Laboratory Safety TrainingOSHA

“Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories”

29 CFR 1910.1450 and appendices

Employees shall be informed of contents:https://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_id=10106&p_table=STANDARDS

Laboratory Safety Training

This training will cover the following:

• What are hazardous chemicals,• How do hazardous chemicals affect the

body,• What are the different types of hazardous

chemicals,• What is on product labels,• What are “safety data sheets” • How to protect yourself from hazardous

chemicals.

Laboratory SafetyWhat is Chemical Hygiene or what we will refer to as Laboratory

Safety?

Laboratory Safety is our program where we tell you about the hazardous chemicals used in our workplace and how to protect yourself from the effects of the associated hazards.Laboratory Safety Training is required by Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences research laboratories initially with an every 3 year refresher.

Laboratory SafetyWhat is a “hazardous” chemical?

A hazardous chemical is any chemical that can do harm to your body.Most laboratory chemicals can harm you at some level.It depends on how much gets on or into your body and how toxic the chemical is.

Laboratory SafetyHow do hazardous chemicals

affect the body?The effect a certain chemical has on the body depends on several factors:

• The physical form

• How the chemical enters the body

• Amount that enters the body - the dose

• Toxicity (poisonous)

How Chemicals Enter the Body

There Are Three Routes of Entry:

• Ingestion – swallowing the chemical

• Inhalation – breathing in the chemical

• Absorption – the chemical soaks through the skin

How Chemicals Enter the Body

Ingestion (Swallowing)

Chemicals that are swallowed are absorbed in the digestive tract and may accumulate in certain organs.

•Chemicals can rub off dirty hands and contaminate food, drinks or tobacco products.

•Chemicals in the air can settle on food or drink and be swallowed.

How Chemicals Enter the Body

Inhalation (Breathing)

Airborne chemicals are breathed in through the mouth or nose.

•The size of particles or droplets can affect where the chemical settles in the respiratory tract.

•Where the chemical settles in the respiratory tract determines what symptoms or diseases will develop.

How Chemicals Enter the Body

Skin Absorption

Some chemicals can pass through the skin and be taken into the body’s systems.

•Some solvents and hydrofluoric acid are examples of compounds that can be absorbed through the skin.

Chemical ToxicityToxicity: how poisonous are chemicals?Dose - The effects of any toxic chemical depends on the amount of a chemical that actually enters the body.

Acute Toxicity - the measure of how toxic a chemical is in a single dose over a short period of time.

Chronic Toxicity – the measure of the toxicity of exposure to a chemical over numerous exposures or a long period of time.

Chemical ToxicityChronic Toxicity and Acute Toxicity

Some chemicals will make you sick if you get an ‘acute” dose all at once. Example – 2-mercaptoethanol (serious eye damage)Some chemicals are mainly known for their chronic or long-term effects. Example – formaldehyde (cancer)Most chemicals have both acute and chronic effects. Example – phenol (acute-eye damage; chronic-genetic effects)

Chemical Toxicity Chemical Exposure Limits

Many chemicals have exposure limits, or allowable amounts of a chemical in the air.These limits are often called “PELs” or “TLVs”.They are based on 8-hour average exposure or ceiling or peak levels.Levels must be kept below these limits for safety.

Types of ChemicalsThe Three Forms of Chemicals

Most chemicals exists in one of three forms:

Solid

Liquid

Gas

Types of ChemicalsSolids - Dusts

• Dust or powder can be released into the air by vigorous handling techniques outside of an exhaustion hood and inhaled.

• Dust can also be stirred up by dry sweeping and inhaled.

Types of ChemicalsSolids - Dust

• Dust in the air can settle out on work surfaces, cups, plates, utensils, and food.

• The settled dust can be swallowed with food or drinks; or enter the body through use of cosmetics.

Types of ChemicalsGases and Vapors

• Gases are chemicals that are in the gas phase at room temperature.

• Vapors evaporate from substances that are liquids or solids at room temperature.

• Gases and vapors enter the body by inhalation.

Types of ChemicalsLiquids

• Liquids can come into direct contact with the skin and be absorbed into the body.

• Liquids can be sprayed and form mists or evaporate and form vapors which can be inhaled.

Types of Chemical HazardsThe two basic chemical hazard types are “health” and “physical”.

Health hazard: effects such as acute toxicity, skin corrosion, eye damage, sensitization, mutagen, carcinogen, reproductive toxin, target organ toxicity.

