1. General Lab safety

2. Outline General Lab Safety General Explosive Synthesis Safety
Chemical Product Safety

3. Initial Considerations
In any lab-type situation always consider safety in the following order
Personal Safety
Laboratory Activities & Storage of Laboratory Materials
Safe Clean-up and Disposal Considerations

4. Safety & Emergency Equipment
Eye protection
Lab coats or aprons
Gloves
Eye wash or shower
Fume hood or ventilation
Fire fighting materials
Materials storage cabinets
Safety Data Sheets

5. Cardinal Lab Rules No eating, drinking , or chewing the lab
Never use lab glassware as food or beverage containers
Never touch, taste, or smell a chemical unless instructed
Wash your hands with soap and water before and after experiments

6. Cardinal Lab Rules
Remove or secure watches, rings and other loose items while working in the lab
Keep your hands away from your clothing, eyes, face, and skin
Always use a pipette bulb to transfer when using a pipette

7. Cardinal Lab Rules
Keep the workspace clean and clear of any obstructions and excess equipment
Keep supplies and equipment in an easily accessible location
Spills should be quickly contained and the area secured
Never leave a heat source unattended

8. General Eye Safety
Eye protection should be worn at all times in the lab
Remove contact lenses while in the lab
Never look into a container as you are opening or heating it
If a chemical gets in your eye, flush in water for 15 minutes, and seek medical help

9. General Glassware Safety
Use caution when handling hot glassware
Hot glassware looks just like cold glassware
Do not place hot glassware in cold water or ice bath
Pour fluids down a glass stirring rod to prevent splattering

10. General Chemical Safety
Ensure all chemicals and reagent containers are labeled
Read all labels before removing a chemical from the container
If a chemical spills on your skin, rinse with water for 15 minutes
Never pour water into a concentrated acid. Acid should be poured slowly into water.
Never return unused chemicals to their original containers

11. General Explosive Synthesis Safety
Read and understand the experiment before performing it
READ provided procedures and FOLLOW them
All experimentation during course must be supervised by an instructor
Always have a large volume of ice water on hand
Use small quantities to control reactions

12. General Explosive Synthesis Safety
Do not play with chemicals for the sake of curiosity
Follow all explosive safety rules:
Avoid any friction when opening and closing containers
Be aware of static
No rough handling of HME

13. Don’t Let This Happen
All chemical laboratories have hazards associated with the storage, safe use & handling, and disposal of chemicals. Awareness of the most basic level of chemical incompatibilities decreases hazards associated with gathering intelligence in such circumstances. At the very least avoid the following:
i) Mixtures of fuels with oxidizers and catalysts
ii) Products that are acidic, chunky, and old

14. Chemicals & Your Responsibility
Know where to obtain information about hazardous chemicals used in your work area
Read and understand hazards before you start working
Use required PPE
Follow procedures for disposal and spill clean-up
Ask questions if you are not sure
The information is out there, ignorance is no excuse

15. Hazard Communication Hazardous chemicals and physical/ health hazards
Safety Data Sheets (formerly MSDS)
Container Labels
NFPA and HMIS
Chemical Hazard Classes
compatibility and reactivity
Hazard Symbols and Definitions
Other Chemistry Resources

16. How Do Hazardous Chemicals Affect the Body?
It depends on several factors:
The physical form of the chemical
How the chemical enters the body
The amount of chemical that enters the body (dose)
How toxic (poisonous) the chemical is

17. How Chemicals Enter the Body
Most Common
Three entry routes
Inhalation – breathing in the chemical
Absorption – chemical soaks through skin
Ingestion – swallowing the chemical
Least Common

18. Chronic Toxicity and Acute Toxicity
Some chemicals will only make you sick if you get an “acute” or high dose all at once. Example – ammonia
Some chemicals are mainly known for their chronic or long-term effects. Example – asbestos
Most chemicals have both acute and chronic effects. Example – carbon monoxide

19. Chemical Exposure Limits
PEL
Many chemicals have exposure limits, or allowable amounts of a chemical in the air.
These limits are often called “Permissible Exposure Limits” or “Threshold Limit Values”.
They are based on 8-hour average exposure or ceiling or peak levels.
Levels must be kept below these limits for safety.
TLV

