Lab Safety

(Chemical Hazards)

Dr. Md. Abdus Salam

PhD; FRCP (UK)
Professor of Parasitology
Basic Medical Sciences Department
Faculty of Medicine, IIUM
 Overview
 General lab rules
 Personal hygiene
 Housekeeping
 Protective clothing and equipment
 Chemical hazards
 Ventilation
 Emergency response
 Exposure monitoring

Prof. Dr. Md. Abdus Salam 1

 Safety First
 You will be doing many
laboratory activities, which
require the use of hazardous
chemicals and expensive lab
equipment.
 Safety in the laboratory is the
#1 priority.
 To ensure a safe laboratory,
there is a list of rules and you
must know those before
working.
 These rules must be followed at
all times.
Prof. Dr. Md. Abdus Salam 2
 General Lab Rules
You should be familiar with:
 the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for using
chemicals in your lab.
 the hazards associated with the chemicals.
 the personal protective equipment (PPE) required
for using the chemicals.
 storage requirements of chemicals.
 chemical waste disposal procedures.
 the procedures to be followed in the event of an
emergency.

Prof. Dr. Md. Abdus Salam 3

General Lab Rules
Personal Safety

Prof. Dr. Md. Abdus Salam 4

General Lab Rules (cont.)
 Avoid working alone in the lab.
 If you need to work after usual hours or
during the weekends:
 make arrangements with others in the building to
check in with you periodically.
 Let someone know that you are working alone, and
make arrangements to call and check in periodically.
 avoid conducting hazardous experiments during
this time.
 Do the most hazardous aspects of your work during
regular working hours when others are present.
Prof. Dr. Md. Abdus Salam 5
General Lab Rules (cont.)

In case of a problem,
you may need
another person to
prevent injury or
even save your life!

Prof. Dr. Md. Abdus Salam 6

 General Lab Rules
Personal hygiene
 Always remove gloves before leaving the lab.
 Wash well before leaving the lab, even if it’s only
for a short break.
 Use soap and water, not solvents (which may
enhance absorption of the chemical by the skin,
may be toxic, and/or may remove protective oils).
 Wash with mild soap and water immediately
whenever any chemical comes in contact with
your skin. Flush for at least 15 minutes.
 Avoid inhalation of chemicals.
 Do not sniff a chemical in order to identify it.
Prof. Dr. Md. Abdus Salam 7
 General Lab Rules
Personal hygiene

Wash your hands with soap Do not smell any chemicals directly!
& water before leaving
This rule applies even if you
have been wearing gloves!
Prof. Dr. Md. Abdus Salam 8
 General Lab Rules
Personal hygiene (cont.)
 No food or drink is allowed in the lab or in the
chemical storage areas.
 This includes gum and candy.
 Wear shoes covering toes.
 Application of cosmetic products in the lab is not
permitted.
 Smoking is strictly prohibited.
 Never pipet any chemical by mouth.
 Tie long hair back.
 Remove jewelry.
Prof. Dr. Md. Abdus Salam 9
General Lab Rules
Do Not!

Prof. Dr. Md. Abdus Salam 10

 General Lab Rules
Do not pipet
solutions by mouth!

 Use a rubber
suction bulb or
other device to fill
a pipet.

Prof. Dr. Md. Abdus Salam 11

 General Lab Rules
Know the safety
equipment
 Eye wash fountain

 Safety shower

 Fire extinguisher

 Emergency exits

Prof. Dr. Md. Abdus Salam 12

 General Lab Rules
Know how to use
the safety equipment
 Eye wash Fountain

 Safety Shower

 Fire extinguisher

 Emergency Exit

Prof. Dr. Md. Abdus Salam 13

 General Lab Rules
Housekeeping
 Keep access to emergency shower and eye
wash clear at all times.

 Test emergency shower and eye wash

weekly to make sure they deliver continuous,
clean, lukewarm water.
 Document the weekly tests.
 Keep work areas free of clutter (a lot of
disorganized stuff in one place).

Prof. Dr. Md. Abdus Salam 14

 General Lab Rules
Housekeeping (cont.)
 Keep all aisles, stairs, corridors free of
equipment, boxes, chemicals, and debris.
 Food and drink should never be brought into a
lab.
 To reduce the chance of breakage (and a
contaminated oven), never use a mercury
thermometer in an oven or incubator.

