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

2. Module 2 Hazardous chemicals
© Imperial College London

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

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

7. 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

8. ….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

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

10. 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

11. 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 C
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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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

20. 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

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

22. 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

23. Sources of further information
Internal
Safety Department website:
External
HSE:
Sigma Aldrich:
Wikipedia:
© Imperial College London

24. 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

25. 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

26. 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