Chemical Laboratory Safety Training Part 2 Laboratory Safety

Chemical & Laboratory Safety Training Part 2 – Laboratory Safety Health, Safety & Environment Human Resources Health, Safety & Environment

General Lab Safety • Do not use laboratory glassware for food • Microwaves used in labs must not be used to prepare food • No eating, drinking or smoking in the lab • Keep the lab tidy and uncluttered • Do not allow dirty glassware to accumulate in the sink • Dispose of broken glassware into appropriate containers • Do not block access to exits, fire extinguishers, or eyewash/emergency shower stations • Put chemicals away in their proper storage areas when not in use Human Resources Health, Safety & Environment

Fume Hoods • Chemicals, glassware or other apparatus shall not be stored in fume hoods because: • Reduces the available work space • May interfere with the proper air flow pattern • Reduces the effectiveness of the hood as a safety device • Make sure you are working as far back as possible – at least six inches (~15 cm) from the front of the fume hood • Keep your head outside of the fume hood • You still need PPE when using a fume hood • Fume hood windows are not explosion-proof • Facilities Management tests fume hoods annually Human Resources Health, Safety & Environment 6 inches 15 cm

Fume Hoods • Make sure the sash is no higher than it needs to be • You want the sash to be pulled down in front of your face • Do not use a prop – if a sash won’t stay up on its own, report it to get it fixed • Make sure you close the sash all the way when you are not using the fume hood. This saves energy. Human Resources Health, Safety & Environment

Canopy Hood • These are only used for nuisance vapours • They are not suitable for performing experiments under • Can be used for venting equipment like a GC (gas chromatograph) for example Human Resources Health, Safety & Environment

Proper PPE - Gloves • • There are many different types of gloves to choose from, as well as different thicknesses Consult the SDS, and glove manufacturer guidelines to determine the proper gloves to wear for the activity you are planning to do Human Resources Health, Safety & Environment

Proper PPE - Gloves • • Always assume that gloves are contaminated For this reason: do not wear gloves outside the lab Opening doors, pressing elevator buttons, etc with potentially contaminated gloves puts everyone at risk of a chemical exposure Change your gloves frequently, wash hands often Human Resources Health, Safety & Environment

Proper PPE – Eye Protection • • • Consult SDS for appropriate eye protection (glasses, goggles, face shield, etc) Safety glasses should always be worn in the lab, to protect yourself should someone else spill, and to protect yourself from debris in general (glassware breaks) If face shields are required, safety glasses are required to be worn under the face shield Human Resources Health, Safety & Environment

Proper PPE - Attire • Full-length lab coats must be worn in the lab • Lab coats must not be worn in other areas such as washrooms and lunchrooms, since lab coats are generally expected to become contaminated while wearing them in the lab Human Resources Health, Safety & Environment

Proper PPE - Attire • Proper footwear is also required, meaning: – Fully covers feet (closed toe, & enclosed heel) – No flip-flops or sandals • Full length pants/jeans (lab coats do not cover your legs, so you must wear pants, not shorts, skirts or capris) • Long hair must be tied back • Long necklaces or other dangling jewellery should be removed while working in the lab Human Resources Health, Safety & Environment

Acquiring Chemicals • Only authorized academic staff members and employees can order chemicals • Do not purchase larger quantities than you need • Substitute less hazardous chemicals if possible • Know how to handle the chemicals you are working with • Store all chemicals properly – refer to MSDS • Have proper personal protective equipment available (PPE), and make sure you use it • Make sure all chemicals have a barcode on them for inventory purposes Human Resources Health, Safety & Environment

Acquiring Chemicals • Must not be purchased on U of R credit card (P-card); see Science Stores for purchase assistance • Must ONLY be shipped to Science Stores, never your lab, office space, or home • If you are working at the PTRC or Greenhouse Gas building, you can have items shipped to central receiving with prior approval • You must be Transportation of Dangerous Goods (TDG) certified to receive and sign for hazardous materials • Contact health. safety@uregina. ca and/or see http: //www. uregina. ca/hr/hse/laboratorysafety/transportation-shipping-dgs. html for more information Human Resources Health, Safety & Environment

Shipping Chemicals • You must be TDG-certified to package and ship hazardous chemicals and other restricted goods throughout Canada and internationally • If you are shipping by air, specialized packaging is required so your sample does not explode under pressure • Some countries have importation restrictions. Just because you manage to ship it outside Canada, does not mean another country will legally accept it • Shipping chemicals can take time as each sample must be classified, packaged individually, and have appropriate paperwork and permits. This can take time • Contact Health. Safety@uregina. ca immediately if you need to ship chemicals, biologicals or radioactive samples Human Resources Health, Safety & Environment

