www jst umn edu Refrigerator Blast in Chemical

www. jst. umn. edu Refrigerator Blast in Chemical Lab Safety News Blog (for additional information on refrigerator safety see the “Equipment: Refrigerators and Freezers” safety moment)

Refrigerator Blast A refrigerator door blew off and hit an inner pane of a double-paned window in a chemical lab at the University of South Florida. No one was injured in the blast, which set off a fire alarm about 2: 45 a. m. Wednesday. The building did not catch on fire. Tampa Fire Rescue's hazardous materials team responded: - no one was inside the building (no injuries) - no hazardous chemicals spilled - cause of the blast is being investigated. www. jst. umn. edu Chem lab refrigerator blast sets off fire alarm at USF. Tampa Bay Times. Accessed 8 March 2014 http: //www. tampabay. com/news/publicsafety/fire/refrigerator-blast-prompts-fire-alarm-atusf/2168615 2

Chemicals in Fridges and Freezers • The atmosphere of a refrigerator could contain an explosive mixture of air & chemical vapors – To avoid inhaling vapors, don’t stick your head inside – Seal containers tightly (parafilm or tape are good options) • Use a refrigerator approved for storage of these materials – Modified to not spark inside – Approved for “flammable storage” • Store incompatible chemicals separately – Oxidizers and highly reactive in a separate unit from flammables. – Use secondary containment • Air- and moisture- sensitive materials stored at low temp. are prone to problems exacerbated by condensation. • Peroxide-forming chemicals are also often stored in fridges. www. jst. umn. edu Prudent Practices for Handling Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories. Section 5. E. 4 Cold Storage. Accessed 8 March 2014 3 http: //www. ncbi. nlm. nih. gov/books/NBK 55868/#ch 5. s 29