Laboratory safety fires

Unfortunately, in the minds of many regulators the word laboratory may conjure up visions of fires, explosions, and highly toxic materials. For that reason, a laboratory planner should be prepared to present the proposed operation in great detail and to answer all questions, even those which may not seem relevant. Any work planned for the future should also be discussed, since the added cost of accommodating for it in the beginning may be just a fraction of what would have to be paid for later modifications. All pertinent facts must be revealed a minor omission could make a big difference in laboratory safety. A laboratory operator who has studied the various rules and regulations with care will have no problem handling such discussions. 

Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL), UL 263. Safety Fire Tests of Building Construction and Materials. Eleventh Edition, UL, Northbrook, IL, 1992. 

Knowledge about the safety devices (e.g., laboratory hood, fire extinguisher, emergency shower, first aid boxes, etc.). 

UL 1820, Standard for Safety Fire Test of Pneumatic Tubing for Flame and Smoke Characteristics, Underwriters Laboratories, Northbrook, IL. 

Chemical safety is inherently linked to other safety issues, including laboratory procedures, personal protective equipment, electrical safety, fire safety, and hazardous waste disposal. Specific chemical substances, uses, and possible health effects are discussed in different chapters of this book. The responsibility of workers as well... 

Underwriters Laboratories Inc., Fire Tests of Door Assemblies. UL 10B, Standards for Safety, September 28, 1992. 

CeniCT for Explosive Technology Research, Explosive Firing Site and Laboratory Safety Course Class Notes, 1990. 

Section 4.3 addresses the requirements for the control of chemicals used in laboratories, including particularly hazardous substances. The requirements consolidated in this section include those that address the preparation of a chemical hygiene plan fire hazard classification fire protection plans and equipment special protections for explosives the handling, transfer and transport of flammable, reactive or toxic chemicals and compressed gases in laboratories and additional laboratory safety controls. 

Approximately thirty years ago, when the first edition of the CRC Handbook of Laboratory Safety was published, the only practical way to store laboratory records, was on paper, or in log books, which then had to be stored in file cabinets or other bulk storage areas. The protection of research records was absolutely critical to a professional scientist and a chapter was devoted to record storage safety. A comment made to the author by a senior scientist at approximately that time was to the effect that, in the event of a fire, the scientist would have to be physically restrained from reentering the facility to... 

Air Contaminants 29 CFR 1910.1000, Table Z-1, Limits for Air Contaminants 1910.1450, Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories 29 CFR 1910.1450, App A, National Research Council Recommendations Coneeming Chemical Hygiene in Laboratories (Non-Mandatory) and 29 CFR 1910.1450, App B, References (Non-Mandatory). Laboratory safety is also addressed by NFPA 45, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standard on Fire Protection for Laboratories, and the International Codes by the International Code Council (ICC). Laceration... 

Red Adair. BrainyQuote available at http //www.hrainyquote.com/ quotes/quotes/r/redadairl95669.html (accessed March 15, 2009). American Industrial Hygiene Association Laboratory Health and Safety Committee. Laboratory Safety Incidents Fires. Lithium Aluminum Hydride Fire available at http //www2.umdnj.edu/eohssweb/ aiha/accidents/fire.htm Aluminium (accessed September 14, 2009). 

The most well-known hazard rating system is by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and is called the NFPA diamond. It is a multicolored diamond that covers three hazard classes as well as specidc other hazards, and is shown is Figure 3.1.2.3. This diamond is actually designed for dredghters and it represents the hazard under conditions of a fire—it is not specidcally designed for laboratory safety. (See Special Topic 3.1.2.2 How Is a Chemical Different in a Fire ) The diamond is subdivided into four smaller diamonds—each with its characteristic color. If each point of the large diamond is treated like a clock, you will And at 9 o clock a blue diamond for health hazards, at 12 o clock a red diamond for dammability, at 3 o clock a yellow diamond for instability, and at 6 o clock a... 

American Industrial Hygiene Assodadon Laboratory Health and Safety Committee. Laboratory Safety Incidents Fires. Shelf-Collapse Causes... 

Need to follow a few links and register as a guest. The three most relevant NFPA standards related to laboratory safety are (1) Standard System for Identification of Hazards of Materials for Emergency Response, NFPA 704, NFPA, Quincy, MA, 2007 (2) Standard on Fire Protection for Laboratories Using Chemicals, NFPA 45, NFPA, Quincy, MA, 2004 and (3) Standard for Portable Fire Extinguishers, 2007 Edition, NFPA 10, NFPA Quincy, MA, 2007... 

Oakland University established its Office of Environmental Health and Safety (EH S) in February 1990. It was not until 1991 however, with the advent of the Bloodbome Pathogens and Laboratory Right-to-Know Standards, that EH S began to interact directly with faculty regarding EH S issues (and the regulatory requirements thereof). The relationship developed slowly, and not without faculty resistance. The Laboratory Safety Committee, LSC (chaired by the Director of EH S), was established as a non-governing (advisory) body by OU s President in 1994, in response to a laboratory fire. LSC representation/distribution appears in Table I. 

This text covers biological, chemical, and radiation hazards, and also discusses industrial safety topics such as fire, electrical, and physical safety. It also includes normal laboratory safety precepts which apply to research with laboratory animals. A reference section on animal room safety is also included in the Additional Readings section following the Appendices. 

Fires and fire prevention are major aspects of any safety program. In order to ensure that fire fighters receive the most current information on fire fighting methods, to promote fire safety, and to standardize methods throughout the country, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) researches and publishes standards that have been adopted into many laws throughout the country. Some of the NFPA codes of particular interest to laboratory safety are listed below. 

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