CHT 309 - Texas State Technical College - Chemical Technology - LABORATORY SAFETY

CHEMICAL LABORATORY SAFETY

CTEC 1345

COURSE OBJECTIVES

The course has two major objectives:

To instruct chemical technicians in regulated and accepted ways of safeguarding themselves, their co-workers, and the environment from unintended effects of the chemicals they work with.

To instill in chemical technicians the idea that regulations are meant to help protect them, their co-workers, and the environment to the degree society and governmental agencies have decided appropriate.

Introduction to Laboratory Safety

Define the following terms:

Toxicity

Corrosive

Flammable

Combustible

Flash point

Autoignition

Flammable range

UEL

LEL

Reactivity

Local toxicity

Systemic toxicity

Allergic reactions

Acute

Chronic

Latency period

TLV

PEL

TWA

STEL

Ceiling limits

Self-reactive chemicals

Pyrophoric substances

Exothermic reactions

Endothermic reactions

MSDS

List the four pathways of toxins into the body.

List six effects of toxins on the human body.

Tell how exposure to toxic substances is measured.

Tell how the effects of toxic substances are classified.

List and describe the three types of exposure limits.

Tell how flammable and combustible liquids are classified and the basis for the classification.

Tell the maximum volume of flammable materials permitted by OSHA in a single fire area.

List the three items required for a fire (fire triangle).

List types of oxidizers other than oxygen.

List potential ignition sources that may be found in a laboratory environment.

List the three most common and easily accessed sources of information about the hazards of a given substance.

Tell the objectives of the hazard communication training provided by employers.

List the ten categories which must be contained in an MSDS.

Given an MSDS for a substance, identify the manufacturer, substance, hazards, precautionary measures and first aid/emergency procedures.

Protection Against the Odds

Define the following terms:

Face velocity

Shielding

Glove bag

Dry box

Glove box

List the four principle steps in the "philosophy of protection" and give examples how each of the steps may be addressed.

List three methods that a hazard may be reduced or eliminated.

List eight common laboratory devices used to isolate or contain hazards.

Tell how exposure to a hazardous substance by inhalation is minimized.

Tell the purpose of a fume hood.

Tell the recommended face velocity for a fume hood.

Describe the effects of the following on fume hood operation:

Air flow too high

Air flow too low

Traffic in front of the fume hood

Storage of chemicals and equipment in the fume hood

Conducting experiments within 6 inches of the front edge of the fume hood

Tell when a local exhaust system should be used.

Tell the purpose of the following

glove bag

dry box

glove box.

Tell the purpose of a storage cabinet.

Tell the precautions that must be taken when using and storing chemical in a storage cabinet.

List four types of personal protective equipment.

Tell when face shields are used.

Tell why glove construction materials must be considered when working with hazardous materials.

List the general laboratory rules regarding clothing, lab coats and shoes.

Safe Laboratory Procedures

Define the following terms:

Thermal check

Bump check

Cryogens

Critical orifice

Tell why laboratory glassware breaks.

Tell how a flaw or stress in glassware can be created.

State general safety rules when using laboratory glassware.

Tell how to protect oneself from lacerations from broken glassware.

Describe how to insert and remove glass tubing from a rubber stopper.

Tell how to prepare glassware that is to be subjected to increased pressures or vacuums.

State three reasons why cryogens are hazardous.

Tell how cryogens are stored.

Tell why compressed gas cylinders are hazardous.

State the two basic rules for safely handling compressed gas cylinders.

Tell the purpose of the safety relief valve on compressed gas cylinders.

Tell the special precautions that must be taken when working with corrosives under pressure.

Tell why compressed gas cylinders are never completely emptied.

Tell why some compressed gas cylinders have left-handed connections while others have right-handed connections.

Tell why lubricants are not used with gases that are oxidizers.

List the DOT classifications for compressed gases.

List four engineering controls for hazardous gases.

State the purpose of a critical orifice for a hazardous compressed gas.

List two problems with the critical orifice and state how these problems can be corrected.

State the location specifications for safety showers and eye washes.

Describe how to properly use a safety shower and eyewash.

Tell and describe the three approaches OSHA suggests when dealing with a fire.

Tell where fire extinguishers should be located.

Tell the use and general contents of a spill cleanup kit.

Briefly tell how to handle an emergency situation.

Describe how to properly pipette a liquid.

List four rules to observe when transferring and pouring liquids.

Tell how flammable liquids are properly transferred.

