Working Safely With Chemicals

1. Working Safely With Chemicals

2. Environmental Health & Safety Department6 Eisenhower Parking Deck865-6391www.ehs.psu.edu Let No Harm Be Done

3. Environmental Health and Safety Department • Asbestos Abatement • Biological Safety • Emergency Planning: Oil & hazardous materials • Environmental Assessments • Ergonomic Assessments • Fire Safety • Hazardous Material & Oil Storage Management • Indoor Air Quality • Laboratory Safety Radiation Safety • Radiation Safety • Waste Management: radioactive, hazardous and biological

4. EHS Safety Policy (SY01):Responsibilities: Supervisor: • All supervisors are familiar with policies and rules and provide for the health and safety of those supervised. They are in a key position in the organizational structure to carry out the department's safety policies and to prevent injuries to their employees. • Ensure that required safety equipment, devices and personal protective equipment and apparel are provided and maintained, and are properly used by individuals working in their operations. • Provide employees and students with instruction and assistance in the proper operation of equipment or materials involved in any operation which may be potentially hazardous. Provide for health and safety training. • Take prompt corrective action when unsafe conditions, practices or equipment are reported or observed. Encourage reporting of concerns. • Promptly conduct a thorough investigation in all work-related injuries, illnesses and accidents, submit appropriate recommendations on all accident reports, including the Employer's Reports of Occupational Injury or Illness (page 4.19) or theIncident Report (page 8.05), as appropriate, and follow through to ensure corrective measures have been implemented. • Coordinate or conduct inspections to maintain safe and healthful conditions, and address any deficiencies that are identified.

5. EHS Safety Policy (SY01): cont’dResponsibilities: Employee/Student • Comply with applicable environmental health and safety policies, standards, rules, regulations and procedures. These include safety-related signs, posters, warnings and written/oral directions when performing tasks. • Do not perform any function or operation which is considered hazardous, or is known to be hazardous without proper instructions and authorization. • Only use equipment and materials approved or provided by the supervisor or instructor and for which instruction has been provided by this or other experience. • Become thoroughly knowledgeable about potential hazards associated with the work area; knowing where information on these hazards is maintained and how to use this information when needed. • Wear or use prescribed protective equipment. • Report all unsafe conditions, practices, or equipment to the supervisor, instructor or safety officer whenever deficiencies are observed. • Inform the supervisor or instructor immediately of all work-related injuries or accidents and obtain prompt medical attention when necessary. • Provide information necessary for the supervisor or safety officer to adequately and thoroughly complete the Employer's Report of Occupational Injury and Illness and any other associated accident/illness reports

6. Working Safely with Chemicals • Chemical Safety Concepts • Safe Use and Storage • Disposal • Emergencies • Radiation Safety

7. Chemical Safety • TOXICITY -- the ability of a chemical substance to cause harm • HAZARD -- likelihood a material will cause harm under the conditions of use • With properhandling, even highly toxic chemicals can be used safely • Less toxic chemicals can be extremely hazardous if handled improperly.

8. Exposure to Toxic Chemicals • Exposure to toxic agents can have severe consequences, including death • These injuries can occur in any area where toxic chemicals are handled • Most chemical injuries could have been avoided • If these people had had the proper equipment, if they had been using the proper techniquesand if they had had adequate knowledge, such as exposures probably would not have occurred.

9. Chemical Safety • Keep worker’s exposure below the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) • PEL’s are regulatory limits set by OSHA on the amount or concentration of a substance in the air. • Plan in advance for potential hazards • Designate a person to manage chemical safety • Train and inform workers • Label ALL chemical containers • Keep file of MSDS for all chemicals used (EHS)

10. Have a Plan that includes: • Standard operating procedures (SOP) • Exposure control measures • Fume hood & personal protective equipment • Information & Training • Chemicals that require prior planning & approval • Working with Particularly hazardous substances • Emergencies

11. Key to Working Safely ….. Understand the Hazards! • Know and prepare for hazards in advance • Review Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) • Physical and Health Hazards • Exposure signs and symptoms • Protective measures • Emergency procedures • Read all labels • Know your protocol / procedures • Remember, some chemicals may have delayed toxic effects on the body

12. Physical Hazard …..Hazards due to physical characteristics of a chemical • Flammable - catches fire easily and burns rapidly • Combustible - will burn under most conditions • Explosive - will explode / detonate releasing hot gases • Oxidizer - yields oxygen to enhance combustion, may cause ignition of combustibles with no external source • Organic peroxide - uniquely hazardous, potentially explosive • Unstable - tends to decompose during normal handling and storage • Water reactive - reacts with water to release flammable gas, causes fire or presents a health hazard

