RCRA Training

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University of Dayton Safety Training Laborator
y Safety
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Laboratory Safety
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The Culture of Lab Safety

• Continuous basic respect and care for health
  safety and the environment constitute the
  starting point for prudent practices in the
  laboratory.

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Parts to This Training

• Hazard Communication
• Management of Chemicals
• PPE
• Spill Response
• Hazardous Waste

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Hazard Communication

• In order to ensure chemical safety in the
  workplace, information must be available about
  the identities and hazards of the chemicals
• OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard requires the
  development and dissemination of such information

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Hazard Communication

• Chemical manufacturers and importers are required
  to evaluate the hazards of the chemicals they
  produce or import.
• Prepare labels and material safety data sheets
  (MSDSs) to convey the hazard information to their
  downstream customers.
• All employers with hazardous chemicals in their
  workplaces must have labels and MSDSs for their
  exposed workers, and train them to handle the
  chemicals appropriately.

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Hazard Communication

• The NFPA Diamond is designed to provide general
  hazard information for chemicals

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Please read and review the Hazardous Materials
Classification information.
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Signage

• Signs are posted on outside of rooms to indicate
  the hazards inside of the room.
• Please note the hazard warnings prior to
  entering.

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Labeling

• Every chemical container considered to be a
  physical or health hazard must be labeled with
  chemical/product full name
• Food items used in the lab must be labeled not
  for human consumption

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Material Safety Data Sheets

• A document that provides information about a
  given chemical product.
• It includes the name, composition (chemicals in
  the product), hazards, first aid measures, fire
  fighting measures, information regarding the
  proper steps to take with spills, handling and
  storage, personal protection to be used, physical
  and chemical properties, and information about
  stability reactivity, toxicology, disposal,
  transporting, and regulatory requirements.

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Inventories

• List of chemicals on hand and the quantities
• Lists the chemicals stored and the hazards that
  may be encountered
• Helpful for emergency responders (including
  maintenance personnel and contractors)

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Management of Chemicals

• Laboratory workers, supervisors and individuals
  who handle chemicals have an important role to
  play in a chemicals life cycle, and all should
  be aware that the wise management of that life
  cycle can minimize risk to human health and the
  environment.

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Management of Chemicals

• Store chemicals based on compatibility
• Not A-Z
• Hazardous Chemical Properties
• Flammables/Combustibles
• Oxidizers
• Organic Peroxide
• Toxics
• Corrosives
• Reactives

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The should not of storage

• Chemicals should not be stored in random order
• Chemicals should not be stored in alphabetical
  order
• Chemicals should not be stored by poorly chosen
  categories, such as all acids (inorganic and
  organic, strong oxidizers) together all organics
  stored together
• Chemicals should not be stored in a hood while
  the hood is in use for designed purposes
• Containers should not be stacked or stored on the
  floor

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Problems with A-Z Storage

• Acetic acid acetaldehyde
• small amounts of acetic acid will cause the
  acetaldehyde to polymerize, releasing large
  a mounts heat
• Acetic anhydride acetaldehyde
• condensation reactions can be violent --
  explosive
• Cupric sulfide cadmium chlorate
• explode on contact

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Problems with A-Z Storage

• Hydrogen peroxide ferrous sulfide
• vigorous reaction, highly exothermic
• Sodium cyanide sulfuric acid
• release of HCN gas, death
• Sodium selenium
• reaction attended by burning
• An MSDS should provide the chemicals
  incompatibilities

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General Considerations

• Avoid storing materials on top of cabinets-
  (there must be an 18 inch clearance from
  sprinkler heads)
• Do not store items on top of high cabinets where
  they will be hard to see or reach
• Keep exits, passageways, areas under tables or
  benches, and emergency equipment areas free of
  stored equipment and materials.

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Housekeeping

• A disorderly laboratory can lead to an increase
  accidents in the laboratory, chemicals spills,
  and can hinder or endanger emergency response
  personnel
• The laboratory should be free from cluttered work
  surfaces, and kept clean and tidy.

