Chemistry lab Health and Safety Plan 2025V3.3.pdf

HEALTH AND SAFETY PLAN FOR TFHRC

CHEMISTRY LABORATORIES

(F123, F124 and F126) Version 3.2

March 21, 2025

Prepared by:

Jose F Munoz Chandni Balachandran

Reviewed and Approved By:

Name Date Team Leader David Mensching i

TABLE OF CONTENT

ACRONYMS

EMERGENCY CONTACTS

1 INTRODUCTION

1.1 Purpose

1.2 Policy

1.3 Scope

2 PURPOSE AND DESCRIPTION OF THE CHEMISTRY

LABORATORIES (F123, F124 and F126)

2.1 Apparatus and Analytical Equipment

3 CHEMISTRY LABORATORY PERSONNEL

3.1 General Responsibilities

3.2 Federal Laboratory Manager Responsibilities

3.3 Laboratory Manager

3.4 Researcher and Lab Support Technician

3.5 Non-Laboratory Personnel: Support and Maintenance Staff

3.6 Laboratory Health and Safety Officer/Coordinator

4 STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES

4.1 General Rules

4.2 Overnight usage of laboratory equipment for experiments

5 PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE)

5.1 Minimum PPE Requirements

5.2 Eye Protection

5.3 Apparel

5.4 Gloves

5.5 Respirators

5.6 Head Protection

6 LABORATORY SAFETY EQUIPMENT

6.1 Extraction Hoods and Fume Hoods

6.2 Eyewashes and Safety Showers

6.3 Fire Safety Equipment

6.4 First Aid

6.5 Spill Kits

7 SAFETY AND HEALTH RISK ANALYSIS

7.1 Chemical and Laboratory Use Evaluation

ii

7.2 Chemicals Hazards

7.3 Physical Hazards

8 CHEMICAL HYGIENE PLAN REQUIREMENTS

8.1 Check-in/Check-out (Tracking of Chemicals Movement)

8.2 Chemical Inventories

8.3 Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)

8.4 Chemical Labeling Requirements

8.5 Chemical Segregation

8.6 Chemical Storage Requirements

8.7 Nanoparticles Safety

8.8 Compressed Gas Cylinder Safety

8.9 Cryogenic Liquids Safety

8.10 Transportation of Chemicals

9 HAZARDOUS WASTE MANAGEMENT

9.1 Waste Identification and Labeling

9.2 Waste Storage Requirements

9.3 Waste Disposal Procedures

9.4 Sharps Waste Disposal

10 CHEMICAL SPILLS

10.1 Non-Emergency Chemical Spill Procedures

10.2 Emergency Chemical Spill Procedures

11 EMPLOYEE INFORMATION AND TRAINING

11.1 Labeling

11.2 Special Labeling Practices

11.3 Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)

12 SAFETY TRAINING REQUIREMENTS

12.1 Employee Safety Training

12.2 General Lab Safety

12.3 List of Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) Trainings

12.4 Safety Training Contents

13 REFERENCES

APPENDIX A: CHEMICAL STORAGE (CSA) AND WASTE

ACUMULATION AREAS (WAA) LOCATION

APPENDIX B: TABLE OF CHEMICALS OF CONCERNTable A:

Health Hazard Qualities of Hazardous Substances of Concern

APPENDIX C: LAB HEALTH AND SAFETY FORMS

ACRONYMS

ANSI: American National Standards Institute ATR: Attenuated Total Reflectance CFR: Code of Federal Regulation CHP: Chemical Hygiene Plan CSA: Chemical Storage Area EHS: Environmental Health and Safety EPA: Environmental Protection Agency ESEM: Environmental Scanning Electron Microscope FLM: Federal Laboratory Manager FPM: Feet per Minute FTIR: Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy HSP: Health and Safety Plan ICP: Inductively Couple Plasma Emission spectrometer IUPAC: International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry MSDS: Materials Safety Data Sheets OEHS: Office of Environmental Health and Safety OSHA: Occupational Safety and Health Administration PEL: Permissible Exposure Limit PPE: Personal Protective Equipment SOP: Standard Operation Procedure TFHRC: Turner Fairbanks Highway Research Center TGA: Thermogravimetry Analyzer TLV: Threshold Limit Value RS: Raman Spectrophotometer WAA: Waste Accumulation Area XRD: X-Ray Diffractometer XRF: X-Ray Fluorescence

EMERGENCY CONTACTS

In the event of any emergency occurrence or if you require assistance, the appropriate contact(s) should be made from the list below.

Emergency Phone Numbers

Immediate Emergencies 911 Security Desk: 202-493-3003 Fire 703-356-6671 Fairfax County Police 703-691-2131

If you do need to call for an emergency service, please be sure to also notify the security desk at 202-493-3003.

Federal Laboratory Manager Jose F Munoz Campos 202-493-3159; Cell: 515-783-9953

Acting Radiation Safety Officer Jose F Munoz Campos 202-493-3159

Laboratory Health and Safety Officer Brian Kerr 202-493-3000

Team Leader Dave Mensching 202-493-3232

1 INTRODUCTION

The health and safety plan (HSP) is a document that sets standards of conduct, policies, and procedures that manages the use and storage of hazardous chemicals in the laboratory. The plan includes methods designed to protect employees from the health hazards caused by hazardous chemicals used in laboratories. This plan also provides for contingencies that may arise during use of the laboratories.

1.1 Purpose

The purpose of this HSP is to establish personnel protection standards and mandatory safety practices for all Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center (TFHRC) personnel involved with the Chemistry Laboratories (F123, F124 and F126).

