Experimental Risk Assessment

Experimental Risk Assessment
Brian Meschewski Research Safety Professional Division of Research Safety

Would you cross a busy road without looking. Why not
Would you cross a busy road without looking? Why not? What would you do to cross a road safely?

What about this road?

Hazard vs Risk While related, Hazard and Risk are not the same!
Are routinely used incorrectly

Hazard Hazard: An inherent property of a material or situation that cannot be altered A hazard can be chemical, biological, radiological, physical Example: Hydrochloric acid (corrosive) Example: Electrical source

Risk Risk: The probability that a hazard will result in an adverse consequence, and the severity of that consequence Example: 10 mL hydrochloric acid from an extraction kit, protocol included compared to 100 mL hydrochloric acid from a 2.5 L bottle, SOP adapted from a paper. The HCl has the same corrosive hazard, but one will result in a more severe consequence if a spill were to occur. Working with a larger volume is also more likely to result in a spill. Risk can be applied to property and materials as well as people Risk can be controlled

How do I perform a risk assessment?
RAMP Recognize the hazards (Hazard Identification) Assess the risks of the hazards Minimize the risks of the hazards Prepare for emergencies

Hazard Identification
Recognize the Hazards Hazard Identification First step to a good risk assessment Hazards can come from multiple sources in the lab and experiment Identify your materials, instruments, experimental conditions, and anything that can create a hazard *Brief overview of some common laboratory hazards. These will be more detailed in their individual presentations.

Radiological hazard Laser hazard

Experimental Techniques
What experimental techniques will you be using, and are you familiar with the associated hazards? Syringe Transferring flammable liquids Transferring solids Gases Inerting Quenching

What experimental conditions will be used?
Hazardous Conditions What experimental conditions will be used? Elevated or reduced pressure? Is the equipment rated for this? Electrical sources? Agitating a reaction? Compressed gases? Radiation sources?

Assess the risks Determine the risks posed by hazards during an experiment Think about the risks you are exposed to in the laboratory outside of your experiment Who performs a risk assessment? Everyone entering the laboratory should perform a risk assessment, even if you are not performing an experiment

Risk (R) = Probability of Occurrence (P) x Severity of Consequence (S)
Assess the risks A risk assessment can be viewed as an equation It is the combination of the probability of a consequence occurring and the severity of that consequence Risk (R) = Probability of Occurrence (P) x Severity of Consequence (S)

Simple risk assessment approach
P↓ S→ No effect Minor Light Heavy Catastrophic Unlikely Remote Occasional Repeated Frequent Risk (R) = Probability of Occurrence (P) x Severity of Consequence (S)

Simple Risk Assessment Approach
We want to stay in the “green” Yellow can normally be reworked to get into the green by controlling the risk in a new or different way Avoid red Might require that you rethink how the work is going to be performed P↓ S→ No effect Minor Light Heavy Catastrophic Unlikely Remote Occasional Repeated Frequent

Simple Risk Assessment Approach
Walk through your procedure, and determine where that step, material, process, etc. falls on the graph If necessary, implement a control to get the procedure in the green P↓ S→ No effect Minor Light Heavy Catastrophic Unlikely Remote Occasional Repeated Frequent

Risk Assessment Tools More hazards that can pose a risk exist than might be obvious Assist in walking you through questions that might identify hazards and assign risk Many different tools exist Some are more effective for certain types of experiments or lab tasks, some may not make sense for the lab at all Common examples include: What-If? Analysis Job Hazard Analysis Risk Assessment Matrix Common tool in use with labs ACS has a template, good for a variety of lab hazards

Do I always have to fill out a risk assessment form?
Assess the risks Do I always have to fill out a risk assessment form? With more experience and practice, risk assessments can become second nature. A risk assessment performed mentally can alert you to the same hazards. Most young scientists are unable to evaluate all aspects of experiments or processes without following a form. Filling in blanks does not mean you are safe, you have to critically think about everything you write down.

