Introduction to Laboratory Safety, Emergency Response, and Accident Reporting

John Herrington. Health and Safety Officer John Herrington Health and Safety Officer College of Math and Physical Sciences Ohio State University herrington.5@osu.edu http://www.chemistry.ohio-state.edu/ehs

Class Format Lecture Video/Demonstration Questions Frequent Breaks

Objectives: Raise your Awareness of Safety Present the “Fundamentals” of Laboratory Safety Complete “Awareness-Level” Training in the Hazard Communication and the Laboratory Standards

What We CANNOT Provide: Objectives What We CANNOT Provide: In-Depth or Detailed Information SOP’s for Specific Processes or Equipment “Certification”

Questions: What are the top three leading causes of death for U.S. workers (while on the job)? How many worker deaths were there in 2000? How many occupational injuries and illnesses were there in 1999? How many unintentional deaths took place in the home? Which industry is the most dangerous? How much did worker injuries cost Americans in 2001?

Emergency Response: Medical Fire Chemical Building Evacuations

Common Laboratory Accidents: Emergency Response-Medical Common Laboratory Accidents: Burns (Chemical and Thermal) Cuts and Punctures Inhalation of Hazardous Materials Contamination of Skin and Clothing Ingestion of Hazardous Materials Electrical Shock

Call 911 to Report the Emergency Emergency Response-Medical Call 911 to Report the Emergency Provide the Minimum First-Aid Necessary Follow Other Departmental Procedures Complete Recordkeeping Requirements

Sign Up for CPR Training First Aid in the Workplace Through BWC Emergency Response-Medical Sign Up for CPR Training First Aid in the Workplace Through BWC

Nature of the Emergency The Dispatcher May Ask Questions Emergency Response-Medical-Calling 911 Report the Location Nature of the Emergency The Dispatcher May Ask Questions Hang Up After the Dispatcher Has

Get Victim to Safety Shower or Eye Wash Unit Emergency Response-Medical-Chemical Splashes Get Victim to Safety Shower or Eye Wash Unit Flush for 15 Minutes or Until Help Arrives Have MSDS Handy Remove Contaminated Clothing DO NOT Perform Chemistry on a Splash Victim!!!

Emergency Response- Medical- Chemical Splashes

Quick Response Is Important Flush for 15 Minutes Emergency Response-Chemical Splashes-EYES Quick Response Is Important Flush for 15 Minutes You May Have to Force the Eyelids Open Have the Victim Roll Their Eyes Around In the Stream

Emergency Response- Medical- Chemical Splashes

Emergency Response-Medical-Chemical Splashes

Inspect Equipment Regularly Test Equipment per ANSI Z358.1 Emergency Response-Medical Emergencies Become Aware of Emergency Equipment Locations (Eye Wash Units, Safety Showers, etc…) Inspect Equipment Regularly Test Equipment per ANSI Z358.1

Emergency Response

Required By OSHA (unless exempt) Accident Reporting Required By OSHA (unless exempt) OSHA 300 Log and Form 301 (or equivalent) Sign Up for: Accident Analysis OSHA Recordkeeping

Useful for Workers’ Comp Sign Up for: Accident Reporting Useful for Workers’ Comp Sign Up for: Controlling Costs Through Claims Management Controlling Workers’ Compensation Costs

Pull the Fire Alarm to Evacuate the Building Fire Emergencies Pull the Fire Alarm to Evacuate the Building Call 911 to Report the Emergency

Follow Departmental Procedures Fire Emergencies Follow Departmental Procedures The Fire Alarm May Only Notify Building Occupants: Call 911

Isolate Fire (close lab door or sash) Fire Emergencies- If You Can Do So Without Endangering Yourself: Isolate Fire (close lab door or sash) Isolate or Eliminate Ignition or Fuel Sources Use an APPROPRIATE Fire Extinguisher

Pull the Fire Alarm to Evacuate the Building Chemical Emergencies Pull the Fire Alarm to Evacuate the Building Call 911 to Report the Emergency

The Release of a Large Quantity of Hazardous Material Chemical Emergencies The Release of a Large Quantity of Hazardous Material Small Quantity of an Acutely Dangerous Material Chemical “Unknown”

Warn Others About the Danger Follow Departmental Procedures Chemical Emergencies- If You Can Do So Without Endangering Yourself: Isolate the Area Warn Others About the Danger Follow Departmental Procedures

Building Evacuations Unless specifically requested and considered advisable by those providing the assistance, moving persons in wheelchairs down a stairway is not recommended. One individual should remain with the disabled person, if this can be done without unreasonable personal risk. Others should evacuate the building and advise of the location of the persons remaining in the building so that the evacuation may be completed by the emergency personnel. Elevators should not be used to move persons with disabilities for the reasons outlined above.

Building Evacuations The building should not be re-entered unless indicated safe by fire officials or Safety Personnel at the scene. 

To Protect the Health and Safety of Yourself and Your Colleagues Why Should I Be Concerned About Safety? To Protect the Health and Safety of Yourself and Your Colleagues To Comply With the Law(s) To Avoid Lawsuits

Planning, Planning, Planning Engineering Controls (Fume Hoods) How Do I Reduce or Minimize My Exposure? Planning, Planning, Planning Engineering Controls (Fume Hoods) Administrative Controls (Plans, Policies, SOP’s, etc.) Personal Protective Equipment (Gloves, Goggles, etc.)

Case Study A Graduate Student was distilling a mixture of dichloromethane and crude material from an ozonolysis of Allyl Bromide, which he mistakenly thought was Bromoacetaldehyde. Unknown to the student, he was trying to distill a mixture of peroxides (that resulted from the ozonolysis). An explosion occurred when the temperature reached 50 degrees Centigrade. When setting up an experiment, such as a distillation, thoroughly investigate the properties of materials involved. If you are unsure, ASK! When working in the fume hood, keep the sash as far down as possible at all times. If you have to lift the sash to make an adjustment, use a safety shield (as appropriate) and/or a face shield (in addition to your safety glasses).

Case Study The explosion destroyed the heating mantle and the ceramic top of the stirrer/hot-plate. The ceramic top fragmented and sent chards into the face, chest, shoulders, and hands of the student. Fortunately, the student was wearing safety glasses: one chard hit the left lens with such force that it shattered (but remained within the frame). Without the safety glasses, the student would have lost an eye (or worse).

What could have been done to prevent the accident? Case Study What could have been done to prevent the accident?

Highway incidents followed by falls and homicides The top three leading causes of death for U.S. workers (while on the job) are: How many worker deaths in 2000? Highway incidents followed by falls and homicides 5,915

33,200 How Many Occupational Injuries and Illnesses in 1999? How Many Unintentional Deaths Took Place in the Home? 5.7 Million 33,200

$137 Billion or $970 Per Worker Which Industry Is the Most Dangerous? How Much Did Worker Injuries Cost Americans in 2001? Agriculture $137 Billion or $970 Per Worker