Laboratory Chemical Safety

Pathology Training

Objectives

Explain the OSHA standard for chemical safety as it relates to laboratory workersExplain Chemical labeling requirementsExplain the NFPA diamondExplain the need for Material Data Safety Sheets and their contents

Chemical Safety Responsibilities

Chemical manufacturers, employers, and employees all share in the responsibilities of ensuring the safe handling of all chemicals used in the laboratory.

Manufacturers’ responsibilities

All chemical manufacturers must determine the physical and health hazards of each product they makeManufacturers communicate these potential hazards to end users through the use of:– Container labels– Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)

Employers’ responsibilities

Each employer must:– Identify and list all hazardous chemicals in the

workplace (chemical inventory)– Ensure there is a MSDS for each chemical and

make them available to all employees– Supply training to all staff regarding chemical

hazards and safety procedures

Employees’ responsibilities

It is the responsibility of each staff member to:– Read the manufacturer’s labels prior to handling any chemical– Know how to access all MSDS’s– Follow all instructions and warnings– Access all appropriate safety information with the help of the

Risk Management Coordinator and/or supervisor– Contact the Risk Management Coordinator or appropriate

supervisor of any potential safety hazards you may detect

OSHA Regulations

OSHA standard 1910.1450 sets the minimum requirements regulating workplace exposure to chemicals. This regulation is titled “Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories” and is more commonly known as the Right-to –Know Law.

OSHA Regulations

This Standard sets requirements for:– Chemical labeling and MSDS – Employee exposure determination– Each laboratory to develop a written Chemical

Hygiene Plan– Training of each employee regarding the contents of

the Chemical Hygiene Plan

Chemical Hygiene Plan

The Chemical Hygiene Plan defines the safety procedures for all hazardous chemicals used in the laboratory. Each laboratory’s Chemical Hygiene Plan must include:– Responsibilities of the Laboratory Director and

supervisors– Designation of a qualified Chemical Hygiene Officer

For the Pathology Department, the Supervisor of the Reagent Laboratory fill this role

Chemical Hygiene Plan

Items included (continued):– Policies for all operations that involve hazardous

chemicals– Criteria for the use of personal protective equipment

(PPE) which may include safety goggles, nitrile or rubber gloves, and fluid-resistant gowns or aprons

– Criteria for exposure monitoring when permissible levels are exceeded

– Provisions for medical consultations and examinations

Chemical Hygiene Plan

Items included (continued):– Provision for the training of all employees in the

elements of the plan– Access to all employees of the OSHA Laboratory

Standard, “Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories”: 29CFR 1910.1450

Chemical Safety Policies

In addition to the Chemical Hygiene Plan (600.201), the Risk Management section of the Departmental Policies and Procedures (located on-line on the Pathology intranet) contains other policies related to chemical safety.Each employee must familiarize themselves with all Departmental safety policies.

Chemical Safety Policies

Related Departmental chemical safety policies include:– Chemical “Right to Know” Law – 600.203– Chemical Inventory – 600.204– Chemical Labeling and Storage – 600.205– Handling Chemical Spills – 600.206– Particularly Hazardous Substances – 600.207

Chemical Labels

Although formatting may differ, all chemical labels must contain similar types of information in order to meet OSHA and DOT guidelines.Chemical labels provide information on the potential hazards a particular chemical presents, and includes the basic steps to protect against these hazards.

Manufacturer’s labels

Manufacturer’s are required to put the following information of the chemical label:– Name of the chemical, indicated by words or

symbols– Company’s name, address, and emergency phone

number– Physical hazards

ReactivityFlammability

Manufacturer’s Labels

In addition, manufacturer’s labels may also describe:– Any important storing or handling instructions– The personal protective equipment that must be

worn when working with the chemical

In-house Labels

To meet requirements of the College of American Pathologists (CAP), all in-house chemicals must be labeled with:– Content and quantity, concentration or titer– Storage requirements– Date prepared or reconstituted by the laboratory– Expiration date– Type of hazard and accidental contact information