What-If? Analysis A What-If? Analysis is a simple tool that can be used to help perform a risk assessment

What-If? Analysis A What-If? Analysis can help you decide where your step falls on the scale It is most effective in a team setting It is easy to use Beginners can easily grasp it Limitations Only useful if the right questions are asked Relies on the team members to ask those questions Subjective Bias

Job Hazard Analysis OK for routine lab functions
Focuses on one “job” and can function as the SOP for that job Allows you to be consistent when the same task is performed by various people Limitations Steps can be missed Assigning risk can be difficult

Risk Assessment Matrix
Good for all sorts of lab experiments Are more detailed than some other tools Require you to think critically and plan ahead

ACS Risk Assessment Matrix
Easy to use Is a comprehensive look at a wide variety of hazards and their associated risk Results in a numerical value

Source: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/hierarchy

Minimize the risk of the hazards
How do we control risk? Various techniques exist for reducing risk Start at the top and work your way down using the Hierarchy of Controls Not all will be effective for each experiment or situation

Hierarchy of Controls Elimination Most effective control
Do not use the hazard! Not really practical in research much of the time… Substitution Sometimes possible (Ethidium Bromide vs SYBR Safe; PIRANHA solution vs KOH/ethanol, NoChromix, Nano-strip) Many times specific materials will be needed, and a substitute will be inadequate

Hierarchy of Controls Engineering Controls
Isolate workers from the hazard While designing an experiment, engineering controls will often be the most effective way to control risk Have limitations based on the material used Are not always practical (field work?) Examples: Fume hood, biosafety cabinet, glovebox, interlocks, machine guards, etc.

Hierarchy of Controls Administrative Controls
Focus on changing the behavior of people rather than isolating the hazard Requires you to plan ahead Examples: Training Policies - working alone, recapping needles, number of hours worked, food and drink consumption and storage, etc. Warning signs Housekeeping Equipment maintenance Restrict access/task Hygiene practices (proper glove removal, wash hands, do both before leaving the lab) Emergency preparedness (spill kits, emergency eyewash/shower, fire extinguisher) Waste disposal – don’t let waste accumulate if it is no longer needed Laboratory Safety Plan and Standard Operating Procedures (more on this later)

Hierarchy of Controls Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Garments or equipment designed to protect the person’s body Usually the least effective method and should be the last considered Consider the additional stress caused by PPE, and limitations it can cause (e.g. dexterity, heat stress) Should still absolutely be used in case something else fails

Hierarchy of Controls Examples:
Eye/face protection - safety glasses, goggles, face shield Lab coats – Select based on the materials used (e.g. flame resistant for significant fire hazard labs) Respirators – Requires annual fit testing, training, and physical (including N95) – OSHA requirement

Hierarchy of Controls Gloves
Should be chosen based on the materials in use No “universal” glove Consider breakthrough time (spraying gloves?) Effective for incidental splashes (change when this occurs) DRS has a chart to help select gloves, and a variety of resources (e.g. the manufacturer) exist

Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
Term used by OSHA (these are required by OSHA and other regulatory agencies) – I prefer “Method” and “Method development” Set of instructions written to help individuals carry out a complex task SOPs should be written for all materials and procedures that pose a potential risk to the health and safety of lab personnel SOP should focus on the risk of hazards, and not the hazards alone There is no specific format, but templates are available to help in the development of SOPs Lab Safety Plan (which includes the SOPs) is the primary administrative control in the lab

Are SOPs needed for everything? Even simple tasks an undergrad can do? –YES However, make use of existing resources Countless SOPs exist, and are known to be safe Remember an SOP does not have a specific template, and can come in many forms Use whatever works for your experiment! Some have built in elements that might be helpful to you.

