1

Laboratory Survival Skills for Georgia Tech Custodial Workers

Deborah Wolfe-Lopez

Laboratory and Chemical Safety Manager

Georgia Tech EHS 404-382-2964

November 2009

2

Laboratory Hazards

PhysicalChemicalBiologicalRadiological

3

Laboratory Hazards - Physical

Slips, trips and falls on wet or cluttered floorsElectrical hazardsHigh magnetic field hazardsCuts and punctures from sharpsExplosions/flying objects/chemical sprayUnsecured gas cylindersLasers

4

Physical Hazards

Slips, trips, and falls on cluttered or wet floors

Electrical hazards may include extension cords on floors

High magnetic fields are a hazard to persons with pacemakers and ferrous metal implants

5

Avoiding slip, electrical, and magnetic field hazards is a matter of common sense…Slips and falls- no different in labs than anywhere else-

rubber soled shoes; proper technique when wet mopping, watch your step in cluttered labs

Electrical- watch out for extension cords on floor or machinery with electrical components close to the floor- don’t wet mop, don’t contact with dry mop

Magnetic fields are posted- persons with pacemakers or surgical steel medical implants should not enter These areas are likely to also have electrical hazards

6

Cuts and punctures from sharps

EHS averages about 4 calls a year regarding sharps, usually needles in trash.

Most, but not all are from laboratories, the rest are usually from insulin needles inappropriately discarded into office trash cans

2005- ES&T: Housekeeper became ill after suffering a needle stick injury from needles in regular trash

7

Needle stick injuries-Best Defense

Use appropriate- one handed technique when picking up trash

Hold the bag away from youIf you find needles in the trash, save the

trash bag, note the room number, and call EHS- even if no one got hurt.

8

Explosions/flying objects

ES&T 2003- crushed glass thrown 22 feet

U of Kentucky- Fume hood explosion broke light fixture 20’ away

9

Explosions/Flying Objects/Chemical Spray- Best Defense

Be alert- if the lab staff starts to run, you should follow them

Evacuate away from fume hoods as this is probably where the problem is originating

Wear safety glasses at all times in laboratories

10

Gas Cylinders- Physical Hazards

Gas cylinders need to be secured at all times.

(Even an empty cylinder can fall over and break a foot or a leg)

Cylinders like this pose no hazard

11

Unsecured Gas Cylinders -

Cylinders are especially dangerous when they are not capped (valve is vulnerable)

If this cylinder fell over and broke at the valve, it would become a rocket.

12

Unsecured Cylinders- Best Defense

Capped- but unsecured- stay away

Not capped and not secured- leave the lab immediately.

If there is someone from the lab present, bring it to their attention.

If there is no one there, (or the lab staff doesn’t do anything) call EHS- (we will need the emergency information off the lab door)

13

LasersThere are 5 different

classes of lasers 1,2,3a, 3b, and 4

Class 3 and 4 lasers are capable of causing accidental eye injuries to passers-by.

Some can also cause sun burn

Class 4 lasers are also capable of starting fires

Lasers also present electrocution and (sometimes) chemical hazards

14

Lasers- Best Defense

Do not enter labs when the laser sign is illuminated or warning lights are on.

Knock before entering any lab which has a paper laser sign on the door, but no illuminated sign or warning lights.

Researchers do leave the room with the laser running- Do not enter the room if there is no one present to tell you it’s safe. Supervisor, leave a note that this lab must put their

trash out in the hall and schedule floor cleaning. Inform the Building Manager.

15

Lab Hazards - Chemical

Chemical Solids/powders/ airborne

dusts Liquids/vapors/mists Chemical spray from

explosions gases

Biological Solids liquids

Radiological Solids liquids

16

Best Defense- Chemical Biological, and Radiological Hazarards

The same procedures that you use to protect yourself from these

Will protect you from these

17

What Is a Hazardous Chemical?

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration defines a hazardous chemical as “any chemical which is a physical or a health hazard”If you wouldn’t eat it or rub it in your eyes- it’s

hazardous

18

National Fire Protection Association

27

NFPA

19

General Classifications of Hazardous Chemicals

Corrosive IrritantAsphyxiantToxicFlammableReactiveExplosive

20

Types of Hazards

AsphyxiantPoisonIrritant/Corrosive(Direct Tissue

Damage)Sensitizer

21

Simple Asphyxiants

Act by physically displacing oxygen to less than 19.5%

Include inert gasses such as N2, He, Ar, and CO2.

Other non-inert materials can also displace oxygen so that they become a dual asphyxiant/poison hazard- especially solvents which typically evaporate at room temperature or lower.