In-house Labels

If the in-house chemicals are considered hazardous, both the primary and secondary labels must include:– Name of the hazardous chemical (no abbreviations)– Health hazard– Route of entry (e.g. eye, nose, mouth, skin)– Physical hazard– Target organ affected and accidental contact

information

NFPA Diamond

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) ranks chemicals numerically according to the hazards associated with them and displays these numbers in colored sections of a diamond (NFPA symbol). The hazards that are assessed are:

– Health hazards (blue)– Fire hazards (red)– Reactivity (yellow)– Special hazards (white)

NFPA Diamond

Health Hazards are represented by the bluediamond on the left side of the NFPA symbol– 0 = no health hazard– 1 = a slight health hazard– 2 = a dangerous health hazard– 3 = indicates extreme danger– 4 = the chemical is deadly

NFPA Diamond

Fire hazards are represented by the reddiamond on the top of the NFPA symbol– 0 = the chemical will not burn and thus has no flash

point– 1 = the flash point is greater than 200 degrees F.– 2 = the flash point is less than 200 degrees F.– 3 = the flash point is less than 100 degrees F.– 4 = the flash point is less than 73 degrees F.

NFPA Diamond

Reactivity is symbolized by the yellow diamond on the right side of the NFPA symbol– 0 = the chemical is stable– 1 = the chemical is normally stable– 2 = the chemical is unstable– 3 = the chemical is explosive– 4 = the chemical may detonate

NFPA Diamond

The white diamond at the bottom of the NFPA symbol represents special hazards– If the chemical reacts with water, a strike-out W will

appear in this section– OX means the chemical is an oxidizer– COR means the chemical is corrosive– The radioactivity symbol indicated that the chemical

is radioactive

MSDS

Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) are required for each chemical and must be made available in each laboratory sectionMSDS inform employees of any potential hazards a particular chemical may presentEach employees is responsible to know the exact location of the MSDS in their laboratory section

MSDS sections

MSDS are divided into sections to assist users in locating pertinent informationEvery MSDS will not contain exactly the same amount of information in the same formatAll MSDS will contain all necessary information needed to work safety with a particular chemical

MSDS sections

The Identification section will list specific information related to the chemical– Chemical name– Name under which the chemical is shipped– Manufacturer’s name, address, and phone number– Manufacturer product number– Emergency phone number

MSDS sections

Identification section (cont.)– CAS identification number– The DOT shipping name and hazard class– The chemical family mane and synonyms– The chemical’s formula and molecular weight

MSDS sections

The Hazardous Ingredients section will include:– The components that make up the chemical– The Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL – 8 hour

occupational exposure limit) of the chemical, if applicable

– The Short Term Exposure Limit (STEL – 15 minute occupational exposure limit) of the chemical, if applicable

MSDS sections

The Physical and Chemical Data section will include:– Boiling point– Specific Gravity– Solubility– Appearance– Odor

MSDS sections

The Fire and Explosive Hazard Data section will include:– Any special precautions which should be taken

during fire fighting procedures– Whether the chemical is still flammable when

diluted, and if the fire can be extinguished by an ABC extinguisher (the preferred extinguisher for chemical fires)

MSDS sections

The Reactivity Data section will:– Describe the stability of the chemical, or how it

reacts with other substances– List which substances and situations should be

avoided to prevent chemical reactions

MSDS sections

The Health Hazard Data section will provide the following information:– If the chemical is carcinogenic– How the chemical could enter the body– The signs and symptoms of any overexposure to

the chemical– The first aid procedures required in case of an

accident

MSDS sections

The Spill and Disposal Data section includes:– Procedures for cleaning spills– Proper disposal of the chemical

The Handling and Storage Data section includes:– Information concerning the required personal protective

equipment (PPE) to be used while using the chemical– Any special ventilation that might be required when using the

chemical

Conclusion

It is each employee’s “right to know” the hazards any chemical might present in the workplaceEach employees should familiarize themselves with the potential hazards of a particular chemical prior to using it.Each employee should know how and where to access information and get help if necessary

Review Test

Click the Review Test link and answer the question to record your participation

Review Test