Proper Handling and Storage of Chemicals: December 2014
Proper Handling and Storage of Chemicals: December 2014
Proper Handling and Storage of Chemicals: December 2014
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6th December
2014
Outline
Biohazards
The improper storage or mixing of chemicals can result in serious accidents and even
disasters. Violent reactions could occur due to the storing or mixing incompatible chemicals
Experienced
& trained
Using
Conditions
Place
Handling
Disposal
3. A first-in, first-out system using the oldest chemicals first should be implemented. This will avoid
degradation of older chemicals and their containers.
When you have exceeded these periods of time or have no further use of the chemical, contact to have
the chemicals removed for proper disposal.
B. Storage
1. General
a. Do not store anything in the hallway, stairwells, on the floor or in any area accessible to the general public.
b. Properly label all storage areas (e.g., “Chemical Storage Area”) to warn personnel of the hazards that are present.
c. Do not store incompatible chemicals in areas where there exists the possibility of reaction.
d. Ensure that all containers are not corroded, broken, rusted, or leaking. If the container loses it‟s integrity,
transfer the chemical to another container or, when transfer is not possible or safe, use secondary containers. Contact
for disposal.
e. In general, limit container size to one gallon in the laboratory. Larger containers should be kept in chemical storage rooms.
f. Routinely check chemicals that are being stored for possible hazards.
g. Store reactive chemicals in areas to reduce the possibility of reaction. For instance, keep water reactive chemicals in a
controlled, low humidity environment.
2. Shelves
a. If possible, avoid storing chemicals above shoulder height. Large containers (one gallon or larger), liquids, and corrosive
materials should be stored on lower shelves below eye level.
b. Ensure that shelves are capable of storage. Do not store chemicals on unsturdy shelves.
d. Shelves should be impervious to spilled liquids. This can be accomplished by coating the shelves with an epoxy.
e. See attached illustration for possible guidelines for storage on shelves. If this is not possible, a system of storage should
be developed to ensure that incompatible chemicals are not stored together.
3. Refrigerators and Freezers
a. Do not store chemicals and food together.
b. When storing flammables, use an approved explosion proof or flammable storage refrigerator.
c. Only use refrigerators or freezers for storage of chemicals that need to be kept refrigerated or frozen.
d. The following are other specifications for storage. For chemical stockrooms, individual evaluations will be
necessary and, as a result, may not be bound to these requirements.
1. Not more than 10 gallons of Class I or Class II liquids combined shall be stored outside of a storage
cabinet or storage room, except in safety cans.
2. Not more than 25 gallons of Class I or Class II liquids combined shall be stored in safety cans outside of
a storage room or storage cabinet.
3. Not more than 60 gallons of Class IIIA liquids shall be stored outside of a storage room or storage cabinet.
4. Any quantity of liquids over this limit must be stored in an inside storage room or storage cabinet.
5. Approved storage cabinets shall not exceed 120 gallons of combustible and flammable liquids and not
more than 60 gallons of the total may be flammable liquid. Not more than 3 storage cabinets will be within
one fire area of a building.
(Note: A fire area, is “an area of a building separated from the reminder of the building by construction having
a fire resistance of at least one hour and having all communicating openings properly protected by an
assembly having a fire resistance rating of at least one hour.”)
