Q&A ON OSHA’S LABORATORY STANDARD

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF OSHA’S LABORATORY STANDARD?

• The purpose of the Laboratory Standard is to protect laboratory employees from harm due to chemicals while they are working in the laboratory.

HOW DOES OSHA DEFINE A HAZARDOUS CHEMICAL?

• OSHA defines a hazardous chemical as a substance for which there is statistically significant evidence, based on at least one scientific study, showing that acute or chronic harm may result from exposure to that chemical. Basically, this broad definition applies to all, or almost all, of the chemicals typically used in laboratories.

WHERE IS OUR CHEMICAL HYGIENE PLAN (Laboratory Safety Manual) LOCATED?

Any employee or student who works in a laboratory must read the Laboratory Safety Manual!

WHAT IS AN MSDS, AND WHERE ARE THEY LOCATED?

• An MSDS is a material safety data sheet. There must be an MSDS for every chemical in your lab and they must be available to all employees and students, on all shifts. An MSDS will provide useful information about the chemical.
• These are located in your lab inside binders and in the Griffith Hall Central Stockroom (Griffith Hall, room #B-10).
• The USP web-based MSDS program (Chem Watch) and other MSDS websites are available at the EHRS site The Chem Watch program may be accessed from any USP computer without needing to log in. This program provides MSDS's for chemicals, drugs, commercial products and infectious substances iin 30 different languages.

WHAT DO I DO IF THERE IS A CHEMICAL SPILL IN MY LAB?

Anticipate spills by having the appropriate safety equipment on hand. Be Prepared! Flammable spills can ignite in only a minute or two. Know the properties of your spill equipment. Some chemicals are not recommended to be used with certain spill absorbents, neutralizers or suppressants. Additional spill control equipment is also stored in the hallway spill cabinets.

If a spill occurs, immediately alert personnel in the area and do what is necessary to protect life. Warn others to stay out of the area and to avoid walking nearby. Secure the area.

• If it is a small spill, your laboratory supervisor or research advisor is responsible for cleaning up the spill or making sure it is cleaned up properly. (Whenever unsure how to handle a spill, contact the EHRS Department at X8925, X8843, or X3141).
• Use an absorbent material that will neutralize the spill if it is hazardous or corrosive, or suppress the vapors if it is a flammable, whenever possible!
• If the spilled chemical is flammable, extinguish flames and all other sources of ignition (such as brush type motors) if safe to do so.
• Always wear the proper personal protective equipment when cleaning up spills. At a minimum, gloves, goggles, booties, and a lab coat. Know what type of gloves or booties that should be used for the chemical, in advance.
• Confine or dike the spill if possible, to keep the area involved smaller, decrease the evaporation rate, and to protect floor drains. Absorbents and spill socks may be placed around drains, as needed.
• Use Spill X-A to neutralize acid spills. Use Spill X-C to neutralize caustic spills. When using neutralizers, the reaction must be complete, before clean-up. (no popping or hissing) Use Spill X-S and vapor barrier absorbent sheets to suppress flammable vapors. (Fires start very quickly in a laboratory when flammable vapors are not controlled). Also, know the quantities of chemicals that you are working with, so that you have enough neutralizer or suppressant on hand. Follow the directions on the kits or on the containers.
• Maintain fume hood ventilation (if applicable).
• Place all spill clean-up material and residue into yellow hazardous waste bags or an appropriate container. You may use a dustpan and brush to scoop the spill residue into the container. Decontaminate the area with soap and water after clean-up.
• Seal bags or containers securely. Use strong tape on bags, and label the containers/bags with the chemical name(s) or as "spill debris". Bring the bag to the central stockrooms for disposal. Make sure someone is there to accept it.
• The EHRS Department must be informed of the spill. (X8925, X8843, or X3141) Complete a Laboratory Incident Report.
• Use the mercury spill kits placed in each laboratory for mercury spills. Read the instructions enclosed in the kit. Use the mercury vapor suppressant spray or powder available from the Stockrooms to suppress mercury vapors. However, it is best to replace all mercury thermometers with alcohol filled, citrus-filled, digital, etc. Most laboratories have done this already.

• If the spill is large, flammable, toxic, or a threat to personnel, students or the public, notify the EHRS Department (X8925, X8843 or X3141) or Public Safety (X7000) immediately. Ventilate or maintain fume hood ventilation, if possible.

Be prepared to report:

The name of the chemical spilled. (spell the chemical name)
The amount of the chemical spilled.
Location of the spill.
Whether it is still leaking and/or is it contained.
Any noticeable properties. (i.e., fuming)
If anyone has been injured or exposed.

If the spilled chemical is flammable, extinguish all nearby flames and sources of ignition (such as brush-type motors), if safe to do so.

