Hazards in laboratory

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulates chlorambucil under the Hazard Communication Standard and as a chemical hazard in laboratories, although there is no specific occupational exposure standard for the chemical. The Food and Drug Administration regulates clinical use of the drug and labeling requirements under the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. 

OSHA regulates polychlorinated biphenyls under the Hazard Communication Standard and as chemical hazards in laboratories. OSHA s PEL on an 8-hour TWA for chlorodiphenyls containing 42% chlorine is 1 mg/m. Its PEL on chlorobiphenyls containing 54% chlorine is 0.5 mg/m. These standards are based on the toxic effects other than cancer. NIOSH recommends the exposure to PCBs be controlled to the lowest feasible concentration. 

Many solvents are good fuels, and will readily bum in air. Ibis can be a safety hazard in laboratories and factories. The temperature at which a solvent catches fire in the absence of a flame is called its aiitiHgnitjon tempeiatiiie. This is surprisingly high for most solvents (Table 10.2). The temperature at which the vapour pressure of a pure solvent in air is sufficient to be ignited by a naked flame is called the flash point of the solvent (Rg. 10.14). This can be very low (Table 10.2). R>r example, the flash point of petroleum ether (a fraction obtained from the distillation of cmde oil and which boils between 30 and 40°C) is —51 C. This means that petroleum ether stored in an open (or leaking) container will still represent a serious fire hazard even if stored in a freezer operating at — 51 C. Rash points are used to classify the flammability of solvents. 

AlHA Laborato-y Health and Safety Committee provides resources to aid in prevention, identification, and control of potential exposures to chemical, biological, ergonomic, ionizing, and nonionizing radiation and [4iysical hazards in laboratories. 

Marendaz, Jean-Luc, Suard, Jean-Claude Meyer, T. (2013). A systematica tool for Assessment and Classification of Hazards in Laboratories (ACHiL). 

S.G. Luxon (Ed.), Hazards in the Chemical Laboratory, 5th Edn, Royal Society of Chemistry, 1992. ISBN 0851862292. 

Chemical reaction hazards must be considered in assessing whether a process can be operated safely on the manufacturing scale. Furthermore, the effect of scale-up is particularly important. A reaction, which is innocuous on the laboratory or pilot plant scale, can be disastrous in a full-scale manufacturing plant. For example, the heat release from a highly exothermic process, such as the reduction of an aromatic nitro compound, can be easily controlled in laboratory glassware. Flowever,... 

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. 

Figure 12-19. The PHI-TEC II adiabatic calorimeter Test cell and calorimeter in main pressure vessel rated for use to 138 bara. (Source Hazard Evaluation Laboratory Ltd.)...

Hazard identification is defined as tlie process of determining whetlier human exposure to an agent could cause an increase in the incidence of a health condition (cancer, birtli defect, etc.) or whetlier exposure to nonliumans, such as fish, birds, and otlier fonns of wildlife, could cause adverse effects. Hazard identification cliaracterizes tlie liazard in terms of tlie agent and dose of the agent. Since tliere are few hazardous chemicals or hazardous agents for wliich definitive exposure data in humans exists, tlie identification of health hazards is often characterized by the effects of health hazards on laboratory test animals or other test systems. ... 

G D Muir (Ed) Hazards in the Chemical Laboratory, Royal Institute of Chemistry, London, 1971... 

The checkers had n-bromobenzenediazon ium hexafluoro-phosphate examined in laboratories of the Du Pont Co. Explosives Department to see if it could be detonated. It was found sensitive to neither shock nor static electricity, and to decompose but not detonate when rapidly heated to 250°. Hence it probably does not present an explosion hazard, but it should be kept away from heat, especially if in a closed container. 

Trichloromethyl chloroformate is useful in synthesis as a substitute for phosgene, which, owing to its high volatility and toxicity, presents a severe hazard in the laboratory. Although trichloromethyl chloroformate is toxic, it is a dense and less volatile liquid, b.p. 128°, d l 1.65, having a vapor pressure of only 10 mm. at 20°. Consequently it is more easily handled in a safe manner than phosgene. 

There are other more recent examples though. In one laboratory, flammable solvents had been used in such small quantities that they required no special storage. As their use of solvents increased, however, there were eventually five-gallon cans of ether casually stored in one comer of a room. When a routine inspection by the fire department uncovered this hazard, the laboratory was forced to install proper storage. 

Most mechanical hazards in the laboratory can be avoided by good planning. There must be no obstructions in traffic areas, particularly those needed for rapid evacuation in case of emergency. Wide hallways may look like good parking places for movable equipment not currently in use. They may also seem convenient for storage of reagents and supplies that temporarily... 

Laboratories handling biologicals have their own special problems. They often have to dispose of small but significant amounts of materials that may be very hazardous. Every laboratory procedure must then be scrutinized with this in mind. 

A janitor surrounded by sensitive instruments may be like a bull in a china shop. In one laboratory, the janitors were not allowed to clean anything above floor level, including windows, without supervision by laboratory personnel. Janitors should not be allowed to handle containers of flammable or hazardous waste. Laboratory personnel should clear the floors completely when the janitor announces that it is time for floor waxing. 

A good handyman must be able to recognize his limitations and employ professional assistance for work he is not completely familiar with. In the long run, this will prove less expensive. Too many hazardous wire connections and improper plumbing repairs have been observed in laboratories. One OSHA inspection of a... 

For chemicals in general the identification of a potential hazard normally arises from the application of in vitro tests or from short-term toxicity studies undertaken in laboratory animals (up to a period of 90 days in the case of the rat where the test material normally should not exceed 1% of the total diet). This usually enables a critical effect to be assessed. 

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