Safety in the laboratory

Part 1 : Basic aspects

Department of Chemistry University of Fribourg

work hours

work hours are between 7h00 and 19h00outside these times :- it is forbidden to do experimental work alone in a lab- the responsible professor must be informed and he must explicitly authorize high-risk experiments

betwen 7h00 and 20h00, the technical staff can intercept alarms

during nights, weekends and holidays,all alarms are directly transmitted to the fire brigade

behavior in the laboratory

It is mandatory to

- wear safety goggles- wear a labcoat that is closed in the front- tie up long hair- wear appropriate gloves when manipulating dangerous

substances- wear closed shoes (no sandals, flipflops etc.)

!

In the laboratory it is forbidden to

- eat or drink (let alone smoke!)- wear inappropriate clothes (shawls, blouses or shirts with loose sleeves or from easily flammable fabrics)- wear a headphone to listen to music- do experiments if no colleague is within earshot- wear contact lenses (safety goggles with optical lenses are available)

behavior in the laboratory

!!! !

safety / danger

safety

precautions:

- be familiar with the task at hand. (if not: secure assistance)- carefully read the directions- understand the chemistry- carfully and calmly plan delicate manipulations- think before kicking into action

THINK ! ASK ! DO

make sure you know

- where is the next• telephone (and what are the emergency numbers!)• safety door• fire extinguisher and fire blanket• sandbox (to extinguish burning metals)• first aid box

- whom you can alert/ask in case of problems- how to read the safety labels on bottles- how to use the emergency shower and the eye shower

recommandations

- do not obstruct walkways and safety exits- work in a stable position- do not run in the lab- use clean and functional lab material- wash your hands before and after manipulations- label all recipients clearly and readably- do not keep food in lab fridges- run and clean the eye showers every month.

order- and cleanliness

- keep your lab equipment clean and in good shape - clean used glassware

- keep order in your lab- dispose regularly of your chemical waste

• avoid contaminations• prevent accidents • prevent odors from spreading• limit the risk of ignition and fire• create a pleasant work climate• work efficiently

protective measures

- read and respect the safety labels and instructions on chemical bottles.- wear your personal safety equipment (goggles, lab coats, gloves etc.) correctly and keep it in shape- respect the safety directives

announce all anomalies, incidents or accidentsto your supervisor and/or to a member of thesafety committee

safety gogglesOur two eyes are irreplaceable !!

they can be hurt by:- splashes of chemicals- vapours and dust particles- glass splinters- work done by your colleagues

protective goggles with eyeglass lenses can be obtainedon demand from the safety committee.

reminder: it is forbidden to wear contact lenses in the lab!

lab coat

must be made from fabrics that are equipped to

- reject liquids- reject odors- protect underlying clothes- are not flammable

take off your lab coat if you go to seminar rooms,cafeterias etc.

different kinds of safety gloves

water-soluble products⇒ latex or nitrile gloves

acids, bases, alcohols ⇒ vinyl or nitrile gloves

toxic or corrosive products, solvents ⇒ nitrile gloves

manipulation of glassware ⇒ kevlar gloves

types of gloves

remarks on glovesall gloves are available plain or powdered.

nitrile gloves are about twices as expensiveas latex gloves.

lab gloves are for protection and shold be usedaccordingly:

do not wear gloves while using keyboards, tele-phones, door handles, banisters etc. becauseelse you may spread contaminations!

how to remove gloves- peel off the first glove by grabbing it by the cuff.- wrap it up into a ball and put that into the other, still protected hand.- peel off the second glove, touching only its in- terior surface.- thus, enclose the second glove in the first

immediately proceed to wash your hands

when to change gloves

- as soon as a glove is soiled or it leaks- at the end of a manipulation- at least every work hour

(because after some time gloves become porous)

protective creams

- protective creams help the skin to heal little lesions.- apply the cream before you begin to work and after breaks- apply it also on the back of all fingers, around the fingernails, beetwen the fingers, and on the wrist.

hoods

(1920) (1940) (1970)

hoodsMake sure that the ventilation of your hood is running.

at small speed, by pushing once on the red button ⇒ the green light comes on

orat high speed, by pushing twice on the red button ⇒ the orange light comes on.

