CHEM Safety Manual
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Department of Chemistry Safety Manual October 2018 Safety Committee Department of Chemistry Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Table of Contents 1.0 Introduction 2.0 Safety Policy and Responsibility for Safety 2.1 Department Head 2.2 Department of Chemistry Safety Committee 2.3 Laboratory Supervisors 2.4 Researchers 2.5 HSEO 3.0 Information, Training, Safety Clearance, and Safety Clearance at Termination 3.1 Initial Training 3.2 Information on Hazardous Substances 3.3 Additional Safety Information 3.4 Safety Clearance at Termination 4.0 Personal Protective Equipment and Safety Engineering Controls 4.1 Eye Protection 4.2 Protective Apparel 4.3 Respirators 4.4 Laboratory Fume Cupboards 4.5 Fire Extinguishers, Safety Showers, and Eyewash Facilities 5.0 Standard Operating Procedures for Work with Hazardous Substances 5.1 Classes of Hazardous Substances 5.2 General Procedures for Work with Toxic Substances 5.3 General Procedures for Work with Flammable and Explosive Substances 6.0 Procedures for Work with Particularly Hazardous Substances 6.1 Identification and Classification of Particularly Hazardous Substances 6.2 Designated Areas 6.3 General Procedures for Work with Substances of Moderate to High Chronic or High Acute Toxicity 6.4 Additional Procedures for Work with Substances of Known High Chronic Toxicity 6.5 Specific Handling Procedures for Some Common Particularly Hazardous Substances 7.0 Proper Planning of Laboratory Work 7.1 Recognition and Assessment 7.2 Planning for the Unexpected: What Could Go Wrong? 7.3 Site Selection 7.4 Lab Self-Inspection 7.5 General Guidelines for Performing Large Scale Reactions i 7.6 Operational Safety Procedures ii 8.0 Prior Approval Requirements 8.1 Restricted Chemicals Requiring Prior Approval 8.2 Pre-Start Up Inspection 9.0 Laser Safety 9.1 Introduction 9.2 Laser Classification 9.3 Registration of Laser Equipment 9.4 Registration of Personnel Working with Class IIIa, IIIb, or IV Lasers 9.5 Procedures for the Safe Operation of Laser Equipment 9.6 Procedures to Prevent Electric Shock when Working with Lasers 10.0 Medical Surveillance 11.0 Biological and Radiation Safety 12.0 Hazardous Waste Management 12.1 Procedures for Disposal of Liquid Chemical Waste at HKUST 12.2 Specific Procedures for Neutralization of Some Common Reactive and/or Extremely Toxic Chemicals 12.3 Procedure for Disposal of Unwanted Chemicals and/or Hazardous Materials: The Labpack Scheme 12.4 Procedure for Disposal of Waste Silica Gel/Alumina 12.5 Procedure for Disposal of Used Gloves, Tissue Paper etc. 12.6 Storage and Labeling of Hazardous Waste Containers 13.0 Emergency Procedures 13.1 Hazardous Materials Spill 13.2 Injury 13.3 Fire 14.0 Safe Use of Equipment and Apparatus 14.1 Refrigerators 14.2 Sealed Tube Reactions 14.3 Compressed Gases 14.4 Glassware 14.5 Mechanical Equipment 14.6 Electrical Equipment Appendix I Safety Clearance Form Appendix II HKUST Student Safety Clearance at Graduation Form Appendix III HKUST Staff Safety Clearance at Termination Form Appendix IV Safety Self-Quiz Questions iii Appendix V Schedule of Substances and Chemicals Appendix VI Chemical Waste Log Sheet Appendix VII Explosives Appendix VIII Water Reactive Substances INDEX This safety manual is written in English. It is your responsibility to ensure that you understand completely the meaning and portent of what is described herein. Further, you must ensure that you understand spoken commands issued in English as these pertain to safety issues, particularly with regard to any emergency procedure. HKUST policy requires that all personnel, including visitors, wear eye protection at all times while in Chemistry Department experimental laboratories. Not to do so may incur disciplinary action. Eye protection is discussed in detail in Chapter 4.1 of this Safety Manual. Whenever chemical waste is added to a chemical waste container, immediately enter the information of the new waste to the chemical waste log sheet attached to the container. Whenever equipment or apparatus is to be used, irrespective of its complexity, it is your responsibility to ensure that you understand fully its operation, and all emergency procedures in the event of equipment failure. An equipment malfunction due to improper use arising as a result of lack of knowledge of the equipment, or carelessness, amounts to academic misconduct, and will be treated as such. This also applies if there is a fire, flood or other incident arising as a result of improper use of equipment. iv List of Tables Table Description Chapter I Glove Selection Table 4.2 II Listing of Carcinogenic Compounds by Reactivity or Functional 5.1.1 Group III Partial Listing of Reproductive Toxins 5.1.2 IV OSHA Toxicity Definition 5.1.5 V HMIS Rating