Individuals using multiple chemical procedures or chemicals in a laboratory must receive:

General Laboratory Safety training

Laboratory Safety Training specific to the lab

in use

Material Safety Data Sheets

are used to obtain hazard information; including

physical hazards and health hazards describe the physical and chemical properties recommend precautions for handling, storage and disposal
Note: Always read the MSDS before working with a chemical

If you are unable to find a MSDS for a particular material, contact the manufacturer (contact info is found on primary chemical container label). MSDSs for the chemicals present in the laboratory must be maintained by the laboratory and made readily available to individuals working therein. Laboratories that ship chemicals must also ship the corresponding MSDSs with the chemicals.

There are two types of containers, each is labeled differently

Primary Containers
The container which was shipped from the manufacturer and bears the manufacturers label.

Secondary Containers
The container which holds the decanted contents of a primary container and bears a label made by the lab.

MUST NOT BE:

Removed Refaced Scribbled out/written

over

Note: Pay attention to expiration dates found on chemical container labels.

Secondary Chemical Container Labels MUST HAVE:

The contents chemical name (non abbreviated) Indication of relative hazards of the contents

i.e. (flammable, reactive, oxidizer, corrosive, target organs, etc.)

The following label would qualify as a Secondary Chemical Container Label, if filled out properly:

The NFPA System is used to rate hazards on Primary and Secondary Container Labels
Blue Health Hazard Red Flammability Yellow Reactivity White Contact Hazard (numbers indicate contact hazard with skin, W indicates water contact hazard and OX indicates oxidizer)

Rating system is from 0 to 4. 0 indicating no hazard and 4 indicating severe hazard (can be lethal etc.)

All chemical containers must be

labeled and legible

Improper Labeling

Store dry chemicals separate from liquid chemicals. Shelving used for chemical storage must have a lip or equivalent (glass panel doors dont qualify). Oxidizers should not be stored on combustible shelving.

Improper Storage Incompatible

chemicals stored together (oxidizers and fuel sources), and no lip, rail, cable, or equivalent

Note: Without a lip, rail, cable, chemicals will fall off of the shelves during an earthquake.

Store chemicals in accordance with temperature storage requirements.

Example: diethyl ether should be stored in a cool fireproof location like a flammable liquids cabinet away from direct sunlight and other heat sources.

When not in use, flammable liquids need to be stored in a flammable liquids cabinet.

Liquid acids and bases are stored in a corrosives cabinet

Within the cabinet, the acids and bases should be stored in separate plastic tubs or other compatible secondary container.

Note: A layer of sand should be placed underneath secondary containers. Doing so will help prevent bottles from breaking during an earthquake and will help absorb any spilled chemicals.

Liquid chemicals should be stored at or below shoulder level to minimize the potential for liquid spills.