If the red light remains on, then the ventilation ismalfunctioning. Switch the ventilatin off and back on,If the problem persists, contact the technical service

ventilation control buttons

hoods

hoods are there to protect your health and safety and thatof your colleagues

- for better ventilation of the hood, lower the glass pane- close unused hoods

Please turn off the ventilation in unused hoods (thissaves a lot of energy, particularly in winter).However, leave at least always one hood per lab onlow speed (also at night).

ventilation test

protective shields

night laboratories

120 / 214 / 326

All experiments that require overnight heating (orpotentially evolve heat) must be installed in one ofthe above night labs.

These labs are equipped with a sprinkler installation foremergency situations that my arise during nighttime.

Fill in the form and add a telephone number whereyou (or the assistent for lab classes) can be reached.

before you leave the lab- switch off • the ventilation in hoods that are not used • all apparatus (rotavaps, heaters, stirrers) • all lights- close • the solvent cabinets • all windows • all water faucets and spigots for vacuum, gas, nitrogen- put away and store • chemicals • solvent cans- close the covers of the used solvent canisters- secure any reactions that should continue

the assistant shuts the door when he leaves

A checklist is available for undergraduate lab classes

waste disposal and recycling

separate chemical waste

red canister : aqueous solutions of metal salts

yellow canister : halogen-free organic solvents

green canister: halogenated organic solvents

bucket : solid waste (contaminated paperand gloves, pasteur pipettes, chro-matography support materials, filterpapers...)

waste separation

non-contaminated white or brown glass, aluminium andother harmless metals, wood and paper go into wastebuckets.

toxic heavy metals such as Hg, As, Cd, Os, Sb, Se, Tl, Crmust be collected separately and individually

waste disposal: Tuesdays and Thursdays 13:30 - 14:30at the shop in the basement !!!

waste disposal and recycling

needles of syringes need to be protected after use andbefore they are disposed of in the white buckets.

Heating bath oil is collected separately in labelled bottelsor buckets.

chemical products in their original package may be col-lected in 30 l white buckets that may be borrowed at theshop in the basement.

to dispose of any other chemical waste inquire with theshop in the basement or with the safety committee.

cyanides and metal hydrides must be inactivated beforebeing disposed.

waste disposal and recycling

washing glasswareAlways rinse glassware, first with acetone, thenwith water.

Special washing machines for laboratoryglassware are available in the basement

how chemicals get into our body

pathways

oral respiratory percutaneous

digestive tract lungs skin

intenstinal villi alveoles epidermis

blood circuit

Safety in the laboratory

Part 2

Chemicals storageR&S phrases and SGH system

MN, NH 2011

Labelling – R&S system

" The R&S system appeared in 2005 andreplaced the Toxicity Classes (1-5).

" Using 7 symbols" Attributing Risk and Safety phrases to the

chemicals

Labelling – R&S symbols

FlammabilityE > F+ > F

ToxicityT+ > T > C > Xn > Xi

C - corrosive E - explosive

T - toxic

T+ - very toxicXi - irritating

Xn - harmful

O - supportscombustion

F - easilyflammable

F+ - very easilyflammable

N - environmentally harmful

Labelling – R&S phrases

" R (Risk) phrases (Rxx)

" Combination of R phrases (Rxx/yy)

" S (Safety) phrases (Sxx)

" Combination of S phrases (Sxx/yy)

Evolution of the labelling

chemical products

the labels evolve ...

chemical productslearn how to read the new labels

chemical productsthe labels change

old collection new collection

Labelling – GHS(Globally Harmonized System)

" Will replace the old R&S system.

" 2 signal words: DANGER > ATTENTION

" 28 classes of danger (16 physico-chemical, 10 hazardous tohealth, 1 pollutant, 1 hazardous to the ozone layer)

" 9 new pictograms (black&white + red border)

" H&P phrases• H = Hazardous• P = Precautionary

" In transition till 2015

Labelling – GHS symbolsPictograms for physicochemical dangers

Pictograms for human health and environmental dangers

" Faire une image avec tous les symboles et leursignification

Labelling – GHS symbols

Labelling – GHS – H&P phrases" H (Hazardous) phrases (formerly R phrases)

• Hxxx1st number: 2 = physico-chemical

3 = hazardous to health4 = pollutant

" P (Precautionary) phrases (formerly S phrases)• Pxxx1st number: 1 = general precaution