What are some existing resources I can use? Documents from the DRS library Protocols provided by the manufacturer (e.g. extraction kit protocols) Instrument or equipment manuals Textbooks/published works/known to be safe procedures (e.g. Vogel’s Textbook of Practical Organic Chemistry) Often, incorporating existing resources will prevent the need to write one from scratch No need to reinvent the wheel. If it exists in a way that covers safety information, there is no need to transcribe it into a specific form.

Prepare for Emergencies
Part of your SOP and risk assessment should cover what to do in case of an emergency (What is the worst thing that can happen?) Identify potential spill clean up materials Absorbent materials Mercury spill kit Bleach for biological material spills Acid/Base neutralizers Other specialized materials – know what you are working with Correct fire extinguishers. Class D needed? Quench method?

Other issues to consider in the lab Flood Are you prepared to handle a flood? Consider flooding that is the result of severe weather or other factors. Burst pipes, sprinkler system activating in the lab above you, backed up sinks, etc. Fire Are you prepared to handle a fire? Do you know evacuation and assembly points? BEAP plan/Emergency Response Guide Seismic activity Not likely in Illinois, but they have occurred Storage of materials and equipment

Other issues to consider in the lab Loss of Power What sort of impact will this have on your operations? Are you prepared to handle it? Work being done in a fume hood? Unable to control heat? Will this damage equipment? Will this impact samples in long term storage (e.g. -80 ⁰C freezers)? Preplanning for loss of power Generator power - Does your building have a generator? Does it allow all operations to continue? What are the limits? Alternative storage methods for samples? Dry ice?

Other issues to consider in the lab Loss of Power (continued) Loss of data Is your data backed up? External storage, network drive, etc. Can the data be backed up automatically? Power surges Implement a surge protector to protect your equipment Other scenarios Snow storm, building emergencies, etc. Many other scenarios might exist depending on the lab. Make sure to consider everything that could be impacted by an out of the ordinary event.

Waste Disposal/Cleanup
Label all waste containers Potential waste incompatibilities? Please don’t mix nitric acid waste with ethanol… Is the waste container in good condition? Is the waste compatible with the container? Just because it is now waste does not mean the hazards have gone away

Creating an SOP and performing a risk assessment
Let’s walk through a simple undergrad experiment and perform a risk assessment Esterification of salicylic acid to acetylsalicylic acid

Typical procedure Mass out 3 g of salicylic acid into flask
Measure out 6.0 mL of acetic anhydride into flask Add 5-10 drops of 85% H3PO4 Heat ~10 min in water bath (70-80 ⁰C) Add 20 drops DI water Add 20 mL DI water and chill in ice bath Filter in Buchner/wash with cold DI water Transfer crystals to beaker Add 10 mL 95% EtOH and heat in a water bath (do not boil) After dissolution, add 20 mL warm DI water and cool to recrystallize Filter

What are the Hazards? Chemicals
Salicylic acid (per Safety Data Sheet from Sigma-Aldrich) Acute toxicity, oral Serious eye damage Acetic anhydride Flammable liquid Acute toxicity, Oral Acute toxicity, Inhalation Skin corrosion Phosphoric acid Corrosive to metals Skin corrosion Serious eye damage Ethanol Flammable liquid Eye irritation Water

What are the Hazards? Acetylsalicylic acid (product)
Acute toxicity, oral Acute aquatic toxicity Acetic acid (product)* Closer look at acetic anhydride

Hazards Reactivity hazards Typical acid hazards (bases, water)
Flammable liquids Physical hazards Hot plates/Hot water bath Glassware Vacuum

What are the Risks? Risk can be mitigated by small volumes
Minimize the volumes the lab is required to manipulate Common lab incidents Fire Exposure Spill

What are the Risks? Fire Fuel – Ethanol, acetic anhydride Oxygen
Ignition source? – Maybe. What-If? Analysis P↓ S→ No effect Minor Light Heavy Catastrophic Unlikely Remote  Occasional Repeated Frequent

