Laboratory Safety Environmental Services Laboratory Safety Program Update Tim Phares, CHMM, CEA, CIE

Current Concerns Fire and Explosion Contamination Regulatory Compliance Allergy and Asthma Issues Physical Safety Waste Disposal Costs

Laboratory System Failure

Chemical Hygiene Goals Reduce liability and risk to students and staff Improve chemical storage and disposal Compliance with State and Federal Regulations

Chemical Hygiene Basics Laboratory Components

Education Assessment Inventory Contract Services Paperwork Process for Improvement Provide training to school staff on how to identify hazardous chemicals Stakeholders work together to identify old, dangerous, and unwanted chemicals Remove and segregrate chemicals by category and create a detailed inventory Obtain proposals from licensed TSD facilities for disposal of waste chemicals Chemical disposal usually requires the completion of EPA and State manifests

Lab Accidents Have Consequences Employees have been fired or suspended Students and teachers have been injured Lab fires and explosions Contamination

Improperly Stored Chemicals Spills Injury Fire/Explosion Serious Fines

Disorganized Storerooms Chemical incompatibility Excess chemicals Old chemicals Leaking chemicals Labels missing Orphan mixtures Drop hazard

Current School Conditions Lack of Segregation Explosives Acids Bases Flammable liquids Corrosives Improper Storage

Storeroom Inspection Broken Containers? Degraded Containers Unlabeled Containers? Large Quantity of 2+ Year Old Containers? Containers over 5 gallons? Chemicals on EPA’s Lists?

Chemical Storage Criteria Age and shelf life of the chemical? What is the integrity of the container? More than a 2 year supply?

Shelf Life Factors Chemical Stability Transpiration Losses Human Factors including contamination, unscrewed caps (venting), and dust/vapor entry

Acids and Bases Acids and bases must be stored separately Acids and bases must be stored in corrosion resistant cabinets Caps and lids must be secure

Container Integrity Inspect chemical storage weekly Watch for cracks, fumes, and salt formation Remove and segregate containers that are leaking or crystallizing

Surplus Chemicals Bulk purchasing practices Curriculum and chemical stock not aligned No more than a two year supply of chemicals is recommended

Chemical Safety Highly Reactive Acutely Toxic Carcinogenic\Mutagenic\Teratogenic Highly Regulated Radioactive DEA Controlled Substance

Reactive Chemical Risks Consider risks of certain chemical species Keep small quantities Use secure storage Use fume hood and safety shield

Potentially Explosive Chemicals Organic peroxides Benzoyl peroxide MEK peroxide Acetone peroxide Substances dry out and crystallize Shock sensitivity

Other Potentially Explosive Chemicals Chemicals that can form unstable components Sodium azide Picric Acid Tetrahydrofuran 2,4 dinitrophenol Gun powder Collodion

Organic Peroxide Formers Ethers except petroleum ether Cyclohexene 1,4 Dioxane Metallic Sodium Metallic Potassium Formed peroxides are shock, friction, and heat sensitive

Water and Air Reactives Water reactives include elemental sodium, lithium, and potassium Air reactives include white and yellow phosphorus Regulated substance-Red phosphorus

Mercury Risks Elemental mercury found in barometers, manometers, and thermometers Spills of greater than one teaspoon require “outside” assistance Federal spill reporting level is one pound; one tablespoon Eco-celli barometers

Carcinogenic and Mutagenic Substances Chemicals listed as known or suspected mutagens, teratogens, or carcinogens OSHA resource lists for carcinogens: IARC, NTP

Carcinogens/Mutagens Benzene Ethidium bromide Methylene chloride Formaldehyde Carbon tetrachloride Aniline dyes Nicotine

Acutely Toxic Chemicals Chemicals may be fatal at low exposure levels. Poor storage may lead to an exposure event Examples include cyanides, carbon disulfide, and epinephrine

Radioactive Chemicals Radioactives chemicals regulated by the state Expensive Examples can include salts of Uranium, Cesium, Thorium, and Cerium

DEA Controlled Chemicals These chemicals are monitored and regulated by the Federal Drug Enforcement Administration Cost and regulatory burden for compliant use Chloral hydrate Testosterone proprionate Morphine sulfate Atropine sulfate

Laboratory Hazardous Wastes These are required by law (RCRA) to be collected and treated as a hazardous waste Down the drain disposal, dilution, or treatment of waste containing these chemicals is illegal Failure to collect as a hazardous waste could result in a personal fine or a school fine or penalty

Hazardous Waste/Acutely Toxic Chemicals Chemicals listed on EPA’s “p-list” are acutely toxic Limit of 2.2lbs of waste per month 2,4 dinitrophenol Allyl alcohol Arsenic compounds Beryllium powder Carbon disulfide Epinephrine Nicotine p-nitroaniline

Hazardous Waste/ Toxic and Bioaccumulative EPA “d-list” These are chemicals and their ions that are regulated by EPA based on their toxicity Arsenic Barium Cadmium Carbon tetrachloride 2,4 dinitrotoluene Lead Mercury Selenium

Hazardous Waste/Characteristic Waste EPA requires that certain waste chemicals be collected due to their chemical characteristics Flammable liquids that have a flash point of <140 F Methanol, ethanol, etc. Corrosives pH <2.0 Caustics pH > 12.5 Toxics Reactive chemicals including cyanides and sulfides

Chemical Disposal Practices Don’t mix waste streams Separate containers for flammable, oxidizer, acids, caustics, and reactives Uniformity in chemical storage containers

Chemical Disposal Protocols Label Waste Containers Label “Hazardous Waste” Start date of collection Fill line Name and phone number of person responsible

Chemical Disposal Protocol Checklist Items Use chemical resistant labels Develop an annual disposal process Keep a waste log Segregate chemicals Shelving and storage area integrity

Chemical Management and Segregation of Substances Not Alphabetical Separate inorganics from organics Use chemical compatibility system Group by flammables, oxidizers, acids, caustics, and reactives

Chemical Management/Segregation of Chemicals Inorganic #2 Halides Sulfates Sulfites Thiosulfates Phosphates Halogens Acetates

Chemical Management/Segregation of Chemicals Use shelves with liner, lip, and label Store chemicals below 6 feet Room exhaust separate from rest of building No water leaks Secured area

Chemical Management/Segregation of Chemicals AcidsFlammable Liquids

Chemical Management/Segregation of Chemicals Flammable liquids include alcohols, ketones, and aromatics Do not store metallic sodium or potassium, magnesium ribbon, thermite, calcium carbide or acids/bases

Chemical Management/Segregation of Chemicals Inorganic Acids Storage Nitric acid separate compartment

Chemical Management/Container Management and Labeling ALL containers denote contents, date, owner, and hazard warning OSHA Standards 29 CFR CFR Chemical resistant labels Label requirements for hazardous waste

Chemical Management/Segregation of Chemicals Organic acids Store in a separate cabinet or open shelf with secondary containment

Chemical Management/Inventory and MSDS Keep MSDS for current materials Keep MSDS for old materials Keep an annually updated inventory of chemicals Keep a Chemical Hygiene Plan

Avoid Chemical Donations Do NOT accept donations or free samples This is mechanism for businesses to “dump” their problems on you!

Be Prepared for Spills Spill preparation Mercury spill kit Absorbent Trained staff PPE Appropriate gloves Safety glasses APR respirator

Credits and Resources USEPA Region VII/American Lung Association- Rehab the Lab Project 2007 EMC Insurance Companies, ChemEyes Chemical Management Awareness Program 2008 USD 259 Environmental Services Department

Questions?