2 = prevention precaution3 = response precaution4 = storage precaution5 = disposal precaution

http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/GHShttp://www.uni-muenster.de/imperia/md/content/physikalische_chemie/praktikum/h_p_phrases.pdf

Transition and establishment" 2009: Availability of GHS system (R&S still

available)" 2009-2015: Transition period with the two

systems (R&S still available)" After 2015: Only the GHS system

Folder in the front of the store (01)Security data sheets

" 1. identification of the substance and the manufacturer" 2. composition / information on the components" 3. identification of dangers" 4. first aid in case of exposure" 5. how to fight a fire involving this product" 6. what to do if the products is accidentally spilled" 7. how to manipulate and store the product" 8. how to control and how to protect oneself against exposure" 9. physicochemical properties" 10. stability / reactivity" 11. toxicological informations" 12. ecological informations" 13. how to eliminate / dispose of the product" 14. how to transport the product" 15. legal bases" 16. other informations

Carriage of chemicals

" Never transport chemicalswithout using a basket(available in the shop).

" Never transport chemicals inthe normal elevator.

" But, you are allowed to use thebig elevator if you don’t haveany other possibility (ex: bigtank of liquid N2)

• Be careful! There is only onerespirator in the elevator!

Storage - General

" Chemicals must be stored in ventilated cabinets(wher such cabinets exist)

" Storage in the laboratory should be a « bufferstorage » for the daily use, specially for solvents

" Pay attention to the packing of the chemicals(form and material)

Storage – Maximum per person" 15 liters of organic solvent per

workplace including the wastesolvents in the laboratory

" Organic solvent stored in maximum1liter bottles can stay on the lab-benches, shelves, etc.

" For larger amounts, use the fireproofcabinet (yellow or orange) with amaximum of 100 liters

" Attention: Those cabinets are reservedfor the storage solvents, not chemicals!

" For even larger amounts, use the sol-vent room on the 2nd floor

Storage - Risks

" Fire

" Explosion

" Fall

" Packing embrittlement

" Chemical degradation

Storage – Risks – Flash pointFlash point (FP)

" Lowest temperature at which there will be enough evapo-rated flammable liquid to be ignited in the presence of asource of ignition (and stop when the source is removed).

# Be careful when using the solvent room ! First switch onthe light, then open the door and enter

FP [21-55°C] ! flammableFP [0-21°C] ! easily flammableFP<0°C and BT!35°C ! extremely flammable

Storage – Prevention objectives

" Keep the smallest practical amounts in the laboratory." Arrange chemicals in a logical way." Do not obstruct escape routes." Do not obstruct security devices (fire extinguisher,

emergency exit, safety showers, safety doors, …)." Separate chemicals from the other things to store." Separate chemicals according to their compatibility

(do not keep strong oxidants next to easily oxidizedcompounds, etc.).

Storage – Compatibility

" Are these two compounds compatible ?

+ = yes– = noo = yes if… (see otherconditions)

Cryogenic products

e.g. liquid N2, solid CO2, …" Always use them in a well ventilated room." Touch only with isolated gloves to prevent burning.

Drawing liquid N2 :" Wear your protection glasses and gloves!" Open the door during transfer" The liquid N2 must travel alone in the elevator

Gas cylinders" Hydrogen cylinders are forbidden in the

laboratories! There is a hydrogenation lab(ask Anne Schuwey).

" You need to get a permission to useacetylene cylinders (ask Prof. Belser).

" Transport:• Always with a cart (for big cylinders)• Without the manometer and with the

valve cap and cover

" Make sure your cylinder is stable and fixed.

" Bring it back when it is empty or not usedanymore.

Indication on the gas bottle

Gas name

Next test date

Owner of the bottle

Purity of the gasExample

" Ar 46 is a gaz with 99,996 % 160 CHF

" Ar 48 99,998 % 190 CHF

" Ar 57 99,9997 % 223 CHF

" He 46 99,996 % 342 CHF

" He 50 99,999 % 380 CHF

Please have a coherence in use of your gaz

Part 3

Conducting experi-ments safely

Safety in the laboratory

general rules" Control electrical connectors and cables at regular

intervals. If necessary, have them changed byOlivier Graber or Jakob Auderset

" Glassware must be safely fastened (preferably atthe ground joints) to stands by clamps

" Ground joints must be greased and fixed withclips. *)

" Never fill flasks more than two thirds.

