SAFETY AT LABORATORY

Equipment

Most accidents in laboratories occur as a result of casual behaviour and neglect, not only actively in the operations but also passively in the maintenance of appliances (old electricity cables, plugs, manifolds, tubing, clamps, etc.). Therefore, for each apparatus and installation such as water distillers, deionized water systems and gas cylinders, there should be a maintenance logbook in which all particulars should be recorded. Maintenance, calibrations, malfunctioning and actions to rectify this and other relevant remarks for optimal functioning should be detailed (without budget being felt as a limiting factor). If complicated sensitive equipment such as atomic absorption spectrophotometers and autoanalyzers are used by more than one operator, each user should record the operation in the journal to make him or her responsible for proper use. Details of this are laid down in SOPs which need to made for each apparatus .

LAB.2 Chemicals, reagents, and gases

The proper handling and storage of chemicals, reagents and gases, particularly the toxic and inflammable ones should also be laid down in SOPs. An example of such a SOP, for changing gas cylinders, is given (PROT 051). Such simple SOPs or instructions should also be written for the storage of chemicals. These may differ according to institute and country as the laws and regulations differ. In some countries, for instance, acetylene and nitrous oxide cylinders may not be situated in the laboratory and should be stored in a special ventilated cupboard or outside the building. Bottles with inflammable substances need to be stored in stainless steel containers. Working supplies of acids and ammonia can best be stored under fume cupboards with ventilated storage. Quantities of inflammable material such as acetone and alcohol in excess of 5 or 10 litre should be kept outside the building in a separate shed.

Somebody should be responsible for checking and keeping in order the special safety equipment such as first-aid kits, chemical-spill kits, eye-wash bottles (unless special eye-wash fountains are present), the functioning of safety showers, the presence and maintenance of fire extinguishers (the latter will usually be done for the whole institute). For the instruction of new personnel and to facilitate inspection, a floor-plan indicating all safety appliances and emergency exits should be available. Of all inspection actions a record should be kept which rests at least with the head of laboratory. One way of doing this is to prepare a Safety Logbook with at least one page for each item to be inspected regularly. An example of a page of this logbook is given as Model SAF 011 (which has the same lay-out as Model APP 041 for the Maintenance Logbook for laboratory apparatus .

Storing chemicals in alphabetical order is convenient but can only be done to a limited extent as several chemicals should not be stored together. This must be carefully considered in each case. For instance, oxidizing and reducing agents should not be stored together. Acids should not be stored with organic liquids. The chemical properties and hazards of each chemical in stock can be looked up in relevant handbooks. In addition, suppliers of chemicals have Material Safety Data Sheets available for their hazardous products. If a chemical has particular hazardous properties this is indicated on the label by a hazard symbol. Although these symbols are almost self-descriptive, the most important ones are reproduced here (see Fig. 3-1). Absence of a hazard symbol does not necessarily imply safety!

Fig. : Hazard symbols on labels of chemical containers.

Each laboratory has its own specific range of chemicals. Once a proper partition into categories is made, this can be laid down in a Standard Registration Form which should be verified by a qualified chemist.

Both for efficient working and for inspection purposes a list of chemicals in stock and the place they are stored should be prepared and kept up-to-date. Copies of this list should be situated in or near all storage places so that any container or bottle removed can be tallied for easy stock-management (timely ordering new stock!).

An example of the first page of such a list is given on. A separate list should be made of the suppliers where each of the chemicals can be ordered.

LAB.3 Waste disposal

An important item to observe is waste disposal. In many countries the regulations as to waste disposal are very strict. Sometimes a record of incoming and outgoing chemicals is required. Some chemicals in use in soil and plant laboratories such as common acids, bases and salts may be disposed of in dilute form and need not necessarily offer a problem but local regulations vary and tend to become stricter. Care should be taken when a laboratory drain outlet "disappears" somewhere in the ground to some obscure destination or in a cesspit. Unless there is no other option, observe the rule not to dilute concentrated solutions in order to make it disposable: 'dilution is no solution to pollution'!.