13. Health Hazard ……Produces acute or chronic effects in exposed workers • Carcinogen - cause cancer or suspected to cause cancer • Toxic Agent - poisonous / cause acute or chronic effects • Reproductive toxin (teratogen) - could have harmful effect on male or female reproductive system or on developing fetus • Irritant - can cause inflammation of skin or eyes • Corrosive - cause irreversible damage to living tissue • Sensitizer - cause exposed person to develop allergies to the substance • Target organ-specific agents - hazardous to specific organs in body (e.g., lungs, liver, blood, kidneys, nervous system)

14. Route of Entry….For a chemical to have an effect on a worker, s/he must be exposed to it and some of it must get into his/her system • Inhalation / breathing - most common route, gases / vapors can pass to blood, solid particles inhaled into lungs • Absorption through the skin - many solids, liquids, vapors and gases can be absorbed through the skin • Ingestion / swallowing - while not intentional, failure to wash hands, eating in contaminated lab, etc. • Injection - accidents handling glass, sharps, etc. • Eye Contact - either physical damage or absorption The route of entry dictates selection of protective equipment

15. Signs & Symptoms ….How will you know if you have been exposed? • Dose - Amount of chemical absorbed depends upon chemical strength / concentration, exposure duration, frequency of exposure • In general, the greater the dose, the more severe the health effects • Acute effects - occurs rapidly following brief exposure (e.g., acid burn) • Chronic effect - develops/recurs slowly, over long period following repeated, long-term, low-level exposure (e.g., benzidine linked to bladder cancer) • Individual variability - not all people exhibit the same signs and symptoms (especially to chronic effects)

16. Working Safely with Chemicals • Chemical Safety Concepts • Safe Use and Storage • Disposal of Chemicals • Emergencies • Radiation Safety

17. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) • Always wear PPE: • Good lab practice • Eye protection for workers • Wear enclosed gogglesor face shield over safety glasses if chance of splashing or shattering • Shoes, lab coat, long pants (gives protection from falling objects and spills/splatters) • Plastic/rubber apron for caustics/corrosives • Correct gloves for chemical • Never reach into liquids, use tongs for retrieval

18. (Chemical) Fume Hood • Ventilated enclosure that protects you from being exposed to chemical fumes, gases and aerosols generated within the hood • Room air drawn into the hood is vented out the stack • Hood should always be ON during use • Lower sash to marked (< sash level >) position

20. Fume Hood Inspection Program • Regular inspection • Tested for adequate flow • Results labeled on hood • Safe sash level marked (< sash level >) Never use an unsafe fume hood

23. Fume Hood Considerations • Turbulence caused by: • Rapid hand movements in / out of hood • Obstructions at airfoil • Persons walking by creating disturbance • Limit Sash Area • Performance improves as sash opening decreases • Keep at or below the “safe” (< sash level>) level

24. Flammable Labels Health Reactivity • NFPA Diamond - used by fire / rescue personnel Special hazard

25. Chemical Storage Considerations ….. • Dry Chemical Storage • Keep organic and inorganic separated • Liquid Chemical Storage • Determine major storage groups (acid, base, etc.) • Designate separate storage for highly toxicchemicals • Store only cleaning materials under sink

26. Chemical storage requirements • Inventory chemicals annually (see SY24) • Dispose of old and unused chemicals through EHS following chemical waste requirements. • Segregate chemicals according to hazard, i.e. flammables separate from oxidizers, acids separate from bases

27. Chemical Storage cont’d • Keep containers closed unless you are working with container - do not store waste containers open with funnels in opening, do not evaporate solvents as a means of disposal. • Ensure all containers are labeled - no abbreviations or formulae

28. Safe Storage …. • Flammable Liquids • Corrosive Materials • Reactive (Oxidizers and Reducers) • Cryogenics • Gas Cylinders

29. Flammable Liquid Storage ….. • Keep quantities below allowable storage limits (SY08 Storage, Dispensing and Use of Flammable Liquids) • UL-approved safety cans • Store flammable liquids in an approved storage cabinet (combined total volume of liquids not greater than 120 gallons with no more than 60 gallons of Class I or II). • No more than 3 storage cabinets per fire area.