Guidelines for Chemical Storage Rooms
All approved chemical storage rooms and fire-rated cabinets shall be inspected monthly
DESIGN AND FIRE PROTECTION ELECTRICAL SAFETY SAFETY EQUIPMENT
MAINTENANCE
- Location and design of Fire extinguisher
- -Chemical storage rooms Staff responsible familiar with location
-
chemical storage rooms adjacent to room electronically monitored by and proper use of all safety equipment
and cabinets approved Security for heat and fire
by Physical Plant and
-Extinguisher inspected -Eyewash facilities available and
Safety Office
within last six months -Wires, cables, switches operational
-Doors locked when room serviceable
unoccupied -Exit doors -Safety shower available and
unobstructed -Electrical equipment operational
-Access limited to
explosion proof (in chemical
authorized personnel
-Fire lane to building storage room only) -Safety information displayed on door:
-Warning signs obvious entrance unobstructed • Names of person(s) responsible for
and intact -Containers flammables are area
-’No Smoking’ sign dispensed into/from are
-Ventilation system
clearly displayed grounded • Emergency telephone numbers
operational and adequate
for removal of hazardous (Security, Fire Department)
vapors -Fire blanket available
• UNB “In Case of Fire” Procedures
-Temperature control
adequate
• Dangerous Goods Class (es)
-Illumination sufficient
• No Smoking
-Working space sufficient
-First Aid Kit available and complete
-Aisles unobstructed
with supplies
-Floor in good condition
-Area maintained free of
unnecessary refuse
PERSONAL MATERIALS HANDLING MATERIAL LABELING MATERIAL STORAGE MATERIAL
PROTECTION CLEANUP AND
DISPOSAL
Personal protective -Inventory up to date -All containers labeled with -All cylinders properly restrained Commercial spill
equipment available, clean -M.S.D.S. available for all Supplier or other label by chain or strap clean-up kit
and in good condition: hazardous materials available and
(excluding waste) -Contents of unlabeled -New inventory segregated from replenished
• Eye protection (safety containers verified and waste
glasses, goggles, and face -Staff responsible for area proper label applied -Staff responsible
shield) trained -Chemical compatibility observed aware of
-All containers display -Empty containers segregated procedures for clean
• Hand protection -Protective equipment receiving date; stale-dated, from new and waste up and disposal of
(impervious gloves; latex worn when handling where required chemicals
not acceptable for chemical chemicals -Containers not leaking or
handling) corroded -Chemical spills
-Materials transported cleaned up
• Body protection (lab from storage secured and -Containers properly sealed promptly
coat, apron, protective handled safely
suit) -Drums stacked securely and not -Clean-up materials
higher than two in depth disposed of as
• Foot protection hazardous waste
-Carboys on palettes and not piled
• Appropriate respiratory on top of one another -Out-dated and
protection (CSA/OSHA) potentially unstable
available -Volume of hazardous material chemicals removed
stored limited and disposed of
for “room” or “cabinet
POTENTIAL HAZARDS
No tripping hazards
No falling objects
No structural defects
No sharp objects
No evidence of spillage or leakage
keep your chemicals,
not like in the photos!
Improper storage
Proper storage
Proper storage and handling
Acids stored in a plastic tray
Safe dilution of conc. acids Proper handling of gas cylinders Strong acid storage under fume hood
Safe chemical storage cannot be reduced to a list or chart, but should be a process
consisting of several major steps carried by the person responsible who is
capable to deal with different aspects :
1: Classify All Chemical Products Present & not neglecting at the same time
using the following guides:
1. Using the labels of Storage Code: HMIS (Hazardous Materials Identification System)
http://www.calvin.edu/admin/physicalplant/departments/
ehs/policies/hazcom/msds-weblinks.htm
dangerous for the Chemicals that may present an immediate or Hazard symbols
environment delayed danger to one or more components Environmental
of the environment
4. Record for Chemicals Used And Withdrawn
Chemical spills
The following equipment should also be provided for dealing with spills:
1. Chemical spill kits
2. Protective clothing, e.g. heavy-duty rubber gloves, overshoes or rubber boots,
respirators
3. Scoops and dustpans
4. Forceps for picking up broken glass
5. Mops, cloths and paper towels
6. Buckets
7. Soda ash (sodium carbonate or sodium bicarbonate) for neutralizing acids
and corrosive chemicals
8. Sand (to cover alkali spills)
9. Non-flammable detergent
Compressed gas cylinders and liquefied gas -Should be securely fixed (e.g. chained) to
containers the wall or a solid bench so that they are not
inadvertently dislodged
- The main high-pressure valve should be turned off when the equipment is not in use and when the room is unoccupied
- Rooms where flammable gas cylinders are used and/or stored should be identified by warning notices on the doors
Types and uses of fire extinguishers
- All newly purchased chemicals should have a label on them identifying their hazard -
category (e.g. flammable, corrosive, oxidising, toxic etc.). A list of commonly used
chemicals that should be segregated should be available to assist storage.