Confine or dike the spill on your way out, if possible. Protect floor drains or other means for environmental release. Absorbents and spill socks may be placed around drains, as needed.

Evacuate the area, warn others to leave and stay out of the area.   Avoid touching the spill, walking in it, or breathing it, whether it has an odor or not. (Secure area, post a warning sign if it is safe to do so.)

Remain on the scene, but at a safe distance, to receive and direct EHRS/Public Safety personnel when they arrive.  You are needed to relay essential information, and possibly receive important information.

See the Chemical Spills section of the Safety Manual for more information.

WHAT DO I DO IF THERE IS A FIRE IN MY LAB?

• If it is a very small fire, alert the people in the laboratory and activate the alarm. (Call or designate someone nearby to call the fire department, 911. Never delay the arrival of help. Notify Public Safety at 215-596-7000).
  
  Smother the fire or use the fire control equipment in the lab to put out the fire, if you can do so without endangering yourself, and only if you have received USP fire extinguisher training. Then notify Public Safety and your supervisor. [Always stay on the exit side of a fire. Extinguishers only last for seconds!] However, most importantly, your job is to get out safely, close the door behind you, and pull the fire alarm. (Call 911)
  
  If a small quantity of liquid in a beaker catches fire, immediately cover the beaker with a watch glass or place a larger beaker over it. Keep these nearby.
  

• If it is a larger fire, remember R.A.C.E.

Relay important information to emergency personnel. The Fire Department will not fight a laboratory fire if they are concerned about the hazards. Special hazard information you may know is essential.

Be prepared.  Know fire emergency procedures.

HOW DO I PREVENT A FIRE WHILE WORKING IN A LABORATORY?

• Turn off all electrical equipment and gas jets. Never leave hot plates or bunsen burners on and unattended. (There have been many fires from unattended hot plates, etc.)
• Use the smallest quantities of flammable solvents practicable. The invisible vapor can travel over 100 feet to find an ignition source and flash back. Most laboratory fires are due to the use of flammable solvents.
• Store stock quantities in flammable storage cabinets. Too many bottles in a laboratory or a fume hood add fuel to a fire.
• Always separate flammable solvents from sources of ignition (i.e., hot plates). Hot plates are a hidden source of ignition that have been responsible for many laboratory fires. Therefore, when working with flammables, use explosion-proof hot plates or other non-sparking heating methods. Never use a bunsen burner in any area where flammable solvents are handled.
• Always work with flammable solvents in a hood. This will dilute the concentrations of flammable vapors and gases below explosion limits.
• Make sure that all electrical wiring is in good condition. No cracks, fraying, or exposed wires.

WHAT DO I DO IF I EXHIBIT ANY SIGNS OR FEEL ANY SYMPTOMS WHILE WORKING WITH A CHEMICAL? OR IF I HAVE ANY TYPE OF ACCIDENT IN THE LABORATORY?

When an injury or exposure occurs:

See the Accident Reporting section in the Safety Manual for more information. 

WHAT DO I DO IF I GET SPLASHED WITH A CHEMICAL?

• Check the MSDS for what to do in an emergency before you work with the chemical. However, as a general rule of thumb, flush contaminated area with copious amounts of water for at least 15 minutes. For eye splashes, use eyewash to flush with water for at least 15 minutes. Then follow the procedure of the preceding question. [Also, if you see someone in this situation, help them over to an eyewash, turn it on for them, and hold their eyes open if necessary. This is because most people cannot open their eyes once they are splashed with a hazardous chemical or substance.]

• Use safety showers, or another appropriate washing facility, if there is a skin contamination. Remove contaminated clothing so that the chemical does not remain against your body. Pay attention to possible accumulation in your shoes. A good idea is to use fire blankets to cover yourself if you need to disrobe. Also, extra clothing is available int he stockrooms.
  
  Flush eyewashes once a week for a minimum of 3 minutes to prevent the build-up of amoeba and bacteria. These microorganisms build up in the stagnant water when not flushed often enough. This will prevent eye infections, which can lead to blindness, during its use in an emergency. Flush! Flush! Flush!

See the Chemical Contamination section in the Safety Manual for more information.

See the Radioactive Contamination section in the Radiation Safety Manual for more information.

WHAT DO I DO IF MY CLOTHING IS ON FIRE?

• It is always best to stop, drop, and roll whenever you are, and cover your face with your hands. Rolling smothers the fire. Don't run.
• In addition, someone may use a fire blanket or coat to help suppress the flames. But, never wrap someone up in a fire blanket (it creates a chimney effect) or keep the blanket against the body too long. (Burns may become worse) Safety showers may be used to cool the burn or suppress the flame, when close by.