Physical hazard: evidence it is combustible, a compressed gas, explosive, flammable, an organic peroxide, an oxidizer, pyrophoric, reactive.

Types of Chemical Hazards example

Liquid nitrogen (LN2) has physical hazard characteristics, is inert, colorless, odorless, non-flammable, tasteless, and extremely cold-and it has no warning properties. One of the hazards often overlooked in the research laboratory is the following:

•Over-pressurization and explosion due to LN2 vaporizing to nitrogen gas (700x expansion ratio) in unvented containers, such as cryovials containing samples when they are removed from the LN2 and begin to warm.

Toxic Chemical-HazardsCarcinogens

Carcinogens are cancer-causing compounds.

Some chemicals are known human carcinogens, others are only suspected as carcinogens.

OSHA has regulations covering the general use of carcinogens, and has specific regulations for several known human carcinogens.

Toxic Chemicals-HazardsCarcinogens

OSHA have specific regulations on the following carcinogens:

• Chromium (VI)• Acrylonitrile• 1,2,-Dibromo-3-chloropropane (DBCP)• Inorganic Arsenic• Benzidine• Formaldehyde• Butadiene• Methylene Chloride• Benzene• Others…

Toxic Chemicals-HazardsOther Groups of Toxic Chemicals

Teratogens• Teratogens are compounds that can harm the developing fetus, causing birth defects or death.

Mutagens• Mutagens cause genetic mutations or changes. These mutations can cause birth defects or other problems in following generations or may lead to cancer in the exposed person.

Toxic Chemicals-HazardsOther Groups of Toxic Chemicals

Sensitizers

• Sensitizers can “switch on” a reaction in an individual worker.

• The reaction to a sensitizer depends upon the individual worker.

• Once a worker becomes sensitized to a compound, smaller and smaller exposures can cause a reaction, and the reactions can become more severe.

Corrosive ChemicalsCorrosive Chemicals

• Acids and bases are common corrosive chemicals.

• Corrosive chemicals are capable of damaging skin, eyes and the respiratory system.

Corrosive ChemicalsCorrosive Chemicals - Skin

• Corrosives can cause visible skin burns or damage.

• The extent of skin damage depends on how long the corrosive is on the skin and how concentrated the corrosive is.

Corrosive ChemicalsCorrosive Chemicals – Inhalation and

Eyes

• Inhalation of corrosive mists or vapors can cause severe bronchial irritation.

• Corrosives are especially damaging to the eyes.

Corrosive ChemicalsExamples of Corrosive Chemicals

• Sulfuric Acid

• Ammonium Hydroxide

• Chromic acid

• Phenol

• Acetic Acid

• Hydrofluoric Acid

Corrosive ChemicalsProtection from Corrosives

Protective gloves & clothing

Goggles

Eyewashes

Water (for splashes on the skin)

Flammable LiquidsProperties of Flammable Liquids

• The vapor of a flammable liquid ignites and causes fire or explosion – not the liquid itself.

• The flammability of a liquid depends on its physical properties:

•Vapor Pressure

•Flash Point

•Limits of Flammability

•Vapor Density

Flammable LiquidsVapor Pressure

• Vapor pressure is a measure of how fast a liquid evaporates.

• The higher the vapor pressure the more rapidly the liquid will evaporate.

• Vapor pressure goes up and down with the temperature of the liquid.

Flammable LiquidsFlash Point

The flash point is the lowest temperature that a flammable liquid can generate enough vapor to form a mixture with air that will ignite.

Flammable LiquidsFlammable Limits Example

LEL – “lower explosive limit” UEL – “upper explosive limit”

Flammable LiquidsLower Explosive Limit – LEL

In most work situations, the “lower explosive limit” (LEL) is the main concern.

Vapors from flammable liquids can be found in the workplace, but are often too diluted to catch fire or explode.However, these vapors can quickly go above the LEL in a small room or in a cabinet when the lid is left open.

Flammable LiquidsVapor Density

• “Vapor density” is a measure of how heavy a vapor is compared to air.

• Vapors with a density greater than 1.0 are heavier than air and can collect near the floor, and “flow” like a liquid.

• This may create a fire/explosion hazard if the vapor flows to an ignition source.