Prof. Dr. Md. Abdus Salam 15

 General Lab Rules
Housekeeping (cont.)
 Chemical storage areas should be
frequently monitored.
 Inspect for broken, deteriorating, or leaking
containers.
 Ensure that all containers are clearly labeled
with the full name and hazard of the chemical
(e.g. “Hydrochloric acid, corrosive” or “Ethanol,
flammable”).
 Store hazardous chemicals and wastes in
secondary containment.
Prof. Dr. Md. Abdus Salam 16
 General Lab Rules
Housekeeping (cont.)
 Chemicals must be put back into their proper
storage location at the end of the day.
 At the end of a work day, any chemical in an
unlabeled container should be considered a
waste and disposed of appropriately.

 Broken glassware, microscope slides,

Pasteur pipets, etc. must be collected in a
puncture resistant container and labeled with
the words “Broken glass disposal”.
Prof. Dr. Md. Abdus Salam 17
 General Lab Rules
Housekeeping (cont.)
 Waste collection containers must be:
 Clearly labeled with the full name(s) [no abbreviations] of
the chemical(s) and the hazard(s) they present.
 Containers must be compatible with the chemical.
 Clean and dry.
 Hazardous reactions can occur if even trace amounts
of residues of incompatible chemicals are mixed.
 Intact, with a lid or cap that can be sealed.

 When waste collection containers are full, make

arrangement for removal (fill out an online Hazardous
Waste Pickup Request- if available).
Prof. Dr. Md. Abdus Salam 18
 General Lab Rules
Housekeeping (cont.)
 Disposal of empty chemical containers
 Water soluble non-regulated chemicals:
 Examples: sodium chloride, magnesium sulfate
 Triple rinse with water, deface label, mark as “Empty”,
discard in regular trash.
 Water soluble regulated chemicals:
 Examples: ethanol, formalin, methanol
 Triple rinse with water (collect rinses in waste
container)
 Deface label, mark with “Empty”, discard in regular
trash.
Prof. Dr. Md. Abdus Salam 19
 General Lab Rules
Housekeeping (cont.)
 Disposal of empty chemical containers
 Non-water soluble chemicals:
 Examples: phenol, oils, some alcohols

 Triple rinse with a solvent that will remove the

chemical, collecting all rinses in a hazardous
waste collection container

 Deface label, label as “Empty”, and dispose in

normal trash.
Prof. Dr. Md. Abdus Salam 20
 Personal Protective
Equipment (PPE)
 General clothing requirements
 Long pants and long-sleeved shirts
 Avoid wearing excessively loose or baggy clothing.

 Lab coats and aprons

 Lab coats should be worn while working with chemicals.
 Chemical-resistant (e.g.,Tychem®, Saranex) coats are
recommended for particularly hazardous chemicals.
 Full-length rubber, neoprene, or plastic aprons are
recommended when there is a risk of a splash or spill.

Prof. Dr. Md. Abdus Salam 21

 PPE (cont.)
 Gloves
 Use gloves that are appropriate for the material
you are working with
 Heat-resistant for handling hot items, cryoprotective
for handling liquid nitrogen
 Chemical resistant—material depends on type of
chemical being used
 Understand the limitations of gloves
 Chemicals do break through the material over time- do
not reuse disposable gloves
 Change gloves often
Prof. Dr. Md. Abdus Salam 22
 PPE (cont.)
 Eye protection
 Use safety glasses when there is a chance of
a small splash to the eyes, such as when
opening a bottle or tube.
 Use safety goggles when using a highly
caustic chemical, or when using large volumes
(1 L or more) of a chemical.
 Use full face shields when working with very
large amounts of hazardous chemicals.

Prof. Dr. Md. Abdus Salam 23

 PPE (cont.)
 Shoes
 NEVER wear sandals or open-toed shoes in the lab.
 Wear low-heeled shoes with non-slip soles.
 If handling large volumes of hazardous chemicals
(corrosives, solvents), wear rubber boots or Tyvek®
foot coverings.

 Respirators and masks

 Use fume hoods to reduce exposure to chemicals.

Prof. Dr. Md. Abdus Salam 24

 PPE (cont.)
 Inspection of PPE
 Always inspect your PPE prior to use.
 Look for cracks, holes, weak spots, or obvious signs
of degradation.

 Storage of PPE
 Store PPE away from sources of contamination.
 Keep boxes of gloves away from direct sunlight and
heat, as these can break down the polymers that
make up the gloves.

Prof. Dr. Md. Abdus Salam 25

PPE (cont.)

