2001 School Chemical Removal

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2001 School Chemical Removal

• WVDEP
• Division of Waste Management

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Known Statistics

• Approximately 80 of all aging and unwanted
  chemicals were located and picked up.
• 86 of those had potential to cause serious
  health effects.
• 109 actual pick up sites
• Average disposal cost per site 1,843.83
• Most expensive 13,685.00
• Least expensive 112.50

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Steps to Getting It Done

• CHEMIS training through RESA
• Locate and identify unwanted chemicals
• Search for funding
• Final contract with disposal company
• Physical pick up of chemicals

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Condition of the Chemicals
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Buildings like this were entered.
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Boxes like this were opened.
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Chemicals were classified...
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from unknown solids...
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and unknown liquids...
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to maintenance chemicals.
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Jars of chemicals were found packed in boxes...
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and leaking onto back room shelves.
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Some usable chemicals were transferred to new
containers.
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Waste chemicals were packed for disposal
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and loaded into transport vehicles.
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When notified in advance, some instructors placed
the chemicals on lab tables for easy access.
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Some had sorted the chemicals into family groups.
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Some counties and schools randomly boxed up
various chemicals and stacked them in warehouses.
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Gaining access to some of the containers was
difficult at times.
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Procrastination Does Not Pay

• Poor storage and random packaging extended
  chemical location and identification by one year
• Extended time worked per site by up to two
  additional days each

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Other Nasty Snags

• Archaic chemical names
• Improper labeling
• Incompatibles packed together
• Shortage of supplies

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Technical Problems Solved...
include cleanup of potentially dangerous
situations like this one, and frees up space.
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What It Cost

• The disposal expense for this project is
  estimated at 225,000 to 250,000
• This is disposal cost only
• Actual cost cannot be estimated
• At least 14 different agencies, companies and
  associations
• All 55 counties participated
• Over 200 schools
• Thousands of personnel hours

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Safe Storage Handling
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Objective

• Making your routine storage and handling of lab
  chemicals as safe as possible.

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Todays Situation

• Aging and unused hazardous chemicals which posed
  safety hazards have been removed.
• Some lab storage areas are still unsafe due to
  poor storage and handling methods.

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How Did We Get Here?

• Abundance of Chemicals
• Over-estimated necessary quantities
• Better prices for ordering in bulk
• Manufacturers or other businesses donated their
  excess or exotic chemicals
• No regular stockroom inventory
• Poor labeling or no labeling

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Common Misconceptions

• Frequently used chemicals should be ordered in
  bulk.
• Ordering in bulk is the best deal for the
  money.
• Accept any donated chemicals
• Labs will always do the same experiments and
  demonstrations
• Ill remember what I put in that jar.

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Acquisition Recommendations

• Order the smallest quantity possible for each
  chemical
• No discounts, but final cost is less
• Never accept left-over or donated chemicals
• Theres no guarantee of its purity
• If you dont normally use it, you probably dont
  need it
• Experiments and instructors can and do change
• Textbooks, manuals procedures change
• A new instructor may not follow your teaching
  plan
• Labels are for everyones information

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Recommended Safety Practices

• Examine your currently available storage space.

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• Avoid floor clutter

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• Avoid shelf clutter

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• Consider inexpensive storage containers for small
  or loose items.

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• Arrange containers based on compatibility

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• Keep your containers in good condition

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• Re-package containers which are not in good
  condition

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• Food jars are designed to hold food. Store
  hazardous lab chemicals only in containers
  designed to hold them.

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• Use durable waterproof labels and markers to
  clearly indicate what is in the container.

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• Order and use the smallest containers appropriate
  for your labs

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• Your chemical storage area is not a kitchenno
  food storage please!

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• Sturdy shelving units with edging to prevent
  containers from falling off.

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• Acids should be stored in an Acid Cabinet

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• Flammables should be stored in a Flammables
  Cabinet

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• Dress for safety
• -- eyewear
• -- gloves
• -- apron or
• lab coat
• -- closed-toed
• leather shoes

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• Overhead storage can be dangerous

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Additional Safety Measures

• An eye wash unit and / or emergency shower nearby
  (but not in the storage room)

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Adequate Ventilation

• Chemical storage areas
• Chemical preparation areas
• For volatile compounds use a fume hood!
• Chemical use areas

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• Emergency gas shut-off valve

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• Retractable electrical outlets

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Future Cost Minimization

• Things to consider
• annual chemical disposal budget
• annual chemical pick up and disposal
• chemical hygiene officer
• chemical usage review for science labs
• sign off sheet for extra-cost items

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Goals

• Make yours an active project
• Aim for removal of hazardous or excess chemicals
• Assure no future accumulation of excess or
  hazardous chemicals
• Assure all personnel are adequately trained in
  proper safety procedures

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Resources

• Use all available resources in ways which keep
  costs to a minimum.

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Remember

• L -- Label everything clearly
• A -- Appropriate containers in good condition
• B -- Be neat and orderly
• S -- Store only what you will use
• A -- Always wear protective clothing
• F -- Food allowed in eating areas only
• E -- Everything in its place on a shelf
• T -- Time to inventory organize
• Y -- Your safety is important