CHEMICAL

SAFETY
• Is achieved by undertaking all
activities involving chemicals in
such a way as to ensure the
safety of human health and
the environment.
GENERAL CHEMICAL SAFETY
GUIDELINES
• Maintain an organized and orderly
facility
• Communicate hazards to everyone in the
facility
• Follow basic safety procedures
• Use engineering controls.
• Proper Trapping Techniques
• Prepare for accidents and emergencies.
• First aid kits and Emergency Guides
Maintain an organized and orderly facility

• Work area:
• Keep the work area clean and uncluttered.
• Never play practical jokes or engage in horseplay.
• Always use adequate safety measures and never
leave the following unattended:
• Ongoing chemical reactions in laboratories
• Exposed sharps (needles, razor blades, etc.)
• Energized electrical, mechanical, or heating
equipment
• Chemical storage and inventory:
• Maintain lean, well managed chemical
inventories to avoid fire code violations
and subsequent inventory reduction
measures.
• Corridors:
• Keep corridors free of hazardous
materials at all times, without
exception.
Communicate hazards to everyone in the facility

• Post:
• Warning signs near any dangerous equipment,
reactions, or conditions
• A list of chemical abbreviations used on chemical
container labels (including hazardous waste) near
the lab entrance
• Personal protective equipment requirements for
entering the facility, if applicable
• Label all containers.
• Keep containers closed except when
in use, including hazardous waste
containers.
• Follow basic safety procedures
• Evaluate the hazards:
• Read the Safety Data Sheet (formerly
called Material Safety Data Sheets) before
beginning work with a chemical.
• Follow hazard control plans for extremely
hazardous materials.
• Pay particular attention to control
measures for chemicals that are known
to be particularly high hazard or chemical
carcinogens.
• Never underestimate risk.
• Do not pipette by mouth.
• Never smell chemicals to identify
them.
• Assume that:
• Any mixture will be more hazardous
than its most toxic component
• All substances of unknown toxicity
are highly toxic
• Be aware of electrical hazards.
• Keep electrical panels clearly visible and
unobstructed.
• Know how your circuits are labeled so equipment
can be de-energized quickly in an emergency.
• Never use extension cords as permanent wiring.
Unplug them at the end of the workday.
• Mount multi-plug adaptors a few inches off the
floor to avoid possible water damage.
• Never use multi-plug adaptors in series.
• Replace any damaged or frayed electrical cords
immediately.
• Do not eat, drink, store food, smoke, or
apply cosmetics in areas where chemicals
are in use except in clearly marked Clean
Areas. Wash your hands frequently and
before eating.
• Keep loose hair tied back.
Use engineering controls.

• Use chemical fume hoods and

other engineering controls as
needed.
Purpose
• Engineering controls reduce or eliminate
exposure to chemical or physical hazards
through the use of equipment or devices.
Engineering controls function with minimum
user input and do not rely on the skill or
vigilance of individuals.
Vacuum Trapping
• When using a vacuum source, it is important to place
a trap between the experimental apparatus and the
vacuum source. The vacuum trap
• protects the pump and the piping from the
potentially damaging effects of the material
• protects people who must work on the vacuum lines
or system, and
• prevents vapors and related odors from being
emitted back into the laboratory or system exhaust.
BUILDING VENTILATION
• The primary functions of ventilation systems
are to provide safe, comfortable, breathable
environments for all employees and the public,
and to minimize exposures to hazardous air
contaminants. Careful planning, designing, and
maintaining air supply and exhaust vents and
equipment can accomplish these goals.
LOCAL EXHAUST SYSTEMS AND FUME HOODS
• A local exhaust system is a device that captures contaminants at their source before
they escape into the workroom environment. Drafts, traffic, and heating sources
can impair the effectiveness of a local exhaust system. These systems are required
to be certified annually as to their effectiveness.
• To be effective, the hood must be within 10–12 inches of the source (closer is
better). Drafts, traffic, and heating sources can impair the effectiveness of a local
exhaust system.
• Chemical fume hoods contain hazardous dusts, gases, vapors, and fumes that are
generated within them and remove them via the building's ventilation system.
When used properly, these hoods are extremely effective at protecting lab workers
and the work environment. Fume hoods must not be used with biohazardous
materials since it is a non-sterile environment and not designed for this type of
hazard.
• Wash down fume hoods, or perchloric fume hoods, are designed with a wash
down feature that will remove damaging corrosive residues, and in the case of
percholoric acid, potentially explosive perchlorate salts from the hume hood,
ductwork, and fan.
• "Snorkel" or "elephant trunk" exhaust systems are flexible arms with cones on the
end that can be positioned directly over your work. Intended for small areas or
machines, each snorkel exhaust has its own air damper. The effective range of
snorkel exhaust is typically less than a foot and must be reviewed by EH&S prior to
installation.
BIOLOGICAL SAFETY CABINETS

