Hazardous Chemicals In The Laboratory

1
Hazardous Chemicals In The Laboratory

• A Guide for Their Safe Use and Disposal

2
THE HAZARD COMMUNICATION ACT

• The Texas Hazard Communication Act (revised 1993)
  requires public employers to provide information
  to employees regarding hazardous chemicals they
  may be exposed to in the workplace
• The purpose of this act is to reduce the
  incidence of chemically related occupational
  illness and injury and provide a means for the
  general public to learn about chemical hazards
  associated with business in the community

3
GENERAL HAZARD COMMUNICATION

• Notification Employers must inform employees of
  their rights to information concerning all toxic
  substances present in their workplace.
• Information Employers must respond to employee
  requests with specific information concerning any
  toxic substances present in the workplace.

4
GENERAL HAZARD COMMUNICATION (cont)

• Training Employers must train employees in the
  identity, properties and safe use of toxic
  substances they can expect to encounter in the
  course of their duties.
• Record Keeping Employers must keep records of
  employees exposed to substances with enforceable
  exposure standards.

5
EMPLOYEE RIGHTS

• To be informed of exposure to hazardous
  chemicals
• Ready access to MSDS
• To receive training on hazardous chemicals
• Cannot be required to work from unlabeled
  containers of hazardous chemicals
• The right to file complaints with Texas
  Department of Health

6
CHEMICAL FORMS

• Chemicals can take three possible forms
• Solids - toner powder, smoke, dusts, sawdust and
  fumes
• Liquids - rubber cement, paint thinner,
  solvents, mists and fuels
• Gases and vapors - smoke, ammonia gas, paint
  vapors, gasoline vapors, carbon monoxide,
  natural gas and propane

7
HAZARD DETERMINATION

• Before working with any chemical, it is important
  to determine the hazards inherent in handling the
  material.
• The primary source of information is the label
  on the container and the MSDS.

8
HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS

• On the UT Tyler campus, laboratory personnel work
  with a wide variety of chemicals.
• The hazard presented by a chemical is dependent
  on both its physical and toxicological
  properties.
• Many chemicals exhibit multiple hazard categories.

9
TYPES OF HAZARDS

• Chemicals generally cause two kinds of hazards
• Physical Hazards risks associated with a
  chemical acting on a facility. Examples include
  fire reactivity and risk of explosion.
• Health Hazards risks associated with a
  chemical acting on humans. Examples include skin
  irritation, reaction to toxins, and the effects
  of carcinogens

10
CHEMICALS WHICH CAN CAUSE PHYSICAL HAZARDS

• Combustible liquids
• Explosives
• Oxidizers
• Unstable (reactive) chemicals

• Flammable materials
• Compressed gases
• Organic peroxides
• Pyrophorics
• Water reactive chemicals

11
HEALTH HAZARDS

• How a chemical effects the body depends on a
  number of factors. The primary factors are
• The quantity of material
• The absorption rate of the chemical
• The rate the chemical is metabolized
• The excretion rate of the chemical

12
ROUTES OF EXPOSURE

• Chemicals enter your body through four major
  routes
• Inhalation inhaled through the mouth and nose
• Absorption absorb through skin, eyes and
  mucus membrane
• Ingestion through eating drinking or smoking
  while working with chemicals
• Injection through needle puncture or broken
  glass

13
CHEMICALS THAT CAN CAUSE HEALTH HAZARDS

• Carcinogens - defined as a substance with the
  ability to cause tumors
• Toxic chemicals - a chemical with an LD50 that
  falls into the following categories
• Oral 50 500 mg/kg
• Dermal 200 1000 mg/kg
• Inhalation 200 2000 ppm
• Corrosive chemical s- defined as corrosive if it
  causes visible destruction of, or an
  irreversible alteration in living tissue by
  chemical action at the site of contact

14
CHEMICALS THAT CAN CAUSE HEALTH HAZARDS (cont)

• Irritants- a chemical which causes a reversible
  inflammatory effect on living tissue,
  particularly the skin, eyes, nose or respiratory
  system
• Sensitizers - a material which causes an
  allergic reaction of the skin or respiratory
  system

15
CAUSTIC BURN
16
MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEETS

• A material safety data sheet (MSDS) gives
  information and detail on chemical and physical
  dangers, safety procedures, emergency response
  procedures, and the safe handling of a substance.
  
• There are several formats for MSDS, but they all
  must contain the same basic information.

17
MSDS INFORMATION

• Product information
• Composition
• Hazard identification
• First aid measures
• Fire fighting measure
• Spill procedure
• Handling and storage
• Exposures control, PPE

• Physical and chemical
• properties
• Stability and reactivity
• Toxicological information
• Ecological information
• Disposal consideration
• Transportation information
• Regulatory information

18
Safe Handling Means Read the Label

• The original label from the supplier or
  manufacturer must remain attached to the
  container.
• The label provides
• Name of the chemical as it appears on MSDS
• Manufacturer name and address
• Physical and health warnings

19
CONTAINER LABEL
Hazard Warnings
Chemical Name
Manufacturer
20
HABITS AND PRACTICES

• Food, beverages, and tobacco products should not
  be consumed in the laboratory
• Wash hands thoroughly before leaving the lab
• Laboratory equipment should not be used for food
  preparation
• Be cautious of any sharp object

21
ALWAYS USE PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE)

• Eye protection safety glasses, goggles
• Hand protection resistant gloves, insulated
  gloves
• Foot protection no sandals in the lab
• Body protection smock, lab coat, full
  protective suit. No shorts in the lab.