1.2 Policy

This plan meets the requirements of the Federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Standard, Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories (29 CFR § 1910.1450).

1.3 Scope

The HSP applies to all Chemistry Laboratories that use, store, or handle hazardous chemicals. All TFHRC personnel and contractors who engage in any activities in the laboratory shall be familiar with this plan and comply with its requirements.

The contents of this HSP are as follows:

• Emergency contacts are provided on the second page.

• Purpose and scope of the HSP is described in this section (Section 1).

• Laboratory use description and scope of work summary are provided in Section 2.

• The general responsibilities of the Chemistry Laboratory personnel are described in Section 3.

• The standard operating procedures that should be followed in the laboratory are outlined in Section 4.

• Section 5 outlines the list of personal protective equipment.

• The laboratory safety equipment is described in Section 6

• Section 7 presents a chemical, safety and health risk analysis.

• The chemical hygiene plan requirements are presented in Section 8.

• The hazardous waste management plan and chemical spill protocols are described in Sections 9 and 10.

• Requirements for safety training are included in Sections 11 and 12.

2 PURPOSE AND DESCRIPTION OF THE CHEMISTRY LABORATORIES

(F123, F124 and F126)

The Chemistry Laboratories at TFHRC are used to conduct fundamental and applied studies in understanding the performance of materials used in highway construction and how to enhance their performance. The laboratories are used to develop chemical characterization tools and testing procedures. The research activities take place in three different laboratories:

• Sample preparation laboratory (F-123). Different techniques are used in a daily routine in this laboratory to prepare samples for analysis such as acid digestions, solvent extractions, dilutions, mix designs, crushing and blending of aggregates and measurement of aggregate particle sizes. Preparation of fused beads for XRF analysis.

• Analytical chemistry and spectroscopy characterization laboratory (F-124). The principal analysis and characterization of organic and inorganic materials related with highway construction are performed in this laboratory. The laboratory is divided into two main areas. The analytical chemistry area to characterize elemental and oxide composition of different samples, and the spectroscopy area to characterize, principally, the amorphous character and chemical composition of different paving materials and metals.

• Materials characterization laboratory (F-126). The mineralogy and microstructure of paving materials is studied in this third laboratory.

2.1 Apparatus and Analytical Equipment

The Chemistry Laboratories house a number of apparatus and equipment. The list of the most important apparatus and equipment for each laboratory is summarized below:

• Sample preparation laboratory (F-123). The laboratory is equipped with fume hoods, ovens, furnace, vacuum oven, centrifuge, Retch mill, manual pelletizing press, fuse beads preparation system, pH meter, particle size analyzer, inert gas glove box and water deionizer.

• Analytical chemistry and spectroscopy characterization laboratory (F-124). For elemental analysis the laboratory is equipped with handheld X-Ray Fluorescence spectrometer (XRF), Inductively Coupled Plasma Emission spectrometer (ICP), handheld FTIR and Glow Discharge Spectrometer.

• Materials characterization laboratory (F-126). The laboratory has an Environmental Scanning Electron microscope (ESEM) and X-ray diffractometer (XRD), vacuum sputter coater, Wavelength Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence spectrometer (WDXRF), FTIR and Raman spectrometers, and Thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA).

3 CHEMISTRY LABORATORY PERSONNEL

The personnel and contractors using the facilities in the Chemistry Laboratory and their responsibilities are outlined below.

Name Designation

Jose F Munoz Campos Federal Laboratory Manager

Chandni Balachandran Chemistry Laboratory Manager, Genex Systems

Anant Shastry Research Chemist, Genex Systems

Krishna C. Polavaram Research Chemist, Genex Systems

Freweini Zerai Lab Technician, Genex Systems

Vacant Lab Technician, Genex Systems

3.1 General Responsibilities

All personnel, including managers, researcher, technicians, and support staff are responsible for maintaining a safe work environment. This included staying informed on the chemicals in their work areas, safe work practices and standard operation procedures (SOP), wearing proper personal protective equipment (PPE) and being aware of proper waste disposal policies. All personnel MUST familiarize themselves with the appropriate MSDS BEFORE using any chemical.

3.2 Federal Laboratory Manager Responsibilities

The Federal Laboratory Manager (FLM) will be responsible for the overall management of the activities performed in the laboratory. More specifically, the Federal Laboratory Manager will be responsible for:

• Identifying hazardous conditions or operations in the laboratory and establish SOPs and hazard assessments to effectively control or reduce hazards.

• Establishing and implementing Laboratory information and training.

• Maintaining written records of lab-specific training.

• Conduct periodic laboratory inspections and immediately take steps to abate hazards that may pose a risk to life or safety upon discovery of such hazards.

• Designating a health and safety officer/coordinator for the laboratory.

The FLM may delegate some safety duties to a qualified individual, but ultimately remains responsible for the safety of all personnel working in the laboratory.

3.3 Laboratory Manager

The Laboratory Manager will be responsible for assisting the FLM in the management and implementation of the activities to conform to the HSP. More specifically, the Laboratory Manager will be responsible for:

• Assisting the FLM in the identification of hazardous conditions or operations in the laboratory and establish SOPs and hazard assessments to effectively control or reduce hazards.

• Providing to overall personnel involved in daily activities of the Laboratory with the corresponding safety information and training.

• Assisting the FLM to maintain written records of lab-specific training.

• Ensuring that appropriate PPE and safety equipment (e.g., chemical fume hood) are made available and being used properly.