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No Food or Drink

• Absolutely NO food or drink in the lab
• No hand lotions, perfumes, or cosmetics in the
  lab!

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Lab Hoods

• Lab hoods should NOT contain storage
• Keep an inventory of items used in the hood
• What you are venting may be exposing maintenance
  contractors

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Local Ohio Fire

• On April 8, 2005, Ohio State University Lab
  suffered a fire
• Cause still under investigation, but likely
  accidental
• The lab was completely destroyed, including lab
  notes, research work, and work by his students

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Local Ohio Fire

• A collapsed shelf in a solvent cabinet is
  implicated in the fire incident

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Local Fire

• The University of Dayton suffered a lab fire on
  July 11, 2006.
• A temporary battery was connected to a pallet
  jack and left plugged in over the weekend.
• Battery caught fire.

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Personal Protective Equipment

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Personal Protective Equipment

• Hand Protection
• Consult MSDS for the specific type of gloves to
  wear
• Match gloves with chemicals
• Wear two pairs if in doubt

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Personal Protective Equipment

• Eye Protection
• Safety glasses with side shields while in a lab
• Depending on nature of the task, splash goggles
  when transferring liquid chemicals
• Face shield when potential of chemical exposure
  is severe (acids)

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Personal Protective Equipment

• Lab coats/aprons when working with hazardous
  materials
• Lab coats must be removed before visiting the
  other areas
• No shorts or short skirts that leave bare legs

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Personal Protective Equipment

No open shoes or sandals Wear a full leather
shoe or boot for best protection
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Responding to Accidents and Emergencies

• All laboratory personnel should know what to do
  in the event of an emergency
• How to report a fire, injury or chemical spill
• Location of eyewash and safety showers
• Location of fire extinguishes
• Location of spill equipment
• Locations of exits out of lab and building

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Handling of Accidental Releases

• Notify other laboratory personnel of the accident
  and evacuate the area if necessary
• Tend to injured or contaminated personnel and
  request help if necessary
• Take steps to confine and limit the spill if this
  can be done without injury or harm
• Clean up the spill according to appropriate
  procedures

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Spill Cleanup

• Specific procedures for cleaning up spills will
  depend the amount of material spilled, location,
  degree of toxicity, and level of training the
  individual has had.
• Please consult your supervisor, EHS at x94503 or
  Public Safety at x92121 if you are not sure how
  to handle the spill.
• Appropriate PPE must be worn when handling a
  spill.

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Estimating Potential Hazards

• Research hazards before you use a new biological
  agent or chemical
• Consider the toxicity, flammability, physical
  state and the amount of material involved
• Consider the location of the spill
• Consider your knowledge and skills

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Preventing Spills

• Eliminate clutter
• Know proper work practices for the materials you
  use
• Use unbreakable secondary containers
• Store chemicals properly
• Dispose of waste and excess chemicals in a timely
  manner

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Please Note!

• Please note that pregnant and/or nursing mothers
  should not attempt to clean up chemical spills.
• Contact your supervisor for assistance.

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Hazardous Waste Disposal
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Hazardous Waste Disposal

• Three routes of disposal into the atmosphere,
  either via evaporation or volatile effluent from
  incineration
• Into rivers and oceans via sewer system or waste
  water treatment facilities
• Or into landfills
• The laboratory worker producing the waste has an
  obligation to consider the ultimate fate of the
  materials resulting in his or her work.

