Laboratory Safety Manual THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN OFFICE OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND SAFETY NOVEMBER 1996 Note To Users Of This Laboratory Safety Manual The Office of Environmental Health and Safety (OEHS) Hazardous Materials Division has prepared this manual to ensure safe practices in laboratories. The health and safety policy of The University is to take every reasonable precaution to protect the health and safety of faculty, staff, students, and the public. Mandatory safety standards, as interpreted by the requirements and policies stated in this manual and its supplements apply to faculty, staff, researchers, and students engaged in laboratory operations utilizing chemical products and in performing common laboratory procedures. This manual includes information concerning safe laboratory practices, the use of personal protective equipment, emergency procedures, use and storage of chemicals, and the proper methods of waste disposal. This manual covers safety practices for labs in the biological sciences, incorporating a full description of the various biosafety levels and procedures unique to each. This manual also covers hazard communication and incident response. This information is intended to help those in the laboratory to minimize hazards to themselves and their colleagues. In view of the wide variety of chemical products handled in laboratories, it should not be assumed that the precautions and requirements stated in this manual are all-inclusive. Faculty, researchers, and students are expected to learn about the hazards of chemical products before handling them. It is expected that the local departmental Chemical Hygiene Officers and Principal Investigators will append to this manual any supplementary information pertinent to their specific areas. Throughout this manual the terms “employee”, “laboratory worker”, and “laboratory personnel” are used interchangeably and are intended to include students working in a laboratory, unless the context indicates otherwise. Please contact the OEHS Hazardous Materials Division at 471-3511 for more information or for assistance. TABLE OF CONTENTS A. Responsibilities 1 Office of Environmental Health and Safety 1 Physical Plant and Utilities 2 Dean 2 Department Chairs and Directors 2 Chemical Hygiene Officer 2 Principal Investigators and Laboratory Supervisors 3 Employees 4 B. Emergency Procedures 6 1. Primary Emergency Procedures for Fires, Spills and Accidents 6 2. Special Procedures for Radioactive Hazards 7 3. Special Procedures for Biological Hazards 8 4. Building Evacuation Procedures 9 C. Fundamentals of Laboratory Safety 10 1. Procurement, Distribution, and Storage 10 a. Procurement 10 b. Stockrooms/Storerooms 10 c. Distribution 10 d. Laboratory Storage 10 2. Storage Cabinets 11 3. Personal Protective Clothing and Equipment 12 4. Signs and Labels 13 5. Records 13 6. Medical Program 14 a. Procedures for Authorizing Medical Treatment 14 b. Physician’s Written Opinion 15 c. First Aid 15 7. Information and Training Program 15 a. Hazard Communication Act Training 17 b. Laboratory Safety Training 17 c. Fire Extinguisher Training 17 d. Waste Management Training 18 e. Bloodborne Pathogens and Biosafety Training 18 8. Chemical Waste Disposal Program 18 a. Chemical Waste Containers 19 b. Accumulation of Chemical Waste 19 c. Labeling Containers for Pick Up by OEHS 20 d. Submitting Requests for Disposal of Chemical 20 Waste to OEHS 9. Inspections 20 10. Consequences of Non-Compliance 20 D. Basic Rules and Procedures for Working with 22 Chemicals 1. General Rules 22 a. Laboratory Protocol 22 b. Accidents and Spills 23 c. Avoidance of “Routine” Exposure 23 d. Choice of Chemicals 23 e. Eating, Smoking, etc. 23 f. Equipment and Glassware 23 g. Personal Protection 27 h. Planning 28 i. Unattended Operations 28 j. Use of Hood 28 k. Storage of Chemicals in the Lab 29 2. Working with Allergens 29 3. Working with Embryotoxins 30 4. Working with Chemicals of Moderate Chronic or High Acute Toxicity 31 5. Working with Substances of High Chronic Toxicity 34 E. Safety Procedures for Specific Classes of Hazardous Materials 37 1. Flammable Solvents 37 a. Terms and Definitions 37 b. Examples of Flammable Liquids 38 c. Use and Storage of Flammables 38 d. Health Hazards Associated with Flammables 39 e. First Aid Procedures for Exposures to Flammable Materials 39 f. Personal Protective Equipment 40 2. Oxidizers 40 a. General Characteristics 40 b. Examples of Common Oxidizers 40 c. Use and Storage of Oxidizers 40 d. Use and Storage of Perchloric Acid 40 e. Health Hazards Associated with Oxidizers 41 f. First Aid 42 g. Personal Protective Equipment 42 3. Corrosives 42 a. General Characteristics 42 b. Examples of Corrosives 43 c. Use and Storage of Corrosives 43 d. Use