20. Remove any one of these = no fire
Flammable Materials
Fire requires three things
Fuel
Oxidizer
Heat (usually spark or flame)
Flammable materials provide the fuel source
Many materials have toxic combustion products
Remove any one of these = no fire
Image: Wikipedia, (24 May 2016)

21. Flammability Terms Lower Explosive Limit
Minimum concentration in air at which vapors or gas become flammable (volume %)
Upper Explosive Limit
Maximum concentration in air at which vapors or gas are flammable (volume %)
Flash Point
Lowest temperature at which a material will produce vapors that can ignite
Image: clipart
Auto-Ignition Temperature:
minimum temperature at which a material will spontaneously ignite

22. Flammability Limits Methane (CH4) Acetylene (C2H2)
LEL 5%
UEL 15%
Acetylene (C2H2)
LEL 2.5%
UEL 100%
Carbon Monoxide (CO)
LEL 12.5%
UEL 74%
Ammonia (NH3)
LEL 15%
UEL 28%
Acetone (CH3COCH3)
LEL 2.6%
UEL 13%
Ethanol (C2H5OH)
LEL 3.3%
UEL 19%
Benzene (C6H6)
LEL 1.3%
UEL 7.9%
LEAN
FLAMMABLE
RICH

23. Acetone
A colorless and very flammable liquid with a sweet solvent smell
 Acetone is available in just about every hardware store
Uses
Household paint solvent
Some nail polish removers
Production of cocaine

24. Corrosive Materials
Materials that cause visible destruction or irreversible alterations in living tissue at point of contact
Acids: proton donors (H+)
Bases (alkalis): proton acceptors, also contain OH-
pH = -log[H+]
Image: clipart
pH Scale
Acidic Neutral Basic
Highly Corrosive
Highly Corrosive

25. Common Corrosive Materials
Acids
Inorganic
Nitric Acid (HNO3)
Sulfuric Acid (H2SO4)
Phosphoric Acid (H3PO4)
Organic
Glacial Acetic Acid (C2H4O2)
Bases
Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH)
Potassium Hydroxide (KOH)
Calcium Hydroxide (Ca(OH)2)
Magnesium Hydroxide (Mg(OH)2)
Image: clipart

26. Hydrochloric Acid
A colorless and odorless solution of hydrogen chloride and water
Also known as muriatic acid or spirit of salt
Uses
Concrete Cleaner
Auto body paint pretreatment
Precious metal reclamation
PVC manufacturing
Household cleaners
Oil-well acidization
Cocaine manufacture
Energetic Material PPT-Peroxide

27. Common Items- Hydrochloric Acid
Muriatic acid is sold in most hardware stores
Cleaning mortar away from bricks
May have yellow tint
Found in pool supply stores for balancing pH
Approximately 30% concentration

28. Sulfuric Acid A colorless odorless liquid
Discolors skin and nails yellow
 Uses
Lead car batteries
Agriculture, metal and oil industries
Production of cocaine and other narcotics
Traditional acid used to make TATP

29. H2SO4 Drain Cleaners

30. Oxidizing Materials
Oxygen containing material that readily gives up its oxygen
Material that readily takes on electrons
Many chemical reactions are reduction/oxidation reactions
Material that does not burn, but supports combustion
Often very reactive or unstable
Image: Personal Blog, (25 May 2016)

31. Common Oxidizers O N O OH Oxidizers O2 in air Halogens
Oxygen containing molecules
Inorganic oxidizer names often end with –ate or –ide
Sodium Chlorate (NaClO3)
Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)
Potassium permanganate (KMnO4)
Nitric Acid (HNO3) O N O OH
Image: Wikimedia, April 2016)

32. Nitric Acid Colorless when new, may have yellow/red tint
Highly corrosive and toxic
Concentrated may be fuming
Used as an oxidizing agent
Reacts with metals
Will turn skin yellow

33. Highly Reactive Materials
Some materials can undergo reactions that rapidly release energy
Organic peroxides
Heat, shock, or light sensitive
Incompatible materials (acids/bases)
Self reactive (acetylene, azides)
Water reactive (Group 1 metals)
Pyrophoric (fine metals, metal hydrides)
Hazardous polymerization (vinyl acetate)
Image: Photo taken by NEK personnel

34. Hazardous Mixtures
Many materials can combine to produce a very dangerous result
Examples
Corrosive + poison  toxic vapors
Corrosive + flammable  heat and fire/explosion
Corrosives + water  heat and vapors
Corrosives + metal  heat and flammable H2
Image: Wikipedia, (11 April 16)

35. How Do You Get Information About Chemicals?
Two ways:
Safety Data Sheet (SDS)
From the label on the product

36. Safety Data Sheets (SDS)
Replace former MSDS sheets
OSHA has adopted Globally Harmonized System (GHS) for chemical data sheets (SDS)
Global use for chemical information (HAZCOM standard)
16 standardized sections arranged in a strict order

37. Safety Data Sheets Section 1, Identification
Section 2, Hazard(s) identification Label Hazard Pictograms
Section 3, Composition/information on ingredients
Section 4, First-aid measures
Section 5, Fire-fighting measures
Section 6, Accidental release measures Clean up
Section 7, Handling and storage Incompatibilities
Section 8, Exposure controls/personal protection PEL, PPE, etc…
Section 9, Physical and chemical properties
Section 10, Stability and reactivity
Section 11, Toxicological information
Section 12, Ecological information*
Section 13, Disposal considerations* Not enforced by OSHA
Section 14, Transport information*
Section 15, Regulatory information*
Section 16, Other information

38. GHS Hazard Labels
Container labels MUST contain six mandated pieces of information

39. GHS Hazard Pictograms

40. Container Labeling
Each container of a hazardous chemical must be properly labeled
Containers must be compatible with the chemicals contained in them.
During Course:
Report missing labels to instructor.
Temporary storage only requires chemical name (e.g a beaker being used for a reaction)

41. National Firefighters Protection Association (NFPA)
NFPA Fire Diamond: Hazards for emergency response personnel

42. HMIS (Hazardous Materials Information System)
HMIS Color Bar
Warnings for individuals with long-term exposure
Greater Number (0-4) = Greater Hazard
PPE Designations
A = Safety glasses
B = Safety glasses, gloves
C = Safety glasses, gloves, chemical apron
D = Face shield, gloves, chemical apron
E = Safety glasses, gloves, dust respirator
F = safety glasses, gloves, chemical apron, dust respirator
G = Safety glasses, gloves, vapor respirator
H = Splash goggles, gloves, chemical apron, vapor respirator
I = Safety glasses, gloves, dust and vapor respirator
J = Splash goggles, gloves, chemical apron, dust and vapor respirator
K = Air line hood or mask, gloves, full chemical suit, boots

43. Chemical Incompatibilities
Keep oxidizers separate from everything else
Some oxidizers are incompatible with one another such as Nitrates and Chlorates/Hypochlorite
Keep acids separate from everything else
Keep mineral acids separate from organic acids
Keep Nitric acid separate from Hydrochloric and Sulfuric acids
Separate fuels, oxidizers, and corrosives from each other
Keep Hydrogen peroxide separate from everything else
Keep metal powders separate from everything else

44. Chemical Incompatibility Matrix
Hydrochloric, Sulfuric
Acetic, Citric
Nitric
Ammonia, Hydroxides
Peroxides, Chlorates(ites)
Lead, Mercury
Formaldehyde
Acetone, Alcohols
Group I & II Metals

45. Chemical Storage
Storage areas for hazardous substances should be secured, properly ventilated, and identified by signs.