Exposure – This will be our main concern
What are the Risks? Exposure – This will be our main concern Inhalation Acetic anhydride – GHS Classification = Acute toxicity, Inhalation In fact, the Hazard Statement mentions “Fatal if inhaled” Controlling inhalation risk Low odor detection threshold. If you can smell it, you are being exposed to it. Inhalation risk can be engineered out – use a fume hood P↓ S→ No effect Minor Light Heavy Catastrophic Unlikely Remote  Occasional Repeated Frequent

What are the Risks? Exposure Skin exposure
Acetic anhydride and phosphoric acid are both corrosive to the skin and should be handled with caution An exposure can result in severe skin burns PPE and appropriate clothing can reduce the risk of a skin exposure P↓ S→ No effect Minor Light Heavy Catastrophic Unlikely Remote Occasional  Repeated Frequent

What are the Risks? Exposure Eye exposure
Acetic anhydride, phosphoric acid, and salicylic acid can cause serious eye damage, and even ethanol can cause eye irritation An exposure can result in serious eye damage PPE and a fume hood can reduce the risk of an eye exposure P↓ S→ No effect Minor Light Heavy Catastrophic Unlikely Remote  Occasional Repeated Frequent

What are the Risks? Spill without an exposure Why think about this?
The risk of a spill can be reduced by limiting the quantities available P↓ S→ No effect Minor Light Heavy Catastrophic Unlikely Remote Occasional  Repeated Frequent This is a teaching lab…

Controls What controls can we implement?

Controls Elimination? No Substitution? No (procedure is provided)
Engineering controls? We can isolate people from some of the hazards. Perform the work in a fume hood. Administrative controls? Is our procedure good enough and clear enough for our undergrads? Could use some work… PPE? Definitely. Eye protection, appropriate gloves for the materials, lab coat. Spell it out.

Revising the procedure
PPE statement In addition to proper dress for work in a laboratory, the following are required: Safety glasses Gloves (If they become contaminated, change immediately) Lab coat

Emergency response Review the location of the nearest emergency eyewash and shower. Identify the exits to the room in case of fire. Note the location of the nearest fire extinguisher and spill kit. In case of skin or eye contact, immediately flush with water. In case of inhalation, move to fresh air. Seek medical attention immediately. Call 911. In case of fire, call 911 and notify nearby occupants. Utilize the fire alarm to evacuate the area. Consult lab manual for additional information on experimental techniques.

Mass out 3 g of salicylic acid into flask Perform the following in a fume hood Measure out 6.0 mL of acetic anhydride into flask Using a transfer pipette, add 5-10 drops of 85% phosphoric acid Heat ~10 min in water bath (70-80 ⁰C) Add 20 drops DI water Add 20 mL DI water and chill in ice bath Filter in Buchner/wash with cold DI water Transfer crystals to beaker Add 10 mL 95% ethanol and heat in a water bath (do not boil) After dissolution, add 20 mL warm DI water and cool to recrystallize Filter

With a few minor additions, did we get our experiment in the green?
P↓ S→ No effect Minor Light Heavy Catastrophic Unlikely Remote Occasional Repeated Frequent

Additional Resources Prudent Practices in the Laboratory
Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories (BMBL) American Chemical Society (ACS) – Identifying and Evaluating Hazards in Research Laboratories, Chemical and Laboratory Safety Page (RAMP), Division of Chemical Health and Safety National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Chemical Reactivity Worksheet – free software Textbooks and reference books (Experimental Organic Chemistry, Vogel’s Textbook of Practical Organic Chemistry, Laboratory Safety for Chemistry Students, etc.) OrgSyn (Organic Synthesis) – Publication of Reliable Methods for organic compound preparation E-Eros – online information on reagents and catalysts for organic syntheses

Additional Resources DRS – Website content, consults, safety audits… We are here to help! Your PI, group members, and anyone else familiar with your work

Contact DRS 333-2755 labsafety@Illinois
Contact DRS Brian Meschewski (217)

Experimental Risk Assessment

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