30. Corrosive Material Storage ….. • DO NOT store acids and bases together • Material should be stored in cabinets • Store heavy containers on lower shelves • Store on shelves with raised edges • Do not store liquids above eye level • Glacial acetic acid has special storage requirements-store with flammable liquids

31. Reactive …. Oxidizer: • Chemicals that react with other substances; can result in fire or explosion • Oxidizers supply oxygen to a fire Water-Reactive: • Chemicals that react with water, water vapor or moist air • Produces a flammable or toxic gas Pyrophoric: • Chemicals that ignite on contact with air • Flame may often be invisible

32. Reactive Storage …. Segregate: • Acids from Bases • Acids and bases from flammables • Pyrophoric compounds from flammables • Perchloric acid from reducing agents • Water from water reactive chemicals • Sodium/phosphorus & aqueous material - fire • Acid with cyanide compounds - toxic gas • Chlorine & ammonia - toxic chloramines • Store thermally unstable materials in approved refrigerator

33. Chemicals Requiring Special Precautions…. For chemicals with high degree of acute toxicity, select carcinogens & reproductive toxins: • Establish designated area • Proper storage and management • Use engineering controls (e.g., fume hood) • Use appropriate PPE • Waste removal • Decontamination procedures • Emergency planning and response

34. Cyrogenic Materials ….. • Cold (e.g., Ar (-302oF), H2 (-423oF), N2 (-320oF), O2 (-297oF)) vapors can rapidly freeze human tissue • Produces large volumes of gas that can displace breathable oxygen • Materials can be embrittled • Boiling/splashing occurs when charging or filling a warm container • Wear face shields during transfers, loose fitting, dry leather or cryogenic gloves and long pants w/o cuffs

35. Gas Cylinders ….(SY30) • Chain or strap cylinder to wall/bench • Always use a cart & safety chain when transporting cylinder • Store flammable gas lecture bottles in flammable storage cabinet • Keep non-compatible gases separate • Store multiple cylinders by “nesting” • Store oxidizers 20 ft. from flammable gases

37. Electrical Safety Fires are often caused by damaged electrical equipment and the misuse of such equipment. • check all equipment for damaged and worn insulation on wiring • connect ground wires to clean metal • keep wires and other electrical equipment away from water & hot surfaces • avoid use of extension cords,(designed for temporary use only) • avoid homemade/makeshift wiring (use approved wiring methods) • never touch a switch/outlet with wet hands • do not use electrical equipment in a flammable atmosphere (I.e. electrical plug strip in a fume hood)

38. Pollution Prevention Buy Less, Use Less, Store Less! • keep volatile chemical containers capped. • store chemicals in vented cabinet, don’t use fume hood for storage • keep waste solvent containers capped when not using • substitute less hazardous chemicals • avoid mercury, EHS exchanges thermometers • redistribute surplus chemicals through EHS • Provide secondary containment for 55 gallon drums of potentially polluting materials that are located in areas where they could leak into a drain or escape to the environment.

39. Working Safely with Chemicals • Chemical Safety Concepts • Safe Use and Storage • Disposal of Chemicals • Emergencies • Radiation Safety

41. Disposal of Unwanted Chemicals ….. Chemical Disposal Methods…. • In-Lab Chemical management • On-Site Hazardous Materials Management - OSHMM • Redistribution of Unwanted Chemicals - ITS FREE!!!!

42. In-Lab Chemical Management • Flushing down the sanitary sewer (limited to chemicals on drain disposal guideline SYG01) • Neutralization • Normal Trash • If you have questions or are uncomfortable with steps outlined for in-lab management, please call EHS at 814-865-6391

43. Acid Neutralization(hydrochloric, phosphoric, sulfuric, [<50%] acids) Use fume hood & wear PPE • Dilute acid with cold water to 1:10 (always add acid to water) • Slowly add sodium carbonate or calcium carbonate until pH between 5 & 10 • Allow solids to settle • Decant solution to drain with at least 50 times the volume of water • Allow solid to dry and package for disposal in normal trash

44. On-Site Hazardous Materials Management • Annual review of chemicals • Removal of surplus chemicals and chemical waste • Evaluate gas cylinders, unknowns & potential explosives • Laboratory and Stockroom cleanouts Request a chemical waste pick-up by contacting http://www.ehs.psu.edu

45. Chemical Disposal • Complete Chemical p-u request prior to pick up • Download from web: http://www.ehs.psu.edu • All containers must be labeled with red tags • Mixtures, solutions and powders must be in chemically compatible containers • No beakers, flasks, leaking containers or bottles without caps. • It’s free!!!!

46. Waste accumulation cont’d • Labeling - each container of waste must be labeled with a red tag (supplied by EHS) • Waste accumulation areas must be under the oversight of someone who works in that area

48. Oversight requirements • Check area once a week • sign and date check list • back-up overseer for times of illness or vacation • post accumulation area with sign

50. Designated waste accumulation area orWhere should I put waste before you pick it up? • An area close to the point of generation and under the oversight of the person generating the waste • Secondary containment must be used for waste storage - EHS provides 2 sizes of containment bins: one large enough for 5 gallon containers and one for smaller bottle sizes.