1. A number of chemicals deserve special attention as they may never be disposed of via the sink, such as all toxic compounds (e.g., cyanides), persistent mineral oils, chromates, molybdates, vanadates, selenium, arsenic, cobalt and several other metals and metalloids and their compounds. All these materials have to be collected in proper containers to be disposed of in a way prescribed by the local authorities. These have to be contacted about the appropriate actions to be taken and regulations to be obeyed.
2. Make an inventory of toxic compounds in the laboratory and prepare a Protocol for their collection and disposal. Usually a technician is charged with the responsibility for this.
3. Waste sample remains should never be disposed of by washing down a drain. Use proper receptacles for this purpose. Nevertheless, sinks and gullies should be fitted with removable silt traps which should be emptied regularly. In certain cases heavily polluted soil samples may have to be treated as toxic chemical waste.

LAB.4 General rules to observe

The "Methods manual forWATER , soil and FERTILIZER analysis" gives a useful list of various points to improve safety in a laboratory. With some modifications, this list is reproduced here (with permission). It is suggested that each laboratory adapts and moulds this list into a SOP called "Good Laboratory Behaviour" or "General Laboratory Rules".

1. All employees must receive and understand the locally applicable Workplace Hazardous Materials information guide or equivalent (if such a guide exists). In any case, the management is responsible for proper instruction.

2. Develop a positive attitude toward laboratory safety: prevention is better than cure.

3. Observe normal laboratory safety practices.

4. Good housekeeping is extremely important. Maintain a safe, clean work environment.

5. You may work hard, but never in haste.

6. Follow the safety precautions provided by the manufacturer when operating instruments.

7. Monitor instruments while they are operating.

8. Avoid working alone. If you must work alone, have someone contact you periodically.

9. Learn what to do in case of emergencies (e.g., fire, chemical spill, ).

10. Learn emergency first aid .

11. Seek medical attention immediately if affected by chemicals and use first aid until medical aid is available.

12. Report all accidents and near-misses to the management.

13. Access to emergency exits, eye-wash fountains and safety showers must not be blocked. Fountains and showers should be checked periodically for proper operation. (Safety showers are used for chemical spills and fire victims.)

14. Wash hands immediately after contact with potentially hazardous or toxic chemicals.

15. Clean up any spillage immediately. Use appropriate materials for each spillage.

16. Dispose of chipped or broken glassware in specially marked containers.

17. Use forceps, tongs, or heat-resistant gloves to remove containers from hot plates, ovens or muffle furnaces.

18. Do not eat, drink or smoke in the laboratory. In many countries smoking in common rooms is prohibited by law.

19. Do not use laboratory glassware for eating or drinking.

20. Do not store food in the laboratory.

21. Telephone calls to a laboratory should be regarded as improper disturbance and therefore be restricted to urgent cases.

22. Unauthorized persons should be kept out of a laboratory. Visitors should always be accompanied by authorized personnel.

23. All electrical, plumbing, and instrument maintenance work should be done by qualified personnel.

24. Routinely check for radiation leaks from microwave ovens using an electromagnetic monitor.

25. When working with X-ray equipment, routinely check (once a week) for radiation leaks from X-ray tubes with appropriate X-radiation detectors. In some countries wearing a film badge is obligatory. However, this is no protection!

26. Use fume hoods when handling concentrated acids, bases, and other hazardous chemicals. Fume hoods should be checked routinely for operating efficiency. Do not use them for storage (except the cupboards underneath, which preferably have a tube connection with the fume cupboard above for ventilation).

27. Muffle furnaces must be vented to the atmosphere (e.g. via a fume cupboard).

28. Atomic absorption spectrophotometers must be vented to the atmosphere (if necessary via fume cupboard). Ensure that the drain trap is filled with water prior to igniting the burner.