Chemical Inventory System • If you purchase chemicals through Science Stores, they will attach a barcode and enter the chemical into the inventory program • Chemicals not purchased through Science Stores must be entered manually: • Obtain barcodes from us (Health. Safety@uregina. ca) if your lab does not already have some • Attach barcode and fill out the chemical inventory form and send it to us, we will add the item to the inventory system • Once you have used-up a chemical, remove the barcode and save it (or record the number) • Take the barcode/number to Science Stores and the items will be removed from the inventory Human Resources Health, Safety & Environment

Laboratory Glassware • Make sure glassware is in good condition • Choose the right type for your application • Promptly clean up glassware and dismantle equipment when no longer needed • Decontamination of glassware is important for: – Getting good experimental results – Safety Human Resources Health, Safety & Environment

Electrical Equipment • Inspect/replace cords/plugs – make sure they are 3 -prong grounded • Protect electrical equipment from chemical spills or water damage • All electrical equipment must be CSA approved • Be sure that electrical equipment that is used where flammable vapours are present do not generate any sparks Human Resources Health, Safety & Environment

Heat Sources • For all heating equipment – make sure the wiring is in good condition • Heat guns – can generate a lot of heat, use with caution • Many older hot plates pose an electrical spark hazard from the on/off switch, the bimetallic thermostat, or both Human Resources Health, Safety & Environment

Bunsen Burners • Place the burner away from any overhead shelving, equipment or light fixtures • Bunsen burners should be kept away from flammable/combustible materials & remove all papers, notebooks, etc from the area • Know the location of your emergency gas shut-off valve/button • Tie back any long hair, dangling jewellery or loose clothing • Inspect hose for cracks, holes, pinched points or any other defect and ensure the hose is connected securely to the gas valve and the Bunsen burner • Make sure the hose does not wrap or fold in such a way that it will come in contact with the burner • Utilize a sparker/lighter with extended nozzle to ignite the burner. Never use a match to ignite a burner • Do not leave the gas on for very long before lighting the burner, be ready to light the burner immediately after turning on the gas Human Resources Health, Safety & Environment

Bunsen Burners • Adjust the flame by turning the collar to regulate air flow and produce an appropriate flame for the experiment (medium blue flame typically) • Do not leave open flames unattended and never leave the lab while a Bunsen burner is on • Allow the Bunsen burner to cool before handling • Ensure the main gas valve is off before leaving the lab Human Resources Health, Safety & Environment

Pressure High or Low Pressure operations can pose a hazard • Use vessels, hoses, connectors, etc which are designed for the purpose • Glass vessels are frequently used in low-vacuum operations, evacuated glass vessels may collapse violently, either spontaneously from strain or from an accidental blow Imploding vacuum tube, photographed with high speed air-gap flash -Niels Noordhoek Human Resources Health, Safety & Environment

Pressure High or Low Pressure operations can pose a hazard • For this reason, vacuum operations should be conducted behind adequate shielding • Glass containers under vacuum should be taped to restrain flying glass in the event of an implosion – always wear safety glasses, goggles, or a face shield • Remember, fume hood windows are not explosionproof • Check for flaws (star cracks, scratches, etc) each time a vacuum apparatus is used • Only round-bottomed or thick-walled (e. g. Pyrex) reaction vessels specifically designed for low pressureshould be used • Thin-walled, Erlenmyer, or round-bottom flasks larger than 1 L should never be used for high vacuum operations Human Resources Health, Safety & Environment

Refrigerators • Only fridges & freezers specified for lab use should be used for the storage of chemicals • Flammable liquid-approved fridges are designed with the spark-producing parts on the outside to avoid accidental ignition • These fridges have been constructed with special design factors such as heavyduty cords and corrosion resistant interiors to reduce the risk of fire or explosion • Standard fridges have electrical fans & motors that can be potential ignition sources • Standard fridges should be labeled like this: Human Resources Health, Safety & Environment

Refrigerators • All materials in refrigerators or freezers should be labelled with the contents, owner, date of acquisition or preparation, and the nature of any potential hazard • Since fridges are often used for storage of large quantities of small vials and test tubes, a reference to a list outside of the fridge could be used to identify the contents of the fridge • Labels and ink used to identify materials should be water resistant, or covered in clear tape to protect the label from moisture • All containers should be sealed, preferably with a cap • Containers should be placed in secondary containment to limit damage cause by spills/leaks • Loss of electrical power can produce extremely hazardous situations • Flammable or toxic vapours may be released as chemicals warm up, or certain reactive materials may decompose upon warming Human Resources Health, Safety & Environment

Centrifuges • Centrifuges should be properly installed and must be operated only by trained personnel • It is important that the load is balanced each time the centrifuge is used and that the lid be closed while the rotor is in motion • The manufacturer’s instructions for safe operating speeds must be followed • Centrifuges must be cleaned with non -corrosive cleaners Human Resources Health, Safety & Environment

Conclusion • You will only be tested on this material in the online exam at the end of this course • You can take the practice checkpoint quiz now, or move on to the next section of the course • To move to the next section, please go back to the main CLS UR Courses page. (You may need to refresh your screen to unlock the next section) Human Resources Health, Safety & Environment