Criteria for Acute Toxicity 5.1.5 VI Chemical Groups that Characterize Explosive Compounds 5.1.8 VII Flash Points of Common Solvents 5.3 VIII Peroxidizable Functional Groups 5.3.2 IX Examples of Incompatible Chemicals 5.3.4 X Partial List of Select Carcinogens in Alphabetical Order 6.1.1 XI Partial List of Compounds with a Highly Degree of Acute Toxicity 6.1.3 v 1.0 Introduction Preamble The Occupational Health and Safety Ordinance (OHSO) passed by the Hong Kong Government in 1997 stresses the importance of a safety management programme which integrates all aspects of work place safety with line management and responsibility of individuals engaged in any operation involving chemicals, machinery, or energy source. According to the University Health, Safety and Environment Office (HSEO), effective department safety management incorporates the following elements: 1. Accountability: Department heads are accountable for the safety performance of their staff and employees and for the safe conduct of tasks in the department. HSEO provides assistance to help departments in achieving this goal. 2. Clear statement of safety policy and procedures: Each department must have a safety policy in line with the University's general safety policy, and which contains procedures which address operations specific to the department. 3. Departmental Safety Officer: The department must have a faculty member as the Safety Officer for the department. The appointee carries the department head's authority in implementing safety. Other faculty members, technical staff and student members assist the Safety Officer in implementing safety measures. 4. Departmental Safety Committee The department must have a safety committee to address safety issues within the department, to monitor safety performance including performing safety inspections and to assist HSEO with the formulation of safety policies within the department. In conjunction with HSEO, this Committee must review accident statistics and take the appropriate corrective actions. 5. Safety Performance Evaluation Safety is emphasized as an integral part of any job. It is as important to do a job correctly as to do it safely. Employees are held accountable to follow safety procedures in doing the job. As part of an employee's performance appraisal, safety compliance needs to be one of the elements to be considered. 6. Responsibility of Faculty Members in Ensuring Safety Safety is a line responsibility. Faculty members are responsible for ensuring that their employees and students are aware of the potential hazards associated with their operations. They and the personnel under their supervision must be familiar with the required safety controls and emergency procedures. 7. Responsibility of Faculty Members in Ensuring Job Specific Safety Training While HSEO provides a number of general safety courses, supervisors are responsible for adopting guidelines stated in HSEO's general safety courses, to address specific operations in their own laboratories. This on-the-job training should include specific methods for handling specific hazardous agents used in the particular laboratory as well as the specific emergency response procedures appropriate for that laboratory. Supervisors are responsible for conducting job-specific safety training. 1-1 8. Regular Laboratory Inspections Safety inspections should be conducted as a joint effort involving all personnel for promotion and safety assurance. Supervisors are required to perform periodic safety inspections of their own laboratories to monitor for compliance with established safety procedures. In addition, the departmental Safety Committee and HSEO conduct announced and unannounced safety inspections of laboratories to provide feedback to management on safety performance. 9. The Provision for Work Stoppage in Case of Doubt Employees and students are required to consult their supervisors if they feel unsure of the operation. Supervisors should monitor the performance of students and employees and take positive action including stopping work, where necessary, when hazardous situations are spotted. HSEO has the authority to stop operation when any imminently dangerous situation is observed or when repeated safety violations occur. 10. Departmental Liaison and Cooperation with HSEO HSEO holds regular meetings with department heads to evaluate safety performance, compliance issues, accident data and inspection findings. HSEO provides consultation and services to help faculty members in implementing safety measures. These services include facility and operational planning, laboratory inspections and audits, general safety training, exposure assessment, medical surveillance, etc. Departmental management must co-operate with HSEO in addressing safety concerns. The Department of Chemistry Safety