Prof. Dr. Md. Abdus Salam 26

 Chemical hazards
 Chemical hazards fall into 4 main categories

 Flammables

 Corrosives

 Reactive chemicals

 Health hazards

Prof. Dr. Md. Abdus Salam 27

 Chemical hazards
 Some chemicals are not generally regarded as
hazardous under normal conditions of use
 e.g., sodium chloride, potassium phosphate,
sucrose, Tris buffer, glycerol, etc.

 These chemicals are color-coded green, orange,

or gray.

 These chemicals have a NFPA (national fire

protection association) hazard class rating of 2 or
less in any category.

Prof. Dr. Md. Abdus Salam 28

 Chemical hazards:
Flammables
 Classification:
 Class IA: flash point <73 °F, boiling point (bp) 100 °F
 Ethyl ether, Pentane

 Class IB: flash point <73 °F, bp >100 °F

 Acetone, Ethanol, Methanol, Isopropanol, Gasoline

 Class IC (combustible): flash point 73-100 °F

 Butanol, Xylene, Turpentine

 Class II: flash point 100-140 °F

 Formaldehyde, Kerosene

Prof. Dr. Md. Abdus Salam 29

 Chemical hazards:
Flammables (cont.)
 Storage and labeling
 Flammables are color-coded red
 DOT (Department of
transportation) hazard class 3
 Must be stored in a flammable
DOT Hazards
1.Class 1: Explosives.
2.Class 2: Gases.
3.Class 3: Flammable and Combustible Liquids.
4.Class 4: Flammable Solids.
5.Class 5: Oxidizing Substances, Organic Peroxides.
6.Class 6: Toxic and Infectious Substances.
7.Class 7: Radioactive Materials.
8.Class 8: Corrosives.
9.Class 9: Miscellaneous Hazardous Materials.

cabinet, away from sources of heat

and/or ignition (sparks)
Flammables
Self Reactives
Pyrophorics
Self-Heating
Emits Flammable Gas
Organic Peroxides Prof. Dr. Md. Abdus Salam 30
 Chemical hazards:
Flammables (cont.)

 Handling
 Never use an open flame to heat flammable
materials.
 Use hot water bath, oil bath, heating mantle,
etc.
 Transfer from 5 gallon containers to smaller
containers in a fume hood or approved flammable
liquid storage room.
 Handle only in areas free of ignition sources.

Prof. Dr. Md. Abdus Salam 31

 Chemical hazards:
Corrosives

 Definition:
 Cause rapid erosion and destruction of building
materials or metals
 Burn, irritate, or cause destruction to organic tissues
such as skin, eyes, lungs, and stomach
 DOT hazard class 8

 Know the location and proper use of spill kits in

your lab.
 Never use combustible organic materials (such as
paper, sawdust, or rags) to clean up spills.

Prof. Dr. Md. Abdus Salam 32

 Chemical hazards:
Corrosives
 Classification, labeling, and storage:
 Acids
 Are color-coded
 Store liquids and solids in corrosive cabinet,
separate from bases
 Keep below eye level
 Bases Corrosives
 Are color-coded (white with black diagonal stripes)
 Solids may be stored on shelf in lab, away from other chemicals
and below eye level
 Liquids may be stored in a cabinet, away from acids
 Use secondary containment for liquids.

Prof. Dr. Md. Abdus Salam 33

 Chemical hazards:
Corrosives
 Handling
 Never pour water into acid. Always add the acid to the
water. Add acid slowly, with stirring.
 Open bottles of acid slowly and carefully.
 Wear PPE
 Conduct all works with concentrated acids and bases
in a chemical fume hood.
 Check location of eyewash and shower prior to
beginning work.
 Some acids require special handling:
 Example: hydrofluoric acid, picric acid, perchloric acid.

Prof. Dr. Md. Abdus Salam 34

 Chemical hazards:
Corrosives
 Wastes
 Never mix acid wastes with solvents or metal-containing
solutions.
 Never dispose of acids or bases down the drain unless
they have been neutralized.
 Non-contaminated (e.g., free of other hazardous
chemicals) acid wastes may be neutralized and then
disposed of down the drain (pH must be between 5
and 10).
 Empty bottles should be triple-rinsed with water.

