Risk Analysis of Lab Bench Risk Analysis of Lab Bench

Top Processes to Ensure Top Processes to Ensure

Safety in Smart LabsSafety in Smart Labs

2011 Labs 21 Annual Conference2011 Labs 21 Annual ConferenceProvidence, RIProvidence, RI

Presented by Lisa Mahar, CIH, CSP, RN, EH&SPresented by Lisa Mahar, CIH, CSP, RN, EH&S

University of California, IrvineUniversity of California, Irvine

Large research universityLarge research university

$16M annual utilities budget$16M annual utilities budget

Lab buildings consume 2/3 of campus energyLab buildings consume 2/3 of campus energy

Many energy initiatives to reduce carbon footprintMany energy initiatives to reduce carbon footprint

GoalGoal

Balance energy savings & safetyBalance energy savings & safety

Learning ObjectivesLearning Objectives

1.1. Centralized demand controlled Centralized demand controlled ventilation (CDCV) overviewventilation (CDCV) overview

2.2. Lab bench top hazard screening processLab bench top hazard screening process

3.3. Risk assessment criteriaRisk assessment criteria

4.4. Risk assessmentRisk assessment--based air changes/hour based air changes/hour (ACH) decision tree(ACH) decision tree

Excluded from discussion:Excluded from discussion:

�� Fire and Mechanical Codes applicabilityFire and Mechanical Codes applicability

Centralized Demand Controlled Centralized Demand Controlled

Ventilation (CDCV)Ventilation (CDCV)

�� Air quality monitor varies lab ventilation Air quality monitor varies lab ventilation

rates depending on contaminant levels rates depending on contaminant levels

sensed by sensor suitesensed by sensor suite

��Monitors and/or controls ACHMonitors and/or controls ACH

�� Variable air volume (VAV) labsVariable air volume (VAV) labs

CDCVCDCV ComponentsComponents

Air Changes (ACH)Air Changes (ACH)

�� 4/2 ACH setback with occupancy sensing4/2 ACH setback with occupancy sensing

�� Sensor failure must “fail safe” to 6 ACHSensor failure must “fail safe” to 6 ACH�� Sensor suite does not detect all chemicals Sensor suite does not detect all chemicals

��Calibration frequency at 6 months Calibration frequency at 6 months

�� Visual signal to occupant of ACHVisual signal to occupant of ACH

�� Emergency exhaust red buttonEmergency exhaust red button

Air Changes (ACH) ContinuedAir Changes (ACH) Continued

�� ACH reduction not for:ACH reduction not for:

�� Fume hood driven labsFume hood driven labs

��Heat load driven labsHeat load driven labs

��High risk labsHigh risk labs

��Chemical dispensing/storage areasChemical dispensing/storage areas

Smart Lab “Safety Net”Smart Lab “Safety Net”

�� Emergency General Emergency General

Ventilation Purge “Red Ventilation Purge “Red

Button”Button”

�� Fully opens general Fully opens general exhaust ventilation valvesexhaust ventilation valves

�� Response within minutesResponse within minutes

�� Integrated alarm systemIntegrated alarm system

�� Deactivates when button Deactivates when button is pulled outis pulled out

Bench Top Screening ProcessBench Top Screening Process

�� Conduct room by room hazard screeningConduct room by room hazard screening

�� Industrial hygienist (IH) evaluates worker Industrial hygienist (IH) evaluates worker exposureexposure

��Review chemicals/operationsReview chemicals/operations

�� Interview lab staffInterview lab staff

��Review chemical inventoryReview chemical inventory

��Review engineering controlsReview engineering controls

�� Fume hood operations excludedFume hood operations excluded

Bench Top Screening Process Bench Top Screening Process

ContinuedContinued

��Compare screening data with risk Compare screening data with risk assessment criteriaassessment criteria

��Enter screening data in databaseEnter screening data in database

��Indicate followIndicate follow--up neededup needed

��No ACH reductionNo ACH reduction

Risk Assessment CriteriaRisk Assessment Criteria

�� High risk labs High risk labs –– No ventilation reductionNo ventilation reduction

��Biosafety Level 3 (airborne biohazard) Biosafety Level 3 (airborne biohazard)

��Highly toxic gasesHighly toxic gases

�� Special ventilation requirementsSpecial ventilation requirements

��Chemicals/operations identified as high risk Chemicals/operations identified as high risk

by bench top assessment or followby bench top assessment or follow--up up

exposure monitoringexposure monitoring

Risk Assessment CriteriaRisk Assessment Criteria

ContinuedContinued

�� Chemicals of concern Chemicals of concern �� Acutely toxic by inhalationAcutely toxic by inhalation

