Workshop

Lab Safety

Workshop

Personal Protective Equipment

Are you wearing yours?

6

Chemical Splash Goggles

 Chemical Splash Goggles should be worn when there is potential for splash from a hazardous material.

Face Shields

 Face shields are in order when working with large volumes of hazardous materials, either for protection from splash to the face or flying particles.

 Face shields must be used in conjunction with safety glasses or goggles.

1. Protect Your Face and Eyes

2. Wear appropriate protective clothing

3. Wear shoes that cover your feet

 Sandals and open-toed shoes do not protect your feet from broken glass that is frequently found in the lab.

4. Wear appropriate gloves

5. Wear Respiratory Protection

 There is no "all-in-one" filter that protects against all substances thus it is important to know which hazardous materials you are using.

 A safety shower is a unit designed to wash an individual's head and body which has come into contact with hazardous chemicals.

 It cannot be used for flushing the eyes, due to the high pressure of water, which can damage eyes.

1. Safety Shower

Emergency stations

 An eyewash station is a unit for washing chemicals or substances that might splash into an individual's eyes before he or she can seek further medical attention.

 The user needs to wash their eyes for at least 5 minutes.

2. Eye wash Station

Specifications of Safety shower/ Eye wash Station

 Eyewash should have visible sign showing the location of the units.

 Water temperature of eyewash should be moderate.

 It must provide 15 minutes flush of lukewarm water.

 There must be no sharp projections in the area.

 Safety shower and eye wash must be hand-free.

 Should be within 10 second walking distance from the place of hazard.

 Must located on the same floor of the hazard so the victim does not have to go up or down the stair when accident occur.

 The path way should be clear from any obstacle and as straight as possible.

 The location of each emergency shower or eyewash station should be identified with a highly visible sign. The sign should be in the form of a symbol that does not require workers to have language skills to understand it.

Location of Safety shower/ Eye

wash Station

Blue

Information (Must do)

Red

Prohibition (Do not do)

Green

Safety

(Do it safely)

Yellow

Warning

(Be caution)

Safety Sign Color Codes

Types of Laboratory Hazards

I. Chemical Hazard II. Biological Hazard III. Electrical Hazard IV. Radiation Hazard

I. Chemicals Hazards

Chemical hazard is a type of occupational hazard caused by exposure to chemicals in the workplace.

Exposure to chemicals in the workplace can cause acute or long- term detrimental health effects.

Types of Chemicals Hazards

Toxic Explosive

Corrosive Reactive Flammable

Acids Bases

Ethanol Acetone Sodium

RMgX

Arsenic Mercury

Azides TNT

I. Corrosives

What are corrosive substance?

 Corrosives are materials that can attack and chemically destroy exposed body tissues.

 Corrosives can also damage or even destroy metal.

 They begin to cause damage as soon as they touch the skin, eyes, respiratory tract, digestive tract, or the metal.

 The major classes of corrosive chemicals are:

 Strong acids and bases

 Dehydrating agents

 Oxidizing agents

Examples of some commonly used corrosives

Sulfuric acid Nitric acid Perchloric acid

Acetic acid Phenol Hydroxide

 Sulfuric acid is a strong acid, a dehydrating agent, and an oxidizing agent.

 It is highly water-reactive, generating tremendous amounts of heat on contact with water.

1. Sulfuric acid

 Nitric acid is a strong acid and powerful oxidizing agent.

 It release toxic vapors that can cause delayed respiratory distress, pulmonary edema (fluid in the lungs), and death.

 It will cause serious burns when comes in contact with skin and eyes.

 Use water only if it comes in contract with skin.

2. Nitric acid

 Perchloric acid is much stronger than sulfuric acid and nitric acid.

 It is dangerously corrosive and readily forms potentially explosive materials.

 May cause blindness, severe burns and permanent scarring.

 Do not store near combustible materials. Store in a cool, dry place away from sparks and flame.

3. Perchloric acid

 Acetic acid is a weak acid. But it is severe irritant to the skin and eyes. Severe irritation can occur at 25 ppm, but eye damage occurs even at lower concentrations.

 Sodium and potassium hydroxides are strong bases. They are highly corrosives and often referred to as caustics, a term referring to hydroxides.

4. Acetic acid and Hydroxides

 Wear appropriate protective equipment.

 Always add chemicals slowly and always add concentrated acid to water.

