pyrophoric chemicals
DESCRIPTION
Overview of the hazards of pyrophoric chemicals and recent events in followup to the UCLA tragedyTRANSCRIPT
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Pyrophoric and air/water sensitive chemical hazards
Neal LangermanAdvanced Chemical Safety
San Diego, CA
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NATURE OF PROBLEM◦ Safely handling highly reactive chemicals in a
dynamic, competitive research environment◦ (Apparent) increased use of pyrophoric and
reactive chemicals in synthetic chemistry research
◦ Increased awareness of chemical safety at the institutional level
◦ Increased information sharing about incidents No method to determine if incidents (number or
severity) has changed over time
Advanced Chemical [email protected]
Reactive Safety
Air/Water/Pyrophoric Chemicals
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Page 3Chemical Reactivity Hazards
Air/Water/Pyrophoric Chemicals
Silane release Cylinder in a gas cabinet Apparatus in open lab area Student adjusting apparatus initiated release Minor injuries Loss of lab
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Air/Water/Pyrophoric Chemicals Thermal
reflux/distillation◦ Sodium metal◦ THF ◦ Student adjusted jammed
overhead stirrer while system was hot
◦ Round-bottom cracked, releasing contents into hood
◦ Student burned◦ Lab destroyed◦ Building closed to 7 days◦ 4 EH&S “terminated” over
next months
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Air/Water/Pyrophoric ChemicalsC&EN 22 Jan 2009 Researcher Dies After Lab Fire
◦ UCLA research assistant burned in incident with tert-butyl lithium
◦ Pyrophoric liquid◦ Working alone during shutdown
Chemical Reactivity Hazards Page 5
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Air/Water/Pyrophoric Chemicalstert-Butyl Lithium
A 23 year old female research associate/laboratory technician intended to add an (unknown) aliquot of 1.6 M t-Bu-Li (in pentane) to a round bottom flask, placed in a dry ice/acetone bath. ◦ She had been employed in the lab for about 3 months. ◦ Limited experience with pyrophors◦ Attempted to transfer 160 mL with successive aliqouts in a
50 mL plastic syringe Somehow, the syringe plunger popped out or was pulled out
of the syringe barrel, splashing the employee with t-Bu-Li and pentane. ◦ Ignited 4 L bottle of hexane in hood
The mixture caught fire, upon contact with air. She was wearing Nitrile gloves, safety glasses and synthetic
sweater. She was not wearing a lab coat. ◦ The fire ignited the gloves and the sweater.
Chemical Reactivity Hazards Page 6
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Air/Water/Pyrophoric ChemicalsMost authoritative report Jyllian Kemsley, Ph.D., C&EN Reporter
◦ http://pubs.acs.org/cen/science/87/8731sci1.html
Chemical Reactivity Hazards Page 7
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UCLA Update◦ 12 March 2010
CAL/OSHA cites campus for failure to report 2007 injury to TA (employee)/Grad Student in Chemistry & Biochemistry
CAL/OSHA cites campus for ongoing violations following the 2009 fatality
Campus announces its intention to contest the citations
Advanced Chemical [email protected]
Air/Water/Pyrophoric Chemicals
Reactive Safety
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UCLA Update 17 March 2010 2007 Lab Fire
◦ Biochem grad student seriously burned when alcohol spill ignited by Bunsen burner
◦ 7 days in hospital◦ Student was paid UCLA employee
Chemical Reactivity Hazards
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UCLA Update 17 March 2010 Citations
◦ Failure to report injury◦ Failure to correct unsafe working conditions
Flammable liquid and open flame◦ Inadequate PPE
No lab coat, insufficient clothing Proposed fine: $29,300
Chemical Reactivity Hazards
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UCLA Update 17 March 2010 Follow-up inspection of Chemistry &
Biochemistry◦ Prompted by complaints from (unionized)
university employees UCLA plans to contest both sets of citations
Chemical Reactivity Hazards
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UCLA Update 17 March 2010
Chemical Reactivity Hazards
Page 12
10 REGULATORY 1 Improper classification of injury/illness 1 Injury & Illness Program Violation 3 Non-compliance with PPE or Monitoring requirements 3 Improper storage or labeling 1 Inadequate Chemical Hygiene Plan compliance 1 MSDSs not available; do not have 5 SERIOUS 2 Injury & Illness Program implementation violations 1 Improper storage of flammable gas, pyrophoric liquid, flammable liquid 2 Inadequate implementation of CHP; unqualified CHO 1 REPEAT VIOLATION 1 No training of supervisors on requirements for handling particularly hazardous
substances PROPOSED FINE $67,720
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During the past ten days:◦ UCSD terminated the campus CHO
Allegedly due to budget constraints◦ The UCSD Director of EHS resigned on very short
notice Reportedly is taking a position at Ann Arbor
◦ Money is “found” to re-hire the CHO No relationship to UCLA has been
established
UCSD Update
Advanced Chemical [email protected] (from title page)
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Common sense is not common
Advanced Chemical [email protected]
Air/Water/Pyrophoric Chemicals
The incident◦ Sodium was used in an organic synthesis reaction◦ Knife used to cut Sodium was rinsed in a regular sink
with Methanol◦ Piece of Sodium hit water in sink, igniting the
Methanol◦ Fire spread to 20 liter poly bottle of Acetone on shelf
above sink Bottle burst
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Common sense is not common
Advanced Chemical [email protected]
Air/Water/Pyrophoric Chemicals
The incident, continued◦ A burning pool of acetone spread over lab◦ Excess quantities of solvents ignited
Two labs totaled Major flooding & smoke damage $750,000 property loss No injuries Same incident occurred 10 years later at
another major research center
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MANY CAUSES:SOME COMMON THEMES◦ Insufficient training/Insufficient supervision◦ Intense time/productivity pressure◦ Safety institutionalized/Safety not functional at
the lab level◦ Academic culture rewards productivity with no
attention to safety Safety must be given the same priority in academic
culture given to publications and funding
Advanced Chemical [email protected]
Air/Water/Pyrophoric Chemicals
Reactive Safety
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What must be done?◦ EHS –
Shift responsibility for safety to PI’s Make it very clear that EH&S are consultants, not the
“Safety Cops” Change the culture by shifting responsibility Get Provost-level support
◦ CAMPUS Include “safety performance” in PI evaluation
Teaching Grants & Funding Lab Space Tenure
Advanced Chemical [email protected]
Air/Water/Pyrophoric Chemicals
Reactive Safety
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What must be done?◦ National
Give CSB Funding/Authority to investigate laboratory-scale incidents
Place “Safety Performance” at an equal level of importance as research performance
Advanced Chemical [email protected]
Air/Water/Pyrophoric Chemicals
Reactive Safety
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What must be done?◦ The Chemical Safety Community
Define “Safety Performance” Lead rather than push
And before ending …
Advanced Chemical [email protected]
Air/Water/Pyrophoric Chemicals
Reactive Safety
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Questions - Comments
Advanced Chemical [email protected]
Air/Water/Pyrophoric Chemicals
Reactive Safety