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

2. Module 2 Hazardous chemicals
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3. 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

4. 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.
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5. 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

6. 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.

7. 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

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
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9. 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

10. 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 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.
Quantity
e.g.
small > medium > high
(<1g [ml]) (1 – 100g [ml]) (>100g [ml])
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11. 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
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12. 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

13. 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

14. 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
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15. 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
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16. 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?
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17. 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
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18. 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.

19. 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.

20. 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).

21. 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

22. 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

23. 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.

24. 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

25. Chemistry Department Risk Assessment forms

26. 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.
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27. 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.

28. Sources of further information
Internal
Safety Department website:
External
HSE:
Sigma Aldrich:
Wikipedia: