Presented by: Hazard Communication And Your Right - To - Know Francois D. Song, Ph.D.

Course Overview  It’s Your Right to know!  Regulation and Policy  Waste Management  Spills/ Emergencies  Pollution Prevention

Regulation and Policy What can happen if you’re not in compliance?  Fines  Prosecution  Jail Time

Regulation and Policy  [Georgia Southern University is committed to protecting the environment and health of the community ] 4 Applicable Regulations 4 Pollution Prevention Objectives 4 Continual Improvement of Environmental Systems] [[ * Comply with regulations * Minimize impact to environment and community * Continually reduce impacts through pollution prevention * Educate and train on programs and procedures * Monitor performance]

Regulation and Policy  Deficiency  [Poor housekeeping in Shops  Notification  [Department Chair and Legal Counsel]  Warning Memo  [Research Funds in jeopardy]  Actions – [Examples:  Correction, with costs assessed to department or college  Closure of Shop Enforcement

Shop Waste Management THE GOALS:  Define waste  Discuss proper management of different types of waste

Laboratory HazMat Management What is HazMat

HazMat Is  What will hurt you when something goes wrong  Laboratory Chemicals (Acids, Bases, Alcohols, etc.)  Cleaning solvents (Bleach, Sprays)  Household Products (Hair Sprays)  Generated hazardous waste

Hazardous Waste Identification  Corrosive  Ignitable  Reactive  Toxic or if  Listed Wastes are considered hazardous if they exhibit one or more of the following characteristics:

How Do I Know?  Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) – provides information on: – safe handling and disposal – physical properties and hazards – safe storage – internet references – – – many more on page 18 of guidebook – Call ESS Department at for more information – Call manufacturer or supplier of product

Waste Characterization  Checklist in Guidebook (RCRA)3  Mixed waste?  Specific hazardous wastes?  Radioactive Waste?  Additional Questions? – Call

Container Management  Containers should be: – Compatible with waste – Clean – Sturdy, leak proof – Closed, tight-fitting cap – Appropriate size – Under control of person producing waste – Labeled with hazardous waste label

Hazardous Waste Labeling  Labels – Identify hazardous waste – List all components and their percentages – Identify hazard properties – Name, location, and phone number of person responsible for waste – Remove other extraneous labels

Hazardous Waste Accumulation Area  Located in Shop  Mark area clearly  Proper containers and labels  Segregate incompatibles  Secondary containment for liquid containers  Spill kit  Only one container of each hazardous waste  Maximum storage: – 55 gallons – 1 quart acutely hazardous  Post emergency information

Pick-up and Disposal  [ESS is responsible for retrieval, transport and disposal  When full, arrange for immediate removal  Call the Safety Department at  Container must be properly labeled  Pick-up must be supervised by a knowledgeable user

Chemical Clean-Out

 Inventory all unwanted chemicals  Fill out “Laboratory Clean-out Form”  Mail or call Safety  ESS will collaborate with you  SAFETY FIRST!

Biological Waste Management  Biomedical – biohazardous – infectious – pathological – “sharps”  Animal

Biomedical Waste Packaging  Double-lined red biohazard bags  In rigid containers  Within weight limits  Double tape bags when full  Label with college label obtained from Coordinating Dept  Close container and triple tape seams  Notify Good practice: Autoclave infectious waste

Pharmaceutical Waste Management  What is pharmaceutical waste?  Separate from regular trash  Label  Call the Safety Department at for disposal

Chemical Spill / Emergency Response What would you do in the event of a spill?

Chemical Spill / Emergency Response  Assess hazards and dangers — if unknown, assume the worst and evacuate  Call 9911  Wait to Assist Public Safety and ESS Responders  Contain or limit the spill if it is very small  Call for ESS personnel to clean-up spill and provide medical attention  Notify Supervisor  Complete and Accident Report

Pollution Prevention Source Elimination and ReductionRecycling and ReuseTreatment Disposal EPA’s Pollution Prevention Hierarchy

Pollution Prevention Strategy  Reduced scale – “micro scale” experiments  Reduced toxicity/chemical substitution  Reuse & recovery of lab chemicals  Detoxification – lab experiments that produce a less toxic/hazardous substance  Computer modeling & simulations – demo experiments vs. chemical usage

Where to Get Help To get help, or to learn more:  Call the Safety Department at  List of environmental resources in – The Web It’s your responsibility!