3.4 Researcher and Lab Support Technician

All personnel, including Researcher and Lab Support Technician in laboratories that use, handle, or store hazardous chemicals must:

• Review and follow the requirements of the HSP.

• Follow all verbal and written laboratory safety rules, regulations, and SOPs required for the tasks assigned.

• Develop and practice good personal chemical hygiene habits such as keeping work areas clean and uncluttered.

• Plan, review, and understand the hazards of materials and processes in the laboratory prior to conducting work.

• Utilize appropriate measures to control hazards, including consistent and proper use of engineering controls, administrative controls, and PPE.

• Understand the capabilities and limitations of PPE.

• Immediately report all accidents, near misses, and unsafe conditions to the

Laboratory Manager and Infrastructure Materials Team Leader.

• Complete all required mandatory safety training and provide written documentation to the Laboratory Manager.

3.5 Non-Laboratory Personnel: Support and Maintenance Staff

Non-Laboratory Personnel in charge of support and maintenance tasks such as cleaning and equipment maintenance are expected to follow the posted safety rules of each laboratory. Minimum PPE requirements for Non-Laboratory Personnel working in a laboratory are safety glasses, long pants, closed-toe shoes and ear protection where appropriate. If additional PPE is required or if other unique safety requirements must be followed it is the lab personnel’s responsibility to notify support staff.

3.6 Laboratory Health and Safety Officer/Coordinator

The laboratory health and safety officer/coordinator will be responsible for updating and revising the laboratory health and safety plan, as necessary. The laboratory manager will ensure that the provisions of the HSP are being enforced. The safety coordinator will be responsible for maintaining HSP-related files for the lab. Files must include, but are not limited to:

• Tracking of chemical inventory;

• Laboratory accident reports;

• Master materials safety data sheets (MSDS) file for the chemicals in the laboratory;

• Correspondence related to laboratory safety matters; and

• Training records of laboratory personnel.

The safety coordinator must file incoming MSDSs in the laboratory. In the absence of a designated safety coordinator, the laboratory manager will assume the safety coordinator's duties.

4 STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES

4.1 General Rules

The following general laboratory safety rules should be followed at all times when working in the Chemistry Laboratories:

• Only authorized personnel can work in the Chemistry Laboratories. The FLM and the laboratory health and safety officer/coordinator are responsible to grant the corresponding authorization to work in the Chemistry Laboratory.

• SOP should be established for each piece of equipment in the Chemistry Lab complex.

• Do not work alone while doing laboratory work that may be hazardous. Working alone after hours in the chemistry laboratory is generally not allowed, unless the tasks being performed are of a nonhazardous nature, for instance use of electronic analytical equipment, although this is not encouraged and should only be on an exception basis with prior approval of the Laboratory Manager.

• Wear appropriate eye protection (safety glasses) always when working with chemicals. Appropriate laser safety glasses should be worn when working with lasers. This does not apply to the RS since the laser is disabled any time the door of the machine is opened. Disabling this safety feature of the Raman spectrometer is not allowed.

• All personnel involved with or working near equipment that utilizes x-rays, for example the scanning electron microscope, the XRF and the XRD need to take and keep updated the radiation safety training and wear their dosimeter badge while they are working in this environment.

• Although all our x-ray equipment meets very stringent safety standards, pregnant ladies are not encouraged to operate or spend time near such equipment. X-Ray dosimeter badges are provided for all laboratory personnel. They should be worn by all personnel who are either using or working near X-Ray equipment. The radiation safety officer is responsible for collection of the badges on a regular basis and for having them tested and replaced with fresh badges. The directions of the radiation safety officer should be followed.

• Do not eat in the laboratories. Designate refrigerators as “FOOD ALLOWED” or

“NO FOOD ALLOWED”.

• Do not use mouth suction for pipetting or for starting a siphon.

• Since F123 is the only laboratory in the Chemistry Lab complex that has fume extraction, the use of toxic and flammable chemicals in F124 and F126 is not allowed. The only exception is the small amount of solvent needed to clean the attenuated total reflectance (ATR) bridge on the FTIR spectrometer in F124. All wet chemistry should be confined to F123. Laboratory F124 is reserved exclusively for work with the analytical instruments. Wet chemical operations in laboratory F126, which houses the ESEM and XRD, should be restricted to preparing samples for those instruments.

• Perform all experiments that involve toxic, volatile, or malodorous materials in the fume hood. Asphalt Binder recovery using organic solvents and work involving hot asphalt can be performed in the open lab F123 provided that the extraction tubes are able to remove the vapors or odors. If you are able to smell the recovery solvent (toluene or trichloroethylene), then the operation should be transferred to a fume hood. Suitable steps should be taken to protect the white walls and floor of the fume hood from asphalt stains by the use of plastic film or silicone treated paper. The use of tetrahydrofuran as a binder recovery solvent is prohibited.

• Be familiar with the hazardous properties of the chemicals you will use. You MUST read the MSDS for the reagents you will be using before using them.

• Wear protective clothing and gloves that are not permeable to the chemicals being used. Confine long hair. When working with hot asphalt, a lab coat with long sleeves and protective gloves shall be worn. Latex gloves offer little protection against asphalt burns. Be sure to familiarize yourself with the safety procedures concerning the use of hot asphalt by reading the appropriate MSDS.

• Do not operate equipment or conduct a chemical reaction unless you have been instructed of its proper use or trained procedure.

• Keep the laboratory free of clutter. Never store chemicals on the floor.

• When using flammable solvents or corrosive chemicals keep only the minimum amount needed in the laboratory. These should be kept in the cabinets provided under the fume hood in F123. Larger quantities of these chemicals should be stored in the rooms at the end of the tunnel.

