Hazardous Waste & Emergency Procedures for Laboratories WSU Office of Environmental Health & Safety

Hazardous Waste & Emergency Response Laws for Labs Hazardous waste generators (this means you!) must comply with: Hazardous waste generators (this means you!) must comply with: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Resource Conservation & Recovery Act (RCRA) Michigan Department of Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) Department of Transportation Department of Transportation(DOT)

EPA College & University Fines March 2005: Plymouth State Univ., N.H. $171,050 EPA fine for improper marking & storage of haz waste. March 2005: Plymouth State Univ., N.H. $171,050 EPA fine for improper marking & storage of haz waste. Clarkson University, Potsdam, NY, $45,000 EPA fine for unsafe handling & storage of waste. Clarkson University, Potsdam, NY, $45,000 EPA fine for unsafe handling & storage of waste. 2000: University of Hawaii: $1.7 million EPA fine for unsafe storage and 3 explosions on campus. 2000: University of Hawaii: $1.7 million EPA fine for unsafe storage and 3 explosions on campus.

What to do in an emergency?! OUR PRIORITIES: Human Life – Don’t risk yours or others! The Environment Property

April 2005: Ohio State Lab Fire Grad students were loading bottles of hexane onto lab shelves when a shelf collapsed. Over 40 gallons of hexane were present in the lab.

Ignition could have been static electricity, or a spark from a motor or switch. Ignition could have been static electricity, or a spark from a motor or switch. 84 firefighters responded, initially using water, then dry powder, finally chemical foam to put out the fire. 84 firefighters responded, initially using water, then dry powder, finally chemical foam to put out the fire. If the PI wasn’t able to inform them of what was in the lab, they may have had to let it burn. If the PI wasn’t able to inform them of what was in the lab, they may have had to let it burn. Student treated for cuts and several firefighters for smoke inhalation. Student treated for cuts and several firefighters for smoke inhalation. Two labs damaged, research destroyed, over $200,000 in damage. Two labs damaged, research destroyed, over $200,000 in damage.

Oxidizer - Solvent Explosion (not at WSU) This early morning explosion in the cabinet under a fumehood is believed to be the result of nitric acid (an oxidizer) and an organic solvent being mixed in a closed container. Luckily, no one was standing in front of the hood when it occurred.

Nov. 2006: Explosion at University of Kentucky lab sends 7 to the hospital  A minor explosion occurred in a UK engineering lab when a student poured nitric acid into a waste container. And it reacted with another substance already in the container.  Student was treated for cuts and minor injuries. Six other people were examined in the emergency room.  The incident resulted in closure of the seventh floor of the building for part of the day, and closure of the lab for the weekend. Source: The Associated Press

If you have any doubt about whether a spill can be safely cleaned up by staff in the lab, get help: Confine the area – close doors. Always evacuate when a fire alarm is going off. Exit by stairs – not elevator.

Fires ~ Spills ~ Emergencies Get to a safe location Get to a safe location DO NOT CALL 911! DO NOT CALL 911! Call WSU Police: fires, injuries, emergencies, after-hours spills. Call WSU Police: fires, injuries, emergencies, after-hours spills. Call OEH&S: non-emergency spills, M-F 8:30-5 Call OEH&S: non-emergency spills, M-F 8:30-5 Give your name, location, details of spill and secure area until responders arrive. Give your name, location, details of spill and secure area until responders arrive.

OEH&S Hazmat Response Team provides safe & proper clean-up of hazardous materials spills & releases.

Lab Door Signs Notifies public and emergency responders about the hazards present in the room. Be sure to fill in emergency contact names & numbers! Contact OEH&S for a sign:

Minor Chemical Spills Use your discretion: A minor spill… Use your discretion: A minor spill… does not spread rapidly does not spread rapidly does not endanger people or property except by direct contact does not endanger people or property except by direct contact does not endanger the environment does not endanger the environment Consider: Consider: amount spilled amount spilled hazards of chemical hazards of chemical if you have proper materials if you have proper materials to clean up

Cleaning up a minor spill... Wear gloves, eye protection, lab coat Wear gloves, eye protection, lab coat Prevent spread of liquid / vapors Prevent spread of liquid / vapors Absorb liquids w/ spill pads, kitty litter... Absorb liquids w/ spill pads, kitty litter... Neutralize acids and bases Neutralize acids and bases Clean spill area with soap & water Clean spill area with soap & water Decontaminate area & equipment Decontaminate area & equipment Label contaminated materials and notify OEH&S for disposal Label contaminated materials and notify OEH&S for disposal

Prevent Chemical Spills Store chemicals on sturdy Store chemicals on sturdy shelves, away from edge, on shelves w/ lips Reduce clutter, eliminate Reduce clutter, eliminate trip hazards/obstructions

Transport chemicals in carts with sides or in secondary containers.

