Foundation Training in Biological Safety The presenters name can be added to this. © Imperial College London

Module 2 Hazardous chemicals © Imperial College London

Routes of exposure Inhalation Gases, fumes, vapours, very fine powders Most serious Least likely Most readily absorbed Least readily Inhalation Skin contact Ingestion Gases, fumes, vapours, very fine powders Corrosive liquids and those that readily cross the skin barrier Dense solids Respiratory system particularly vulnerable: contamination of nose, throat, mouth and respiratory tract. If contaminants reach the lungs then there is the potential to affect the body system Skin contact most common route of exposure in industrial situations and probably within the College. Can include eye contact in this category. Ingestion least likely route of exposure in laboratory situations: - hand to mouth contamination (poor occupational hygiene) - mouth pipetting banned long ago. © Imperial College London

Risk factors Intrinsic hazard associated with the substance Severity of hazard Low health hazard Substances designated as irritant (those that affect the skin and sometimes the eyes) Medium health hazard Substances designated as corrosive, irritant (particularly by the inhalation route) or harmful (particularly by the inhalation route) THREE FACTORS INFLUENCE THE ABILITY OF A SUBSTANCE TO CAUSE HARM: 1. THE INTINSIC HAZARD For purposes of assessment, hazardous substances may be divided into thre bands: low, medium and high health hazard. Simple skin irritants at the low end of scale; respiratory irritants, corrosives and ‘harmfuls’ in the medium category and the real nasties at the high end (toxic, very toxics, mutagens, carcinogens etc.). High health hazard Substances designated as toxic, very toxic, carcinogenic, mutagenic and those that may impair fertility or harm the unborn child © Imperial College London

Risk factors Risk Phrases All hazardous substances are allocated Risk Phrases that describe the particular hazard(s) associated with that substance Risk Phrases can be found on the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) supplied with the substance. It is a legal requirement for suppliers to provide safety information in the form of an MSDS MSDS not the only source of hazard information (specialist publications, trade associations etc), but will certainly be the main source used for COSHH assessments. In addition to being supplied with the substance, many MSDS’s can be found on the web. © Imperial College London

Risk factors Currently 60+ Risk Phrases listed under Chemical (Hazard Information and Packaging for Supply) Regulations (CHIP) OPTIONAL SLIDE © Imperial College London

Risk factors It is also a legal requirement for suppliers to provide appropriate hazard labelling for chemicals How many types of hazard label are there? Packing and Supply Hazard Warning Transport OPTIONAL SLIDE Signage recognition: Orange – CHIP type signage (container labels etc.) Yellow / black – COSHH hazard warning signage (general laboratory use). Diamonds – dangerous goods transportation signage. © Imperial College London

….and those that have an environmental impact Risk factors Suppliers must also identify and label chemicals that present a safety risk as opposed to a health risk….. Chemicals that present a risk to safety are covered by other regulations e.g. DSEAR………..but control hierarchies are very similar. Important to consider disposal routes where chemicals with an environmental impact are concerned. ….and those that have an environmental impact © Imperial College London

Suppliers must also package chemicals safely Risk factors Suppliers must also package chemicals safely OPTIONAL SLIDE Examples of chemical packaging. © Imperial College London

Risks factors Workplace Exposure Limits (WELs) In addition to Risk Phrases, some hazardous substances have occupational exposure limits set under COSHH in order to protect the health of the worker These are airborne concentrations, averaged over a time period, that must not be exceeded Information on WELs can also be found on the MSDS for the substance: Slide self-explanatory WELs recently replaced MELs and OESs STELS and LTELs Also listed in EH40 © Imperial College London

Risk factors Physical properties Dictate the potential to become airborne e.g. Liquids: high boiling point > medium BP > low BP Solids: pellets / granules > crystalline > dusty Quantity SECOND CONTRIBUTORY FACTOR: PHYSICAL PROPERTIES High BP >150C Medium BP 50-150C Low <50C Activity also has a bearing on likelihood pf liquids becoming airborne e.g. spraying, aerosolisation etc. THIRD CONTRIBUTORY FACTOR: QUANTITY For assessment purposes, quantities adjusted for typical university research activities which are typically much smaller than those encountered in industry. e.g. small > medium > high (<1g [ml]) (1 – 100g [ml]) (>100g [ml]) © Imperial College London