Tell the sequence for mixing an acid and water.

List common methods for heating substances in the laboratory and precautions for their use.

State general methods to reduce the amount of wastes for disposal.

Briefly describe how to safely work with chemicals of moderate chronic or high toxicity.

Briefly describe how to safely work with chemicals of high chronic toxicity.

Briefly describe how to work with chemicals of high flammability.

Briefly describe how to work with highly reactive chemicals.

Chemical Safety and Environmental Regulations

Define the following:

OSHA

NIOSH

EPA

RCRA

TSCA

CERCLA

Hazardous waste

Manifest

Superfund

SARA

Community-Right-to-Know Act

Fugitive emissions

CAA

TNRCC

CWA

HMTA

DOT

State the two major provisions of the Williams-Steiger Occupational Safety and Health Act.

List the major provision Air Contaminant Standard (29 CFR 1910.1000)

Describe how OSHA regulates exposure to hazardous materials.

Describe the purpose of the Toxic and Hazardous Substance Standard (Specific Substance Standard) (29 CFR 1910.1XXX).

Describe the purpose of the Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200).

List the major provisions of Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200).

Describe the purpose of the Laboratory Standard (29 CFR 1910.1450).

List the four criteria which define laboratories according to the Laboratory Standard (29 CFR 1910.1450).

List provisions of other standards that are retained in the Laboratory Standard (29 CFR 1910.1450).

Tell why the Laboratory Standard (29 CFR 1910.1450) is called a performance-based standard.

List the seven major components of a Chemical Hygiene Plan.

List the classes of substances which are defined as particularly hazardous in the Laboratory Standard (29 CFR 1910.1450).

List the requirements employers must consider when employees work with these particularly hazardous materials.

Tell how the OSHA ensures that the Laboratory Standard is followed.

List the two agencies which regulate flammable and combustible liquids.

List the items OSHA requires employers address when respirators are needed in the workplace.

List four additional hazards, other than hazardous chemicals, that OSHA regulates.

State the purpose of the EPA.

State the purpose of the RCRA of 1976.

Tell the meaning of the term "cradle-to-grave" as it relates to RCRA.

Tell the major provisions of Part 261 and Part 262 of the RCRA.

State the four lists of specific hazardous wastes.

List the four categories used to characterize wastes.

Tell how hazardous wastes that cannot be treated or remain hazardous after treatment are disposed of.

Describe the construction of an approved landfill.

List five steps used to minimize the amount of waste generated.

Tell how nonhazardous waste may be disposed.

Tell how hazardous wastes may be disposed.

Tell who is responsible for hazardous wastes.

Describe the purpose of the TSCA.

Describe the purpose of the CERCLA.

Tell the purpose of Community-Right-to-Know Act.

Tell the purpose of SARA.

Tell the purpose of the Clean Air Act.

Identify the State of Texas agency which administers the CAA.

Tell the purpose of the Clean Water Act.

Tell the purpose of the HMTA.

Tell how hazardous materials are identified when being transported.

Spill Prevention and Cleanup

Describe the actions an individual should take before working with any chemical.

List methods which may prevent spills due to falling containers.

List methods which may prevent spills during liquid transfer.

List methods which may prevent spills during the transport of chemicals.

List methods which may protect equipment from breakage.

Differentiate between a simple spill and a complex spill.

Describe the actions to take for cleaning up a simple spill.

Describe the actions to take for cleaning up a complex spill.

Describe recommended procedures to prepare for the possibility of spills.

Describe the recommended steps to follow after a spill occurs.

State when outside help from emergency responders may be required.

List the major components of a spill prevention program for storage areas.

List the major components of a spill prevention program for the transport of laboratory chemicals.

List the major components of a spill prevention program for the transfer of chemicals from one container to another.

Given a potential cause of a spill, state a prevention technique.

List the basic components of a laboratory chemical spill kit.

List common personal protective equipment (PPE) found in a laboratory.

List basic emergency equipment which should be "close at hand" in the event of a chemical spill.

Describe the decontamination process.

Laboratory Chemical Storage

Identify sources of information regarding the storage of chemicals.

State the two main principles which ensure safe chemical storage in the laboratory.

Tell the meaning of "just-in-time" delivery as it relates to chemicals.

State the information which should be inscribed on labels of in-process chemicals and dilutions.

State the general principles of good shelf management.

List safety equipment that should be located near a laboratory chemical storage area.

