A Safety in the Laboratory

For these reasons, and also for the sake of safety and convenience, you will want to find some special place at home in which to establish your laboratory. It must be reasonably quiet and out of everyone else s way. It must be well lighted and there must be a sink in the laboratory, or very close by, so you can easily get water. To be completely on the safe side, it should be in a place that the younger children can t get to easily. Your fascinating collection of apparatus and chemicals may tempt them to try things that might prove dangerous. 

Every laboratory should have the necessary equipment to put out or to confine a fire in the laboratory and to put out a fire on the clothing of an individual. Easy access to safety showers is essential. A safety shower should have a pull chain... 

One additional point pertaining to the safety in the laboratory must be mentioned since it is so often disregarded. This is the presence of flammable solvents on shelves above the work area or on the laboratory table. A small flash or explosion can be converted into a raging fire by the proximity of a bottle containing a few ounces of acetone, etc. that is there because it plays a part in the preparation of the pyrotechnic mixture. The same applies to other reactive materials that so often clutter the laboratory area. 

There is a definite correlation between orderliness and level of safety in the laboratory. In addition, a disorda-ly laboratory can hinder or endanger ema-gency response pCTsonnel. The following housekeeping rules should be adha-ed... 

Train, communicate, mentor. A comprehensive process that manages the entire life cycle of a chemical in the laboratory would result in responsible management of the safety and security aspects of that chemical. The CSO is responsible for ensuring that proper processes are established and communicated to all, but it takes a strong commitment by top leaders in the institution to create the best safety and security systems and to establish a culture that ensures the well-being of personnel and the public. 

The pre-laboratory exercises are provided to students online and have been designed to address most of the objectives suggested by Reid and Shah (2007) listed above. In addition we have included three on-line modules discussing safety in the laboratory and instituted an online safety quiz for which all students are required to obtain 100% before being allowed to undertake the practical exercises. It is intended that a typical student will spend 30-60 minutes doing each pre-lab. 

We have made a number of improvements in this edition that significantly improve safety in the laboratory. We have added several new experiments that incorporate the principles of Green Chemistry. The Green Chemistry experiments decrease the need for hazardous waste disposal, leading to reduced contamination of the environment. These experiments involve techniques such as solid phase extraction and the use of a microwave reactor. Other experiments have been modified to reduce their use of hazardous solvents. The "Green Chemistry" essay has been revised. In our view, it is most timely that students begin to think about how to conduct chemical experiments in a more environmentally benign manner. Many other experiments have been modified to improve their reliability and safety. 

Every standard operating procedure in the laboratory requires precautionary measures that must be taken in order to execute each procedure safely The operator must read and understand the procedure thoroughly (especially procedures involving toxic substances) before proceeding. Any questions regarding the safe execution of the procedure must be addressed before attempting to execute the procedure. Adherence to all safety work practices outlined below is a must to assure safety in the laboratory... 

A valuable report, oontaining many references to cognate literature, is given In The Origins and Prevention oj Laboratory Accidents, 1949 (Royal Institute of Chemistry, London, W.C. 1). See also Guide for Safety in the Chemical Laboratory, 1966 (Van Nostrand Macmillan). 

Elame-spread and smoke-density values, and the less often reported fuel-contributed semiquantitive results of the ASTM E84 test and the limited oxygen index (LOI) laboratory test, are more often used to compare fire performance of ceUular plastics. AH building codes requite that ceUular plastics be protected by inner or outer sheathings or be housed in systems aH with a specified minimum total fire resistance. Absolute incombustibHity cannot be attained in practice and often is not requited. The system approach to protecting the more combustible materials affords adequate safety in the buildings by aHowing the occupant sufficient time to evacuate before combustion of the protected ceUular plastic. 

Young, J.A. (ed.) (1991) Improving Safety in the Chemical Laboratory A Practical Guide, Wiley, Chichester. 

Aside from size considerations, the primary difference between bench-scale and pilot-scale work is that bench-scale tests are conducted in the laboratory pilot-scale testing is usually carried out on the site. Pilot tests are subject to a whole range of problems, such as siting, health and safety, obtaining clearances, installation and operation. However, the data obtained from pilot-scale tests are much more appropriate and useful because they reflect what is actually occurring in the field. 

Ammonium Peroxodisulfate, HgNjOgS A mixt with A1 and W may explode H.A.J. Pieters et al, Safety In The Chemical Laboratory , Academic Press, London (1957)... 

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) conducts research on occupational diseases and injuries, responds to requests for assistance by investigating problems of health and safety in the workplace, recommends standards to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), and trains professionals in occupational safety and health. Contact NIOSH, 200 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20201 Phone 800-356-4674 or NIOSH Technical Information Branch, Robert A. Taft Laboratory, Mailstop C-19,4676 Columbia Parkway, Cincinnati, OH 45226-1998 Phone 800-35-NIOSH. 

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