CHEM LAB SAFETY

Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA)

Public Law 91-596 enacted by the U.S. Congress in 1970.

To provide all employees with a safe work environment.

Main goal of OSHA

Occupational Safety and Health Administration

Authorized to conduct on-site inspections to determine whether an employer is complying with mandatory standards.

Bloodborne Pathogen Standard, Formaldehyde Standard, Laboratory Standard, Hazard Communication Standard, Respiratory Standard, Air Contaminants Standard, and Personal Protective Equipment Standard.

OSHA Standards

Bloodborne Pathogen Standard

Applies to all exposure to blood or other potentially infectious materials in any occupational setting.

Bloodborne Pathogen Standard requirements

Universal Precaution and PPE; development of an exposure control plan; decontamination and safe handling of specimens; and HBV vaccination.

Universal Precaution

A safety approach in which all patients are considered to be possible carriers of blood-borne pathogens.

Exposure control plan

A plan mandated under the Bloodborne Pathogen Standard.

HBV vaccination

vaccination required under the Bloodborne Pathogen Standard.

Hazard Communication Standard

Regulations concerning toxic and hazardous substances.

Hazard Communication Standard

To ensure that hazards of all chemicals used in the workplace have been evaluated and that hazard information is successfully transmitted to employers and employees.

Center for Disease Control and Prevention

Meaning of CDC

Universal Precaution

Instituted by the CDC in 1987.

Body Substance Isolation (BSI)

A modification of Universal Precaution that helped alleviate concern about body fluids that may contain blood before it becomes visible.

They do not recommend handwashing after removal of gloves unless visual contamination is present.

Major disadvantage of BSI guidelines

Handwashing, gloves, mask, eye protection and face shield, gown, patient care equipment, environmental control, linen, occupational health and blood-borne pathogens, and patient placement.

Standard Precaution

Standard Precaution components

Handwashing; gloves; mask, eye protection, and face shield; gown; patient care equipment; environmental control; linen; occupational health and blood-borne pathogens; patient placement.

Chemical Safety Hazard Communication

OSHA Communication Standard, also called the Right to Know Law.

Right to Know Law

OSHA Communication Standard concerning chemical safety hazard communication.

Plan and implement a written hazard communication program; obtain MSDS; educate all employees; maintain hazard warning labels on containers received or filled on site.

Clinical laboratory hazard communication requirements

Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)

A major source of safety information for employees who may use hazardous materials.

Material Safety Data Sheet

MSDS

MSDS information

Product name and identification; hazardous ingredients; PEL; physical and chemical data; health hazard data and carcinogenic potential; primary routes of entry; fire and explosion hazards; reactivity data; spill and disposal procedures; PPE recommendations; handling; emergency and first aid procedures; storage and transportation precautions; chemical manufacturer's name, address, and telephone number; special information section.

OSHA Laboratory Standard

Appointment of a chemical hygiene officer and development of a chemical hygiene plan.

Chemical Hygiene Officer

An officer whose appointment is required by the OSHA Laboratory Standard.

Chemical Hygiene Plan

A plan describing procedures for protecting employees against teratogens, carcinogens, and other toxic chemicals.

Other organizations/laws concerned with laboratory safety

Clean Water Act, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, Toxic Substances Control Act, CLSI, TJC, CAP, NFPA,

Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000

RA 9003 by DENR.

RA 9003

Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000.

DENR

The agency associated with the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000.

Biodegradable Waste

Food waste, yard waste, and similar wastes; represented by green.

Non-Biodegradable/Recyclable Waste

Paper, plastics, styrofoam, tin cans, bottles; represented by red.

Non-recyclable/Residual Wastes

Used/worn-out rugs, ceramics, soiled plastics, candy wrappers, and similar wastes; represented by blue.

Special/Hazardous Wastes

Used fluorescent lamps/bulbs, batteries, spray canisters, and similar wastes; represented by black.

Biodegradable Waste color

Green.

Non-Biodegradable/Recyclable Waste color

Red.

Non-recyclable/Residual Wastes color

Blue.

Special/Hazardous Wastes color

Black.

Employer's Responsibilities

Establish laboratory work methods and safety policies; provide supervision and guidance; provide safety information, training, PPE, and medical surveillance; provide and maintain adequate equipment and laboratory facilities.

Employee's Responsibilities

Know and comply with established laboratory work safety methods; maintain a positive attitude toward supervisors, coworkers, facilities, and safety training; promptly notify the immediate supervisor of unsafe conditions or practices; ensure unsafe conditions and practices are corrected; conduct safe work practices and use PPE.

No smoking, eating, or application of cosmetics; proper use of PPE; nonporous closed-toe and closed-heel shoes; handwashing between each patient even if gloves are worn; proper disposal of needles and sharps.

