Devestating incidents in laboratories remind us that safety requires constant systematic attention

“Safety is everyone’s responsibility” is a mantra that sets the tone for safety in an organization. It reflects the safety ethic. It is a simple reminder that safety culture is personal, and that everyone has a role ensuring a safe environment for all.

Building positive attitudes toward safety requires leadership and continual reinforcement of safety’s importance.

Strong safety cultures are seen in organizations that:

∙ Actively lead and manage safety throughout the organization

∙ Teach basic laboratory and chemical safety

∙ Embody safety attitudes, safety awareness, and safety ethics

∙ Learn from incidents

∙ Collaborate interactively to build a safety culture

∙ Promote and communicate safety

∙ Fund safety programs and supplies

ACS is committed to supporting strong safety cultures in organizations throughout the chemistry enterprise.

Laboratory and Chemical Safety

• Safety Culture ......................................1• General Safety Awareness ...............2• Laboratory Hazards ..........................2• Specific Chemical Hazards ..............3• General Laboratory

Equipment Safety ...............................3• Handling of Compressed Air and

Gases ...................................................4-5• Special Topic: Laboratory Safety in

Earthquake Country ..........................5• References ............................................6• Resources, Future Topics,

and Acknowledgements for Exceptional Safety Habits ...............6

USU Student Safety CommiteeFall 2017 Issue 3

Newsletter

I work safely,value safety,

prevent at risk behavior,

promote safety, and accept responsibility

for safety.

The Safety Ethic

1Lab and Chemical Safety

Safety Culture

Contents

Laboratory and Chemical Safety

Laboratory HazardsHazards in the laboratory fall into three general categories: chemicals, equipment, and gases.

Chemicals:Acids, bases, etching solutions and solvents are commonly used in materials chemistry and device fabrication. These are “hands on” hazards which are hard to control by engineering controls only. These chemicals can cause severe burns, tissue damage, organ damage, asphyxiation, and genetic damage if used improperly. You must take chemical safety instructions before using any chemical.

In addition, improper use of solvents can result in a major fire. These chemicals, even if they look ordinary,

they are definitely not hazard free.

Equipment:A wide variety of equipment is used for different activities. Most of the equipment is delicate, sensitive and expensive. Before you use any equipment you must learn about its operation and its safety implications. Misuse of equipment can lead to injury delay in project work and substantial cost in repair bill.

Gases:A variety of compressed gases are used, some of which may be toxic, corrosive,flammable, or explosive. These hazards have been minimized by the use of proper equipment, proper confinement, ventilation, safety valves, etc., and by procedural controls. You must learnabout the safe handling of gases before embarking on their use. An accident with any of these could be catastrophic.

1. Familiarize yourself with all aspects of safety before using any equipment.

2. Be alert to unsafe conditions of the equipment, procedures and actions, and call attention to them so that corrections can be made as soon as possible.

3. Label all storage areas, appropriately, and keep all chemicals in properly labelled containers.

4. Date all chemical bottles when received and when opened.

5. Note expiry dates on chemicals.6. Note storage conditions and adhere

to them.7. Familiarise yourself with the

appropriate protective measures when exposed to the following classes of hazardous materials.

Flammable Carcinogen

Corrosive Compressed Gases

Toxic Poisons8. Post warning signs for unusual

hazards such as flammable materials no naked flames or other special problems.

9. Pour more concentrated solutions into less concentrated solutions to avoid violent reactions (i.e. add acid to water, not water to acid).

10. Avoid distracting other worker.11. Use equipment only for its

designated purpose.12. Position and secure apparatus used

for chemical reactions in order to permit manipulation without moving the apparatus until the entire reaction is complete.

General Safety A w a r e n e s s

Classification of physical health and environmental hazards:

2 Lab and Chemical Safety

Specific Chemical Hazards

Acetone and Flammable Solvents:Acetone is widely used throughout the facility. It is a very flammable solvent with a low flashpoint, (i.e. it can be ignited at a low ambient temperature). Because of this it presents a significant fire hazard. A spill of a gallon bottle of acetone could cause a catastrophic fire or explosion.

