DCU Faculty of Science and HealthSafe Lab Module 2 Basic Safety Considerations for Chemical Reagent

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DCU Faculty of Science and Health-Safe Lab Module
2- Basic Safety Considerations for Chemical
Reagent Use

• BASIC SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS FOR CHEMICAL REAGENT
  USE
• Presented by Damien McGuirk-Senior Technical
  Officer c/o School of Chemical Sciences-D.C.U.

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DCU Faculty of Science and Health-Safe Lab Module
2- Basic Considerations for Chemical Reagent Use
RELEASE THE CHEMICAL GENIE AT YOUR PERIL!!
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DCU Faculty of Science and Health-Safe Lab Module
2- Basic Considerations for Chemical Reagent Use

• Before using my chemical reagent, what do I need
  to consider?

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DCU Faculty of Science and Health-Safe Lab Module
2- Basic Considerations for Chemical Reagent Use

• How much reagent do I really need ?
• Consult M.S.D.S. (Material Safety Data
  Sheet)-Identify chemical risk symbol.
• Identify Risk and Safety numbers eg. See
  www.sigmaaldrich.com
• Complete C.O.S.H.H. Assessment (Control Of
  Substances Hazardous to Health) for your reagent.
• Am I happy to use this reagent? Am I confident in
  my ability/experience/training?? Do I need to
  consult further?
• Can I work outside normal university hours with
  this reagent- Have I attended outside hours
  induction training?
• Submit C.O.S.H.H. for inspection, to your
  supervisor.
• Order chemical reagent. Collect reagent from
  stores.

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DCU Faculty of Science and Health-Safe Lab Module
2- Basic Considerations for Chemical Reagent Use

• When I am actually using my chemical reagent,
  what do I need to consider?

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DCU Faculty of Science and Health-Safe Lab Module
2- Basic Considerations for Chemical Reagent Use

• Do I need to work in a fumehood? Is it serviced
  and functioning correctly?
• What Personal Protective Equipment will I need to
  use?
• DATE CHEMICAL REAGENT CONTAINER WHEN I OPEN IT.
• Will I need to instruct others that I share the
  lab with, about this reagent?
• Is the substance teratogenic/mutagenic/carcinogeni
  c? Do I need to be monitored for exposure? Who do
  I inform?
• Is appropriate first aid/fire fighting equipment
  available?
• Do I actually know what to do in the event of an
  emergency with this reagent eg. Spillage, splash
  on person etc?
• Where will I store waste generated as I am using
  this reagent?

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DCU Faculty of Science and Health-Safe Lab Module
2- Basic Considerations for Chemical Reagent Use

• When I am finally finished using my chemical
  reagent, what do I need to consider?

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DCU Faculty of Science and Health-Safe Lab Module
2- Basic Considerations for Chemical Reagent Use

• Where will I store leftover reagent? Return to a
  central storage area or keep in my lab? What are
  the storage options available to me?
• How do I safely clean glassware contaminated with
  reagent? See M.S.D.S./C.O.S.H.H. for the reagent-
  Risk assess cleaning procedure!!
• If reagent container is empty, how do I safely
  clean/ dispose of it?
• How do I safely remove/dispose my reagent waste
  that I generate?

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DCU Faculty of Science and Health-Safe Lab Module
2- Basic Considerations for Chemical Reagent Use

• To sum up..

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DCU Faculty of Science and Health-Safe Lab Module
2- Basic Considerations for Chemical Reagent Use

• C.O.S.H.H. is key to every single chemical
  reagent you will ever use in the Faculty of
  Science and Health.
• Local Safety Document/Handbook
• Project Supervisor
• Local Safety Rep/Advisor
• University Health and Safety Office
• Technical Support Staff
• Your Colleagues
• If still in doubt --ASK! ASK!! ASK!!!!!!!

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DCU Faculty of Science and Health-Safe Lab Module
2- Basic Considerations for Chemical Reagent Use

• See also www.hsa.ie under Publications and
  Forms.
• Wealth of information available for download on
  chemical reagents, and its absolutely free-eg.
  www.sigmaaldrich.com
• See School of Chemical Sciences Safety Handbook
  at http//www.dcu.ie/safety/chemistry.php