1. General Laboratory Safety Training
Presented by Martina Schmeling
Adapted from UC Davis

2. Staying safe means that you…
Read labels on containers of chemicals
Read Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)
Handle chemicals with care
Use correct protective clothing and equipment
Remember emergency procedures

3. Chemical Labels
Every container of chemicals is labeled by the manufacturer.
The label will tell you
Name of chemical
Name, address and emergency phone number of manufacturer
Physical and health hazards
Precautionary measures
First-aid instructions
Proper handling/storage instructions

4. Health Hazards on a Chemical Label
Corrosive
Sensitizer
Hepatotoxin
Nephrotoxin
Neurotoxin
Carcinogen
Highly toxic agent
Toxic agent
Reproductive hazard
Irritant

5. Typical Precautionary Measures on a Label
Do not breathe vapors
Use in well-ventilated areas
Keep container closed when not in use
Avoid contact with skin
Wash thoroughly with soap and water after handling

6. Keep away from sparks, heat, and flame
Do not store near combustible materials
Store in tightly closed container
Remove and wash contaminated clothing promptly
Keep from contact with clothing and other combustible materials

7. Common Signal Words on Labels
Danger – Can cause immediate serious injury or death
Warning – Can cause potentially serious injury or death
Caution – Can cause potentially moderate injury

8. Special Symbols Used on Labels
Helps you recognize kind of hazard a chemical could present if you are not careful
Toxicity
Corrosivity (acids and bases)
Ignitability (flammable solvents and certain solids)
Reactivity (sodium and various water-reactive reagents)

9. Color and Number Coded Label Systems
Colors represent kind of hazard
Red = fire
Yellow = instability
Blue = health
black = specific hazard & personal protection
NFPA-type label 3 4 2
Numbers show degree of hazard
0 = Minimal
1 = Slight
2 = Moderate
3 = Serious
4 = Severe

10. Color and Number Coded Label Systems
NFPA-type labels
Black = specific hazard
OX = Oxidizer
ACID = Acid
ALK = Alkali
COR = Corrosive
W = Use no water
Other symbols: 3 4 2
COR

11. Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)
Provides more detailed information about a chemical, including
Composition, information on ingredients (Section 2)
Hazards identification (Section 3)
First aid measures (Section 4)
Accidental Release measures (Section 6)
Handling and Storage (Section 7)
Exposure controls, personal protection (Section 8)
Stability and reactivity (Section 10)
Toxicological information (Section 11)

12. MSDS (cont’d) Hazards Identification
Inhalation: Respiratory tract (lungs) through inhalation
Ingestion: Digestive tract through eating or smoking with contaminated hands or in contaminated work areas
Absorption through the skin or eyes: Dermatitis or damage to the liver, kidney, or other organ systems
Injection: Percutaneous injection of a toxic substance through the skin

13. MSDS (cont’d) Specific possible health hazards:
Acute poisoning (rapid assimilation of substance, i.e., carbon monoxide)
Chronic poisoning (prolonged exposure, i.e., lead poisoning)
Cumulative poisons (numerous chronic exposures, i.e., heavy metals)
Substances in combination (synergistic effect, i.e., exposure to alcohol and chlorinated solvents)

14. MSDS (cont’d) Potential Health Effects Eye irritation Nausea Dizziness
Skin rashes
Headache
Existing medical conditions possibly aggravated by exposure

15. MSDS (cont’d) Emergency/first-aid procedures to follow
Accidental Release Measures
What to do if substance spills and leaks
How to correctly dispose of substance
Equipment/procedures for cleaning up spills and leaks

16. MSDS (cont’d) Handling and Storage
How to handle and store substance safely
Any other precautions (i.e., grounding containers during transfer of flammables)

17. MSDS (cont’d) Exposure Controls, Personal Protection
Respirator
Gloves
Eye protection
Protective clothing
Ventilation
Special work and hygiene practices that should be followed

18. MSDS (cont’d) Exposure Limits Threshold Limit Value (TLV)
TLV-C
TLV-STEL
TLV-TWA
Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL)
Recommended Exposure Limit (REL)

19. MSDS (cont’d) Toxicological Information
LC50: median lethal concentration by inhalation in a single exposure over a specified time period
LCLO: lowest reported LC50
LD50: median lethal concentration by a route other than inhalation