• A biological safety cabinet (also called biosafety cabinet) is an enclosed, ventilated

laboratory workspace for safely working with materials contaminated or potentially
contaminated with pathogens.
• BSCs use HEPA filters to protect lab workers and the environment from aerosols or
droplets that could spread biohazardous material.
SHIELDING FOR RADIATION

• Radiation shielding varies from lead bricks to

plastic (Lucite) panels, depending on the type
of radiation involved. Different thicknesses of
these materials are used, depending on the
energy of the radiation.
SHIELDING FOR BLOOD/ BODY FLUID

• This physical barrier is especially useful for

opening vacuum container tubes or other
potential splatter activities.
BLAST SHIELD

• Portable blast shields provide additional

protection when working with reactive
materials.
GLOVE BOXES

• Glove boxes are airtight boxes with 2 or more

heavy rubber gloves and an airlock.
GAS CABINETS
• A gas cabinet is a ventilated enclosure with shelving that is used to store industrial
gas cylinders, such as hydrogen or arsine. In the event of a leak or rupture, a gas
cabinet prevents the gas from contaminating the laboratory.
LAMINAR FLOW CLEAN BENCH

• A clean bench is a ventilated workspace

designed to prevent contamination of
biological samples or semiconductor wafer
from the laboratory environment or workers.
Air is drawn through a HEPA filter and
delivered in a laminar (non-turbulent) flow
across the work surface towards you.
DOWNDRAFT TABLES

• Downdraft tables are workstations with built-

in ventilation that pulls air, odors, vapors, and
aerosols down and away from the worker's
face. They are used primarily for dissections of
formaldehyde-preserved specimens and for
capturing dust, vapors, or other contaminants
from fabrication activities.
ROTARY EVAPORATORS

• Rotary evaporators, also called rotavaps,

remove solvents from reaction mixtures. A
condenser traps solvents under a vacuum,
which allows for easy reuse or disposal of a
collection. A vacuum line, a circulation bath or
a membrane pump can be used as source for
the vacuum.
VACUUM LINE PROTECTION

• Vacuum systems (both centralized and stand-

alone pumps) are commonly used to help
researchers filter reagents and dispose of
waste.
• House vacuum systems must be protected
from chemicals by filters.
• Protect the vacuum lines and pump with a
trap.
• Belts and pulleys on the pump must be
guarded (covered).
• Avoid risk of implosion by using vacuum-rated
glassware. Standard glassware may implode
when subjected to vacuum.
Proper Trapping Techniques

