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Chemical Safety in the Workplace
- 1. Stewart Sampson Safety ServicesNova Scotia
- 2. It can happen!! HazardCommunication MSDS Understanding Hazards Chemical Storage Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Chemical Spill Response Waste Disposal General Safety Rules
- 3. Small tubes ofpetroleum ether were stored in an ordinary domestic freezer. The tubes were not sealed well and the PE evaporated to a concentration exceeded the lower explosive limit, about 1.0% ◦ Flash point of PE is -50 °C A spark from an internal component of the freezer caused the PE to ignite $500 000 in damage What caused this?
- 4. Anaerobic hood —an oxygen-free chamber used for working with bacteria that can't survive in oxygen Lab personnel ignored a "warning system" designed to tell researchers when too much hydrogen enters the chamber and becomes flammable An explosion resulted when the gas came into contact with an ignition source Four people injured One critically What caused this?
- 5. Hazard Communication ◦ Allowsworkers to know the hazards and identities of the chemicals they are exposed to while working. Describes measures they can take to protect themselves. Hazards are communicated by: ◦ Labels ◦ Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) ◦ Education and Training
- 6. MSDS – adocument prepared by the chemical manufacturer that describes the: ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ physical and chemical properties physical and health hazards routes of exposure precautions for safe handling and use emergency and first-aid procedures control measures
- 7. What are theWHMIS Hazard Classes? Compressed Gas Flammable and Combustible Material Oxidizing Material Poisonous and Infectious Material Corrosive Material Dangerously Reactive Material
- 9. Toxicity ◦ the abilityof a chemical to cause harm ◦ Like “Hazard” in general safety terms Risk ◦ likelihood a material will cause harm under the conditions of use With proper handling, even highly toxic chemicals can be used safely Less toxic chemicals can be extremely hazardous if handled improperly
- 10. Inhalation – breathing(e.g., powders, fumes) Absorption – skin or mucus membranes Ingestion – entry through mouth Injection – through skin by foreign body Acute Exposure (short term): eye irritation, nausea, dizziness, skin rash, burns, headache Chronic Exposure (long term): long-term illness
- 11. In 2008, Sangjiwas working with a bottle of t-butyl lithium dissolved in pentane While using a syringe to withdraw a quantity of the reagent, it seems she accidentally pulled the plunger all the way out, introducing air and creating a flash fire ◦ “Sangji was not familiar enough with the material and delivery means to be doing the experiment on her own” Sangji was wearing nitrile gloves, safety glasses rather than goggles, and a synthetic sweater with no lab coat When the fire ignited the gloves and the sweater, she sustained second and third degree burns over 40 per cent of her body and was immediately hospitalized She died 19 days later
- 12. eliminate the hazard; substituteother materials, processes, or equipment; engineering controls; ◦ Not using high shelves ◦ Toluene for benzene ◦ Fume hoods, engineered sharps ◦ Eye Wash Eye wash station; Disposable Eye Wash systems that increase awareness of potential hazards; administrative controls Personal protective equipment ◦ training and procedures, instructions, scheduling; ◦ Gloves, lab coats/uniforms, eye protection, safety shoes, respirators, face shields ◦ Gloves Use proper size Use proper glove material
- 15. Professor of chemistryat Dartmouth College specialized in toxic metal exposure A few drops of dimethylmercury was accidentally spilled onto her hands ◦ Protected only by latex glove ◦ Tests later showed that DMM can rapidly permeate latex gloves and enter the skin within 15 seconds Single exposure to DMM had raised her blood mercury level to 80 times the toxic threshold ◦ Delayed neurotoxic effects caused her to be hospitalized after 5 months, and she died 10 months after the accident She was 48
- 16. White = OK Red= Incompatible
- 17. Do not respondbeyond your training level! Stop, think – Is this a Major spill? ◦ No Remove contaminated clothing Use proper PPE Contain spill Notify workers in your area Seek MSDS for advice Notify supervisor / security Rescue Avoid the chemical Find the MSDS Telephone for help ◦ Yes
- 18. Stop, think –Can I extinguish this fire? ◦ Yes Extinguish open flames Turn off gas / electricity Notify workers in your area Ventilate work area Notify supervisor / security ◦ No Evacuate area immediately and pull alarm Call emergency number
- 19. Minimize waste inthe first place Do not pour chemical waste down the drain Know your chemical classification Use flame resistant container with label Don’t leave funnel on top of waste container Use proper mercury disposal (broken thermometers) Call for pick up
- 20. Store chemicals intheir original containers Always wear appropriate safety gear and work in a controlled environment Always dispose of chemicals properly Use care in handling contaminated glassware or needles Always dispose of chemicals properly
- 21. Don’t buy chemicalsyou do not need Don’t eat, drink, smoke, chew gum or apply cosmetics near chemicals Don’t mouth pipette Don’t use unlabeled containers Know chemical properties as well as toxicity
- 22. Any final questions?Thoughts?