Hazard Information for the Laboratory

In a laboratory, fire hazard may vary from minimal to severe. Proper protective measures, though costly, are worth the price. A laboratory must meet local fire protection standards for industry, which are usually more restrictive than those for a home. While a fire department official is not a chemist, given the proper input he will come up with good suggestions. Providing him with the necessary information is an important job for the laboratory planner. 

Where a chemical is bought directly from a manufacturer, the analyst can refer to the label on the container for information on the various hazards presented by the contents. The manufacturer is nowadays obliged to provide hazard information on the label. However, this has not always been the case and there are many bottles of reagents in use in laboratories where the labelling is less than perfect. 

Two types of hazards are associated with the use of chemicals—hazards that are a direct result of the physical and reactive properties of a chemical, and health hazards resulting from the biological properties. This chapter summarises hazards that are associated with working with chemicals in a laboratory, and highlights some sources of hazard information for carrying out hazard and risk assessments. 

Major elements of a CHP plan include listing of responsibilities for employers, employees, and a chemical hygiene officer. Also among the items that have to be covered in the plan is the stipulation that every laboratory must have a complete chemical inventory that is updated annually. A copy of the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS), which defines each chemical as toxic, carcinogenic, or dangerous, must be on file and readily accessible and available to aU employees 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The MSDS contains important information for the benefit of laboratory employees. The chemical manufacturer s information as supplied on the MSDS is used to ascertain whether a certain chemical is hazardous. Each MSDS must give the product s... 

In summary, among the currently available resources, MSDSs remain the best single source of information for the purpose of evaluating the hazards and assessing the risks of chemical substances. However, laboratory workers should recognize the limitations of MSDSs as applied to laboratory-scale operations ... 

Use. This information can be very useful to the laboratory worker—knowing about a chemical s reactivity is essential. Knowing about incompatibles to avoid during use and storage is also essential. The formation of hazardous products is particularly useful to emergency personnel, especially firefighters. The possibility of hazardous polymerization is also important to know for the laboratory worker and emergency personnel. 

Besides the responsibility for hazard control in the laboratory, the supervisor is also responsible for ensuring that the laboratory staff has adequate information about the potential hazards in their work. Project directors and supervisors are the key persons responsible for safety and hazard control in their own laboratories and are responsible for making specialized safety information relating to their particular laboratory operation, as well as... 

The PHI-TEC II adiabatic calorimeter as shown in Figure 12-17 was developed by Hazard Evaluation Laboratory Ltd. (UK). The PHI-TEC can be used both as a high sensitivity adiabatic calorimeter and as multi-purpose vent sizing device [17,18]. The PHI-TEC employs the principles established by DIERS and includes advanced features compared to the VSP. It also provides important information for storage and handling and provides useful insight into the options suitable for downstream disposal of vented material. 

H. Safety considerations. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), US Department of Labor, standard entitled Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories (29 CFR 1910.1450) makes it necessary to address safety issues in the SOP. The standard requires laboratories that use hazardous chemicals to maintain employee exposures at or below the permissible exposure limits specified for these chemicals in 29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart Z. Hazards associated with any specific chemicals used in a method must be addressed so that the user has the information needed to follow the Chemical Hygiene Plan for their laboratory. The method developer should limit the use of hazardous chemicals where feasible. The use of toxic and/or carcinogenic reagents should be avoided or eliminated as much as possible. Additionally, the cost of disposal is increasing and could impact the practicality of a method. Material Safety Data Sheets for the analyte(s) and any unusual or hazardous reagents should be provided for the user. 

Although I had been aware during most of my career as a preparative chemist of a general lack of information relevant to the reactive hazards associated with the use of chemicals, the realisation that this book needed to be compiled came soon after my reading Chemistry Industry for June 6th, 1964. This issue contained an account of an unexpected laboratory explosion involving chromium trioxide and acetic anhydride, a combination which I knew to be extremely hazardous from close personal experience 16 years previously. 

Preliminary Hazard Analysis. The next step in the process is the development of a PHA. This analysis is the core of the FSS program and as such is vital in eliminating or reducing the inherent hazards associated with this laboratory operation. The PHA is used to further analyze the data identified in the PHL. This enhances the hazard control data base and provides specific recommended corrective action for the resolution of hazardous conditions. A combination of the informational sources used in the PHL development and any additional design information should be used in PHA development. 

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