• When visiting the two Storage Rooms at the end of the tunnel, do not go alone.

Should there be an accident, there is no way to communicate with anyone in the building. Always take a buddy with you. Accessing these two rooms after hours, particularly at weekends when the building is unoccupied, is also forbidden. If you have an accident there is nobody around to help you.

• Dispose of chemical waste properly. Do not pour it down the drain or leave it in the fume hood to evaporate, no matter how small the quantity. Chemical waste is to be stored in appropriate containers as described in Section 8.6.

• Make sure that you know the location of all safety equipment such as fire extinguisher and eye wash before beginning laboratory work and be sure you know how to operate them. Know where the nearest fire alarm is located.

• Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water after working with hazardous materials.

• Protect the laboratory, as well as the laboratories and offices on floors below from floods by not plugging a sink and leaving water running unattended.

4.2 Overnight usage of laboratory equipment for experiments

4.2.1 Running Experiments Overnight

In general, experiments are planned in such a way as to avoid any procedure to run overnight. There are certain exceptions to this rule which are listed below. All instruments that are used in the experiments listed below must be under an annual maintenance service contract to ensure that they are under proper working condition to allow safe overnight operation without supervision.

• Collecting Large SEM-EDS Elemental Maps and Raman Imaging Maps:

o Large maps requiring more than 8 hours to acquire can be programmed to execute overnight. In the event of a power loss overnight, the only risk anticipated is the loss of data.

• XRD and XRF Analysis:

o The analysis of large number of samples that require more than 8 hours to be completed can be programmed to execute overnight. In the event of a power loss overnight, the only risk anticipated is the loss of data.

• Loss on Ignition Experiments:

o Loss on ignition experiments that use the muffle furnace may take more than 16 hours to execute. These experiments should be planned such that the muffle furnace can be turned on before 7am. This will ensure that, by the time the lab is closed at the end of the day, the oven temperature is lower than 500°C and the program is ramping down to a set temperature of 100°C. The extraction hood shall be left on during the entire time the muffle furnace is working.

5 PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE)

The purpose of PPE is to shield or isolate workers from chemical, physical and other hazards that may be encountered in the laboratory. The Laboratory Manager is required to provide PPE when necessary.

Hazard evaluation helps in determining which PPE is required for each laboratory task.

Criteria that will be used to determine and implement control measures to reduce employee exposure to hazardous chemicals, such as engineering controls, the use of PPE, and hygiene practices, is included in the SOP. PPE information can be obtained by reviewing the OSHA Personal Protective Equipment Standard, 29 CFR § 1910.132.

located in Appendix C.

http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=STANDARDS&p_id=9777&p_text_version=FALSE

5.1 Minimum PPE Requirements

The following PPE is required to be used while in the laboratory includes, but may not necessarily be limited to:

• Safety goggles or face shield.

• Hearing protection when needed.

• Laboratory coats, aprons, or other suitable clothing (shirt and long pants).

• Closed-toe shoes.

• Use a tip-resistant shoes for protection whenever a risk exists for an experiment or implosion.

• Appropriate gloves.

• Approved respirators in the absence of adequate ventilation, e.g., glove boxes or fume hoods

5.2 Eye Protection

Appropriate eye protection must be worn when working with chemicals. Avoid use of contact lenses in the laboratory. If you wear contact lenses, notify the Laboratory Manager and always wear chemical splash goggles or face shield. Also wear a face shield when working with a corrosive liquid or extremely reactive chemical (>10 mL).

Eye protection worn when working with chemicals should meet the requirements of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Z87.1. ANSI Z87.1 is a standard for eye protection that requires glasses to withstand the impact of a quarter inch steel ball traveling 150 feet per second. Shields 2.4mm Ballistic MIL models meet this stringent "bulletproof" eye protection standard as well as the Military G43914 standard for sun, wind and dust.

5.3 Apparel

5.3.1 Clothing

Open-toe shoes, sandals, shorts, or any other apparel that leaves skin exposed and unprotected should not be worn in the laboratory. All loose clothing should be confined to avoid easily catching fire or dipping into chemicals.

5.3.2 Jewelry

Jewelry should be worn in such ways that they are not collecting chemicals, contacting electrical sources, catching on laboratory equipment, and/or no damage to the jewelry.

5.3.3 Hair

Long hair should be tied back or confined to avoid easily catching fire, dipping into chemicals or becoming entangled in operating equipment.

5.3.4 Laboratory Coats

Laboratory coats should be worn whenever there is a danger of contaminating the skin or clothing. Clothing made from chemical-protective fabrics should be used as needed.

Contaminated personal clothing may spread hazards to family and friends, as well as contaminated public areas such as doors, hallways, elevators and food services.

Laboratory coats should be removed before leaving the laboratory. Contaminated laboratory coats should be washed through industrial laundry service if necessary and contaminated personal clothing should be washed separately.

5.4 Gloves

Gloves should be worn when working with chemicals, rough or sharp-edged objects or very hot or cold materials. Glove selection should be based on the material being handled, the particular hazard involved, and their suitability for the procedures being conducted (such as whether the glove provides appropriate dexterity for the procedures).

The MSDS can be used in selecting gloves for a chemical. Gloves should be made of material known to be resistant to permeation by the chemical.

Remove gloves before leaving the laboratory. Latex gloves provide very little thermal protection from hot chemicals and in particular hot asphalt. Use appropriately insulating gloves when working with heated materials. If you do get hot asphalt on your skin immediately immerse it in cold water to take out the heat as rapidly as possible. Do not try and peel the asphalt from your skin. Leave it and it will fall off naturally.