20. So, what is “highly toxic”?
“Highly Toxic” is indicated by
LD50  50 mg/kg body wt by ingestion to albino rats each weighing between 200 to 300 gms OR
LD50  200 mg/kg by continuous contact for 24 hrs with skin of albino rabbits each weighing between 2 and 3 kg OR
LC50  200 ppm of gas or vapor inhalation (or 2 mg/L of mist, dust, or fumes) for one hour by albino rats each weighing between 200 to 300 gms

21. How can an MSDS be “Decoded”?
See the glossary produced by CCOHS

22. Handle Chemicals with Care
Dispose of chemicals, broken glass, and other waste in approved containers
Clean up broken glass and spills immediately
Keep the lab clean and neat
Store incompatible chemicals in separate storage areas

23. Chemical Storage Labs have established separate storage areas for
Flammable and combustible organic liquids and solvents
Acids
Dry poisons, salts, and oxidizers
Bases
Chemicals are stored in
Chemical storage cabinets
Flammable storage refrigerators (No food)
Chemical storage refrigerators/freezers (No food)
On shelves with retaining barriers

24. Storage Fundamentals
Identify incompatible chemicals – check the Material Safety Data Sheet
Isolate and separate incompatible materials
Isolate by storing in another area or room
Degree of isolation depends on quantities, chemical properties and packaging
Separate by storing in same area or room, but apart from each other

25. Storage of Flammable and Combustible Liquids
Storage must not limit the use of exits, stairways, or areas normally used for the safe regress of people
Storage must be in:
closed metal containers inside a storage cabinet, or
safety cans, or
an inside storage room
Inside storage room
(d)(5)(i) and (iii)
In office occupancies, the inside storage room must not have a door that opens into that portion of the building used by the public.

26. Storage Cabinets
Not more than 60 gal of Class I and/or Class II liquids, or not more than 120 gal of Class III liquids permitted in a cabinet
Must be conspicuously labeled, “Flammable - Keep Fire Away”
Doors on metal cabinets must have a three-point lock (top, side, and bottom), and the door sill must be raised at least 2 inches above the bottom of the cabinet
(d)(3)(i) and (ii) and (ii)(a)
Three-point lock on metal cabinet doors prevents buckling, which would expose contents to fire.
Raised door sill contains leaks.

27. Use correct protective clothing and equipment
Eye Protection
Safety glasses – flying particles, chemical splashes, dust
Splash goggles – corrosive liquids, solvents, powders
Face Shields – high pressure systems
Respiratory Protection – normally not needed at LUC
Skin and Body Protection
Gloves – see the MSDS
Aprons and lab coats – strong acids and bases
Shoes – always worn in lab, closed toe and closed heel
Hearing Protection – normally not needed at LUC

28. Do not Use damaged glassware
Store chemicals near heat, sunlight, or other substances with which they might react
Store materials on floors or other places where people could trip over them
Leave equipment unattended when its operating (unless it is designed to do so or you have an SOP)
Put custodians and fellow workers in danger

29. If Overexposed to a Hazardous Substance
Get medical help immediately!
Inform your lab supervisor
Check MSDS for first-aid instructions.
Some general guidelines are
Eyes: Flush with water for 15 minutes
Ingestion: Follow label and MSDS instructions
Skin Contact: Stand under emergency shower and remove contaminated clothing immediately
Inhalation: Get to fresh air and get prompt medical attention

30. Other Emergency Procedures
Fire: call 911, activate building fire alarm; safely use fire extinguisher on small fires
Hazardous Chemical spill (over 1 pint): evacuate the room; close door; call 911; consider evacuation of building

31. Emergencies can happen, so
Avoid working alone in the lab
Know where emergency phone numbers are posted
Review MSDS
Know where to go and what to do in an emergency
Know the location of the closest safety showers, eyewashes, and fire extinguishers

32. Chemical Hygiene Plan (CHP)
Outlines specific work practices for all work
involving hazardous substances in the lab
Gives procedures to follow when working with hazardous chemicals
Provides details on how your chemical exposure will be monitored and limited
Assures that you have the right personal protective equipment (PPE)
Specifies that some hazardous tasks to be approved in advance by the PI