- Never carry a bottle containing chemicals by its top, for example always carry
Winchester bottles (2.5 litres) in carriers or baskets that are capable of providing
proper support, and support the base of the bottle in use.
Chemicals should be separately stored by chemical class as follows:
Solids
- oxidizing solids
- flammable solids
- water reactive solids
- all other solids
Liquids
- acid liquids
- caustic liquids
- oxidizing liquids
- perchloric acid solutions
- flammable or combustible liquids
- water reactives
- all other liquids
Gases
- toxic gases
- flammable gases
- oxidizing and inert gas
Storage of specific chemicals
Flammable Solvents - e.g. alcohols, toluene, hexane
The vapour above the liquid of these solvents represents the main source of danger from flammable
liquids. This vapour is very susceptible to ignition by naked flames, sparks from electric switches
(e.g. thermostats) electric motors or from sparks produced electrostatically by friction. Precautions
must therefore be taken to prevent contact between any of these and concentrated vapours of
flammable liquids.
- positioned away from doors or other means of escape from the laboratory. -
- No more than 50 litres of flammable material may be kept in any one laboratory room to reduce the risk of a -
serious laboratory fire.
- Flammable solvents must never be stored with oxidising agents (e.g. sodium hypochlorite – bleach, iodine -
and other halogens, hydrogen peroxide, nitric acid, potassium permanganate etc.) reducing agents (e.g.
sodium borohydride, lithium aluminum hydride...etc) or concentrated acids (e.g. concentrated sulphuric or
hydrochloric acids).
- Working volumes of flammable solvents (i.e. those kept on the bench) should not exceed 500 ml, and the -
solvent must be kept in a suitable closed vessel.
- Flammable solvents should not be stored in fume hoods or vented cabinets, since the airflow will fan any
fire and may also spread the fire to other parts of the building via the ventilation ducting.
- Flammable solvents must never be stored in a refrigerator unless they are known to be spark proof. -
- All laboratory fridges are spark proofed to avoid the possibility of an internal light or thermostat control unit -
providing a source of ignition for vapours produced from flammable substances.
Chlorinated solvents (e.g. chloroform, dichloromethane (DCM)
trichloroethylene)
Chlorinated solvents are best stored in ventilated cabinets separately from flammable (non-
chlorinated) solvents because violent reactions can result from the mixing of certain flammable
and chlorinated solvents and toxic gases such as phosgene (as well has hydrogen chloride and
chlorine) can be produced.
- They should not be stored with alkali metals such as lithium, potassium or sodium, -
since any mixing can cause an explosion.
- They can be sorted in a vented or metal cabinet so long as they are in a containment tray
to prevent any spillages.
Consideration must be given to the effects of corrosive fumes on any metal in the fittings -
and construction of the container.
- The use of ventilated cabinets are recommended where possible, allowing the removal -
of fumes at source.
- All containers / bottle tops must be suitably sealed to avoid unnecessary leakage of -
fumes (NB parafilm can be used to seal container lids but should be checked/replaced at
regular intervals).
Oxidisers (e.g. peroxides, perchlorates and nitrates)
Chlorine Ammonia, acetylene, butadiene, butane, methane, propane (or other petroleum gases),
hydrogen, sodium carbide, benzene, finely divided metals, turpentine
Acid Cabinets
These are made of acid resistant materials and should contain a tray, to contain any leakage or
spillage.
Flammable Solvent Cabinets
These are made of fire resistant material with a minimum fire resistance of 30 minutes as required by
British Standard 476. A metal spill tray is used to contain spillages.
Ventilated Cabinets
These are cabinets fitted with forced ventilation and may be free-standing with their own extract
system or positioned beneath a fume cupboard and attached to its duct.
Ventilated cabinets are designed to safely store chemicals that give off noxious fumes and smells.