-To prevent contamination, all lines leading

from experimental apparatus to the vacuum
source should be equipped with filtration or
other trapping as appropriate.
 efficiently trapping the particles in the size range
being generated
• For most aqueous or non-volatile liquids, a filter
flask at room temperature is adequate to prevent
liquids from getting to the vacuum source.
• For solvents and other volatile liquids, use a cold
trap of sufficient size and cold enough to
condense vapors generated, followed by a filter
flask capable of collecting fluid that could be
aspirated out of the cold trap.
• For highly reactive, corrosive or toxic gases, use a
sorbent canister or scrubbing device capable of
trapping the gas.
• Cold Traps
For most volatile liquids, a cold trap using a slush
of dry ice and either isopropanol or ethanol is
sufficient (to -78 deg. C). Avoid using
acetone. Ethanol and isopropanol
are cheaper and less likely to foam.
• Liquid nitrogen may only be used with sealed or
evacuated equipment, and then only with
extreme caution. If the system is opened while
the cooling bath is still in contact
with the trap, oxygen may condense from the
atmosphere and react vigorously with any organic
material present.
Prepare for accidents and emergencies.
Follow basic emergency preparedness best practices:
• Never work alone when hazardous chemicals are
involved.
• Prepare for spills.
• Clean up only very small quantities and only if you
have been properly trained. All other spills should be
cleaned up by specially trained personnel.
• Read How to Handle Chemical Spills in Laboratories.
• Keep a fully stocked chemical spill kit easily accessible.
• Train personnel on how to use the spill kit, and when
it is safe to do so.
• Know the locations of emergency equipment and how to
use it:
• Telephones
• Emergency Guide
• First aid kit
• Fire extinguishers and fire alarm pull stations
• Read Fire Extinguisher Types and Maintenance to
learn about different types of extinguishers and how
to have them serviced or replaced.
• Get training
• Read How to Use a Fire Extinguisher.
• Check your fire extinguisher monthly to ensure it is
charged and accessible.
• Eye wash and emergency showers
• First aid kits and Emergency Guides
• First aid kits and Emergency Guides are
provided by EH&S in work areas using
hazardous materials or generating hazardous
waste.
• The department representative, typically
your Area Safety Coordinator, is responsible for
monitoring first aid supplies and expiration
dates.
Personal protective
equipment
• Personal protective equipment (PPE) refers to
protective clothing, helmets, goggles, or other
garments or equipment designed to protect the
wearer's body from injury or infection. The hazards
addressed by protective equipment include physical,
electrical, heat, chemicals, biohazards, and airborne
particulate matter.
• Protective equipment may be worn for job-
related occupational safety and health purposes, as
well as for sports and other recreational activities.
"Protective clothing" is applied to traditional categories
of clothing, and "protective gear" applies to items such
as pads, guards, shields, or masks, and others.
• The purpose of personal protective equipment is to
reduce employee exposure to hazards when
engineering and administrative controls are not feasible
or effective to reduce these risks to acceptable levels.
• PPE is needed when there are hazards present.
• PPE has the serious limitation that it does not eliminate
the hazard at source and may result in employees being
exposed to the hazard if the equipment fails
Limitations of PPE
• PPE does not eliminate the hazard. If personal
protective equipment fails or is improperly used,
exposure can occur.
• For reliable protection, make sure PPE is clean, in
good condition, fits correctly, and is appropriate
for the materials and equipment used.
• Understanding the purpose and limitations of PPE
will help you select and use it effectively.
TYPES OF PPE

• Body protection
• Eye, face, and neck protection
• Foot protection
• Hand protection
• Head protection
• Hearing protection
• Respiratory protection
Body protection

• Use protective clothing as a safeguard against

hazardous material spills, splashes, intense heat,
impact, cuts, infectious materials, and radiation
exposures. Protective clothing includes lab coats,
smocks, scrub suits, gowns, rubber or coated
aprons, coveralls, uniforms, and pierce-resistant
jackets and vests.
Shop, trades, and maintenance workers
• For work with hazardous materials such as
pesticides, herbicides, and caustic materials,
wear coveralls or a uniform you can change
out of after work.
Laboratories

• Minimum required PPE that must be worn at all

times in a laboratory or technical area is full length
pants (or equivalent).
• Lab coats (or equivalent protective garments) must
be worn by all personnel working with hazardous
materials as determined by a hazard assessment.
• Flame resistant lab coats may be required when
handling pyrophoric, air/water reactive materials,
open flames, and certain quantities of flammable
liquids.
• Antistatic properties
• Other criteria for selecting lab clothing
include:
• Liquid-resistant fabric or coatings when spills
or splashes are anticipated
• Non-disposable garments must be capable of
withstanding sterilization should they become
contaminated
• Closure types and location for ease of use
Eye, face, and neck protection