Prof. Dr. Md. Abdus Salam 35

 Chemical hazards:
Reactives and Oxidizers
 Definition:
 Chemicals which will “vigorously
polymerize, decompose, condense, or
become self-reactive under conditions of
shock, pressure or temperature”. Explosive
 Also chemicals which react violently
when exposed to air or water.
 Oxidizers cause other substances to
burn more easily
 DOT hazard class 5.
Oxidizer
Prof. Dr. Md. Abdus Salam 36
 Chemical hazards:
Reactives
 Examples:
 Nitrate salts (sodium, potassium, silver)
 Perchloric, nitric, and picric acids
 Ammonium persulfate
 Storage and handling:
 Reactive chemicals are color coded
 Store away from incompatible materials.
 Protect from exposure to conditions that would
make the chemical unstable (air, water, heat,
shock, etc.).
Prof. Dr. Md. Abdus Salam 37
 Chemical hazards:
Health
 Definition:
 Chemicals that cause adverse health effects, whether short-
term (acute) or long-term (chronic)
 Includes toxins, carcinogens, teratogens, mutagens, poisons,
biohazards (infectious agents)
 DOT hazard class 6

 Examples:
 Mercury and other metal compounds, ethidium bromide,
formaldehyde
 Storage:
 Health hazards are color coded blue
 Health hazards should be segregated from other chemicals.
Prof. Dr. Md. Abdus Salam 38
Chemical hazards:
Health (cont.)
 Health Hazard Pictograms

Acute Toxicity (fatal or toxic)

Irritant (skin and eye)

Carcinogen
Mutagenicity
Reproductive Toxicity
Target Organ Toxicity
Aspiration Toxicity
Skin Sensitizer
Acute Toxicity (harmful)
Narcotic Effects
Respiratory Tract Irritant
Hazardous to Ozone Layer

Biohazard (infectious agents )

Prof. Dr. Md. Abdus Salam 39

 Chemical hazards:
Health (cont.)
 Handling:
 Always wear PPE when handling health hazards.
 Know the hazards presented by the chemicals you are
working with.
 Possible routes of exposure (vary with chemical and
procedure) include: skin absorption, inhalation,
ingestion, injection.
 Symptoms of exposure may be acute and/or delayed
(including chronic effects).
 Be aware of possible adverse reactions with other
chemicals or conditions (e.g., heat).
Prof. Dr. Md. Abdus Salam 40
 Ventilation
 Types of ventilation found in labs:
 Laminar flow hood
 Protects samples/operation
 Useful for working with bacterial or cell cultures (helps
prevent contamination)

 Biosafety cabinet
(For infectious agents)

 Chemical fume hood

Conduct all work at least 6” inside.
Do NOT store chemicals.
Do NOT block the vents.

Prof. Dr. Md. Abdus Salam 41

 Ventilation (cont.)
 Types of ventilation found in labs (cont.):
 Canopy and Snorkel
 These types of ventilation use the physical properties
of the chemical or process to capture the exhaust
(e.g., heat, lighter-than-air vapors).

Canopy Snorkel Prof. Dr. Md. Abdus Salam 42

Emergency Response
 Fire
 If your clothing catches on fire, drop and roll to put
out the flames. Immediately notify your supervisor
of the incident.
 Chemical spill on clothing
 Get to the safety shower immediately and remain
there for at least 15 minutes.
 Remove contaminated clothing while in the
shower.
 Notify your supervisor of the incident.
Prof. Dr. Md. Abdus Salam 43
 Emergency Response
 Chemical splashes to the eye
 Immediately go to the eye wash station and flush
eyes with water for at least 15 minutes.
 Hold lids open to allow water to reach all surfaces of
the eye and eyelids.
 Seek medical attention and notify your supervisor of
the incident immediately.
 Burns
 Immerse burned area under cold, running water as
soon as possible.
 Seek medical attention and notify your supervisor
of the incident immediately.
Prof. Dr. Md. Abdus Salam 44
 Exposure monitoring
 Exposure monitoring (air sampling) may be
performed when
 there is reason to believe that exposures may be
in excess of permissible exposure levels (PELs).
 an employee is experiencing symptoms or health
effects that may be attributable to use of
chemicals.
 a spill has occurred.

Prof. Dr. Md. Abdus Salam 45

 Demonstrate
safe behavior
 Obey all safety instructions.
 Clean up spills immediately; IF you know
how.
 If you are uncertain how to clean up a spill
or if a large spill occurs, notify persons in
accordance to the emergency procedure.

Prof. Dr. Md. Abdus Salam 46

 Demonstrate
safe behavior
 Before leaving the lab:
 Return equipment and chemicals to
their proper places

 Be sure to replace the lids to all

containers

 Clean up your work area.

Prof. Dr. Md. Abdus Salam 47

Thank You