 Keep ignition sources away from inorganic acid spills that may produce flammable hydrogen gas on contact with metals.

 In case of skin contact, never wash that area with acid or base. Wash thoroughly with water only.

 Use fume hood while working with these chemicals as they generate significant amount of fumes.

 Review the MSDS before using them for proper guidance and personal protection.

Precautions

II. Reactive Chemicals

Reactive chemicals are chemicals that can, under certain conditions, release very large and potentially dangerous amounts of energy.

Examples of Reactive Chemicals

1. Oxidizers

2. Water Exposure Sensitive

3. Air Exposure Sensitive

Examples of Reactive Chemicals 1. Oxidizers

 An oxidizer is a reactant that removes electrons from other reactants during a redox reaction.

 Examples of oxidizers include:

 Nitric acid

 Perchloric acid

 Sodium perborate

2. Water Exposure Sensitive

Examples of water exposure sensitive chemicals include:

 Alkali metals (sodium, lithium, potassium).

 Aluminum chloride

 Calcium oxide

 A water-reactive substance is one that

spontaneously undergoes a chemical reaction with water.

 Causes large evolution of heat .

3. Air Exposure Sensitive

 They are also corrosive, and water reactive.

 Examples of air exposure sensitive chemicals include:

 Alkali Metals (lithium, sodium).

 Grignard Reagents (RMgX).

 Finely divided metals (calcium, titanium).

 Pyrophorics --spontaneous ignition in contact with air.

Precautions

 Materials should only be handled by knowledgeable and trained individuals.

 Always use personal protective equipment.

 Never store these chemicals in a public area or corridor. They must be kept in a secured area.

 Avoid contact with skin and handle away from water sources.

 Do not keep excessive amounts of material in the vicinity of process; store away from organic materials, flammable materials.

 Store these chemicals according to OSHA regulations.

 Make sure containers are suitably labelled before storing.

III. Toxic Chemicals

How should we work safely with toxic chemicals?

Toxic materials are substances that may cause serious harm to an individual if it enters the body.

Why should I switch to less hazardous substance when ever possible?

 Whenever possible, it is always best to avoid using a toxic material either by: Eliminating its use (by changing the method or process).

 Substituting the toxic material with a less hazardous material.

Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)

 A Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) is a document that contains information on the potential hazards (health, fire, reactivity and environmental) and how to work safely with the chemical product.

 MSDSs must be obtained and maintained for every chemical used in the workplace.

How should I store containers of toxic materials?

 For the storage of toxic materials, ensure that the storage area is clearly identified with warning signs.

 Container should not be damaged and is accessible only to trained and authorized personnel.

 Keep the amount of toxic material in storage as small as possible.

 Keep empty containers in a separate storage area. Empty containers may contain hazardous toxic residue -- keep closed.

 Store material within the temperature range recommended by the chemical manufacturer/supplier.

Factors Affecting Toxicity

Factors Effects

1. Dose An Exposure to a large amount chemical is

usually more concern than to a small amount.

2. Duration and Frequency One time exposure of short duration is of less concern than multiple exposure of long duration.

3. Synergistic effect Sometimes combined exposure to two or more chemicals is more hazardous than exposure to single chemical.

4. Individual characteristics Response will vary from person to person.

5. Acute and Chronic effects Acute effects occurs immediately while chronic effects occurs after significant amount of time.

How the person comes in contact with the chemicals in laboratory ?

What are the ways of exposure ? 1. Inhalation

2. Direct eye/skin 3. Ingestion

4. Injection Toxicity

Controlling chemical exposures

(a) Engineering control (b) Administrative control

(c) Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

How to dispose toxic waste

The following are some general recommendations for disposal of waste toxic materials.

 Always review federal, provincial and local government requirements prior to disposal of toxic materials.

 Toxic chemical waste must NOT be flushed down. This practice is illegal and unsafe.

 Do not mix hazardous waste materials with regular garbage.

Basic safety procedure for toxic products

 Read the MSDSs for all of the materials that you work with.

 Keep containers closed when not in use.

 Eye protection is important when working with toxic materials.

 Do not return contaminated toxics back to the original container.

 Wear the appropriate personal protective equipment that your employer specifies for the job.

 Handle and dispose of toxic wastes safely.

IV. Explosives

Sudden release of Pressure/heat.

Definition

Explosives

What are explosive substance?

 Explosives are materials that produce violent chemical reactions. These reactions generate large amounts of heat and gas in a fraction of second.