Working Safely With Toxic Chemicals

List the two factors that affect the physiological response to a toxic chemical.

State the basis for modern toxicology.

List the most common routes of entry for toxic chemicals.

Differentiate between acute effects and chronic effects of toxic substances.

State the procedures that must be followed to work safely with a toxic chemical.

List the most important resources for current information on toxic chemicals.

Identify the key features of approved storage cabinets, PPE and hoods for use with toxic chemicals.

State the source for exposure limits to toxic chemicals.

Oxidation Hazards

Tell why peroxides are dangerous.

List the components of the fire triangle.

List the three major rules for the storage of oxidizers.

List three types of per oxidizable chemicals other than ether.

Tell why liquid oxygen is a particularly hazardous substance.

Tell the possible result of operating an electrical switch while wearing oxygen-saturated clothing.

Tell how to work safely with perchloric acid.

Tell the product and the hazard from substances that undergo autooxidation.

Tell how to properly handle, use and dispose of per oxidizable chemicals.

List the sources of information that should be consulted when working with oxidizers in the laboratory.

Carcinogens and Related Health Hazards

Tell how a chemical may be identified as a carcinogen, mutagen, reproductive or developmental hazard.

Define "select carcinogen."

List the potential health hazards of carcinogens, mutagens reproductive and developmental hazards, and allergens.

State the required time of exposure to a carcinogen, mutagen, reproductive and developmental hazard or allergen before adverse affects occur.

List sources of information which identify the exposure hazards to carcinogens, mutagens reproductive and developmental hazards, and allergens.

List and describe the "four cardinal rules" for safely handling "particularly hazardous substances."

List administrative, operational, and engineering controls for limiting exposure to carcinogens.

List the components of a safety protocol.

Tell how a powdery carcinogenic chemical is properly weighed.

Define "designated area" and tell how the size is determined.

List the steps which should be followed in a laboratory emergency situation.

Safe Handling of Corrosive Chemicals

State the OSHA definition of a corrosive chemical.

Sketch the DOT symbol used for transporting corrosive chemicals.

State the most common chemical hazard faced by chemical workers.

State how a corrosive material may be identified by using various sources, such as the MSDS and container labels.

State the information source giving the hazards associated with a corrosive chemical.

List the planning steps which should be followed when working with corrosive chemicals that would safeguard yourself and coworkers.

List the step which should be followed to work with corrosive chemicals safely.

Flammable and Combustible Chemicals

List the three components of the fire triangle.

List the four components of the fire tetrahedron.

List the four categories of flammable and combustible fuels.

State the chemical definition of an oxidizer.

Give the possible physical states in which an oxidizer may be found.

List common oxidizing agents and their physical state.

Tell why an oxidation-reduction reaction is generally exothermic.

State the common sources of energy for ignition.

Tell how a catalyst increases the probability of ignition of a flammable chemical.

Define "self-ignition."

Define "spontaneous combustion" and give examples.

Define "hypergolic mixture" and give examples.

Define pyrophoric ignition.

State the general procedures for fire and spill prevention.

Given the flammable or combustible liquid class, state the maximum quantities that can be stored in a lab unit.

Given the flammability class, state the maximum allowable container capacity for each type of container.

For each of the following operations, briefly describe the fire and spill prevention techniques for flammable chemicals: ordering, receiving, transporting and transferring, storing, usage, and disposal.

State the general emergency response procedures for flammable chemicals.

Discuss the spill emergency response procedures.

Discuss the fire emergency response procedures.

List and describe the four classes of fires.

Given the class of fire, state the recommended extinguisher material.

Compressed Gases: Safe Handling Procedures

Tell the proper emergency response for the catastrophic release of a compressed gas from a gas cylinder in the laboratory.

State the items to look for when receiving a compressed gas cylinder from a vendor.

Describe the proper procedure for moving a compressed gas cylinder.

Describe the proper procedure for transporting a compressed gas cylinder in an elevator.

Describe the proper storage methods for compressed gas cylinders.

List the pressure relief devices which may be found on compressed gas cylinders larger than a lecture bottle.

Describe the proper methods for securing compressed gas cylinders to minimize the chance of falling.

Describe the proper steps to follow before installing a pressure regulator to a compressed gas cylinder.

Describe the proper procedure for pressurizing and depressurizing a compressed gas system.

Describe the methods by which a compressed gas regulator may fail, and state the corresponding symptoms.

State the preventative maintenance procedures for regulators.

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