General Laboratory Safety Practices

Safety showers, eyewash stations, fire extinguishers, fire blankets, spill kits, first aid supplies, chemical fume hoods, and biological safety cabinets.

Safety Equipment

30 to 50 gallons of water per minute.

Safety shower recommended flow

20 to 50 psi.

Safety shower recommended pressure

Concentrated Acid/Base Spills

Should be diluted with water before cleanup is attempted.

Sodium bicarbonate

Neutralizer for acids.

Boric acid

Neutralizer for bases.

Flammable, explosive, toxic/poison, irritant, corrosive, and environmental.

Chemical hazard symbols

Flammable/Combustible Chemicals

Chemicals with a flash point below 100°F (37.8°C).

Flash point

The temperature at which sufficient vapor is given off to form an ignitable mixture with air.

Acetone, benzene, ethanol, heptane, isopropanol, methanol, toluene, and xylene.

Flammable/combustible chemical examples

Hydrogen, paraffin

___ is an example of a flammable gas, while ____ is an example of a flammable solid.

Corrosive, toxic substances, carcinogens, mutagens and teratogens, ignitable, and reactive.

Categories of Chemicals

pH of ≤2 or ≥12.5

Corrosive chemicals pH

Toxic Substances

Poisons, irritants, and asphyxiants.

Carcinogens

Chemicals capable of causing cancers.

Mutagens and Teratogens

Chemicals capable of causing chromosomal malformations, aberrations, and congenital effects.

Ignitable chemicals

Flammable and combustible chemicals.

Reactive chemicals

Explosives and oxidizers.

Corrosive Chemicals

Chemicals injurious to the skin or eyes by direct contact and injurious to respiratory and gastrointestinal tract tissues if inhaled or ingested.

Acetic acid, sulfuric acid, nitric acid, hydrochloric acid, ammonium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, and sodium hydroxide.

Corrosive acid and bases chemical examples

Reactive Chemicals

Chemicals with molecular structures of high reactivity.

Oxidizers

Chemicals with high oxygen content or compounds with redox groups.

Reactive chemical hazards

Some substances can spontaneously explode or ignite or evolve heat or flammable or explosive gases under certain conditions.

Chloromethyl methyl ether-vinyl chloride, N-Nitrosodimethylamine, Benz[a]pyrene, 4-Aminobiphenyl, Benzidine, 1-Naphthylamine, 2-Naphthylamine, 4-Nitrobiphenyl, Benzene, Ethylenimine, P-Dimethylaminobenzene, B-Propiolactone, and Bis Chloromethyl ether.

OSHA Regulated Carcinogenic Chemicals

Alpha Particles

Large particles that can travel only a very short range in air.

Alpha particle

may be stopped by skin or paper.

Beta Particles

Smaller, negatively charged electrons with limited penetrating power.

Negative.

Beta particle charge

Neutrons

Radiation that arises from spontaneous fission of some isotopes and is produced by atomic reactors and accelerators.

Gamma rays and X-rays

Electromagnetic energy composed of atomic particles.

Gamma rays

Radiation with no mass or charge but with great penetrating ability.

Gamma ray hazards

Gamma rays produce significant internal and external hazards if in high concentration.

X-rays

Radiation that differs from gamma rays only in the origin of radiation.

Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) license

Required if the total amount of radioactive material exceeds a certain level.

Film badge or dosimeter

A device that must be worn when handling radioactive chemicals.

Threshold Limit Values (TLV)

Exposure limits to toxic chemicals in the workplace.

Time-Weighted Average (TLV-TWA)

The maximum allowable exposure over an 8-hour work day.

Short-Term Exposure Limit (TLV-STEL)

The maximum allowable exposure for a short period such as 15 minutes.

Ceiling Value Form(TLV-C)

The concentration of an agent that must never be exceeded.

nitric acid

Inorganics should be stored separately from organics, except ____

fuel, heat, oxygen

Chemistry of Fire

Class A Fire

Fire involving ordinary combustible solid materials such as paper, wood, plastic, and fabric.

Class B Fire

Fire involving flammable liquids/gases and combustible petroleum products.

Class C Fire

Fire involving energized electrical equipment.

Class D Fire

Fire involving combustible/reactive metals such as magnesium, sodium, and potassium.

Class A

Paper, wood, plastic, and fabric.

Class B

Flammable liquids/gases and combustible petroleum products.

Class C

Energized electrical equipment.

Class D

Combustible/reactive metals such as magnesium, sodium, and potassium.

Electrical Hazards

Hazards associated with electrical equipment and electrical energy in the laboratory.

Explosion-proof equipment

Equipment that should be used in hazardous atmospheres.