5.5 Respirators

Respirators should not be needed in a normal laboratory setting. However, if you suspect laboratory airborne hazardous chemical concentration is near permissible exposure limit (PEL), threshold limit value (TLV) or action limit, employees should wear a respirator.

5.6 Head Protection

If there is a serious risk of chemical splash to the head, a chemical-resistant hoodie must be worn. Each affected employee must wear protective helmets when working in areas where there is a potential for injury to the head from falling objects or “bump” hazards.

6 LABORATORY SAFETY EQUIPMENT

The objective of the laboratory safety equipment is to reduce to the greatest extent the exposure to hazardous chemical when working in the chemical laboratories.

6.1 Extraction Hoods and Fume Hoods

Extraction and fume hoods are local ventilation installations that are designed to limit exposure to hazardous or toxic fumes, vapors, or dusts. To determine if a chemical is required to be used inside of a chemical fume hood, first check the MSDS for that chemical.

Laboratory procedures must be conducted using adequate ventilation or other engineering controls such as extraction hoods, fume hoods and safety cabinets. All laboratory extraction hoods, fume hoods and special ventilation areas must perform to measurable efficiencies. Laboratory work conducted where general room ventilation is inadequate, is prohibited.

Fume hoods should be monitored by measurement of face velocity and other appropriate functions. The fume hoods in F123 have their own monitoring alarms which will sound in the air velocity drops below specified limits. Laboratory personnel must conduct daily fume hood monitoring. Daily monitoring is accomplished by noting, before working in a hood, that airflow is evident. The hood above the ovens in F123 is not a fume hood. It is designed to remove the heat from the ovens situated beneath. This hood does not have sufficient velocity for fume extraction and should not be used as such.

Aside from the daily operator check of airflow, employees must check hoods to ensure that exhaust slots, pressure alarms, and other features are set properly and are in good working order. Operators must report all problems with fume hoods to the laboratory manager immediately. All levels of supervision are involved in hood maintenance, including:

• Proper daily check for airflow and inspection for housekeeping and hood overload;

• Periodic testing of each hood for adequate face velocity; and

• Contacting Facilities Management for fume hood repair when face velocity is less than 80 feet per minute (FPM) or greater than 120 FPM or when daily airflow check shows an obvious drop.

6.2 Eyewashes and Safety Showers

All laboratories in which quantities of hazardous chemicals are handled and could contact the eyes or skin resulting in injury should have access to eyewash stations and safety showers. There are two eyewash stations in F123 which also function as safety showers.

All lab personnel must be aware of the location and know how to properly use the safety shower and eyewash stations. F124 and F126 do not contain safety showers and the use of hazardous chemicals in these rooms is prohibited for this reason. As with any safety equipment, these can only be useful if they are accessible, therefore:

• Keep all passageways to the eyewash and shower clear of any obstacle (including moveable items);

• Eyewashes should be checked at least once in a month to ensure adequate water flow;

• Showers should be checked at least once in a month to assure that access is not restricted.

• The flow through the safety showers should be tested periodically to ensure sufficient flow.

6.3 Fire Safety Equipment

Fire safety equipment must be easily accessible to the laboratory and include a fire extinguisher (type ABC) available within 50 feet, and may include fire blanket or automatic extinguishing systems. Fire extinguishing systems should be inspected at least once in a year.

6.4 First Aid

First aid kit must be available in the laboratory and it should include at least the minimum supplies listed below.

• Bandages

• Gause pads

• Towelettes

• Antibiotic ointments

• Hydrocortisone cream

• Burn gel

• Iodine swab sticks

• Cold pad disposable

• Scissors

• Gloves

• Splinter forceps (tweezers)

• Adhesive tapes

Also there is a first aid room with limited medical supplies in the Turner Building, Room T-103. The key to the room is available in Room T-106, facility management. The list of employees with first aid training can be obtained from Brian Kerr, the Facility Manager in Room T-106.

6.5 Spill Kits

Kits for minor spills should be available in the laboratory. Major hazmat cleanup should be handled by professionals. The spill kit should contain at least the items listed below:

• Booms

• Pads

• Socks

• Disposal bags

• Nitrile gloves

• Pairs of goggles

• Neutralizer

7 SAFETY AND HEALTH RISK ANALYSIS

A safety and risk analysis is a review of the procedures used by a laboratory to anticipate all hazards to personnel and property and to define control methods to prevent exposures.

The review is a step-by-step analysis of the procedures, evaluating each for potential hazards to personnel, property and the environment, and determining the risks. Risks can be managed, but the decision to continue with the particular procedure must be justified by the researcher in consultation with the laboratory manager. This analysis should include the following:

• Chemical and Laboratory Use Evaluation.

• Personal Protective Equipment.

• Pollution Prevention Analysis.

• Prior Approval of Use of Equipment and Chemicals.

7.1 Chemical and Laboratory Use Evaluation

Laboratory activities that need chemical and laboratory use evaluations include research laboratories such as TFHRC should complete a chemical and laboratory use evaluation.

This evaluation is a general description of the function of the laboratory that identifies the hazards, risk management procedures, and the pollution prevention/waste minimization goals. A general description of the protocols for using the laboratory includes:

• Familiarity with standard operating procedures;

• Develop a list of all reagents stored and used, including maximum volumes and concentrations.

• Ascertain MSDS information availability;

• Develop pollution prevention/waste minimization analysis;

• Develop hazards analysis with hazard management techniques; and

• Determine expected method(s) of chemical waste disposal.

