an introduction to peroxide formers
TRANSCRIPT
Hazards and Handling
An Introduction to Peroxide Formers Webinar:
Presented by:
Ted Dubiel, Quality Manager
About Ted Dubiel • Over 16 years
peroxide former and high haz management experience
• Head of New England Technical Lab Services Division and company reactives program
Managing Your Program
• Overview
• Regulations
• Program Implementation
• Program Management
Overview• Chemicals may form explosive peroxides for a variety
of reasons becoming shock sensitive
• Can pose a threat to health and safety
• Removal is expensive
• In most cases, not currently managed under a structured program
Overview
• Energetic materials do not age well
• Routine use can accelerate the chemical breakdown
• Changes in the material’s form, color, or state require investigation
Poll QuestionWhat is your greatest need in terms of
peroxide former management?
The Chemicals
• Ethyl Ether
• Tetrahydrofuran
• Isopropyl Ether
• 1,4 Dioxane
• Sodium Amide
Common Peroxide Formers:
Overview• Five types of stimuli to which
an explosive will react:
Electrostatic discharge
Friction
Impact
Heat
Shock
• Safety needs to be increased as energetic materials age
Regulation/Guidelines• OSHA- General Duty Clause
• NFPA- Peroxide former storage, Fire Department enforcement
• State Department of Environmental Protection - Treatment permits (if necessary)
Regulation/Guidelines
• Perform the work off-hours
• Have a secure location to move to
• Isolate areas that you will pass through with the material
Stabilization of High Hazard Material
• Information is the key:
Commercial products are relatively easy to stabilize because of the availability of information.
MSDS’s usually (but not always) have solubility information on them.
Chemical intermediates are more difficult.
Must use trade journals or “recipes” with general chemistry knowledge to determine appropriate solvent.
How Do You Avoid All This?
Management of High Hazard Chemicals
• 95% of all remote openings can be avoided.
• They usually result from three things:
Improper storage
No preventative maintenance
Bulk purchasing
Management of High Hazard Chemicals
The Challenge: Develop a standard operating procedure (SOP) that collects the information you want and prevents small bottles from becoming budget shattering events.
High Hazard SOP’s
• Find easy ways to collect information.
• Work with researchers.
• Make tracking/labeling easy.
• Give staff a reason why these things must be done (Ex. Fire dept. requires inventory).
• Create management systems that cover the use, maintenance, and purchasing of those materials that could become unstable.
• This will prevent and prohibit activities that create problems.
Management of High Hazard Chemicals
Management of High Hazard Chemicals
• Management systems can include:
Who can purchase such materials
The largest amount that can be purchased
Inventory tracking of material
How and where these materials be stored
After what time the chemicals will be disposed
Who will enforce the system and what the penalty will be
Management of Peroxide Forming
Chemicals• Many of the goals of the system can be accomplished with the existing staff.
• Use people at key points in the process of ordering and receiving chemicals.
Purchasing and Receiving - This covers who is using the material and how much.
Chemical Hygiene Plan - This will cover authorized procedures.
Management of High Hazard Chemicals
• Labs should be inspected routinely by lab personnel specifically for peroxide forming chemicals.
• Periodic inspections by EH&S
High Hazard SOP’s• Get them to document
their high hazard materials on an email format or web-based form.
• Create a similar inspection form for high hazard materials that must be submitted on some schedule.
• Look at the forms and give feedback.
High Hazard SOP’s• You can never provide too much
information to the lab. All lab staff know of peroxides in ether. Not
many know what causes this to happen (conditions and use).
• Attempt to get into lab meetings at least monthly with this type of information.
• Let them know the potential safety issues to the individual.
• Large University in Boston Area
Quarterly lab evaluations
• Entire campus walk through
Report created
Material evaluated for disposal
• Large Biotech in Boston Area Entered received date upon receipt
into Chemical inventory
Report created showing material at or over 1 year
Annual walk through
Material removed for disposal
• Large Hospital in Boston Area All material captured in Chemical
inventory
Identified the peroxide formers
Went to labs evaluated/ tested material
Material removed for disposal
• Research/Manufacturing New York Area
Walked through facility
Identify potential peroxide formers
Material tested/removed for disposal
• Research/ Manufacturing Baltimore Area
Reviewing/Updating Chemical inventory
Identify potential peroxide formers
Annual walk through
Material removed for disposal
Thank You!
1-888-TEI-WOWS www.triumvirate.com