These fumes are sucked away by forced ventilation. They should be used to store materials such as
mercaptans and amines that have a strong smell; or lachrymators. If you do not have a ventilated
cabinet, these noxious chemicals can be stored in sealed secondary containers that should only be
opened in a fume cupboard.
It should be noted that fume cupboards are not designed or intended for the storage of
chemicals. The working surfaces of fume cupboards should therefore be kept clear of
materials and containers when these are not needed for the ongoing work activities. Excess
storage of chemicals in fume cupboards disrupts the airflow resulting in a lower level of
protection to users.
Aspects of safe storage of laboratory chemicals
1. Minimise or restrict the quantities stored and avoiding over-ordering
3. Obtain and keep available hazard information on the materials purchased and check existing information is up
to date.
6. Use secondary containment (eg spill trays, outer containers or overpacks such as „safepaks‟) to minimise the
consequences of spillage leakage or breakage.
Spilled chemicals
Trash accumulation
Under proper conditions, these chemicals will form explosive peroxides which can be detonated by shock or heat.
MOST DANGEROUS: Discard after 3 months.
2. After it is properly separated, it should be safely stored in tightly-sealed drums, bottles, tins or jars
that will not be corroded or otherwise affected by the contents.
3. It is then transported to a special disposal facility, where it is eliminated according to its compound
substance or substances. Most chemical waste, including chlorinated solvents, are incinerated
at a high temperature, while others are treated by wet chemical methods. After it has been
incinerated or treated by wet chemistry.
Routes of exposure
Exposure to hazardous chemicals may occur by:
1. Inhalation
2. Contact
3. Ingestion
4. Needle-sticks
5. Through broken skin
Biosafety Basics
Biohazardous materials are infectious agents or other biological materials that present a risk or
potential risk to the health of humans, animals or the environment.
Biohazardous materials include:
1. Organisms and viruses infectious to humans, animals or plants
(e.g. parasites, viruses, bacteria, fungi, prions, rickettsia) cultured human and animal cells
2. Certain types of recombinant DNA
3. Biologically active agents that may cause disease in other living
organisms or cause significant impact to the environment or community. (i.e.
toxins, allergens, venoms)
Laboratories that contain biohazardous materials should post a biohazard sign at the entry doorway.
The sign should include the Biosafety Level, biohazards present, entry requirements, and
precautions.
Biosafety Levels (BSL) are levels of containment (1 lowest, 3 highest containment.)
Biohazard Level 3: Bacteria and viruses that can cause severe to fatal
disease in humans, but for which vaccines or other treatments exist, such
as anthrax, West Nile virus, Venezuelan equine encephalitis, SARS
virus, tuberculosis, typhus, Rift Valley fever, Rocky Mountain spotted
fever, yellow fever, and malaria. Among parasites Plasmodium falciparum,
which causes Malaria, and Trypanosoma cruzi, which
causes trypanosomiasis, also come under this level.
Biohazard Level 4: Viruses and bacteria that cause severe to fatal disease
in humans, and for which vaccines or other treatments are not available,
as Bolivian and Argentine hemorrhagic fevers, Dengue hemorrhagic
fever, Marburg virus, Ebola virus, hantaviruses, Lassa fever virus, Crimean-
Congo hemorrhagic fever, and other hemorrhagic diseases. Variola
virus(smallpox) . Use of a positive pressure personnel suit, with a
segregated air supply, is mandatory. biolab will contain multiple showers, a
vacuum room, an ultraviolet light room, and other safety precautions
designed to destroy all traces of the biohazard
The biohazard kit provides everything that is needed to
safely absorb, disinfect and dispose of the spill,in one
container that can simply be carried to the site where it is
needed.
Contents:
-non-sharp, solid laboratory waste (empty plastic cell culture flasks and petri
dishes, empty plastic tubes, gloves, wrappers, absorbent tissues, etc.) which
may be, or is known to be, contaminated with viable biological agents.
-all sharp and pointed items used in medical care, diagnosis, and research,
including the manipulation and care of laboratory animals, which should be
considered potentially infectious.