This document provides an overview of chemical safety concepts including toxicity, hazards, safe handling and storage of chemicals, disposal of chemicals, and emergency procedures. It discusses key topics such as permissible exposure limits, standard operating procedures, material safety data sheets, physical and health hazards of chemicals, routes of exposure, personal protective equipment, flammability classifications, signs and symptoms of exposure, and emergency response. The document emphasizes the importance of planning, training, labeling, using proper handling techniques and protective equipment, and knowing emergency procedures in order to safely use and dispose of chemicals.

1. Presented by:
VILSON JOY

2.  Chemical Safety Concepts
 Safe Use and Storage
 Disposal
 Emergencies

3.  TOXICITY -- the ability of a chemical
substance to cause harm
 HAZARD -- likelihood a material will cause
harm under the conditions of use
With proper handling, even highly toxic
chemicals can be used safely
Less toxic chemicals can be extremely hazardous
if handled improperly.

4.  Exposure to toxic agents can have severe
consequences, including death
 These injuries can occur in any area where
toxic chemicals are handled
 Most chemical injuries could have been
avoided
 If these people had had the proper equipment, if they
had been using the proper techniques and if they had
had adequate knowledge, such as exposures probably
would not have occurred.

5.  Keep worker’s exposure below the Permissible
Exposure Limit (PEL)
 PEL’s are regulatory limits set by OSHA on the amount or concentration of a
substance in the air.
 Plan in advance for potential hazards
 Designate a person to manage chemical safety
 Train and inform workers
 Label ALL chemical containers
 Keep file of MSDS for all chemicals used (EHS)

6.  Standard operating procedures (SOP)
 Exposure control measures
 Fume hood & personal protective equipment
 Information & Training
 Chemicals that require prior planning & approval
 Working with Particularly hazardous substances
 Emergencies

7.  Know and prepare for hazards in advance
 Review Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)
 Physical and Health Hazards
 Exposure signs and symptoms
 Protective measures
 Emergency procedures
 Read all labels
 Know your protocol / procedures
 Remember, some chemicals may have delayed toxic
effects on the body

8.  Flammable - catches fire easily and burns rapidly
 Combustible - will burn under most conditions
 Explosive - will explode / detonate releasing hot gases
 Oxidizer - yields oxygen to enhance combustion, may cause ignition
of combustibles with no external source
 Organic peroxide - uniquely hazardous, potentially explosive
 Unstable - tends to decompose during normal handling and storage
 Water reactive - reacts with water to release flammable gas,
causes fire or presents a health hazard

9.  Carcinogen - cause cancer or suspected to cause cancer
 Toxic Agent - poisonous / cause acute or chronic effects
 Reproductive toxin (teratogen) - could have harmful effect
on male or female reproductive system or on developing fetus
 Irritant - can cause inflammation of skin or eyes
 Corrosive - cause irreversible damage to living tissue
 Sensitizer - cause exposed person to develop allergies to the
substance
 Target organ-specific agents - hazardous to specific organs
in body (e.g., lungs, liver, blood, kidneys, nervous system)

10.  Inhalation / breathing - most common route, gases / vapors can
pass to blood, solid particles inhaled into lungs
 Absorption through the skin - many solids, liquids, vapors and
gases can be absorbed through the skin
 Ingestion / swallowing - while not intentional, failure to wash
hands, eating in contaminated lab, etc.
 Injection - accidents handling glass, sharps, etc.
 Eye Contact - either physical damage or absorption
The route of entry dictates selection of protective
equipment

11.  Dose - Amount of chemical absorbed depends upon chemical
strength / concentration, exposure duration, frequency of
exposure
 In general, the greater the dose, the more severe the health
effects
 Acute effects - occurs rapidly following brief exposure (e.g., acid
burn)
 Chronic effect - develops/recurs slowly, over long period
following repeated, long-term, low-level exposure (e.g., benzidine
linked to bladder cancer)
 Individual variability - not all people exhibit the same signs and
symptoms (especially to chronic effects)

12.  Chemical Safety Concepts
 Safe Use and Storage
 Disposal of Chemicals
 Emergencies
 Radiation Safety

13.  Always wear PPE:
 Good lab practice
 Eye protection for workers
 Wear enclosed goggles or face shield over safety glasses if chance
of splashing or shattering
 Shoes, lab coat, long pants (gives protection from falling objects and
spills/splatters)
 Plastic/rubber apron for caustics/corrosives
 Correct gloves for chemical
 Never reach into liquids, use tongs for retrieval

14.  Dry Chemical Storage
 Keep organic and inorganic separated
 Liquid Chemical Storage
 Determine major storage groups (acid, base, etc.)
 Designate separate storage for highly toxic chemicals
 Store only cleaning materials under sink