�� AsphyxiantsAsphyxiants

�� Anesthetic gasesAnesthetic gases

�� CarcinogensCarcinogens

�� Reproductive toxinsReproductive toxins

�� Air contaminants that have occupational exposure Air contaminants that have occupational exposure limits (PELs, TLVs)limits (PELs, TLVs)

�� Strong odor producerStrong odor producer

Industrial Hygiene FollowIndustrial Hygiene Follow--upup

�� FollowFollow--up for chemicals of concernup for chemicals of concern

�� Lab staff exposure monitoring studiesLab staff exposure monitoring studies

��Work with lab staff to improve work practicesWork with lab staff to improve work practices

��Training/standard operating proceduresTraining/standard operating procedures

��Ventilation Ventilation reductionreduction possible if exposures possible if exposures

can be controlled (improved work practices)can be controlled (improved work practices)

��ACH may be ACH may be increasedincreased until work practices until work practices

are improvedare improved

Industrial Hygiene FollowIndustrial Hygiene Follow--up up

ContinuedContinued

�� FollowFollow--up for complaints or “other” issues of up for complaints or “other” issues of

concern not previously identified (professional concern not previously identified (professional

judgment)judgment)

Work Practice ImprovementsWork Practice Improvements

�� Use local exhaust ventilation for source controlUse local exhaust ventilation for source control

�� Substitute less hazardous chemicalSubstitute less hazardous chemical

�� Obtain preObtain pre--packaged mixturespackaged mixtures

�� Reduce quantity/frequencyReduce quantity/frequency

�� Modify operation proceduresModify operation procedures

Other ConsiderationsOther Considerations

�� Good practice:Good practice:

�� Control contaminants at the “source”Control contaminants at the “source”

�� Don’t rely only on general dilution for controlDon’t rely only on general dilution for control

�� Review lab operations/chemicalsReview lab operations/chemicals

�� Communication with lab staffCommunication with lab staff

�� ACH & exposure:ACH & exposure:

�� Exposure limits are not based on ACHExposure limits are not based on ACH

�� No known correlation between ACH and exposure No known correlation between ACH and exposure or diseaseor disease

ChallengesChallenges

�� Lack of “universal” CDCV sensor for all chemicalsLack of “universal” CDCV sensor for all chemicals

�� Ongoing need for risk assessments of lab operations Ongoing need for risk assessments of lab operations

�� Incomplete chemical inventoriesIncomplete chemical inventories

�� Great variety of hazardous operations and chemicalsGreat variety of hazardous operations and chemicals

�� Changes in research operations and staffChanges in research operations and staff

�� Uncertainty of health effects of chemicalsUncertainty of health effects of chemicals

�� Future research needs unknownFuture research needs unknown

�� Restrictions on research operations not tenableRestrictions on research operations not tenable

Challenges ContinuedChallenges Continued

�� EH&S resource demand for:EH&S resource demand for:

�� Ongoing need for hazard assessmentsOngoing need for hazard assessments

�� Exposure monitoringExposure monitoring

�� Work practice correctionsWork practice corrections

�� TrainingTraining

�� Potential complaint investigationsPotential complaint investigations

Next StepsNext Steps

�� Develop system to identify changes in lab Develop system to identify changes in lab

operationsoperations

�� ReRe--assess bench top operations:assess bench top operations:

�� New researchers arriveNew researchers arrive

�� Lab moves (notification)Lab moves (notification)

�� PeriodicPeriodic

�� Promote more current/complete chemical Promote more current/complete chemical

inventoriesinventories

ConclusionsConclusions

�� Energy savings can be achieved without Energy savings can be achieved without compromising safetycompromising safety

�� Lab ACH determination requires:Lab ACH determination requires:�� FlexibilityFlexibility (evolving process)(evolving process)

�� Contaminant source controlContaminant source control

�� Active EH&S involvement in risk assessment of lab Active EH&S involvement in risk assessment of lab operations with lab staffoperations with lab staff

�� Reassessment when lab changes occurReassessment when lab changes occur

�� Current/complete chemical inventoriesCurrent/complete chemical inventories

Questions?Questions?

This concludes the University of California, Irvine This concludes the University of California, Irvine presentation, “Risk Analysis of Lab Bench Top presentation, “Risk Analysis of Lab Bench Top Processes to Ensure Safety in Smart Labs”Processes to Ensure Safety in Smart Labs”