29. Use personal safety equipment as described below.

a. Body protection: laboratory coat and chemical-resistant apron.

b. Hand protection: gloves, particularly when handling concentrated acids, bases, and other hazardous chemicals.

c. Dust mask: when crushing or milling/grinding samples, etc.

d. Eye protection: safety glasses with side shields. Persons wearing contact lenses should always wear safety glasses in experiments involving corrosive chemicals.

e. Full-face shields: wear face shields over safety glasses in experiments involving corrosive chemicals.

f. Foot protection: proper footwear should be used. Do not wear sandals in the laboratory.

30. Avoid unnecessary noise in the laboratory. Noise producing apparatus such as centrifuges, or continuously running vacuum pumps should be placed outside the working area.

31. Cylinders of compressed gases should be secured at all times.

32. Never open a centrifuge cover until the machine has stopped completely.

33. Acids, hydroxides, and other hazardous liquid reagents should be kept in plastic or plastic coated bottles.

34. Do not pipet by mouth.

35. When diluting, always add acid to water, not water to acid.

36. For chemicals cited for waste disposal, write down contents on the label.

37. Always label bottles, vessels, wash bottles, etc., containing reagents, solutions, samples, etc., including those containing water and also those you use for a short while (this while may become days!).

38. Extreme care is required when using perchloric acid, otherwise fires or explosions may occur. Work must be performed in special fume cupboards, certified as perchloric acid safe, with a duct washdown system and no exposed organic coating, sealing compound, or lubricant. Safety glasses, face shield, and gloves must be used. When wet-digesting soil or plant samples, treat the sample first with nitric acid to destroy easily oxidizable matter. Oxidizable substances (e.g. tissue, filter paper) should never be allowed to come into contact with hot perchloric acid without pre-oxidation with nitric acid. Do not wipe spillage with flammable material. Do not store on wooden shelves. Do not let perchloric acid come into contact with rubber.

39. Read labels before opening a chemical container. Use workplace labels for all prepared reagents indicating kind of reagent and concentration, date of preparation, date of expiry and the name of the person who prepared it. Good Laboratory Practice prescribes that all these particulars, including the amounts of components used, are recorded in the Reagents and Solutions Book .

LAB.5 First Aid

Every employee of a laboratory should have knowledge of emergency first aid and roughly one out of every ten employees of a whole institute should have a valid First Aid certificate including an endorsement for resuscitation. These qualifications should be mentioned on the Staff Record  The management should encourage first aid training and the essential refresher courses by allowing time off and a periodical bonus.

Since no paragraph nor even a chapter can take the place of a proper first aid training, only some major practical aspects will be mentioned here to provide the basics of emergency first aid. These may be summarized in a SOP or Instruction.

LAB.5.1 Essential Items and Equipment

1. Names and internal phone numbers of employees with First Aid certificate.
2. Telephone numbers of physicians and hospitals as well as the general emergency number.
3. First Aid kit
4. Eye wash fountains or bottles.
5. Safety showers (at least one per laboratory).

It is the (delegatable) responsibility of the head of laboratory that these items are in order. A check-list for regular inspection of these points should be made (and kept, for instance, with the First Aid kit).

Items 1 and 2 could be taken care of by issuing a sticker with this information to each employee (to be stuck onto or next to his/her telephone).

The First Aid kit should be the responsibility of one person who keeps a logbook of regular contents checks and purchased supplements. Tallying used materials from the First Aid kit in practice appears to be illusive. Also eye-wash equipment and safety showers need to be inspected regularly. When an eye-wash bottle has been used, it should be replaced or refilled and the expiration date revised.

LAB.5.2 Emergency First Aid

Sometimes, in case of an accident, there is no time or possibility to await qualified help. In that case, the necessary help needs to be given by others. The most important general points to observe are listed here:

1. Stay calm, try to oversee the situation and watch out for danger.

2. Try to find out what is wrong with the casualty.

3. Take care that the casualty keeps breathing. If breathing stops, try to apply artificial respiration by mouth-to-mouth or mouth-to-nose insufflation. When unconscious, turn casualty on his/her side with the face tilted to the floor (support head by kind of cushion).

