1. Prof. Dr. Hülya YAVUZ ERSAN
CHEMICAL SAFETY-I
Prof. Dr. Hülya YAVUZ ERSAN

2. Chemicals
Each year millions of workers are exposed to chemical hazards in worldwide.
Chemical exposure may cause or contribute to many serious health effects such as heart ailments, central nervous system damage, kidney and lung damage, cancer, burns, and even death.
With proper handling, even highly toxic chemicals can be used safely
Less toxic chemicals can be extremely hazardous if handled improperly.

3. Chemical Hazard
Chemicals have the ability to react when exposed to other chemicals or certain physical conditions.
When chemical reactions are not properly managed, they can have harmful, or even catastrophic consequences, such as toxic fumes, fires, and explosions.
These reactions may result in death and injury to people, damage to physical property, and severe effects on the environment.

4. Physical Hazards Associated to Chemicals
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 of ignition
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

5. Physical Hazards Associated to Chemicals
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., dust/lungs, chloroform/liver, Pb/circulatory system, carbontetrachloride/kidneys, toluene/nervous system)

6. Route of entry
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 – accidental and inprope handling of glass and sharp objects, etc.
Eye Contact - either physical damage or absorption
The route of entry dictates selection of protective equipment

7. Working Safely with Chemicals
To ensure that employers and employees know about work hazards and how to protect themselves so that the incidence of illnesses and injuries due to hazardous chemicals is reduced.

8. Working Safely with Chemicals
Hazard recognition
Risk Analysis
Risk elimination/reduction
General control
Personal control

9. Working Safely with Chemicals
List of chemicals
Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)
Labelling
Training

10. Chemical Labelling
Toxic Material
Each container of hazardous chemical entering the workplace must be labeled or marked with:
Identity of the chemical
Appropriate hazard warnings
Name of the responsible party

11. Chemical Labelling Labels should contain three types of hazard:
Hazards related to pysico-chemical properties
Hazards related to human health
Hazards related to environment

12. Old and New Labeling System
Old System
New system (CLP / GHS)

13. Material Safety Data Sheets -MSDS
Should include:
Physical hazards, such as fire and explosion
Health hazards, such as signs of exposure
Routes of exposure
Precautions for safe handling and use
Emergency and first-aid procedures
Control measures
Must be readily accessible to employees in their work area

14. Regulation on the Health and Safety Precautions for working with chemicals (12.08.2013)
Threshold Limit Values:
(Mesleki Maruziyet Sınır Değerleri)
TWA: Time weighted average (8 hr)
STEL: Short term exposure limit (15 min)

15. Training
Training is required for employees who are exposed to hazardous chemicals in their work area

16. Control Measures Replacement with less or non toxic one Isolation
Ventilation (general/local)
Engineering control
Administrative control
Personal protection equipment
Health inspection

17. General/Local Ventilation
Removes gaseous contaminants
Should be designed properly

18. Safe Chemical Storage Dry Chemical Storage
Keep organics and inorganics separated
Liquid Chemical Storage
According to the specifications given in MSDS forms hazardous chemicals should be stored saparately i.e. flammables separate from oxidizers, acids separate from bases
Proper storage conditions must be provided

19. Safe Storage of Specific Chemicals
Flammable Liquids
Corrosive Materials
Reactive (Oxidizers and Reducers)
Cryogenics
Gas Cylinders

20. Flammable Liquid Storage
No smoking
Use approved safety cans
Store flammable liquids in an approved storage cabinet

21. 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

22. Reactive Chemicals 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
Sodium/phosphorus & aqueous material - fire
Acid with cyanide compounds - toxic gas
Chlorine & ammonia - toxic chloramines
Pyrophoric:
Chemicals that ignite on contact with air
Flame may often be invisible

23. Reactive Chemical Storage
Segregate:
Acids from Bases
Acids and bases from flammables
Pyrophoric compounds from flammables
Perchloric acid from reducing agents
Water from water reactive chemicals
Store thermally unstable materials in approved refrigerator

24. Cryogenic Chemicals
Cold vapors (e.g. N2 at -196oC) can rapidly freeze human tissue
Produces large volumes of gas that can displace breathable oxygen
Materials can be embrittled
Boiling/splashing occurs when filling a warm container
Suitable personal protective equipment such as face shields, cryogenic gloves and long pants w/o cuffs should be used during transfer.

25. Personal Protective Equipment- PPE
Good lab practices should be applied and suitable PPE should be used as necessary
Mask
Eye protection
Nose-covered shoes,
Lab coat,
Long pants
Gloves

26. Gas Cylinders Chain or strap cylinder to wall/bench
Always use a cart & safety chain when transporting cylinder
Store flammable gas bottles in flammable storage cabinet
Keep non-compatible gases separate

27. First Aid and Safety Equipment
Fire extiguisher
Fist aid kit
Emergency swover
Eye wash station
Spill kit
Personal Protective Equipment