7.2 Chemicals Hazards

Known chemicals of primary concern present in the Chemistry Laboratories include asphalt, toluene, acetone, hexane, heptane, chloroform and trichloroethylene. Hazardous gases may include acetylene and hydrogen (fire and explosion risk), nitrous oxide (anesthetic agent), liquid nitrogen and liquid argon (intense cold, suffocation and skin burns risk). Personnel should familiarize themselves with the appropriate MSDS before using any chemical.

Before igniting any flame or using any electric heating device personnel should check that there are no inflammable solvents being used in the vicinity.

7.3 Physical Hazards

In addition to the hazardous substances and conditions potentially present in the laboratory, other physical hazards or hazardous conditions may be expected in the laboratory during use. These hazards include possible risks from injury such as fire or explosion, slip, trip and fall hazards, broken glasses, and electrical hazards, knocking over or otherwise breaking chemicals and equipment.

7.3.1 Slip, Trip, and Fall Hazards

The laboratory may pose a number of slip, trip, and fall hazards such as:

• Slippery floor;

• Wires and electrical cords running across the floor/aisle areas;

• Falling objects due to improperly stored equipment and materials.

7.3.2 Electrical Hazards

Some of the equipment used in the laboratory is operated by electricity. Maintenance and day- to- day activities require personnel to handle and control this equipment. Unless safe work practices are strictly observed, serious injury can result. General rules for recognizing electrical safety are provided below:

• Only authorized and qualified personnel will perform electrical installations or repairs.

• All electrical wires and circuits will be assumed to be “live” unless it is absolutely certain they are not.

• Electrical control panels will not be opened unless the job requires it and then only by a qualified electrician.

• All power tools will have insulated handles, be electrically grounded or be double insulated.

• Wires and extension cords will be placed or arranged so as to not pose a tripping hazard.

• Conductors such as metal tapes will not be used around electrical equipment.

• Proper storage of combustible materials away from electrical circuits and switches.

7.3.3 Fire Hazards

No chemical reactions should be conducted overnight unless an automatic power shut-off unit is installed with the reaction vessel in case water flow stops.

8 CHEMICAL HYGIENE PLAN REQUIREMENTS

Provisions of the laboratory chemical hygiene plan (CHP) are outlined in the following sections. Access to the written CHP must be available to all employees working in the Chemistry Laboratory. A copy of the CHP should be located in the work area.

8.1 Check-in/Check-out (Tracking of Chemicals Movement)

A check-in/check-out procedures should be established in order to ensure that chemicals, hazardous waste, and other materials are not left anywhere in the laboratory. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires that all chemicals not in use are properly identified and that waste is disposed of correctly. The check-in/check-out procedures must include the following:

• All chemicals, including hazardous waste, must be identified and properly labeled;

• All containers of hazardous waste, including out of date and/or unusable chemicals, must be disposed of properly;

• Extraneous (excess supply) chemicals should be transferred to storage facility.

• All refrigerators fume hoods and cabinets should be kept cleaned.

8.2 Chemical Inventories

Identification of all chemicals, including non-hazardous items, in the laboratory is required. A chemical inventory for the laboratory must be prepared and include a complete inventory of the chemicals used or stored in the work area or laboratory, including compressed gas cylinders. The inventory requires an alphabetized list of the complete International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) names or acceptable trade names for each chemical (abbreviations are unacceptable). Included with each chemical name are the quantity stored, the manufacturer, and the storage location in the work area. Optional items in this inventory could include hazard class or rating, normality or concentration, and an indication if the MSDS is available in the laboratory.

8.3 Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)

It is important that all lab employees have access to SDS for all hazardous chemicals that are stored in the lab. A three-ring binder must be clearly and boldly labeled with the acronym MSDS, and contain the MSDSs for all chemicals included on the inventory.

The binder is to include a copy of the current inventory and the MSDSs, arranged alphabetically. An electronic copy of all MSDS have been placed on the R drive for ready access by all, including the Facility Manager (Brian Kerr).

8.4 Chemical Labeling Requirements

Every chemical container present in the laboratory, whether hazardous or not, must be properly labeled. All secondary chemical containers (e.g., wash bottles, beakers, flasks, sample vials, etc.) must also be properly labeled.

Most chemicals come with a manufacturer label that contains all of the necessary information, so care should be taken to not damage or remove these labels. It is recommended that each bottle also be dated when received and when opened to assist in determining which chemicals are expired and require proper disposal.

8.5 Chemical Segregation

All chemicals must be stored according to chemical compatibility. Once segregated by chemical compatibility, they can then be stored alphabetically. Table 1 summarized the criteria followed for chemical storage. Hazard classes marked by an X need to be segregated from each other

Table 1: Incompatibilities by Hazard Class

Acids, inorgan ic

Acids, oxidizi ng

Acids, organi c

Alkali s

(bases

Oxidize rs

Poisons, inorgan ic

Poison s, organi c

Water-reactiv es

Organ ic solvent s

Acids, inorgan ic X X X X X X http://www.fm.asu.edu/Risk/related.htm#Material%20Safety%20Data%20Sheets%20(MSDS)

Acids, oxidizin g X X X X X X

Acids, organic X X X X X X X

Alkalis (bases) X X X X X X

Oxidize rs

X X X X

Poisons, inorgan ic X X X X X X

Poisons, organic X X X X X X

Water-reactive s X X X X X X

Organic solvents X X X X X

8.6 Chemical Storage Requirements

All the chemicals should be properly stored. Three rooms, F-123, F-120 and Storage Room 1 in the tunnel, have specific chemical storage areas (CSA). The F-123 room has a total of 3 CSA to store chemicals that are used often in the daily operation of the lab. The exact location of each of these CSAs is illustrated in Figure A.1 (Appendix A):

• CSA-1. Wall-mounted cabinet to store solid chemicals. The wall mounted cabinet has three shelves to segregate the chemicals according to Table 1.