• Use safety glasses for minor splash hazards,

goggles for moderate hazards, and goggles
combined with a face shield for severe
hazards.
• Safety glasses - Eye protection is indicated
for flying particles, acids or caustic liquids,
welding, light that could injure eyes (lasers,
ultraviolet, infrared, radiation), and infectious
body fluids. Adequate eye protection
requires the use of hardened-glass or plastic
safety spectacles with side shields.
• Goggles - Goggles provide a tighter face seal
than safety glasses, and are not for general
laboratory use. Wear them when there is a
hazard from splashing chemicals or flying
particles. Use chemical goggles with splash-
proof sides for protection from harmful
chemical splash.
• Face shields - it protects the face and
throat—critical if your work puts you at risk
of hazardous material splashes or flying
debris from possible explosions. For full
protection, wear a pair of safety glasses or
goggles (depending on the hazard) in
combination with a face shield.
Foot protection

Laboratories
• Minimum required PPE that must be worn at
all times in a laboratory or technical area is
closed-toe/heel shoes to protect feet from
chemical spills and sharp objects.
All workplaces

• Other high-risk professions require different types of

protective footwear, including:
• Steel-toed footwear and puncture-resistant soles and uppers
for workers handling heavy materials or using rotating
machinery near their feet, including groundskeepers and
machine shop employees
• Rubber-soled shoes for electricians, construction workers,
and others who work near live electrical conductors
• Slip-resistant shoes (usually rubber-soled with a grip pattern)
for anyone who works in wet environments, including ships,
aquariums, or kitchens
Hand protection

• Wear proper protective gloves for potential contact with

corrosive or toxic materials, materials of unknown toxicity,
sharp edged objects, and very hot or cold materials. Select
gloves based on the material handled, the particular hazard
involved, and their suitability for the operation conducted.
• Not every glove is good for every application. Perform a risk
assessment BEFORE making your selection. Common glove
materials include neoprene, polyvinyl chloride, nitrile, butyl,
and natural rubbers (latex). These materials differ in their
resistance to various substances.
• Chemicals eventually permeate all glove materials.
However, gloves are safe for limited periods if one knows
the specific use and glove characteristics (such as thickness
and permeation rate and time).
• Use disposable surgical-type gloves for incidental
contact. Consider double gloving (the wearing of 2
gloves on each hand) when handling highly toxic or
carcinogenic materials. Use heavy-duty gloves for
non-incidental contact and gross contamination.
• Wear sturdier gloves such as leather for handling
broken glassware, inserting glass tubes into rubber
stoppers, and similar operations where you do not
need protection from chemicals.
• Use insulated gloves when working at
temperature extremes. Do not wear woven gloves
while working with cryogens as the liquid may
work its way through the glove to your hand. Use
gloves specifically designed for work with
cryogens. Gloves worn for working with elevated
temperatures may not be appropriate for working
with extremely low temperature liquids.
• For work with liquid pyrophoric chemicals outside
of a glove box, appropriate hand protection must
include chemically resistant outer gloves
Head protection

• Head protection is indicated for moving or falling

objects, the possibility of bumping heads on
objects or equipment, or contacting an electrical
source. Hard hats must be worn by electricians,
construction workers, and any other workers
when there is a danger of objects falling from
above.
Hearing protection

• A variety of hearing protectors, including earplugs

and ear muffs, are available for employees whose
workplace reaches critical noise levels.
Respiratory protection

• Fitted (cartridge) air-filtering face masks are

only used under the direction of EH&S.

• Disposable "dust masks" may be used for

protection from nuisance dusts.
Prevent the spread of contaminants:

• Remove all PPE before leaving your workplace.

• Never wear lab coats, gloves, coveralls or other
potentially contaminated PPE to public locations such as
cafeterias, restrooms, elevators, offices, or other off-site
areas.
• Clean and store PPE as described in training and
according to manufacturer's instructions.
• Always wash your hands after removing protective
equipment and before leaving the work area.
• Do not reuse disposable gloves.
• Have lab coats and coveralls laundered regularly by a
designated vendor.
• Do not take contaminated clothing home for
laundering, or to any other undesignated site.