Risk factors By multiplying values for: INTRINSIC HAZARD x PHYSICAL PROPERTIES QUANTITY ….we can arrive at a figure that gives an indication of overall risk factor Self explanatory slide © Imperial College London

Prevention of exposure takes priority over control Control measures Prevention of exposure takes priority over control Substitute the hazardous chemical with a safer alternative Ethidium Bromide Use a safer form of the same chemical Exclude non-essential personnel from the area Access control systems No write up areas in labs Hazard zoning COSHH HEIRARCHY ELIMINATION OR SUBSTITUTION. Safer form of same chemical: Respirable dusts > dissolvable tablets / pellets > Ready made solutions EXCLUSION OF NON-ESSENTIAL PERSONNEL Access control systems Physical barriers - swipe card or coded access Plus administrative controls: Formal permit to work systems for maintenance contractors Established procedures for cleaners © Imperial College London

Control measures Minimise the quantities used, stored and transported Ventilation: use fume cupboards where necessary…... and check that they are being maintained MINIMISATION: Stock control – don’t order new chemicals when they may already exist Get old, unwanted hazardous chemicals off the premises before the containers disintegrate ENGINEERING CONTROL E.G. LEV Fume Cupboards: When: Volatile, flammable substances, serious Risk Phrases, WEL’s; significant quantities…..when the MSDS tells you! FC’s are not MSC’s – should not be used where viable organisms are present. Not filtered – what goes up the stack goes to atmosphere. Sash height, 150ml distance, new designs and old types. Maintenance every 14 months – check. Don’t use as permanent storage area. SAFE STORAGE Storage: fire-rated cabinets, drip trays, proper signage, nothing hazardous on high shelves; bulk quantities in dedicated stores. Store hazardous chemicals in an appropriate manner © Imperial College London

Control measures Transport hazardous chemicals using appropriate containment methods Wear appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) SAFE TRANSPORTATION Internal transport: the disposable gloves issue Secondary containment with handles Safebreak bottles. No offsite transportation without consultation. PPE Good glove selection guidance on OH web pages. SAFE DISPOSAL * Do not go into too much detail if MSDS exercise is carried out later – this has a question on chemical waste disposal. Dispose of chemical waste properly: sink or specialist waste contractor? © Imperial College London

Control measures Observe good housekeeping Ensure users are provided with sufficient information, instruction, training and supervision Ensure that suitable emergency procedures are in place HOUSEKEEPING: Shit housekeeping equals shit research Three photos – could have been 300. INFORMATION, INSTRUCTION AND TRAINING Ask to see risk assessments / protocols. Ensure you have been shown how to do things. EMERGENCY PROCEDURES Spillage procedures First aid – College policy and guidance is available on OH website First aid fire fighting only – get out and leave to emergency services © Imperial College London

No horseplay in the lab !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OPTIONAL SLIDE Can mention incident in Chemistry Dept whereby lab occupants attached syringe needles to the ceiling and floated gas filled balloons up to burst them. One the game was over, needles were left in place. Contractor installing cabling at a later point impaled his neck on one of the syringes while up a ladder – took out a negligence claim against the College. © Imperial College London

Carrying out and recording the COSHH risk assessment STEP 1: Identify the hazards STEP 2: Identify who may be at risk STEP 3: Establish control measures STEP 4: Record the assessment STEP 5: Review the assessment STEP 2: Mention individual susceptibility e.g women of child bearing age – possible increased susceptibility to chemicals with certain Risk Phrases that present possible risk to the unborn child © Imperial College London