• CSA-2. Cabinet designed to store flammable liquids.

• CSA-3. Cabinet designed to store acids.

The F-123 room has a total of 2 CSA to store solid chemicals that are not used in daily operations in the Chemistry Laboratory. The chemicals are segregated in the wall-shelfs designated as CSA according to the criterions in Table 1. The location of these two CSAs is shown in Figure A.3 (Appendix A).

The Storage Room 1 in the Tunnel has a total of 2 CSA to store larger quantities of solid and liquid chemicals. The chemicals are segregated according to the criterions in Table

1. The location of these two CSAs is shown in Figure A.4 (Appendix A).

• CSA-1. Wall-self to store liquid chemicals.

• CSA-2. Wall-self to store solid chemicals.

8.7 Nanoparticles Safety

8.7.1 Introduction

Nanoparticles are defined as those particles that have at least one dimension (e.g., length, width, height or diameter) that is less than 100 nanometers. A nanometer (nm) is 1 x 10-9 meters or one millionth of a millimeter.

Common nanoparticles used in the Chemistry Laboratory are metallic oxide nanoparticles (silica, alumina, aluminosilicates, titanium dioxide). These nanoparticles may be used in different forms: suspended in a liquid (nanosol and nanocolloid) or as dry powder.

8.7.2 Exposure Routes

The primary routes of exposure for nanoparticles are inhalation, ingestion and dermal absorption. The form of the nanoparticles or nanomaterial will play a large role in the exposure potential. For example, a nanoparticle in powdered form will present a larger inhalation hazard potential than a nanoparticle in suspension.

The most common route of exposure to nanoparticles is through inhalation. Discrete nanoparticles are deposited in the lungs to a greater extent than larger respirable particles.

Deposition increases with exertion (due to an increase in breathing rate and change from nasal to mouth breathing). It also increases among persons with existing lung diseases or conditions.

Ingestion is another route whereby nanoparticles may enter the body. Ingestion can occur from unintentional hand-to-mouth transfer of materials. Ingestion may also accompany inhalation exposure. Finally, it is possible that nanoparticles may enter the body through the skin during exposure.

8.7.3 Generals Rules

Adhering the following general rules can help to minimize exposure to nanoparticles.

• Only authorized personnel are allowed to work with nanoparticles. The FLM and the laboratory health and safety officer/coordinator are responsible to grant the corresponding authorization to work with nanoparticles in the Chemistry Laboratory.

• Production or manipulation of nanoparticles must be conducted under chemical fume hood in room F-123.

• It is mandatory to wear gloves when working with nanoparticles. Nitrile or rubber gloves may provide adequate protection. Wearing of two sets of gloves is advised whenever performing tasks involving nanoparticles. It is recommended to thoroughly wash hands with soap and water before and immediately upon removal of gloves.

• It is mandatory to wear eye protection when working with nanoparticles. Office of Environmental Health and Safety (OEHS) recommends wearing a full-face shield when conducting tasks posing potential for any generation of aerosol or droplets.

• Laboratory coats that provide complete coverage of skin must be worn when working with nanoparticles. Clothing contaminated with nanoparticles should be removed immediately. Contaminated clothing should be disposed of as hazardous waste.

• If engineering controls are not adequate or are not available, and a potential aerosol exposure exists, respiratory protection is required. The following types of respirators are consider adequate:

o Elastomeric half- or full-facepiece with N-100, R-100, or P-100 filters.

o Powered air-purifying respirator with N-100, R-100, or P-100 filters.

• Work area should be cleaned before and after working with nanoparticles using wet wiping methods. Dry sweeping should not be used to clean.

• The disposal of all waste materials should comply with Section 9.3.

8.8 Compressed Gas Cylinder Safety

These are important safety requirements for use of compressed gases in the Chemistry Laboratories:

• Ensure that you have the correct regulator for the gas cylinder you are using.

• Gas cylinder connections and fittings must be inspected frequently for deterioration.

• Never use a leaking, corroded, or damaged cylinder and never refill a compressed gas cylinder.

• When stopping a leak between the cylinder and regulator, always close the valve before tightening the union nut.

• The regulator must be replaced with a safety cap when the cylinder is not in use.

• The safety cap must be in place when a gas cylinder is moved. For large gas cylinders (>27 inches tall), an approved gas cylinder cart should be used to move it.

• The cylinder must be strapped to the cart and the protective cap must be in place before moving the cylinder. A cylinder should never be moved or transported without the protective cap.

• Never dispense from a cylinder if it is on a gas cylinder cart.

8.9 Cryogenic Liquids Safety

A cryogenic liquid is defined as a liquid with a normal boiling point below -150 °C (-240 °F). The most common cryogenic liquids used in the Chemistry Laboratory are liquid nitrogen and argon. By definition, all cryogenic liquids are extremely cold. Cryogenic liquids and their vapors can rapidly freeze human tissue and can also pose an asphyxiation hazard if handled in confined spaces. The following precautions should be taken when handling cryogenic liquids:

• Use and store cryogenic liquids in well ventilated areas only.

• Wear appropriate PPE while handling cryogenic liquids. Proper PPE for handling cryogenic liquids includes chemical splash goggles, a face shield, cryogenic-safe gloves, long sleeves, long pants, and closed-toe shoes.