46. UN Hazard Classes Explosives Gases Flammable Liquids Flammable Solids
Oxidizing Agents & Organic Peroxides
Toxic and Infectious Substances
Radioactive Substances
Corrosive Substances
Miscellaneous Hazards

47. Class 1: Explosives Class 1 Divisions:
1.1 Explosives with a mass explosion hazard
e.g. nitroglycerin /dynamite
1.2 Explosives with a blast/projection hazard
e.g. cannon shells / bombs
1.3 Explosives with predominantly a fire hazard
e.g. rocket propellant, display fireworks
1.4 Explosives with no significant blast hazard, but major fire hazard
e.g. consumer fireworks, ammunition
1.5 Very insensitive explosives with a mass explosion hazard
e.g. construction or demolition explosives, blasting agents
1.6 Extremely insensitive explosives

48. Class 2. Gases Compressed, liquefied or dissolved under pressure
Some gases have subsidiary risk poisonous or corrosive classes
Class 2 Divisions:
2.1 Flammable gases (ignite on contact with an ignition source)
e.g. Acetylene and Hydrogen
2.2 Non-Flammable gases (neither flammable nor poisonous)
e.g. cryogenic gases/liquids and rocket fuels, Nitrogen and Neon
2.3 Poisonous gases (liable to cause death / serious injury if inhaled)
e.g. Fluorine, Chlorine, and Hydrogen cyanide.

49. Class 3. Flammable Liquids
Flammable liquids are classed based on boiling point and flash point
Packing Group I: boiling point of 35°C/95°F or less at sea-level and any flash point
e.g. Diethyl ether or Carbon disulfide
Packing Group II: boiling point greater than 35°C/95°F at sea-level and a flash point less than 23°C/73.4°F
e.g. gasoline (petrol) and Acetone
Packing Group III: criteria for Packing Group I or II not met
e.g. kerosene and diesel.

50. Class 4. Flammable Solids
Class 4 Divisions:
4.1 Flammable Solids (easily ignited and readily combustible)
e.g. nitrocellulose, magnesium, safety or strike-anywhere matches
4.2 Spontaneously Combustible (ignite spontaneously)
e.g. aluminum alkyls, white phosphorus
4.3 Dangerous when Wet (emit a flammable gas when wet or react violently with water)
e.g. sodium, calcium, potassium, calcium carbide

51. Class 5. Oxidizers & Organic Peroxides
Class 5 Divisions:
5.1 Oxidizing substances (either liquid or solid)
e.g. Calcium hypochlorite, Ammonium nitrate, Hydrogen peroxide, Potassium permanganate
5.2 Organic peroxides (either liquid or solid)
e.g. Benzoyl peroxides, Cumene hydroperoxide

52. Class 6. Toxic and Infectious Substances
Class 6 Divisions:
6.1 Toxic substances
e.g. Potassium cyanide, Mercuric chloride, Pesticides, Methylene chloride
6.2 Infectious Substances
e.g. smallpox , HIV, cultures, pathology specimens, used iv needles

53. Class 7. Radioactive
Radioactive substances comprise substances or a combination of substances which emit ionizing radiation
e.g. Uranium, Plutonium

54. Class 8. Corrosives
Corrosive substances are substances that can dissolve organic tissue or severely corrode certain metals
Class 8 Divisions:
8.1 Acids
e.g. Sulfuric acid, Hydrochloric acid
8.2 Alkalis
e.g. Potassium hydroxide, Sodium hydroxide

55. 9. Miscellaneous
Hazardous substances that do not fall into the other categories but may present a hazard during transportation
e.g. asbestos, air-bag inflators, self inflating life rafts, dry ice

56. Resources for Chemical Products
Thermofisher, HazMatID and HazMasterG3 devices
Lab and Chemical Supply Companies
Fisher Scientific, VWR, Sigma-Aldrich
Chemistry Handbooks
The CRC, Lange’s, Merck Index, Sigma-Aldrich Catalog

57. Resources for Chemical Products
CAMEO Chemicals
Wireless Information System for Emergency Responders (WISER)
Household Products Database

58. Resources for the Home Chemist
Sam Barros’ Power Labs
Sciencemadness
Nerd Rage on You Tube
TheHomeScientist on You Tube
Skylighter pyrotechnics

59. Online Chemistry Resources
Free Chemical Databases
First Hand Descriptions from Chemists

60. Online Resources (Cont’d)
Chemical Segregation, Incompatibilities, and Description of Reaction Characteristics
water reactive chemicals and description of reaction

61. Lab Safety Summary General Lab Safety
General Explosive Synthesis Safety
Chemical Product Safety