Sampling Safely

Nalco/Exxon Energy Chemicals, L.P. 1997. Shipping Samples Safely. Sugar Land, Tex. 

Industrial and mining settings should require ear protection (plugs or muffs) for noise above a certain decibel level, hard hats for head protection, and steel-toed shoes for foot protection. A safety harness should be worn when sampling from heights. A full protective suit should be worn when in extreme heat or cold or near hazardous chemicals. Check to see whether mechanical equipment must be shut down to sample safely. Eye or face protection should be worn if hot gases may be released to the atmosphere. In some circumstances, weather may be a factor. In the field, local terrain may require special gear. 

Sampling safely should be a primary concern. So it is important to know the hazards of the material the capabilities and limitations of the equipment and the environment where the sample will be taken. In many cases government regulations will apply and protective clothing may be necessary. 

Determine how to obtain representative samples SAFELY during run. 

Establishing measures to keep the samples safe and guaranteeing their integrity (i.e., locks in shelves, temperature alarms)... 

Robotics technology is used to manipulate highly radioactive samples safely. 

Appendix / Sample Safely Responsibilities Worksheet (Managing Worker Safety and Health, Illinois, Public Domain, Adapted for Use, n.d. Roughton Mercurio, 2002)... 

Handling biological material always raises the issue of safety for the persoimel involved. Chemical hazards and safety procedures relating to these are well known for chemists. Regarding biological hazards, first the staff participating in the research should be aware of them, and second, adequate precautions should be taken and the personnel should be trained on how to handle human samples safely. 

Surface defects (Section VII-4C) are also influenced by the history of the sample. Such imperfections may to some extent be reversibly affected by processes such as adsorption so that it is not safe to regard even a refractory solid as having fixed surface actions. Finally, solid surfaces are very easily contaminated detection of contamination is aided by ultra-high-vacuum techniques and associated cleaning protocols [24]. 

The liquid becomes progressively darker in colour, and then effervesces gently as ethylene is evolved. Allow the gas to escape from the delivery-tube in T for several minutes in order to sweep out the air in F and B. Now fill a test-tube with water, close it with the finger, and invert the tube in the water in T over the delivery-tube so that a sample of the gas collects in the tube. Close the tube again with the finger, and then light the gas at a Bunsen burner at a safe distance from the apparatus. If the tube contains pure ethylene, the latter burns with a clear pale blue (almost invisible) flame if the ethylene still contains air, the mixture in the test-tube ignites with a sharp report. Allow the... 

Sodamide should never be stored in a stoppered bottle from which samples are to be removed intermittently, since dangerous mixtures may result when the substance is exposed for 2-3 days to even limited amounts of air at the ordinary temperature. As a safe practice, sodamide should be used immediately after preparation, and should not be kept longer than 12-24 hours unless it be under an inert solvent. Even small amounts of unused sodamide should be removed from the apparatus in which it was made by washing with methyl or ethyl alcohol. In all cases where a yellowish or brownish colour develops, due to the formation of oxidation... 

A sample blank of trihalomethane-free water can be kept with the samples at all times. If the sample blank shows no evidence for chloroform, then we can safely assume that the samples also are free from contamination. 

Samples can be removed for analysis, phase volumes can be measured to determine mixture composition and molar volumes (70), and phase boundaries can be measured. Many different configurations of view cells have been proposed. Some are capable of pressures ia excess of 100 MPa (14,500 psi). The cell coateats may be viewed safely through the sapphire wiadow by use of a mirror, video camera, or borescope. 

Operations capable of generating airborne beryUium particulate, such as melting, machining, welding, grinding, etc, are effectively controUed by local exhaust ventilation or other control measures. To assure a safe environment and measure compliance with the OSHA standards, employee exposures should be periodicaUy measured by prescribed air sampling and analytical methods. 

Reactive System Screening Tool (RSST) The RSST is a calorimeter that quickly and safely determines reactive chemical hazards. It approaches the ease of use of the DSC with the accuracy of the VSP. The apparatus measures sample temperature and pressure within a sample containment vessel. Tne RSST determines the potential for runaway reactions and measures the rate of temperature and pressure rise (for gassy reactions) to allow determinations of the energy and gas release rates. This information can be combined with simplified methods to assess reac tor safety system relief vent reqiiire-ments. It is especially useful when there is a need to screen a large number of different chemicals and processes. 

Measurement locations and methods may be different from those used daily. Analysts and the sample-gatherers must be intimately familiar with the locations, difficulties, and methods. Analysts must ensure that the methods are safe, that the locations are as indicated on the flow sheets, and that the sample-gatherers will be able to safely obtain the necessary samples. 

Sampling locations for the unit test should be readily and safely accessible. The sample gatherer should be able to easily access the sample point. An isolation valve should be installed at the location. If a blind is installed, this should be modified in advance of the test. The sample locations shown on the P IDs must be compared against the actual locations on the equipment. Experienced operators may provide insight into the suitability of the location in question. 

Dead legs in the sample line must be discharged safely to ensure that the sample will ac tuaUy be representative of the material in the unit. Without blowing down the dead leg, samples taken will be erroneous, as they may be representative of some past operating conditions. If the location is nonroutine, the sample leg may have accumulated debris. The debris could partially or totally block the line. Opening the isolation valve to blow down the line could result in a sudden, uncontrolled release, presenting a hazard to the sample gatherer. 

Sampling spills. Wear proper personal protective equipment (PPE) Follow proper sampling procedures Use safe sampling design CCPS G-22 CCPS G-23 CCPS G-29 Lovelace 1979... 

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