PEL’S AND TLV’S ARE OFTEN FOUND ON AN MSDS. WHAT ARE THEY?

• PEL’s are permissible exposure limits. These are the regulatory quantities that nearly all workers may be repeatedly exposed to day after day, without adverse effect. Because of wide variation in individual susceptibility, a small percentage of workers may experience discomfort from some substances at concentrations at or below the PEL or TLV.  PEL's are enforceable by law. (OSHA)

• TLV’s are threshold limit values. Their definition is the same as above, however they are recommended limits by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH). TLV's are reviewed with some regularity and, therefore, may be more up-to-date than PEL's. 

HOW DO WE STORE AND TRANSPORT COMPRESSED GAS CYLINDERS?

• They need to be secured at all times while storing or transporting. Chain them, strap them, or keep them secured in a cylinder cart.
• Caps must always be in place, except when cylinders are connected for use.
• They are big and heavy, so handle carefully. Watch your feet, toes, fingers, etc.
• If a cylinder or valve becomes damaged, the tremendous pressure inside may suddenly be released, causing the cylinder to become a dangerous and powerful missile. Do not let them topple over.

IF I TRANSFER A CHEMICAL TO A SECONDARY CONTAINER, HOW SHOULD I LABEL IT?

• You must label the new container with a copy of the manufacturer's label or at least the chemical name and a hazard warning. [No abbreviations or structural formulas are allowed. Except for small quantities of compounds synthesized in the laboratory. However, these must have labels that will not fall off. Written in permanent ink should be the researcher's name and the chemical or structural formula].
• All chemicals in the lab must be labeled properly. Do not forget your non-hazardous substances, too. You are not there 24 hours a day, responders need to know if something is not hazardous, too.

See Labeling of Secondary Containers, under the Hazard Communication Program for more information.

HOW SHOULD I LABEL AND STORE MY CHEMICAL WASTE CONTAINERS?

• Use polyethylene containers whenever possible. Glass bottles can easily break. Always use chemical/hazardous waste tags to label your waste containers as the material is being collected. Tags must be used because EPA requires that hazardous waste be labeled as "hazardous waste". (Tags and containers are available in the Central Stockroom.) All components of the waste must be identified with the chemical names. No abbreviations or chemical/structural formulas are allowed. If it is a mixture, include the appropriate percent by volume, when you have that information.
• Waste must be tagged and labeled in your laboratory at all times.
• Look for an area in your laboratory or room that can be designated as your waste storage area. (More than one designated area is allowed.) Signs with a list of some reminder procedures must be posted. (Call the EHRS Department at X8925 if you need a sign.)
• Waste containers must be kept closed at all times unless adding or removing waste. (No parafilm allowed, no storing wastes in open beakers, and funnels must be removed after adding waste. However, the sealable funnels attached to bottles are acceptable.) The EPA considers an open waste container a serious violation.
• If waste bottles have collection tubes in place (i.e., from laboratory instruments) place a hole in the bottle cap JUST large enough for the effluent tube. This will allow you to keep the collection tube in place, even if the instrument is not running. Also, store this waste container in a secondary container. If there is not a small hole in the cap, make sure the tubing is removed and then the container sealed with the cap as soon as you are no longer adding waste to the container. (Special caps with holes are available in the Griffith Hall Central Stockroom.)
• All waste containers must be stored in secondary containers (tubs) in your laboratory and also when waste is stored near drains. Stsore your waste in a posted and designated waste storage area. Use our Waste Storage Area signs that are available in the EHRS Department. Use separate tubs to separate incompatible wastes.
• Full waste containers, no matter what size, must be dated and then transferred to the Central Stockrooms within 3 days of that date. (Bring the waste to the stockrooms if you have had proper waste handling training.) Leave the date field on the tag blank and only add the date when the container is full. However, make sure that once it is dated, it get moved to the stockroom within the 3 days.
• Unless approved by EHRS, disposal of hazardous chemicals by way of the sanitary sewer system is not permitted.
• Keep sinks clear of beakers, flasks, bottles, etc. that contain chemicals, or look as if they container chemicals.
• Make sure there are no dusty, rusty, crusty, expired, unclaimed, or abandoned chemicals, or old peroxide-former and reactive chemicals in your area. These will be considered waste-like by the EPA and if not tagged, labeled, sealed and stored as waste, they will be in violation of the regulations.
• Make sure beakers and flasks in your laboratory that contain residual materials are cleaned out or sealed and labeled properly with chemical names. These may also be considered waste-like by the EPA.
• Check containers weekly to make sure that they are in good condition, free from deterioration, and not leaking.
• Containers must be compatible with the waste stored within them. (i.e., Never put corrosives in metal containers or ethers in clear bottles.)
• Make sure shelving and storage areas are not crowded, unsafe or corroded.
• Make sure everyone in your laboratory is thoroughly aware of waste handling procedures relevant to their responsibilities and has completed annual Laboratory Safety Training.

