes. Chemical Waste Disposal 23 In our labs, a waste bottle is normally provided in the fume hood and the laboratory technologists take care of its disposal. Laboratory Practices Fire Extinguishers 24 ¨ ¨ ¨ ¨ If there is a fire in a chemical lab it is critical to use the right fire extinguisher. The NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) has defined fires into five classes. The type of fire extinguisher must match the type of fire. ¤ There are six basic types of fire extinguishers. Fire extinguishers must be inspected regularly. Classes of Fires 25 Types of Fire Extinguishers Water Carbon Dioxide Contains sodium bicarbonate and sulfuric acid that mix to produce CO2 Rapid production of gas forces the entire mixture including the water out of the nozzle Effective only against class A fires, thus limited use in a chemical lab Forcefully emits CO2 and smothers the fire Used for liquid (class B) and electrical (class C) fires Recommended for instrumentation fires as no residue Dry Powder Filled with powder such as sodium hydrogen carbonate in nitrogen gas under pressure Solid powder smothers the oxygen from the fuel Effective against class A, B and C fires, and especially useful when large volumes of burning liquids are involved Not recommended for instrumentation fires as residue is difficult to remove Met-L-X Contains a substance that will smother a high temperature metal fire Specialized for burning metal (class D) fires, but not very effective for other fire types Halogenated Hydrocarbon Halocarbon-based mixture Effective against class A, B and C fires, but no longer in general use Previously considered to be a clean fire extinguisher, but the fire-extinguishing agent is now known to be an ozone-depleting substance Used in specialized applications, such as computer rooms, data storage, armed services and in some aircraft. Wet Chemicals Active ingredient is potassium acetate, often with added potassium citrate or potassium bicarbonate. When operated, creates a fine mist, which cools the flames and prevents splashing by creating a soapy film on surface of the substance on fire. Used in class K fires. Fire Extinguishers 27 Use of fire extinguishers for each class of fire is summarized in the table below: Type of Extinguisher Class of Fire Water A Carbon Dioxide B, C Dry Powder A, B, C Met-L-X D Halogenated Hydrocarbon A, B, C (limited use) Wet Chemicals K You will be shown the location of the fire extinguishers in the labs you are working in. Laboratory Practices First Aid 28 Key Points: o Basic first aid is important in a lab environment o First rule is to keep calm o If you do not know what to do, call someone who does o Notify professor and lab technologist o Most common first aid is for chemical burns (acids & bases) ¤ Remove contaminated clothing ¤ Flush with large quantities of water to dilute the chemical and its effect ¤ Do not apply salves or ointments as they increase absorption by skin Laboratory Safety and Practices 29 ¨ ¨ ¨ Remember the general lab safety rules and practices when working in the labs Follow any special directions given to you by your professor Always ask questions when unsure about a procedure! References 30 ¨ ¨ Ballinger, J.; Shugar, G. Chemical Technicians' Ready Reference Handbook, 5th ed.; McGraw Hill: New York, 2011; Chapters 2 & 3. Dykes, P. CHEM10371 Lecture on Safety. Presented at Sheridan College, Brampton, ON, Fall 2012.