4. Staunch serious bleeding. If necessary, arterial bleeding may be stopped by pressing a thumb in the wound.

5. Do not move the casualty unless he/she is in a dangerous position (e.g., in case of gas, smoke, fire or electricity), then carefully move casualty to a safe place.

6. Put the casualty's mind at rest.

7. Call qualified help as soon as possible: medical service, a physician and/or an ambulance, and if necessary, the police. Do not leave casualty unattended.

A few specific accidents that may occur in the laboratory are the following:

Burns:		Hold affected parts of the skin for at least 10 minutes in cold water. Try to keep the bum sterile and do not apply ointment.
Corrosive burns:		(e.g. by hydrogen peroxide): wash the affected part of the skin thoroughly with water.
Eye (corrosive) burns:		Wash eye thoroughly with tap water: use an eye fountain or eye-wash bottle or a tubing connected to a tap.
Hydrofluoric acid burn:		Wash the affected part with dilute ammonia (1-2%) or sodium bicarbonate solution.
Poisoning by swallowing:
	1. Corrosive solutions (acids, bases):	Let the casualty drink one or two glasses of water to dilute the poison. Vomiting should not be induced.
	2. Petroleum products.	Do not induce vomiting (the products may get into the bronchial tubes).
	3. Non-corrosive solutions (e.g. herbicides, fungicides):	Try to induce vomiting. Swallow activated charcoal.

In all these cases must the casualty immediately be taken to a physician or hospital. Try to bring the original container (with or without some of the poison).

LAB.6 Fire fighting

As in the case of First Aid, a number of employees should be properly trained in fire fighting, this goes especially for laboratory personnel. Therefore, at this point only general instructions will be given to be applied when no qualified person can help in time. These instructions can be moulded into a Standard Instruction to be issued to each and every employee.

LAB.6.1 Necessary items and equipment

1. Fire-proof blanket.

2. Safety shower (at least one per laboratory).

3. Buckets with sand.

4. Portable fire extinguishers of essentially two types: CO₂ or b.c.f. (halon, halogenated hydrocarbons) since these can be used without causing damage to electrical equipment. The extinguishing power of halon is about 6 times that of CO₂! Water has the disadvantage that it conducts electricity, powder extinguishers (containing salts) cause damage to instruments.

LAB.6.2 Actions

When fire is detected stay calm, try to oversee the situation and watch out for danger. Then the following actions should be taken in this order:

1. Close windows and doors.
2. Give fire alarm (shouting, telephone, fire alarm).
3. Rescue people (and animals if present).
4. Switch off electricity and/or gas supply.
5. Fight fire, if possible with at least two persons.

Persons with burning clothing should be wrapped in a blanket on the floor, sprayed with water or be pulled under a safety shower. A CO₂ fire extinguisher can also be used, but do not spray in the face.

When using fire extinguishers it is important that the fire is fought at the seat of the fire i.e., at the bottom of the flames, not in the middle of the flames.

If gas cylinders are present there is the danger of explosion by overheating. If they cannot be removed, take cover and try to cool them with a fire-hose. When the situation looks hopeless, evacuate the building. Let everybody assemble outside and check if no one is missing. To practice this, a regular fire drill (once a year), should be held.

The management should have a calamity scenario drawn up for the whole institute as a Standard Instruction which is issued to each and every employee.

4.3 Admittance to the laboratory

In connection with safety and quality, only authorized persons have admittance to the laboratory blocks. These persons are: all laboratory staff, the Quality Assurance Officer and, usually, other professional officers employed by the institute. Others may only enter the laboratory after permission. This permission can be given by the head of laboratory or his/her deputy. The entrances should be marked with a sign "no admittance for unauthorized persons". In case of trainees, students, visitors etc., at least one laboratory staff member must be charged with their supervision or responsibility.

SOPs

---

PROT 051 - The replacement of a gas cylinder
SAF 011 - Safety Logbook (Laboratory)
RF 031 - Stock record of chemicals

---

PROT 051 - The replacement of a gas cylinder

LOGO	STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE		Page: 1#1
	Model: PROT 051	Version: 2	Date: 95-03-14
	Title: The replacement of a gas cylinder

1 PURPOSE

To properly replace an empty pressure gas cylinder by a new one.