These waste labeling and storage procedures are required by the Environmental Protection Agency.  EPA is inspecting Universities and issuing large fines for non-compliance. If this list of procedures is followed, your laboratory should be in compliance with EPA's waste regulations.

See the Labeling Guidelines under the Chemical Waste section in the safety manual for more information.

WHAT ARE THE PROPER METHODS FOR TRANSPORTING CHEMICALS THROUGHOUT THE UNIVERSITY?

Individuals transporting chemicals must be familiar with the material's hazards and know what to do in the event of a release or spill. Hazardous/chemical substances must be attended to at all times while being transported.

Transport chemicals in:

Transport all chemicals using the container-within-a-container concept. This will shield them from shock during any sudden change or movement. Incompatibles may not be transported in the same secondary container.

Check to make sure that all containers or bags are sealed tightly (tighten caps) and not leaking before transport. Leaking containers must not be transported.

Wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE). Safety glasses, lab coats and impermeable gloves are some of the PPE that should be worn if hazardous chemicals might splash on skin or eyes, if spilled during transport.

Incompatibles may not be transported in the same secondary container.

Use an unoccupied elevator for moving hazardous substances between floors.

Never transport hazardous waste across Woodland Avenue. There are waste storage areas in both the Griffith Hall and McNeil Science and Technology Center Central Stockrooms.

Rather than transporting materials across Woodland Avenue, large quantities (4 liters or greater), and smaller quantities, whenever possible, should be ordered through the Griffith Hall or the Science and Technology Center Central Stockrooms and delivered to the buildings in the original outside shipping containers.

If transporting materials across Woodland Avenue, chemicals and hazardous substances must be sealed (tight screw fitted caps), labeled, and placed upright in an un-breakable container. (If it is difficult to label each small tube/vial, the outer container may be labeled.) The container must be packed with absorbent material so that the contents inside cannot move, bang against each other, and so that the absorbent will absorb the contents if all were to leak.

When transporting hazardous chemicals on carts across the trolley tracks, it is recommended to have 2 people in attendance to prevent tipping and to prevent the wheels from getting caught.

If hazardous substances must be transported off-campus, contact EHRS for proper shipping instructions.

See Transportation of Hazardous Chemicals for more information.

IF I ATTENDED THE TRAINING CLASS LAST YEAR, DO I HAVE TO GO AGAIN THIS YEAR?

Training must be done every year.  However, if an employee attended a previous training class, as an alternative, you may complete the 3 web-based Laboratory Safety Training Modules on ANGEL. However, it is recommended that graduate students and teaching assistants attend classroom training each year.  

HOW CAN I PROTECT MYSELF?

Awareness is the most fundamental rule of chemical safety. Keep the following guidelines in mind when handling chemicals.

• Know and be aware of the chemical hazards, as determined from the MSDS's, labels, your laboratory advisor and other appropriate references. 
• Know and be aware of appropriate safeguards for using that chemical, including personal protective equipment. Know how to protect yourself.
• Wear appropriate eye protection at all times.
• Know the location and proper use of emergency equipment. (eyewashes, showers, have spill control equipment available) These should never be blocked by anything or cluttered. (eyewashes, showers, fire extinguishers, and have spill control equipment available.)
• Know proper personal hygiene practices. Wash yourself well before leaving the laboratory, use a non-irritating surfactant and water. (i.e., soap and water) Always wear a cotton lab coat when working in the laboratory, and do not wear it outside of the laboratory.
• Know appropriate procedures for emergencies, including fires, evacuation routes, spill clean-up procedures, hazardous substance exposures, and accidents. Your laboratory advisor must discuss these emergency procedures with you. Contact the EHRS Department if you have any questions.
• NEVER work alone in a laboratory. Someone should be working with you. See the Safety Manual for the policy on Working Alone in Laboratories, for the "Buddy System" procedure and the procedure for notifying Public Safety.
• All chemical and waste containers must be labeled and sealed properly.
• Wash promptly whenever a chemical has contacted the skin, regardless of corrosivity.
• NEVER eat, drink, smoke, or apply cosmetics in the laboratory.
• Do no sniff chemicals to test them.
• Always use chemicals with adequate ventilation or in a chemical fume hood.
• Work areas should be kept clean and free from clutter. Also, put chemicals away when not in use.

ALARA- Keep all chemical exposures As Low As Reasonably Achievable. There are few laboratory chemicals without hazards. Therefore, take precautions for handling all the chemicals that you work with.