• Cryogenic liquids will vent (boil off) from their storage containers as part of normal operation. Containers are typically of a vacuum jacketed design to minimize heat loss. Excessive venting and/or an isolated ice build-up on the vessel walls may indicate a fault in the vessel’s integrity or a problem in the process line. A leaky container should be removed from service and taken to a safe, well-ventilated area immediately.

• All systems components piping, valves, etc., must be designed to withstand extreme temperatures.

• Pressure relief valves must be in place in systems and piping to prevent pressure build up. Any system section that could be valved off while containing cryogenic liquid must have a pressure relief valve. The pressure relief valve relief ports must be positioned to face toward a safe location.

• Transfer operations involving open cryogenic containers, such as Dewars must be done slowly, while wearing all required PPE. Care must be taken not to contact non-insulated pipes and system components.

• Open transfers will be allowed only in well-ventilated areas.

• Do not use a funnel while transferring cryogenic liquids.

• Use tongs or other similar devices to immerse and remove objects from cryogenic liquids; never immerse any part of your body into a cryogenic liquid.

• Transportation of cryogenic liquid cylinders should always be carried out by two people who have undergone the safety training for compressed gas cylinder safety and handling. Transportation shall be done using a cryogenic tank gas cylinder dolly of appropriate size.

8.10 Transportation of Chemicals

Transporting small volumes of chemicals (equal or lower than 2 gallons) under the right conditions across Chemistry Laboratories via foot is acceptable. The following procedures must be followed when moving chemicals by way of foot:

• Appropriate PPE must be worn when transporting chemicals.

• Commercially available bottle carrier made of rubber, metal, or plastic with carrying handle(s) which is large enough to hold the contents of the container if broken in transit must be used.

• Use the elevator while transporting chemicals.

9 HAZARDOUS WASTE MANAGEMENT

9.1 Waste Identification and Labeling

All chemical constituents in a hazardous waste container must be identified by knowledgeable laboratory personnel. If there is uncertainty about the composition of a waste stream resulting from an experimental process, laboratory employees must consult the Laboratory Manager for assistance.

All waste should be properly labeled as soon the first drop of waste enters a waste container. Containers must be labeled and clearly marked with words that describe the contents of the waste and the words "Waste". Listing accurate percentages is not as important (+ 5% is acceptable and constituents less than 1% can be listed as “trace”) as listing all of the chemicals that makeup the waste. If a chemical is found in the laboratory and the composition is unknown, it should be assumed to be hazardous and labeled as “Waste – awaiting proper characterization”.

9.2 Waste Storage Requirements

All waste materials generated in the Chemistry Laboratory will be stored in designated storage areas in the cabinets of Chemistry Laboratory room F-123 until they reach a critical volume following which they will be moved to the waste accumulation areas (WAA) in the tunnel. The following items shall always be followed while managing wastes in the laboratory:

• The designated waste areas (WAA 1 to 3) in the cabinets in F-123 are indicated in Fig A.1 (Appendix A).

• All waste must be stored in either 4L or 1L Amber glass bottles with clearly written labels. See Fig A.2 (Appendix A).

• The glass bottles must be stored within a 19L HDPE Secondary Containment box.

See Fig A.2 (Appendix A).

• The maximum storage capacity for the cabinets in F-123 is 8L/ per secondary containment box. Each waste area is limited to 2 Secondary Containment boxes.

• Containers should be segregated by chemical compatibility during storage (e.g., acids away from base) according to the criterions in Table 1.

• Avoid mixing incompatible waste streams in the same container (e.g., acids with bases, oxidizers with organic solvents) that will potentially create an exothermic reaction in the waste container. If mixing waste streams does create heat, allow the container to vent and cool in a chemical fume hood before sealing to avoid over pressurization of the container.

• All spills and leaks shall be cleaned up immediately.

• Once the waste in any of the WAA reaches the critical volume of 8L/ Secondary Containment box, the waste bottles shall be moved to the corresponding WAA in Storage Rooms 1 and 2 in the tunnel (Refer to Fig A.4 and A.5 in Appendix A).

The waste will be segregated according to the criteria in Table 1.

• The protocol described in Section 8.10 should be followed while transporting waste bottles from F-123 to the Storage Rooms in the tunnel.

9.3 Waste Disposal Procedures

In order to assure that minimal harm is done to people, other organisms and the environment from the disposal of waste laboratory chemicals, indiscriminate disposal by pouring them down the drain or adding them to mixed refuse for landfill burial is unacceptable. The following procedures should be followed in disposing of waste chemicals:

• Whenever possible, spent solvents shall be recovered and recycled by distillation or chromatographic purification for reuse. Recovered solvents from binder extractions may be reused. All other spent solvents should be transferred to the WAA in Storage Rooms 1 and 2.

• Aqueous solutions of acids and bases shall be neutralized before flushing down the drain with large volumes of water. This only applies to waste from the ICP spectrometer. The solutions are very dilute and do not contain any heavy metals.

Mostly they are solutions of sodium and potassium salts.

• Solutions containing toxic heavy metals such as mercury, lead, chromium, silver, etc. shall be precipitated and the metal recovered in solid form for subsequent disposal as a solid waste.

• Fume hoods shall not be used as a means of disposal of volatile chemicals.

• Liquid organic wastes shall be emptied into labeled plastic containers kept in vented metal cabinets in each laboratory. Waste containers should be labeled hydrocarbons, water soluble, chlorinated solvents, "polar", meaning alcohols, acids, amines and other compounds capable of forming…