15.  Inventory chemicals annually (see SY24)
 Dispose of old and unused chemicals
through EHS following chemical waste
requirements.
 Segregate chemicals according to hazard,
i.e. flammables separate from oxidizers,
acids separate from bases

16.  Keep containers closed unless you are
working with container - do not store
waste containers open with funnels in
opening, do not evaporate solvents as
a means of disposal.
 Ensure all containers are labeled - no
abbreviations or formulae

17.  Flammable Liquids
 Corrosive Materials
 Reactive (Oxidizers and
Reducers)
 Cryogenics
 Gas Cylinders

18.  Keep quantities below allowable storage
limits (SY08 Storage, Dispensing and Use of
Flammable Liquids)
 UL-approved safety cans
 Store flammable liquids in an approved
storage cabinet (combined total volume of
liquids not greater than 120 gallons with no
more than 60 gallons of Class I or II).
 No more than 3 storage cabinets per fire
area.

19.  DO NOT store acids and bases together
 Material should be stored in cabinets
 Store heavy containers on lower shelves
 Store on shelves with raised edges
 Do not store liquids above eye level
 Glacial acetic acid has special storage
requirements-store with flammable liquids

20. For chemicals with high degree of acute toxicity, select
carcinogens & reproductive toxins:
 Establish designated area
 Proper storage and management
 Use engineering controls (e.g., fume hood)
 Use appropriate PPE
 Waste removal
 Decontamination procedures
 Emergency planning and response

21.  Chemical Safety Concepts
 Safe Use and Storage
 Disposal of Chemicals
 Emergencies

22. Chemical Disposal Methods….
In-Lab Chemical management
On-Site Hazardous Materials Management - OSHMM
Redistribution of Unwanted Chemicals -

23. Flushing down the sanitary sewer (limited to
chemicals on drain disposal guideline SYG01)
Neutralization
Normal Trash
 If you have questions or are uncomfortable
with steps outlined for in-lab management,
please call EHS at 814-865-6391

24.  Annual review of chemicals
 Removal of surplus chemicals and chemical waste
 Evaluate gas cylinders, unknowns & potential
explosives
 Laboratory and Stockroom cleanouts

25.  All containers must be labeled with red tags
 Mixtures, solutions and powders must be in
chemically compatible containers
 No beakers, flasks, leaking containers or bottles
without caps.

26.  Labeling - each container of waste must be
labeled with a red tag (supplied by EHS)
 Waste accumulation areas must be under the
oversight of someone who works in that area

27.  Check area once a week
 sign and date check list
 back-up overseer for times of illness or
vacation
 post accumulation area with sign
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28.  An area close to the point of generation and
under the oversight of the person generating
the waste
 Secondary containment must be used for
waste storage - EHS provides 2 sizes of
containment bins: one large enough for 5
gallon containers and one for smaller bottle
sizes.

29.  Audit your waste program once a year to
verify compliance
 Supervisor and Dept. head must sign audit

30.  Waste Management Manual
 Manual must contain
 location of accumulation area
 form documenting waste area oversight
 form documenting annual inventory of chemicals
 copies of training records
 audit form

31.  Chemical Safety Concepts
 Safe Use and Storage
 Disposal of Chemicals
 Emergencies
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32. Classification
Simple Spill -- one which you can safely clean up
yourself
Major Emergency or High Hazard Spill -- one
which you can not safely clean up yourself

33. To Clean Up a Simple Spill
 Notify your fellow workers and supervisor
 Control Access to the area, prevent contact or
spread of spill
 Call EHS for advice and to report as soon as
possible
EXAMPLE: 500 ml of a dilute acid

34. Major Emergency
Call 911 for
 Fires (even if you extinguish it yourself)
 Explosions
 Injuries
 Unknown vapors, fumes or smoke
 Spills that threaten human health or the
environment
 Incidents which you can not deal with safely
 Contact EHS as soon as emergency has been addressed.

35. Provide the following:
Name
Building and Room number
Address
Type of Emergency (i.e, Fire, Spill,
Explosion)
Any Injuries

36.  Keep area around safety equipment clutter
free
 Portable squeeze bottles are NOT
acceptable
 Flush affected area for at least 15 minutes
 For spill on clothing / skin:
 Remove clothes
 Wash with soap and water
 Follow info on MSDS for decon steps
 Seek medical advice

37.  Know where fire extinguishers, emergency
showers and eyewash stations are located and
how to use them
 Your unit should :
 have reviewed MSDS Sheet prior to beginning work
 have PPE (I.e, gloves, goggles) for spill cleanup
 Have updated Emergency phone numbers posted

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