2 RELATED SOPs

- PROT	Acceptance delivery of goods
- PROT	Storage of gases
- RF	Logbook: Stock record of gases

3 REQUIREMENTS

Large spanner of correct size or shifting spanner. Detergent/soap solution with small paint brush.

4 PROCEDURE

4.1 General

1. A cylinder may only be changed by well-instructed qualified personnel,

2. Ascertain yourself of the identity of the gas,

3. Ascertain that cylinder was properly labelled upon receipt (with date and initial). Add to label date of opening and initial.

4. Take note of the particular properties and dangers of the gas.

5. Take note of applicable instructions of supplier.

LAB Procedure

1. Make sure all connected equipment is switched off.

2. Close secondary valve in instrument room.

3. Close valve on cylinder.

4. Remove manifold from cylinder with (shifting) spanner of the correct size (do not use monkey wrench!).

5. Replace cylinder.

6. Connect manifold with (shifting) spanner of correct size (do not use monkey wrench!).

7. Open valve on cylinder and make sure connection is gas-tight. In case of any doubt, apply detergent solution to the connection with a brush: bubbling indicates a leak. Warning: never search for a leak with a naked flame! If a leak is suspected, immediately close main valve on cylinder and notify the management -which should decide what action should be taken to solve the problem (e.g., replace manifold or cylinder or both).

8. Check if pressure indicated by manifold is conform specification of supplier.

9. Close valve on cylinder when gas is not to be used for some time.

10. Enter replacement in gas/supply logbook.

11. Add to label of empty cylinder date of replacement and initial. Add label "EMPTY".

12. Notify the person in charge of gas stock (and of ordering new cylinders).

13. Notify any worker who might be waiting for the cylinder change.

Author:	Sign.:
QA Officer (sign.):	Expiry date:

SAF 011 - Safety Logbook (Laboratory)

LOGO	STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE		Page: 1 # ...
	Model: SAF 011	Version: 1	Date: 96-02-27
	Title: Safety Logbook (Laboratory)

Date	Inspection / Problem / Action taken / Remarks	Sign.	Sign. HoL

RF 031 - Stock record of chemicals

LOGO	STANDARD REGISTRATION FORM			Page: 1 # 8
	Model:	Version: 2	Updated: 96-07-01	Sign.:
	Title: Safety Logbook (Laboratory)

copies (locat.):

· central stare (1)

· fume cupboard (2)/(3)

· Steel boxes (4) / (5)

· shed (6)

lab. no.	order no.	chemical	grade	locat.	stock	removed
1	M1084	Aluminium chloride, hexahydrate
2	M1063	Aluminium nitrate, nonahydrate
3	M1095	Aluminium oxide
4	M0099	1-Amino-2-hydroxy-4-naftelene-sulfonic acid
5	Ml 115	Ammonium acetate
6	M1136	Ammonium carbonate
7	Ml 145	Ammonium chloride
8	Ml 164	Ammonium fluoride
9	Ml 188	Ammonium nitrate
10	Ml 182	Ammonium heptamolybdate, tetrahydrate
11	M3792	Ammonium iron(II)sulfate, hexahydrate
12	M3776	Ammonium iron(III)sulfate, dodecahydrate
13	M1206	Ammonium monohydrogenfosfate
14	Ml 226	Ammonium monovanadate
15	Ml 192	Ammonium oxalate, monohydrate
16	M1217	Ammonium sulfate
17	M4282	Gum Arabic
18	M8127	Ascorbic acid
19	M1703	Barium acetate
20	M1714	Barium carbonate
21	M1717	Barium chloride, dihydrate
22	M0255	Diphenylamine-4-sulfonic acid barium salt
23	M1737	Barium hydroxide, octahydrate
24	K7375	Bolus alba (kaolin)
25	M0165	Boric acid
26	M8121	Bromocresolgreen