It should not be transported except in chemical buckets. Solvents should also be handled with care in the hoods and not used near hot plates. Spilled solvent can be ignited by the hot plates. The resulting fire could easily be drawn up into the exhaust ducts, again with catastrophic consequences.

Chlorinated Solvents:Chlorinated solvents (ie. chlorobenzene, trichloroethylene, and methylene chloride) are used in various resist processes. They are particularly bad for you, causing cancer, organ damage, etc.They should not be mixed with normal solvents in waste bottles. There are separate waste bottles for chlorinated solvents. As with most solvents, they can be readily absorbed through the skin.

Peroxides:All peroxides are highly oxidizing materials. Considerable energy can be released in their reactions with common materials. Some peroxide compounds are unstable, and can explode. Extreme care should be used in mixing solutions

containing peroxides. Peroxides are incompatible with all forms of organic solvents and flammable materials.

Corrosives:A corrosive chemical either destroys living tissue or causes permanent change is such tissue through chemical action. Corrosives can destroy both skin and tissues underneath the skin; corrosives destroy eyes, the respiratory system, and other living tissue.Usual precautionary measures include preventing contact with skin, eyes, and the respiratory tract with proper PPE. In addition to:• Always store corrosives below eye

level.• After handling corrosive chemicals,

always wash thoroughly using plenty of water.

General Laboratory Equipment Safety

Glassware:Accidents involving glassware are a leading cause of laboratory injuries. These can be avoided by following a few simple procedures. In general, be certain that you have received proper instructions before you use glass equipment designed for specialized tasks that involve unusual risks or potential injury.

Here are few safety rules:• Handle and store glassware carefully

so as not to damage it or yourself.• When inserting glass tubing into

rubber stoppers, corks or when placing rubber tubing on glass hose connections: • Protect hands with a heavy

glove or towel.• Lubricate tubing or stopper with

water or soap solution and be sure that the ends of the glass tubing are fire-polished.

• Hold hands close together to

limit movement of glass should fracture occur.

• Substitute plastic connections for glass whenever possible to decrease the risk of injury.

• Use glassware for vacuum work that is designed for that purpose.

When dealing with broken glass wear hand protection when picking up the pieces. Use a broom to sweep small pieces into a dustpan and store glass pieces in a designated bin for broken glass.

Vacuum Systems:Familiarize yourself with the operations of the vacuum system in use. (If you are not familiar with the functions of Rotary, Diaphragm, Diffusion or Turbo Pumps, please make an effort to learn about them. Improper use can lead to accidents, serious damage to pump, substantial cost in repair or replacement of the pump and of course delay in project work.)• Make sure the service cord and

switch are free of observable defects and accessible in case of emergency.

• Always use a trap on the suction line to prevent liquids from being drawn into the pump.

• Place a tray under the pump to catch any oil drips.

• If gases or vapours are being drawn through the pump, a cold trap should be used in the suction line to prevent contamination of the pump oil. Be careful not to condendense liquid oxygen, which is explosive.

(continued on pg. 4)3Lab and Chemical Safety

Laboratory and Chemical Safety

Liquid oxygen

Heating Devices:Electrical devices that supply heat in laboratories include:

HotplatesTube & Box FurnacesHeating MantlesHot-Air GunsOil Baths

Improper use of any one of these could result in fire or burns to the user.Before using any heating device:• Check to see if the unit has an

automatic safety shutoff in case of overheating.

• Note the condition of electrical cords and have them replaced as required.

• Make sure the apparatus has been maintained as required by the manufacturer.

• Check to see that all heating units in use without automatic shut-off have been turned off before leaving an area for any extended period of time.

• Flammable or combustible solvents should not be used in a heated bath or placed near the bath. Oil baths must always be housed in a chemical fume hood.

Handling of Compressed Air and GasesCompressed air and gases must be treated with seriousness. These simple principles will help to minimize any danger of any incident. Incidents such as the 2016 explosion at the University of Hawaii where a 49 L high-pressure steel tank (pictured below) with 70% hydrogen, 25% oxygen, and 5% carbon dioxide ignited from a spark orginating from a pressure gauge not rated for work with flammable gas.

The steel tank ruptured durning the explosion, destroying the lab.