 The oldest known explosive is black gunpowder, a mixture of charcoal (carbon), sulfur, and potassium nitrate.

 Explosive chemicals: Azides, Trinitroanisole, Ammonium nitrate, Benzoyl peroxide.

Precautions

 Storage should be separate from the process area (where fire or leakages are more likely to occur).

 It should be in well ventilated area, isolated from the rest of the building.

 Prevent incompatible chemicals being mixed, e.g. by spillage, by damage to packaging.

 Store explosive substances in fire resistant material.

 Exclude sources of ignition, e.g. static electricity, unprotected electrical equipment, cigarettes and naked flames.

V. Flammable

Material that ignites easily and burns rapidly with a flame. It may be gases, liquids and solids that will ignite and continue to burn in air if exposed to a source of ignition or oxidizer.

1. Enough oxygen to sustain combustion 2. Enough heat to raise the material to its

ignition temperature

3. Some sort of fuel or combustible material

Fire Triangle

Three ingredients are essential to produce a fire.

Fire Tetrahedron

When a chemical chain reaction is added to the fire triangle, it becomes a fire tetrahedron

Four items are necessary to produce a fire 1. Oxygen

2. Heat

3. Fuel or combustible material 4. A chemical reaction

Take any of the four things away, and you will not have a fire or fire will be extinguished

Examples of Flammable Chemicals

 Ethanol

 Diethyl ether

 Acetone

 Toluene

 Cyclohexane

Precautions

 Use flammable liquids in a fume hood to prevent buildup of ignitable vapor/air mixtures.

 Refer to MSDS and use PPE.

 Control other sources of ignition and heat in the laboratory such as electric motors and ovens.

 Keep all containers of flammable solvents tightly closed when not in use.

 Never leave solvent distillation processes unattended.

 Do not heat flammable liquids with an open flame.

II. Biological Hazards

Biological hazards refer to biological substances that cause harm to the living organisms. It can cause variety of health issues ranging from skin irritation and allergies to infections (e.g., tuberculosis, AIDS) and cancer.

Sources of biological hazards

1. Bacteria 2. Viruses 3. Insects 4. Plants 5. Birds

6. Animals

7. Humans Bacteria Viruses

1. Biological agents enter the body when they are inhaled, eaten (ingested) or absorbed.

2. They multiply quickly and may be passed from one person to another causing various diseases.

3. Common diseases that are caused by biological agents:

 bacterial diseases, such as tuberculosis, tetanus, food poisoning and blood poisoning.

 fungal diseases, such as ringworm and thrush.

 viral diseases, such as mumps, hepatitis, German measles.

 parasitic worms that enter the body when their eggs are ingested.

Harmful Effects of Biological Hazards

Precautions

1. Avoid the production of bioaerosols 2. Safe use of sharps

3. Wear personal protective

4. Avoid hand to mouth contact 5. Waste Treatment

Biological Waste Management and Disposal

1. Infectious waste must be inactivated (e.g.

autoclaved or bleach treated) before it leaves lab.

2. Non-inactivated waste must be stored in the generating laboratory – do not leave unattended.

3. Waste bio-hazardous materials must be labeled with the biohazard symbol.

4. Infectious waste must be kept covered and must be inactivated within 24 hrs.

5. Sharp wastes must be placed in red, hard plastic sharps boxes, even if unused.

III. Electrical Hazards

Electrical hazards basically defined as the dangerous condition where the person comes in contact with the electrical instrument or a conductor, and from which the person may sustain an injury from shock; and/or, - there is potential for the worker to receive an arc flash burn, thermal burn, or blast injury.

What are the harmful effects of electricity to human body ?

Harmful Effects Shock

Burns Death

Paralysis

Precautions

1. Worn out wires should be replaced.

2. Use of extension cord to be minimized.

3. Electrical equipment and connections are not to be handled with wet hands.

4. No electrical equipment to be used after liquid has been spilled over it.

5. Unplug the cords by pulling the plug not the cord.

6. Unplug all electrical equipment after the use.

7. Know the exact location of electrical control panel for the electricity to your work area.

8. Do not overload circuits.

Ionizing radiation can damage living tissue in the human body.

High frequency radiation or fast moving particles plow into a living cell with enough energy to knock electrons free from molecules that make up the cell. These molecules with missing electrons are called ions. The presence of these ions disrupts the normal functioning of the cell.

