Foundation Training in Laboratory Safety Faculty Safety Managers Stefan Hoyle & Jan de Abela-Borg

Module 2 Hazardous chemicals sdfgafgafga

Objectives Reinforce basics of risk assessment Explain how chemicals can cause harm Identify and understand control measures to minimise chemical exposure Describe how fume cupboards work and how to use them 3

Routes of exposure Gases, fumes, vapours, very fine powders Inhalation Corrosive liquids and those that readily cross the skin barrier Dense solids Inhalation Skin contact Ingestion Most serious Least likely Most readily absorbed Least readily 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. sdfgafgafga

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

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.

Risk factors It is also a legal requirement for suppliers to provide appropriate hazard labelling for chemicals 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. Hazard Warning Transport Packing and Supply

….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 sdfgafgafga

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

Risk factors Physical properties Quantity e.g. Dictate the potential to become airborne e.g. Liquids: high boiling point > medium BP > low BP Solids: pellets / granules > crystalline > dusty 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. Quantity e.g. small > medium > high (<1g [ml]) (1 – 100g [ml]) (>100g [ml]) sdfgafgafga

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 sdfgafgafga

What 3 properties of a chemical would we consider when carrying out a risk assessment? Physical properties / Quantity being used / Intrinsic hazard Molecular weight / Intrinsic hazard / Physical properties Flammability / Quantity being used / sell by date Environmental impact / sell by date / reactivity with other chemicals

What is the correct sequence (hierarchy) of implementing controls to minimise chemical exposure? Elimination (substitution) / Segregation / PPE (personal protective equipment) PPE / administrative controls / segregation Risk assessment / PPE / Permit to work system Administrative controls / PPE / physical controls Elimination / PPE / storage considerations

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 sdfgafgafga

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 sdfgafgafga

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: Departmental waste routes and local arrangements, specialist waste contractor? sdfgafgafga

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 sdfgafgafga

Fume Hoods The fume cupboard is a major means of controlling your exposure to chemicals and other airborne hazardous materials.  A moving curtain of air (at 0.5 ±0.1 ms-1) being drawn past the operator, through the opening, over the work, then up the exhaust stack reduces your exposure.  A fume cupboard used properly provides adequate protection.  However, use a fume cupboard incorrectly and it may result in dangerous material escaping from the cupboard.

Fume Hoods: Before Use Ensure the fume cupboard is operational and there is an airflow.  Listen and feel for air movement - this should be obvious with the sash in its lowest position. Check for obvious surface contamination.  Clean if necessary, to avoid adverse reactions with the chemicals in use. Ensure that you have enough space to conduct your work safely. Position equipment, apparatus, and materials in the centre and back of the cupboard to minimise disturbance to airflow.  Where practical, place everything within the cupboard before starting operations.

Fume Hoods: During Use Avoid sudden rapid movements in front of the cupboard.  These can cause turbulence that may draw the airborne hazardous material out of the cupboard. Use the sash position to your advantage - Fully open - access for setting up equipment, Partially open, at safe working height - when handling material inside the cupboard while experiment is in progress. Lowered - when the process is in operation and intervention is no longer required. Accidental spills of chemicals should be cleaned up immediately (i.e. as soon as it is safe to do so).

Fume Hoods: Emergency procedures If the fume hood breaks down during a hazardous procedure: Make the experiment safe Turn off ignition sources Close reagent containers Inform your demonstrator/supervisor immediately

Which of the following should you not use a fume cupboard for? Weighing fine powders Decanting 2.5 litres of methanol to smaller bottles Homogenisation of human tissue Distilling flammable solvents

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.

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

Chemistry Department Risk Assessment forms

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. sdfgafgafga

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! ……so report them Self explanatory slide – common laboratory accidents.

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/