There was also a postdoctoral researcher present during the explosion who lost her right arm just above the elbow and also suffered facial burns, abrasions to her cornea and nerve damage to her ears that led to high frequency hearing loss.

Worst yet is “She did not lose consciousness or hit her head; she was aware that she lost her arm in the explosion,” the report says. The report than continues to say, “She couldn’t open the door to the lab, the door was stuck closed. Security officers and a graduate student had to kicked in the door to help her get out.”

You may try to write this incedent off as an elaborate Halloween attempt to scare you... but I assure you that this incident is very much real!!!

Full article urls listed in references.

Simple principles, as mentioned previously, that could have helped prevent such a horrific incident have been outlined by the Imperial College of London as: • Cylinders should not be subjected to

shocks, falls, or undue heating.

• Cylinders should always be stored upright. Grease and oil must not be allowed to come in contact with the cylinders. All cylinders must be treated as if full.

• Cylinder valves should be opened slowly. Improvised tools must not be used for this purpose.

• Always use two stage regulator

on the gas cylinders i.e. with two gauges on the regulator, one showing cylinder pressure and the other outlet regulated pressure. Regulators should be used for gases for which they are intended and marked. Keep regulators in good shape and maintained order.

• When connecting a regulator to a cylinder it is important that regulator connecting threads are aligned accurately. If threads are misaligned and forced to thread in it is possible to damage the regulator or cylinder head or both seriously.

• Leaks sometimes occur between the regulator and cylinder. If a valve seat is leaking which is rare, a temporary measure is to attach a regulator to it and seek help from the concerned safety people. If a flammable gas is involved the cylinder should be immediately moved to a safe place (open area) , taking care to avoid possible sources of ignition.

(continued on pg. 5)

Laboratory and Chemical Safety

4 Lab and Chemical Safety

Laboratory and Chemical Safety• Connecting hoses should be of

sound construction and of approved standard for the working pressure.

• Leaking cylinder must not be left on its own. If the leak is between cylinder valve and the regulator, which is most common, close the cylinder valve and attend to the connection between regulator and the cylinder valve. Ask for assistance as appropriate.

Special Topic: Laboratory Safety in Earthquake CountrySuggested by: Sandra Lundell

An interesting topic of “What does the USU Chem. Dept. have in place for earthquake preparedness in their labs?” was submitted to my inbox amidst the recent seismic activity that has been occuring in Soda Springs after their magnitude 5.3 earthquake on Sept. 2, 2017.

Considering we are on the Wasatch fault line, I found it quite shocking that I had never considered what ramifications an earthquake would have on a chemistry lab. And, after doing some digging through the USU Chem. Dept. safety and security policy manual, the USU EH&S website , and USU’s website, I found only that the USU student affairs was the only place to find a general preparedness plan for an earthquake (https://studentaffairs.usu.edu/emergency/earthquake), but had no extra details for additional hazards that may be faced in a chemistry lab other than “ Keep flammable or hazardous material liquid and heavy objects in secured cabinets or on lower shelves.”

So, in the spirit of this newsletter I wanted

to branch out and see if their were any colleges or universities that did have an earthquake preparedness plan in place for their chemistry department. What I found was some insightful earthquake preparedness documents from California State University (CSU), Fullerton; CSU, Northridge; and University of California Santa Barbra, which set in place safety criteria that included the general preparedness mentioned earlier, plus additional policies. Outlined below is the preparedness policy for before the disaster. For the full CSU Northridge earthquake preparedness policy see https://www.jumpjet.info/Emergency-Preparedness/Disaster-Mitigation/Earth/Laboratory_Earthquake_Preparedness.pdf.

Before The Disaster:

Chemicals:• Are they stored properly and in

secondary containment trays/tubs?• Are they sealed and returned to their

storage cabinets immediately after use?

• Are waste chemicals removed regularly?

Equipment:• Are pressure regulators removed and

cylinder caps in place on those not in use?

• Are gas cylinders well secured in an upright position?

• Are fume hood sashes closed as far as possible while still maintaining adequate ventilation rates?

• Are heavy objects located on or near the floor and secured to reduce hazards and damage?

• Are flexible hose connections used for lab equipment, especially on gas supply lines?