Laboratory activities that present a specific risk Activity Control measures Weighing Consider using fume cupboard or other benchtop enclosure such as weighing station Pipetting Consider using fume cupboard and or drip trays; dispose of pipette tips properly; use good pipetting technique; clean and maintain automatic pipettes Shaking / mixing Consider using fume cupboard in conjunction with PPE Centrifugation Ensure compatibility of tubes with chemicals; balance tubes; PPE; clean-up procedures and training Syringe filtering Consider alternative methods; use Luer lock fittings; select right pore size; dilute sample; FC and PPE Use of sharps Eliminate wherever possible; select right tool for job; wear appropriate PPE; ensure safe disposal Elevated temperature Lower temperature if possible: use fume cupboard; cover or partially cover; reduce surface area High pressure equipment Consider location of equipment in conjunction with PPE OPTIONAL BUT USEFUL SLIDE Some common laboratory activities with suggested control measures. © Imperial College London

Accidents do happen…… Chemical splash to face / eyes Chemical splash to hand / arm Chemical splash on laboratory coat Chemical injected beneath skin by needle Exposure by inhalation (sometimes including eye irritation) Numerous reports of ‘solvent’ smells Allergic reaction attributed to chemical contact Acute asthma attack Spillage onto bench / floor Chemical in mouth – rare ….and a skin blister arising from self treatment of wart on foot with liquid nitrogen! Self explanatory slide – common laboratory accidents. © Imperial College London

……so report them Reminder to report accidents. Forms and supporting guidance on Safety Dept web pages. © Imperial College London

Some other legislation relating to chemicals Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations (DSEAR) Home Office Drug Precursor Legislation Chemical Weapons Act Anti-Terrorism Crime and Security Act OPTIONAL SLIDE Other legislation. © Imperial College London

Sources of further information Internal Safety Department website: http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/safety/guidanceandadvice/chemicalsafety http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/safety/guidanceandadvice/hazwaste External HSE: http://www.hse.gov.uk/index.htm Sigma Aldrich: http://www.sigmaaldrich.com/Area_of_Interest/Europe_Home/UK.html Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/ © Imperial College London

Workshop Exercise 1 Is the substance flammable? No. Flammability is usually indicated in Sections 3 (Hazards Identification) and 15 (Regulatory Information) What is the UK Workplace Exposure Limit for this substance? 2ppm (Section 8 - Exposure Controls and Personal Protection). OEL is the Occupational Exposure Limit How would you dispose of 5 Litres waste chloroform? Via specialist waste contractor organised by Estates Helpdesk – (Section 13, Disposal Considerations). How would you store the substance in the laboratory? In a solvent cabinet with appropriate signage and preferably equipped with a spillage tray. Section 7, Handling and Storage offers little useful guidance in this instance. Would you need to wear a respirator for routinely handling laboratory quantities of this substance? If the substance is handled properly in a functional, well maintained fume cupboard, this should be sufficient to ensure that respiratory exposure is minimised and kept below the 2ppm WEL. Respiratory protection would probably only be envisaged for dealing with a large spill outside a fume cupboard. © Imperial College London

WHAT DO YOU DO NEXT? Workshop Exercise 2 SCENARIO: You enter a laboratory first thing in the morning and notice an odour. You recognise that two specimen jars on the benchtop have cracked and spilled 4% formaldehyde onto the benchtop and an area of the floor. There is still evidence of liquid present. WHAT DO YOU DO NEXT? © Imperial College London

MODEL ANSWER Leave the room again immediately. Close the door and secure if possible. If the door cannot be secured, attract the attention of a colleague to stand by the door or prepare some temporary warning signage to affix to the door. Report the incident to your Group Safety Adviser / DSO. Nobody should enter the room until the airborne concentration of formaldehyde is established. This can be determined using a portable formaldemeter – several meters are kept by the Safety Department and others are held locally. Once the readings have been established there are two options: a. A member of staff can enter wearing suitable respiratory protective equipment and clean the spillage up using a polymerising agent. b. The room can be left vacant until the formaldhyde has evaporated completely. The length of time that this takes will be dependent upon the quantity spilt and the ventilation standards within the laboratory. Complete a dangerous occurrence report in accordance with established College procedures. © Imperial College London