*)

General rules" Make sure water is running if you use a condenser (the water

should enter through the spiral and exit by the straight tube)" Shut faucets (water, gaz, vacuum) as soon as you don’t need

the resource anymore." If you use a septum, make sure that its apron is folded down

over the glass tube or joint (see below)." Installations which need no vacuum must have an outlet

which opens under excess pressure.

heating installations" The level of the heating fluid should never be above that of

the reaction mixture inside the flask." Regularly clean heating baths and change the heating fluid

(to lower its flash point)" Do not overfill heating baths (heating fluids expand with

temperature)" If a reaction must run overnight or on a weekend, additio-

nal safety systems (water and heating) must be installed.

tubes" Each type of tube has its function

transparent → waterred/orange → vacuumblack or solid white → gas

" Change tubes when they appear tobe untight

" All tubes must be secured by buckles (especiallywater tubes!)

How to use gas cylinders

" Make sure the cylinder is attached" Before you begin, make sure that a suitable mano-

meter is corectly and tightly attached and shut." Select the desired pressure on the manometer." Close the main valve on the gas bottle and let spare

gas escape from the manometer as soon as you don’tneed the gas anymore.

risks associated with vacuum installations

" Carefully examine all glassware that is used in avaccum installation for defects (cracks, holes etc.)

" If a defect is suspected or seen, bring the system backto atmospheric pressur before examining it closely.

" Never carry around an installation under vacuum. Thisapplies also to desiccators.

" Never use flat bottom flasks except if they are explicitlymade to be used under vaccum (filtering flasks, desic-cators).

" Always apply vacuum before you start heating

" If an installation under vaccum is heated, wait until it hasreturned to room temperature before venting it to atmos-pheric pressure

" If you use a water pump, always secure your installationby a Wulff-bottle (see below)

rules for using vacuum installations

Part 4

What to do in case of an accident

Safety in the laboratory

When Bad Things Happen to Good Chemistry

2H2(g) + O2(g) → 2H2O(l)!!!+!ΔH

First aidImmediately remove injured people from the source of danger whilst payingattention to your own safety. The following measures are proposed as first aidpossibilities until medical assistance arrives on the scene.

" Eye injuries by corrosive substances

Wash the eyes with a large amount of water (eye showers) for approx 10 min.Maintain the eyelid open with the help of the fingers. Call immediately phonenumber 144.

" Skin chemical burns

Remove immediately the contaminated clothes. Wash thoroughly the woundedbody parts using the emergency showers (located in the lab). Call immediatelyphone number 144.

" Burns

Cool the burned area with cold water for approx 10 min. Call immediately phonenumber 144. Never use care cream or oil!

"Toxic gas inhalation

Close the toxic gas source without endangering yourself. Move the casualtiesout of the danger zone. Call immediately phone number 144 or 145 Tox center.In case of soiled clothes, refer to the chemical burns procedure.

First aid (contd.)" Eye injuries with solid objects (glass or metal splinters)

Do not administer first aid, wait for a trained professional. Call immediatelyphone number 144.

" Opened wounds, bites, scrapes

Cover with sterile bandage. Call immediately an internal phone number or 144.A first aid kit is located in the emergency room 0114.

" Ingestion of chemicals

Rinse the mouth thoroughly with water, do not give any antidote or emetics. Callimmediately phone number 144 or the Tox center 145.

" Hemorrhages

Stop the hemorrhage by placing the wounded limb in an elevated position andcover the wound with sterile bandage. Press with your finger or first stop thehemorrhage. Call immediately phone number 144.

" Electrocutions

Turn of electrical power (turn out the fuse, located in the corridors!). Callimmediately phone number 144. In case of respiratory arrest, start artificialventilation until rescue arrival.

" Breathing stops

Call immediately phone number 144. Immediately perform the artificialrespiration with a pocket mask or a protecting sheet in case of mouth-to-mouth operation.

" Fractures

Reassure the person; do not move the broken limb. Call immediately phonenumber 144.

" Faintness, convulsions, unconsciousness

Lay down the person with care in the recovery position. Protect the head withclothes or covers. Call immediately phone number 144.