Chemistry Laboratory Safety Rules

Sharps Safety A high degree of precaution must always be taken with any sharp items used in the laboratory, including needles and syringes, glass slides and cover slips, Pasteur pipettes, capillary tubes, as well as broken glass, and scalpels, blades, and knives. Sharps must be disposed of in an approved sharps container. Sharps containers may never be placed in the normal waste stream or used for any purpose other than sharps disposal. Sharps containers have to be: Puncture Resistant Clearly marked Within easy reach of the work station Filled to no more than 3/4 capacity Sealed (i.e. capped or taped) prior to transport

Sharps Safety CHEMICALLY CONTAMINATED SHARPS: Sharps contaminated with hazardous materials must be placed in a puncture proof container and sealed with a screw-on cap. The container must be labeled as hazardous waste, with the associated chemicals identified. Contact Phil Dennicort in the Chemical Stock Room (x 2338) for disposal. In case you poke yourself with sharps: Squeeze out blood; If necessary, seek medical attention immediately (know what was the contaminants of the sharps/what was in the needle).

Safety Topic – Chemical Hood General purpose: prevent exposure to toxic, irritating, or noxious chemical vapors and gases. A face velocity of 100 feet per minute (fpm) provides efficient vapor capture while reducing hood turbulence. Baffles -- keep the airflow uniform across the hood opening, thus eliminating dead spots and optimizing capture efficiency. Sash --Airflow across the hood can be adjusted by sash height to the point where capture of contaminants is maximized. Airfoil -- Preventing the creation of turbulent eddies that can carry vapors out of the hood. The space below the bottom airfoil provides source of room air for the hood to exhaust when the sash is fully closed. Exhaust plenum -- An important engineering feature, the exhaust plenum helps to distribute airflow evenly across the hood face. Face -- The imaginary plane running between the bottom of the sash to the work surface. Hood face velocity is measured across this plane.

Common Chemical Hood Misconception Myth - When working with highly hazardous materials, the higher the face velocity the better While it is important to have a face velocity between 100 and 125 fpm, velocities higher than this are actually harmful. When face velocity exceeds 125 fpm eddy currents are created which allow contaminants to be drawn out of the hood, increasing worker exposures. Myth - A chemical hood can be used for storage of volatile, flammable, or odiferous materials when an appropriate storage cabinet is not available. Hoods are not designed for permanent chemical storage. Each item placed on the work surface interferes with the directional airflow, causing turbulence and eddy currents that allow contaminants to be drawn out of the hood. Myth - The airfoil on the front of a hood is of minor importance. It can safely be removed if it interferes with my experimental apparatus. Airfoils are critical to efficient operation of a chemical hood. With the sash open an airfoil smoothes flow over the hood edges. Without an airfoil eddy currents form, causing contaminates to be drawn out of the hood. With the sash closed, the opening beneath the bottom airfoil provides for a source of exhaust air.

Safe Hood Operating Procedure Constant volume hood – the volume of air exhausted is constant, regardless of sash height. Proper positioning of the sash is vital to maintaining the optimum face velocity (100 or 125 fpm). Too high: lowers face velocity, allowing contaminants to escape from the hood Too low: results in very high face velocity, excessive turbulence and loss of containment Confirm that the hood is operational: switch on, airflow gauge or flow check ribbon hood test data and optimum sash height - yellow label affixed to the hood face Maintain operations at least 6" inside the hood face. Lower sash to optimum height: maximized airflow without turbulence (17 in accordance to the rules in Colgate University ) Keep head out of hood Keep hood storage to an absolute minimum Minimize foot traffic around the chemical hood Use extreme caution with ignition Replace hood components prior to use

Protect Your Eyes Appropriate eye protection must be worn at all times!

Wear appropriate protective clothing Your clothing should cover your legs to the knees – shorts are not appropriate for the laboratory Lab aprons can be used to protect good clothing Loose clothing should not be worn because it may dip into chemicals or fall into a flame and catch fire

Wear shoes that cover your feet. Sandals and open- toed shoes do not protect your feet from broken glass that is frequently found in the lab Also, leather shoes protect your feet from chemical spills – canvas shoes do not.

Do not apply cosmetics, eat, or drink in the lab. These activities are ways by which you can accidentally ingest harmful chemicals

Do not taste any chemical!

Pour from large containers to smaller ones.

Always ADD ACID to water acid water Do not spit into acid! – a good phrase to remember this rule.

Hold your hand over the label while pouring.

Work with volatile chemicals under a fume hood.

Check glassware for stars or cracks.

Heat test tubes at an angle, directing the opening oppositely to you and other people in the laboratory.

Handle hot glassware with gloves or beaker tongs.

First light the match THEN Turn on the gas!

Do not smell any chemicals directly! If absoluteley necessary to smell, use your hand to fan the vapor to your nose.

Do not pipet solutions by mouth! Use a rubber suction bulb or other device to fill a pipet.

Wash your hands with soap and water before leaving. This rule applies even if you have been wearing gloves!

Know the hazards of the materials being used. Read and reread labels carefully to make sure that you are using the right chemical. Know how to interpret data from a MSDS.

Tie Back Loose Hair Dangling hair can fall into the Bunsen burner and catch fire or can fall into a chemical solution P.S. Burning hair REALLY STINKS!

Know the safety equipment Eye wash fountain Safety shower Fire extinguisher Emergency exits

Know how to use the safety equipment Eye wash Fountain Safety Shower Fire extinguisher Emergency Exit

Know how to respond to an emergency Clarkson University Emergensy Number (after working hours) Campus Safety Fire Dep Hospital /3304/5720 Police /2122 Rescue Squad 911 (numbers are located near the each lab exit door)

Never remove chemicals from the laboratory This guy put chemicals in his locker!

Dont work alone in the lab In case of a problem, you may need another person to prevent injury or even save your life!

Remember that the lab is a place for serious work! Careless behavior may endanger yourself and others and will not be tolerated!

Demonstrate safe behavior Obey all safety instructions. Clean up spills immediately; IF you know how. If you are uncertain how to clean up a spill or if a large spill occurs, notify persons in accordance to the emergency procedure.

Demonstrate safe behavior Before leaving the lab:

Demonstrate safe behavior Before leaving the lab: –Return equipment and chemicals to their proper places

Demonstrate safe behavior Before leaving the lab: –Return equipment and chemicals to their proper places –Be sure to replace the lids to all containers

Demonstrate safe behavior Before leaving the lab: –Return equipment and chemicals to their proper places –Be sure to replace the lids to all containers –Clean up your work area

Know how to dispose of waste Dispose of all waste materials according to your instructional ? ? ? ?

Report any accidents or unsafe conditions immediately!