22

Chemical Over Exposures Usually Result From

Being exposed to large volumes of material for short durations- such as cleaning up a spill

Being exposed to high concentrations in confined spaces (small volume spills can be more significant here)

Being exposed to levels above the Threshold Limit Value for extended period of time or repeated occurrences- lower concentration, longer duration

23

Poisons (Toxics)

Poisons typically enter the body through one part of the body, (lungs, skin, stomach), travel through the blood, and damage another part of the body, such as liver, kidneys, or the nervous system

Solvents are an important poison because they are so common and have a number of target organs.

Solvents slow down the nervous system. In severe exposure cases-the brain “forgets” to tell the lungs to breathe.

24

Examples of Toxic Effects

Target Organ Effects- Frequently liver, kidney and bone marrow damage

Mutagenic Effects- capable of causing changes in the DNA

Reproductive Effects- Capable of affecting the ability to produce normal sperm or or ova

Teratogenic Effects- Capable of causing birth defects without outwardly affecting the parent.

Carcinogenic- capable of converting normal cells to cancer cells

25

Corrosives and Irritants

Cause damage to whatever they touch first (direct tissue damage)

Symptoms include red, burning or itching eyes or skinBurning of the nose throat/coughingBurning/pain in the chest and/or difficulty

breathingChemical Burns

26

Examples of Corrosives and Irritants

Corrosives- AcidsSulfuric (battery acid, drain cleaners),

Hydrochloric acid (Muriatic acid, pool acid), Hydrofluoric acid (auto wheel cleaners, HVAC coil cleaners)

Corrosives- Bases (alkali, lye)Lye, lime, bleach, sodium hydroxide (drain

cleaners), ammoniaIrritants

Almost everything else

27

Damage from Corrosives/Irritants

Can result in swelling of the airways impacting the ability to move air

Can extend down to the gas exchange region of the lungs impacting the ability to oxygenate the blood

Many “green” cleaning products are irritants capable of producing ill effects if not used carefully

28

Sensitizers

Organic substances which are of natural origin or structurally resemble natural substancesCapable of causing an immune (allergic)

responseMay be a skin response (rash) or asthma-like

response. Developing an allergic reaction to something

frequently makes you more likely to develop allergic reactions to other, chemically similar materials

29

Examples of Sensitizers

Enzymatic cleaners that are considered “green” are still capable of causing allergic reactionsRash, hivesRespiratory reactions

30

There is more than one way to be exposed!

Means of ExposureThrough the skinThrough the eyesPuncture wounds Ingestion (by mouth)Inhalation

31

How to avoid eye exposures

Put on your safety glasses before entering the lab.

You never know what may come flying off of a bench, out of a fume hood, or even out of a refrigerator

Refrigerator Explosion, U of Va

32

Corneal Scarring

33

Alkali Burn

34

How to avoid skin exposuresDon nitrile gloves before

entering the lab for routine tasks

Always wear nitrile exam gloves, even if you are just picking up the trash- remember that you can never tell what may have been “slopped” on the bag

Switch to heavier, longer nitrile gloves for tasks that are more demanding, such as moving objects on the floor to wet mop or clean up flooded areas

35

Acid Burn

Coagualtive Necrosis

36

Coagulative necrosis

Ugandan woman 12 days after an attacker poured acid over her

Material remained on skin for several hours

37

How to Avoid Ingestion / By Mouth Exposures

Don safety glasses and nitrile gloves before entering a laboratory

38

Avoiding Exposures by Mouth

Wash Your HandsAs soon as you take off the glovesBefore you eat or drink anything

(includes gum or breath mints)Before you smoke

39

Avoiding exposures by inhalation

Odors in labs are normal- just because you can smell something, doesn’t mean that you are in danger, however…

If odors are strong, and no one is around for you to ask about the odor- come back later.

Most laboratories are designed with ventilation systems that protect the people in the lab very well

40

Avoiding exposures by inhalation

Use your nose- Don’t rely on the lab staff to to up signs to alert you of a recently developed hazard, such as a spill

Don’t try to use a dust mask to protect you from chemical hazards They are meant for

nuisance dust-and that is really all they are good for

41

Task Specific Requirements

Trash Pick Up Safety glasses (with side

shields) and nitrile gloves to enter the lab

Change gloves if you notice they are wet

Use proper technique- hold the bag with one hand!