IV. Radiation Hazards

Harmful effects of radiation hazard to human body ?

Radiation mainly enters the DNA inside the cells. It affects the human body in two ways:

1. The water in our body tends to absorb a large portion of the radiation and becomes ionized producing free radicals which can damage the DNA molecule.

2. It can collide with the DNA molecule, itself, ionizing and damaging it directly.

3. Mutations or changes in the DNA can be passed along to offsprings.

4. It can also cause severe burns that are slow to heal, sterilization, cancer, and other damage to organs. High doses are rapidly (within days or weeks) fatal.

Precautions

1. No radioactive substance should be handled with bare hands.

2. Close the instrument immediately after use.

3. Warning signs must be displaced near the location of radiation source.

4. Do not place food containers near the source of radiation.

5. Always wear personal protective instrument at all the times.

6. Radioactive materials must be stored in thick lead containers.

Laboratory

Safety Guideline



Use tongs, test tube holders and heat resistant gloves to handle hot objects.

Before beginning work in lab, clean the lab bench top and your glassware.

Listen to or read instructions carefully before attempting to do anything.



 Always add chemicals slowly and always add concentrated acid to water.

 Store materials that react vigorously with water away from possible contact with water.

Before using any chemicals, read the label carefully.

 Report all accidents regardless of how minor to your instructor.

 Keep all electrical cords, wires, laboratory electrical equipment away from water.

 Do not use metal containers and metal containing objects in the microwave because they can cause arcing.

 Work in the lab only when the

instructor is present or when you have permission to do so.

 Use goggles and lab coat all the time inside the lab.

 Due to the dangers of broken glass and corrosive liquid spills in the lab, open sandals or bare feet are not permitted in the lab.

 Never look directly into a test tube.

 View the contents from the side.

 For minor skin burns, immediately plunge the burned area into cold water and notify the instructor.

 Never smell a material in a test tube or flask directly. Instead, with your hand,

"fan" some of the fumes to your nose carefully.

 Do not indulge in horseplay.

 Upon completion of work, wash and dry all equipment, your lab bench and your clean-up area.

Lab should be well ventilated.

Personal cleanliness is important when working with hazardous materials

 Do not eat or drink in a laboratory.

 Leather shoes tend to absorbed

chemicals and have to be discarded if contaminated with a hazardous material.

 No food to be stored in the laboratory refrigerator.

 Avoid touching yourself ( eyes, mouth, face, etc. ) with contaminated hands.

 Remove all accessories from hands while working with chemicals.

 Be Sure to wash your hands

thoroughly with soap and water before leaving the laboratory.

Emergency

 Evacuate the affected area at once if you are not trained to handle the problem or if it is clearly beyond your control.

 Report leaks, spills or ventilation failures immediately.

 Obtain first aid if you have been exposed to the hazardous material.

 In the event of skin or eye contact, use emergency eyewash stations and safety showers.

 Only specially trained people, equipped with the proper tools and protective equipment, should handle the emergency.

 A Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) provides information on the properties and potential hazards of the material, how to use it safely, and what to do if there is an emergency.

 Planning, training and practicing for emergencies are important so that everyone knows what they must do under demanding situation.

Common Laboratory Equipment

Equipments Uses Precautions

1. Refrigerators and freezers

Storing chemicals Do not store flammable liquids.

2. Stirring and Mixing devices

Mixing solutions Only spark-free conduction motors should be used.

3. Heating devices (a) Ovens

(b) Heating mantle (c) Oil and salt bath (d) Microwave

Heating solutions, reaction mixtures and drying the vessels

Do not keep flammable liquids near heating devices.

Thermal sensing devices will be attached with oil and salt baths.

4. Centrifuges Separation of different components in solution

Be sure load is balanced and the lid is closed.

5. Autoclaves Decontaminate infectious waste Do not overfill an autoclave bag.

Handle the bag from top.

6. Electrophoresis devices

Separation and characterization of proteins, nucleic acids, etc.

Turn the power off before connecting the leads.

7. Glassware Before working with glassware, always inspect it for flaws.

Pyrex and borosilicate glassware should be used.

(1) Refrigerators and Freezers

(2) Stirring and mixing devices

(3) Heating devices

HOT PLATE OVEN

HEATING MANTLE SAND AND OIL BATH MICROWAVE

(4) Centrifuge

(5) Autoclave

(6) Electrophoresis

(7) Glassware