Risk Management

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Laboratory Safety at Auburn University

• Risk Management Safety
• Auburn University
• [phone]
• [phone] (Fax)

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Laboratory Safety at Auburn University

• Lab Safety Manual
• Chemical Handling Safety
• Personal Protective Equipment
• Chemical Storage
• Spill Control
• Hazardous Waste Management
• Emergency Response

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Laboratory Safety Manual (LSM)

• The LSM provides information on the following
• Training requirements and documentation
• Chemical handling and exposures
• Specific safety procedures
• Control measures and equipment
• Chemical waste disposal procedures
• Emergency response

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Training Requirements Documentation

• All laboratory personnel
• Conducted by
• PI (Lab Specific) or
• RMS (Basic Lab Safety)
• Frequency
• Documentation maintained for three years

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Labels And Warning Signs
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NFPA 704 Diamond
The National Fire Protection Association diamond
(NFPA 704) is used to provide general chemical
hazard information. The diamond has four colored
sections. Three use numbers (0-4) to indicate
severity with 4 indicating the most severe
hazard. The fourth section (white) is used to
indicate special hazards.
Red Flammability
Blue Health
Yellow- Reactivity
White- Special
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Labels/Warning Signs
Biological Hazard
Radiation Hazard
No food or drink in chemical storage areas
Laser/Radiation Hazard
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Labels/Warning Signs

• Label secondary containers
• Ensure that all primary and secondary containers
  are labeled with the chemical in use
• Deface primary labels when using secondary
  containers for storing chemicals or when the
  container is empty
• Date and initial containers when purchased

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Personal Protective Equipment
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Personal Protective Equipment

• Head/Eye Protection
• Safety Glasses or Goggles at ALL times when in a
  lab! Use face shields in case of splash hazard.
• Confine long hair
• Use hard hat for head protection if required

Safety glasses
Safety goggles
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Personal Protective Equipment

• Body
• Wear lab coat or apron at all times when in lab
• Remove jewelry
• NO shorts and short skirts
• Shoes
• Low-heeled with covered uppers
• No open-toed shoes
• No woven materials

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Personal Protective Equipment

• Gloves
• Types
• Thermally resistant - autoclave
• Chemically resistant
• Inspect
• Dispose of appropriately
• Wash hands immediately after removal
• Use disposable gloves when possible
• Change gloves frequently
• Remove gloves before leaving work area or lab
  may spread contamination

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Eyewash Stations Safety Showers

• Know where they are located
• Do not obstruct access
• Inspect eyewash stations frequently
• Inspection sheet posted near shower

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Fume Hoods

• Purpose - Removes toxic and flammable gases from
  lab
• Use a fume hood when handling chemicals or
  conducting experiments

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Fume Hoods

• When working with fume hoods
• Do not open sashes more than 18 inches
• Keep equipment at least 6-inches away from sash
• Close sash when not in use.
• RMS inspects and maintains fume hoods annually
• Inspection tags are posted on the left side of
  fume hood
• If red tagged, do not use

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AU RMS Fume Hood Warning Signs
Yellow Tag Limited Use only
Red Tag - Do not use
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Chemical Handling

• Avoid working alone
• Use least toxic chemicals available
• Keep ALL chemicals in closed, clean and labeled
  containers
• Do not use open flames to heat flammables
• NEVER leave open flames unattended
• Observe all necessary precautions read SOPs for
  safety instructions

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Chemical Storage

• Store chemicals in appropriate cabinets
• Maintain accurate chemical inventory
• Avoid direct sunlight and localized heat
• Dispose of unusable or expired chemicals
• Shelves should be sturdy and chemically resistant

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Chemical Storage

• Label date received AND date opened
• Avoid storing beneath sinks or inside fume hoods
• Return containers back to storage.
• Store flammables away from combustibles
• Keep area clear and clean

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Peroxide Formers

• Peroxides are extremely reactive and unstable
  compounds
• Refer LSM and the chemical waste guide for proper
  storage requirements

Picture NOT taken at AU
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Toxics or Poisons

• Health hazard Irritants, Corrosives,
  Anesthetics, Allergens, Carcinogens, Mutagens,
  Teratogens, Biological Hazards
• Label storage areas TOXIC or Carcinogen
• Exposure causes acute/chronic effects
• Lower LD50/Higher Toxicity
• Refer to LSM for storage and compatibility

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Corrosives

• Strong acids are incompatible with almost
  everything
• Store Separately!
• Use internal secondary containment
• Store low to ground

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Flammable Liquids

• Always store flammable liquids in flammable
  cabinets
• Max 3 flammable cabinets per lab
• Available in various sizes and capacities
  depending on need
• For small quantities, "safety can" may be used

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Laboratory Refrigerator
Chemical storage refrigerators isolate flammable
vapors or gases from ignition sources outside and
inside the refrigerator unit.
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Laboratory Refrigerator

• Two types of approved chemical storage
  refrigerators
• Explosion-proof hard-wired at installation to
  meet local fire and electrical codes
• Explosion-resistant spark-proof,
  corrosion-resistant interior encased electrical
  components
• Never use a household refrigerator to store
  chemicals!

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Improper Storage
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Improper Storage
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Compressed Gases

• No more than 3 Flammable/oxidizer/toxic cylinders
  per lab
• Always handle cylinders with care
• Use only properly designed wheel cart with strap
  to move cylinders
• Never roll or drag cylinders
• Never move a cylinder without a cap
• Ask for help if needed

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Compressed Gas Storage

• Cylinders secured at all times!
• Inspect cylinders for leakage upon receipt
• Flammable gases no closer than 25 feet from
  ignition source keep well ventilated
• Store with regulator or cap on
• Return empty cylinders to supplier
• Report gas leaks to Risk Management Safety at
  844-4805

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Chemical Management

• House Clean! Consolidate!
• Maintain an accurate inventory
• Prune chemicals when possible
• Minimize major hazards
• Circulate lists of surpluses
• Instructional labs current use only!

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Secondary Containment

• REQUIRED FOR HAZARDOUS WASTE
• Segregation tool
• Spill control tool
• Inexpensive

Highly Recommended for all chemicals!
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Emergency and Spill Response

• Two Types of Spills
• Complicated requires assistance outside the lab
• Simple lab personnel capable
• Complicated Spills
• Immediately dangerous to life and health
• Evacuate immediate area
• Call 911
• If necessary, pull fire alarm and evacuate entire
  building

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Emergency and Spill Response

• Simple Spills
• Generally less than 1 gallon
• Does not spread rapidly
• Does not endanger people or property
• Does not endanger environment
• When in doubt
• Call 911
• Consult MSDS in all cases

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Spill Response Kit

• Keep spill equipment on-hand stocked at all
  times
• Capable of stopping spread of material
• Spill kits
• Each worker must know how to use
• At a minimum, each kit should contain
• Eye protection
• Gloves
• Kitty litter/activated carbon/vermiculite
• Paper towels spill pads

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Spill Response Tools

• Non-metallic scoops dust pans
• Chemically-resistant mops
• Heavy duty plastic bags
• Waste chemical tags and internal manifests
• Store kits in marked location near exit

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Laboratory Safety at Auburn University

• Remember
• Call 911 for assistance with any safety related
  issues and accidents
• 844-4870
• 844-4805