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Hazardous Waste Disposal

• Hazardous wastes are STRICTLY regulated by law!
• Under RCRA (EPA), waste is either characteristic
  or listed
• Generator must determine if the waste meets any
  of the characteristics or is a listed hazardous
  waste

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Hazardous Waste Properties

• EPA has designated four physical properties for
  identifying waste if not a listed hazardous
  waste
• Ignitability (lt140ºF)
• Corrosivity (pH lt2 or gt12.5)
• Reactivity (is it reactive)
• Toxicity Characteristic (Fails TCLP test)

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Hazardous Waste Management

• LABEL with the words Hazardous Waste, waste
  constituents and the date it became a hazardous
  waste
• Make sure all containers are tightly closed
• Segregate by hazard class
• Check for adequate secondary containment
• Containers must be in good condition (i.e. not
  rusting or bulging)

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Satellite Accumulation Areas

• Use Secondary Containment
• Do not store more than 55 gallons of waste TOTAL
• Label containers with the words Hazardous Waste,
  the date they became full and the waste
  constituents
• Containers must be tightly closed at all times
• Waste must be turned over to EHS within 3 days
  (72 hours)

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EPA focus

• The Environmental Protection Agency has placed
  much of their efforts into the proper handling
  and disposal of Hazardous Waste
• Many university institutions have been inspected
  by the EPA, we were one of them this summer
• Many have received monetary penalties for
  violations

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Typical Hazardous Waste Fines by the EPA

• Columbia University- 797,029
• Kent State- 500,000
• Fitchburg University- 358,000
• Kean University- 232,900
• Long Island University- 219,883
• New Jersey City Univ.- 88,344
• University of Dayton- recently inspected

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Batteries

• Most Batteries fall under Hazardous Waste rules
  and need to be collected, you may call EHS at
  x94503

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Empty Containers

• The container is considered empty when
• All wastes have been removed using the practices
  commonly employed to remove materials from that
  type of container, e.g., pouring, pumping, and
  aspirating
• No more than one inch of residue remain on bottom
  of container

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Biohazardous Waste

• Biohazardous waste must be placed in proper
  biohazard containers
• Red bags, Red barrels, sharps containers, etc.
• When biohazard container is full and ready to be
  picked up, please call ESO at x94503.

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Biohazard Containers
Sharps Container for needles
Biohazard Barrels
Biohazard Red Bags
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Mercury Awareness

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Elemental Mercury

• Mercury is the only metal that is liquid at room
  temperature
• The vapor pressure doubles when the temperature
  increases.

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Elemental Mercury

• Shiny, silver-white metal
• Expands and contracts with temperature changes
• Highly toxic
• Bioaccumulates in humans, animals and the
  environment
• Not water soluble

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CAUTION

• When striking surfaces, mercury fractures into
  very small, even microscopic beads, each one
  emitting vapor.

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Mercury Sources

• Found in thermometers, barometers, thermostats,
  pressure gauges, dental offices, blood pressure
  devices, fluorescent light bulbs

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Mercury can get in the drains

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Proper storage of mercury is important
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Mercury can be found in the labs
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This was left behind after an accidental release
of mercury
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Spill Planning and Prevention

• Every effort should be made to prevent a mercury
  spill from occurring due to health effects of
  mercury vapor, the cost associated with the
  cleanup and the difficulty in removing mercury
  vapor from certain areas.
• The best way to prevent a release is not to have
  it!!

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Spill Planning and Prevention

• If you must keep mercury containing devices,
  please follow precautionary measures
• Store in unbreakable containers
• Store in well-ventilated areas
• Use over a plastic containment tray

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When Mercury is Spilled

• Leave immediate area
• Call EHS and/ or Public Safety immediately
• Do not attempt to clean up yourself
• If mercury came in contact with clothing or
  shoes, remove and place in plastic bag
• Wash skin that came in contact with warm water
  and mild detergent

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Mercury Reduction

• EHS has a mercury reduction program in place.
• All mercury containing devices and bulk mercury
  may be disposed FREE OF CHARGE through Ohio EPA
  Collection Program.
• Please call EHS at x94503 if you wish to dispose
  of Mercury.

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Everyones Responsibility

• Safety is every employees obligation. Be aware
  of your work environment and Stay Safe!
• Take Test