CHEMICAL LABORATORY SAFETY OUT OF HARM'S WAY: SAFE HANDLING OF CORROSIVE CHEMICALS

Objectives

Out of Harm's Way: Safe Handling of Corrosive Chemicals: American Chemical Society chemical safety video courses

Important Concepts

• Corrosive chemicals are defined by OSHA as substances that irreparably harm human tissue on contact.   They are the only chemicals carrying a Department of Transportation symbol indicating the potential for both human and material damage.   Corrosives can occur in many different chemical forms, including organic and inorganic acids, bases, oxidizers, and reducing agents.    Corrosives are the most common chemical hazard faced by chemical workers.

• Before you begin working with any chemical, determine if it's a corrosive and learn as much about it and its reactions as possible.    Corrosive chemicals can be identified by their container labels and Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs).  Labels on corrosive chemicals must contain certain warnings, such as DO NOT GET IN EYES, DO NOT GET ON SKIN, DO NOT GET ON CLOTHING.    The MSDS for a corrosive chemical will describe the hazards associated with the chemical, as well as the precautions for its safe handling and use, such as the appropriate personal protective equipment to use and spill cleanup procedures. for further information on using corrosive chemicals safely, consult your organization's Chemical Hygiene Plan, Hazard Assessment Plan, and safety library.

• Before beginning work with a corrosive, learn the proper emergency response in case of an accident. Have the proper spill cleanup materials on hand.   Most important, locate and test your laboratory's safety shower and eyewash station.   Make sure there is someone else in the area who can help you use the safety equipment in the event of an emergency.   Once a corrosive gets on your skin or in your eyes, you have only a few seconds to wash it off before it causes irreparable tissue damage.   Don't delay because you feel no pain.   With some corrosives, such as hydrogen fluoride and phenol, there may be no immediate pain or the pain may pass quickly.   However, untreated exposures to either of these chemicals can lead to gangrene and death.

• Solid corrosives and liquids with low vapor pressure may be used on a lab bench if there are no incompatible chemicals in the area, the proper spill cleanup materials are in close proximity, and others working in the area are aware of the chemicals you are using.   Always use a hood when working with volatile liquid corrosives, powders, and gasses. Special hoods may be designated for very reactive or toxic corrosives, such as perchloric acid.

• Less is better, keep on hand only the amount of corrosive chemical you need for your immediate work.

• Transport corrosives within the laboratory building on a cart with high edges and appropriate secondary containment large enough to hold all the material on the cart.

• Keep incompatible chemicals segregated in the laboratory and the storeroom, i.e., separate acids and bases, oxidizers and flammables, etc.    Place chemicals in suitable secondary containers.   Cabinets should be well ventilated and corrosion-resistant.