MetalsHazards of Metals

Metals can be both physical hazards and health hazards:

• Some metals can ignite and explode: magnesium, or dusts/filings of other metals such as aluminum

• Some metals are almost non-toxic: iron, aluminum

• Others are very toxic: lead, cadmium, mercury, beryllium

Getting InformationHow do you get information about

hazardous chemicals?You can get information from many sources:

• from the product label• from the internet• chemical hazard reference materials, e.g. books, papers• from the product safety data sheet (SDS).

Getting InformationWhat is on the product label?

Product ID

Signal wordHazard StatementPictograms

Precautionary Statements

Supplier Information

Getting InformationWhat are “Pictograms”

• Pictograms are graphic symbols adopted by OSHA to communicate hazard information on labels and SDSs.

• The required nine pictograms consist of a red square frame set at a point with a black hazard symbol on a white background.

• Figure 1 on the next slide shows the symbol for each pictogram, the written name for each pictogram, and the hazards associated with each of the pictograms.

Figure 1: Pictograms and Hazards

Getting InformationWhat is a “safety data sheet”?

Safety data sheets or “SDSs” are information sheets on products that: • tell what chemicals are in the product,

• what the hazards of the chemicals are,

• how to protect yourself from the hazards.

Safety Data SheetOSHA requires chemical manufacturers, distributors, or importers to provide Safety Data Sheets (SDSs) to communicate the hazards of hazardous chemical products. The SDSs are required to be in a uniform format, and include the section numbers, the headings, and associated information under the headings below:

•Section 1, Identification includes product identifier; manufacturer or distributor name, address, phone number; emergency phone number; recommended use; restrictions on use.

Safety Data Sheet (continued)

• Section 2, Hazard(s) identification includes all hazards regarding the chemical; required label elements.

• Section 3, Composition/information on ingredients includes information on chemical ingredients; trade secret claims.

• Section 4, First-aid measures includes important symptoms/effects, acute, delayed; required treatment.

• Section 5, Fire-fighting measures lists suitable extinguishing techniques, equipment; chemical hazards from fire.

Safety Data Sheet (continued)

• Section 6, Accidental release measures lists emergency procedures; protective equipment; proper methods of containment and cleanup.

• Section 7, Handling and storage lists precautions for safe handling and storage, including incompatibilities.

• Section 8, Exposure controls/personal protection lists OSHA’s Permissible Exposure Limits(PELs); Threshold Limit Values(TLVs); appropriate engineering controls; personal protective equipment (PPE).

Safety Data Sheet (continued)• Section 9, Physical and chemical

properties lists the chemical’s characteristics.• Section 10, Stability and reactivity lists

chemical stability and possibility of hazardous reactions.

• Section 11, Toxicological information includes routes of exposure; related symptoms, acute and chronic effects; numerical measures of toxicity.

• Section 12, Ecological information*• Section 13, Disposal considerations*• Section 14, Transport information*• Section 15, Regulatory information*

Safety Data Sheet (continued)

• Section 16, Other information, includes the date of preparation or last revision.

*Note: Since other Agencies regulate this information, OSHA will not be enforcing Sections 12 through 15

Employers must ensure that SDSs are readily accessible to employees.

Before beginning work in a laboratory find out where the SDSs are kept.

CHS LaboratoryInformation

Contact the Principal Investigator or Laboratory Technician to find where chemical hazard and safety information can be found before working in a laboratory that has hazardous chemicals.

You must study this information before working with the chemicals.

Protecting YourselfYou can protect yourself from

hazardous chemicals by:

Knowing the hazards of the chemicals you work with,

Using the smallest amount of a chemical to do the job,

Protecting Yourself Protect yourself from hazardous chemicals by:

Using ventilation to reduce amounts of chemicals in the air,

Wearing necessary personal protective equipment.

Enclosing a chemical process as much as possible,

Protecting YourselfIn the case of a leak or spill, protect yourself by:

Informing your supervisor of unusual odors, spills, or releases; clean small spills if trained to do so.

Leaving an area of a large spill or chemical release and contact responsible personnel.

Protecting YourselfIf you are feeling ill and believe you may

have been exposed to a chemical:Let your supervisor know,Find out what the chemical was,Follow the first aid or emergency directions in the SDS or other safety guides, Discuss risk assessment with supervisor,Check your PPE before going back to the area of work.

References• OSUCHS Chemical Hygiene Manual

• Laboratory Safety Training Videos

• CHS Campus Security phone #: 918-625-8592 (place phone number in your personal phone, if possible)

• OSUCHS Laboratory Emergency Response Procedures