Mercury Spills ALWAYS Report mercury spills to OEH&S. ALWAYS Report mercury spills to OEH&S. Do not clean up or dispose Do not clean up or dispose of mercury on your own. Prevent spreading Prevent spreadingcontamination. Isolate the area and Isolate the area and call for assistance

Mercury Collection If spill is contained, collect mercury and glass in sealed impermeable container or heavy duty plastic. If spill is contained, collect mercury and glass in sealed impermeable container or heavy duty plastic. Wrap thermometer in parafilm or tape, contact OEH&S for pick-up & disposal. Wrap thermometer in parafilm or tape, contact OEH&S for pick-up & disposal.

Laboratory Hazardous Waste Collection Procedures

Submit all requests for hazardous waste disposal and empty containers on-line ChemicalBiologicalRadioactivewww.oehs.wayne.edu

What’s wrong here?

Satellite Accumulation Points areas where hazardous wastes are collected or stored: Located at or site of generation (lab). Allowed to accumulate up to 55 gallons of hazardous waste or 1 quart of acutely hazardous waste.

What is Hazardous Waste? Spent organic solvents Spent organic solvents Most “wash” solutions Most “wash” solutions Most metals and solutions of metal salts Most metals and solutions of metal salts Mixtures of non-hazardous waste with a hazardous waste Mixtures of non-hazardous waste with a hazardous waste Any waste which meets the EPA characteristics of a hazardous waste: Any waste which meets the EPA characteristics of a hazardous waste: IGNITABLE, CORROSIVE, REACTIVE, TOXIC

Waste Collection Instructions 3 golden rules þ PROPERLY TAG AND LABEL WASTE AS SOON AS A NEW CONTAINER IS BEGUN. þ KEEP WASTE CONTAINERS CLOSED WHEN NOT ADDING WASTE TO THEM. þ STORE LIQUID WASTE CONTAINERS IN SECONDARY CONTAINERS AT ALL TIMES!

Segregate Waste Properly Liquid waste should be separated into the following categories: Liquid waste should be separated into the following categories: Acids Acids Bases Bases Halogenated organic solvents Halogenated organic solvents Non-halogenated organic solvents Non-halogenated organic solvents Trans. & heavy metals (aqueous solutions of Hg +, Ag +, etc.) Trans. & heavy metals (aqueous solutions of Hg +, Ag +, etc.) Air reactives Air reactives Water reactives Water reactives Cyanides and sulfides Cyanides and sulfides

Chemical Waste Storage Use the proper containers: Use the proper containers: 5 gallon plastic carboys (from OEH&S) 5 gallon plastic carboys (from OEH&S) triple-rinsed used chemical bottles triple-rinsed used chemical bottles

Chemical Waste Storage Store waste in safe, out of the way locations. Store waste in safe, out of the way locations. Fumehood are work areas. Only store waste in a hood if it is not used for experiments. Fumehood are work areas. Only store waste in a hood if it is not used for experiments.

Keep containers closed except when adding waste!

Store liquid waste in secondary containers Contact Science Stores or Medical Stores (Scott Hall) to purchase bins.

Sinks are NOT secondary containers!

Label all hazardous wastes! ATTACH WASTE TAG and record contents when first waste is added to container. ATTACH WASTE TAG and record contents when first waste is added to container. Write clearly in ballpoint pen – not marker. Write clearly in ballpoint pen – not marker. Do not separate copies. Do not separate copies.

Hazardous Chemical Waste Tags Write COMPLETE NAMES of all chemicals. this includes water (not H 2 0) Write COMPLETE NAMES of all chemicals. this includes water (not H 2 0) When requesting a pick- up, you must include the tag #. This is how we track your waste. When requesting a pick- up, you must include the tag #. This is how we track your waste.

Waste tags must be clear & legible! Replace or write over tags if it is too difficult to read the contents.

Hazardous Solid Collection Plastic pails available from OEH&S Solids must be labeled and closed. Not required to be in secondary containers.

Watch for potential problem chemicals: Peroxidizables: ethers, dioxanes, tetrahydrofuran absorb & react with O 2 - become potentially explosive over time. label w/ date received & opened use up or dispose by expiration date Picric Acid: explosive when dry, must be kept in solution

Make sure boxes aren’t overflowing, messy or easily broken open! Make sure boxes aren’t overflowing, messy or easily broken open! Uncontaminated Waste Glass & Plastic Disposal

Only uncontaminated or decontaminated glass & plastic can go into boxes. Only uncontaminated or decontaminated glass & plastic can go into boxes. Boxes should be sturdy and in good condition. Boxes should be sturdy and in good condition. Uncontaminated Waste Glass & Plastic Disposal

Keep weight below lbs. Tape boxes closed securely when full Label “waste glass” or “broken glass”. Uncontaminated Waste Glass & Plastic Disposal

Needles, razor blades, lancets, etc. NEVER go in trash bags or boxes ONLY in SHARPS containers!

DO NOT RECAP NEEDLES! Correct SHARPS Disposal Free containers from OEH&S