and Storage of Hydrofluoric Acid 43 e. Health Hazards Associated with Corrosives 44 f. First Aid 44 g. Personal Protective Equipment 45 4. Reactives 45 a. General Characteristics 45 b. Use and Storage of Reactives 47 c. Health Hazards Associated with Reactives 48 5. Compressed Gas Cylinders 49 a. General Characteristics 49 b. Purchase Policy 49 c. Use and Storage 49 F. Biological Hazards and Control 52 1. Recommended Laboratory Practices 52 2. Biosafety Levels 53 3. Laboratory Equipment 61 4. Personal Protective Clothing 64 5. Waste Disposal 64 6. Bloodborne Pathogens 65 7. Emergency Procedures 66 Appendices I Chemical Storage Segregation Scheme II Laboratory Safety Self Evaluation III Hazardous Chemical Inventory Instruction Sheet and Forms IV Material Safety Data Sheets V MSDS Mainframe Retrieval VI Emergency Instructions VII OSHA - Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories VIII OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) IX Examples of Incompatible Chemicals X Acutely Hazardous Waste XI Gloves XII Peroxide Forming Chemicals XIII Potentially Explosive Chemicals XIV Gas Cylinder Policy XV 1995 University of Texas at Austin Hazard Communication Program A. Responsibilities Each individual conducting chemical reactions, using chemical materials, or performing laboratory procedures is required to have proper training in the safe handling and disposal of all materials he or she uses. Each is responsible for conducting activities in a manner that will not endanger himself or herself and each must comply with the applicable requirements of state and federal law as well as with University policies and procedures described in this manual. Oversight responsibility for ensuring that laboratory activities involving hazardous chemicals conform to prescribed standards is assigned as follows: UNIVERSITY-WIDE SAFETY RESPONSIBILITIES The President of The University has ultimate responsibility for safety within the institution. Office of Environmental Health and Safety • Provide training to laboratory supervisory personnel. • Conduct periodic and unannounced laboratory inspections to assure compliance with federal, state and local regulations, as well as the policies and procedures contained in this manual and those contained in any supplementary information developed in the college in response to specific activities or areas of research. • Undertake necessary enforcement actions to insure full compliance with all institutional safety policies, up to and including independent authority to shut down laboratories for violations of these policies. Approval of the Dean is not required. • Provide hazardous waste disposal services. • Provide hazardous material spill response services. The Emergency Response Team is available on campus during normal business hours and responds to after-hours spill emergencies on a call back basis. • Review laboratory construction, modification and renovation plans safety design. • Conduct fume hood survey and testing. • Perform exposure monitoring upon request to determine if the permissible exposure limit or action level has been exceeded. Notification shall be provided to laboratory supervisor. • Provide guidance for maintaining compliance with federal, state, and local regulations, as well as the procedures stated in this manual • Conduct laboratory safety evaluations when requested by laboratory supervisors or department chairs. • Provide assistance in obtaining personal protective equipment. • Maintain copies of medical consultations and examinations for possible exposures from hazardous chemicals. 1 Physical Plant and Utilities • Maintain facilities and facility-related safety systems to assure continuous operation of laboratories COLLEGE SAFETY RESPONSIBILITIES Dean • Has the responsibility to insure the safe operation of all laboratories and other sites in the college where chemicals are used or laboratory procedures are conducted. • Will insure compliance with the policies and procedures contained in this manual and those contained in any supplementary information developed in the college in response to specific activities or areas of research. • Has independent enforcement authority to close a laboratory for safety violations. Approval of the Director of OEHS is not required. • Appoint and delegate appropriate enforcement authority, if appropriate, to a College-wide Chemical Hygiene Officer (CHO) and/or authorize individual Department Chairs and Directors to appoint and delegate appropriate enforcement authority to Departmental Chemical Hygiene Officers. The Dean will maintain a current roster of all CHOs and provide the names of these individuals to OEHS. Department Chairs and Directors • Oversee chemical and biological hygiene within departmental laboratories by ensuring that supervisory personnel