Change gloves before moving into non-lab areas

Wash hands after removing gloves

42

Task Specific Requirements

Loading paper towels/ soap in laboratory dispensersSafety glasses and nitrile gloves to enter labRemove gloves before leaving labWash hands

43

Task Specific Requirements

Dry Mopping Safety glasses and nitrile

gloves to enter the lab Always treat the lab floor

as if it is contaminated Clean non lab areas first,

then the labs Never use a mop head that

has been used in a lab in an non-lab area

If the job is a dusty one, you may wear an N-95 dust mask to protect you – in or outside of labs

Remove gloves before leaving lab area

Wash hands

44

Task Specific Requirements

Wet mopping

Don safety glasses and nitrile gloves to dispense cleaning chemicals

Use heavy/long (chemically resistant) nitrile gloves to mopThese gloves may be re-

used Never use a mop head

that has been used in a lab in an non-lab area

45

Task Specific- Wet Mopping

Bag the mop head for transport back to O’Keefe

When done, rinse gloves off, remove gloves and wash hands

Examine gloves for pinholes and tears- save or discard as appropriate.

46

Task Specific

Floor Stripping and WaxingSafety glasses and

nitrile gloves to handle the stripper and the wax

Long rubber or nitrile gloves

Rubber boots or boot covers

47

Task Specific- Flood Clean Up

Safety glasses and heavy nitrile gloves

Shoe Protectors are also to be worn in flooded labs

48

Task Specific- flood clean up

Treat everything in the lab as contaminated- do not touch anything bare handed

If possible, have the lab staff move bottles, cans, containers, and equipment

Unless directed otherwise, water may go down the drain (safety glasses and heavy, chemically resistant gloves for this job!)

49

Things you should not do…

Clean up chemical spillsMove chemicalsRemove spill clean up materials as

regular trash- leave it for EHS (Call EHS to let us know where it is - 404-894-6224)

Clean up residues from spill clean ups unless EHS has approved it

Allow lab personnel to use your mops to clean up chemical spills

50

Things you may do

Allow lab personnel to use your mops/mop heads to mop the lab floor (but not when chemical spills are involved)

51

What to do in an emergency

FiresPull the fire alarm Call 911 or GT Police at 404-894-2500

Floods Call GT Police & Your supervisor

SpillsYou-evacuate the room (the lab staff may choose to

stay)See if the lab staff can handle it, if not call GT

Police & EHS

52

What to do in an emergency

Chemical Exposure by InhalationGet Victim out to Fresh air- (outside room or

outside building)Do not send victim out alone- send a “buddy”

with them to monitor/report back on the victim’s condition

Make sure that the “buddy” has a cell phone and that you, EHS, or the GT Police have the number

Call GT Police

53

Chemical Exposure Emergencies

It is very important that you are able to “act without stopping to think” in a chemical exposure incident.

TAKE NOTE of the location of eyewashes and safety showers in the areas where you are working

54

Showers- what they look like

55

Eyewashes- what they look like

56

What to do in an emergency- skin exposures If you are exposed to a

chemical on your hands, arms or feet, you can rinse off in a sink for 15 minutes using tepid, (NOT HOT) water

If you are splashed with a chemical in an area of your body which cannot be put under a sink faucet and flooded immediately- you must use an emergency shower

57

How to Use an Emergency Shower

Remove clothing on the way to the shower- Shout for helpRemain in the shower for 15 minutesGet someone to call the GT PoliceDo not re-don contaminated clothingGet someone to print out 4 copies of the MSDS

(and find you something to wear)Remember that the SHOWER is also the best

answer when a person is on fire

58

Why you need to use an emergency shower (and not the one in the restroom)

Emergency showers flow at 20 gallons a minute (bathroom showers flow at about 2 gallons per minute)

Emergency showers are located within 50 feet or a 10 second fast walk from where chemicals are used or stored

59

What to do in an emergency- eye exposures

Shout for helpHold your eyelids

open with your fingers as you rinse your eyes

Have your helper watch a clock for you to make sure that you continue to rinse your eyes for a full 15 minutes

60

Post Eyewash

You must seek medical attention immediately afterwards

GT EH&S recommends you go to Grady Hospital to ensure proper care

MSDSs- one copy goes with the victim to the hospitalOne Copy goes to the paramedicOne Copy for the GT PoliceOne Copy for EHS

61

INFORMATION SOURCES

GEORGIA TECH LAB SAFETY MANUALPRUDENT PRACTICES FOR HANDLING

CHEMICALS IN LABORATORIESMATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEETS

62

Georgia Tech Environmental Health and SafetyDepartment Front Office…………………………...4-4636

Spills/Waste- Ed Pozniak…………………….....4-6224 Bio-Hazard- Lisa Broadhurst …………..……....4-6120Physical Safety- Aleece Fox ……………….…..5-0263(Electrical Safety, Ergonomics, Lock-out-tag-out)

Fire Marshal- Mike Hodgson……………….…..4-2990Chem-Hazard- D. Wolfe-Lopez………….…….5-2964 Also Noise, Non-ionizing Radiation, Indoor Air Quality)

Radiation Safety- Nazia Zakir…………………..4-3621Laser Safety-Gary Spichiger …..………………4-3605 http://www.ehs.gatech.edu