• Do you have equipment or processes that could be damaged or pose a fire/ health hazard if power was suddenly lost? What preparations have you made for backup or emergency power to maintain these critical systems?

• Do you have backup power for freezers or refrigerators?

• Is large or valuable bench top equipment secured to the benches or counters?

Furniture:• Are storage cabinets closed and

latched?• Look above and around your desk,

work table or bench. Are there shelves or cabinets next to or over you? If they should fall or empty out, would they fall on you? Most earthquake injuries are caused by falling objects, not falling buildings.

• Are storage shelves equipped with lips or restraints to keep chemicals and glassware in place, and secured to prevent tipping or movement?

• If all the contents of the cabinets or shelves next to the exit door were to fall on the floor (as they would during an earthquake), would you still be able to open the door?

• Is heavy equipment or furniture that may block exit routes secured? Are exits and aisle ways maintained free and clear of obstructions?

5Lab and Chemical Safety

Additional Info on Earthquakes

Putting Down Roots in Earthquake Country is a free handbook developed by the state of Utah that provides a detailed guide to earthquakes in Utah. Inside this booklet you will find history, statistics, and geological information and much more about earthquakes in Utah. It also outlines a seven step earthquake preparedness plan for the general public. If you are interested in reading this booklet you can find it online at: https://www.utah.gov/beready/documents/roots_earthquake_low.pdf

Departmental Safety Committee:

Name Email Location

Tom Chang tom.chang@usu.edu WIDT 337

Lance Seefeld lance.seefeldt@usu.edu WIDT 241

Margo Morgan margo.morgan@usu.edu MLC 353

Leo Liu leo.liu@usu.edu ML 361

Rachel Curry rachel.curry@usu.edu ECOB 121

Departmental Student Safety Committee:

Name Email Location

Heather Jones hjones9791@gmail.com WIDT 210

Xuan Liu liuxuan@aggiemail.usu.edu WIDT 306

Katie Lundell katie.a.simpson@aggiemail.usu.edu

ML 367

Yagya Subedi lyagya.subedi@aggiemail.usu.edu WIDT 336

Sandra Lundell

sandra.lundell@aggiemail.usu.edu

Future Topics:

To be announced.

If you have a specific topic you would like featured in a future newsletter, please contact Katie Lundell. With so many diverse areas in our department, we would like to know what safety concerns you are intrested in.

Individuals Acknowledged for Safety Habits:

No individuals were reckognized for this issue.

If you have anyone you would liketo acknowledge for exceptional safetyhabits please contact a member of your departmental student safety committee.

Resources, Future Topics and, Acknowledgements for Exceptional Safety Habits

Laboratory and Chemical Safety

6 Lab and Chemical Safety

References:1. NIH (2015) Chemical Safety Guide2. Dr. Munir Ahamad. Imperial College

London. (2003) Laboratory and Chemical Safety Guide.

3. ACS (2001). Chemical Safety for Teachers and Their Supervisors: Grades 7-12.

4. Control of Substances Hazardous toHealth (COSHH)

5. Occupational Safety and HealthAdministration (OSHA)

6. Harvard Department of Chemistryand Chemical Biology (2012).Laboratory Safety Manual

7. CSUF. (2012) Earthquake Preparation for Laboratories

8. CSUN. (2005). Laboratory Earthquake Preparedness

9. M. N. Machette, W. M. Brown. (1995)Utah braces for the future: U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet 166–95,2 p. (Available at https://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/1995/0166/.)

Lab Explosion Articles:Spark from pressure gauge caused University of Hawaii explosion, fire department says. https://cen.acs.org/articles/94/web/2016/04/Spark-pressure-gauge-caused-University.html

University of Hawaii lab explosion likely originated in electrostatic discharge. https://cen.acs.org/articles/94/i28/University-Hawaii-lab-explosion-likely.html

Inside the bloody lab where University of Hawaii researcher lost her ARM in an experimental explosion is revealed as she sues the school. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4142300/Researcher-lost-arm-blast-sues-University-Hawaii.html

Questions or Concerns? Please contact: Katie Lundell (Chair & Editor)

Office: ML: 367 Phone: (208) 431-3854

E-mail: katie.a.simpson@aggiemail.usu.edu