Post on 08-Jun-2022
ExperimentsinvolvingHazardousMaterials/
ProceduresAWebinarforSiteCoordinators
andStudents 2021
Definitions
Ê HazardousMaterialsresearchincludesDEA-controlledsubstances,prescriptiondrugs,alcohol&tobacco,firearmsandexplosives,radiation,lasers,etc.
Ê Hazardousactivitiesarethosethatinvolvealevelofriskaboveandbeyondthatencounteredinthestudent’severydaylife.
Ê AllprojectsinvolvingResearchwithHazardousMaterials/Activitiesrequirespre-approvalbeforeexperimentationbegins.
ProhibitedProjects-Chemicals
Ê Studentsareprohibitedfromhandlingliquidnitrogen(LN2).Pre-approvalisneededforaprojectinvolvingliquidnitrogen,whichmustbehandledbyanAdultSupervisororscientisttrainedinsafetyrequirements.SeeHealth&SafetyCodesection25500-25519
Ê TheScienceSafetyHandbookforCAPublicSchools(2014edition)listschemicalsnevertobestoredorusedinCAK-12schools,including:Ê ExplosiveChemicals(Table7.2),pages113-114Ê ExtremelyHazardousChemicals(Table7.3),pages126-127
ProhibitedProjects–PrescriptionDrugs
Ê Studentsareprohibitedfromadministeringprescriptiondrugstohumansubjects.
Ê Studentsareprohibitedfromadministeringprescriptiondrugstovertebrateanimals.Theonlyexceptionis:Ifastudentisworkingwithaveterinariansearchingforacureforhis/herpersonalanimal.Strictveterinarysupervisionisrequired.
ProhibitedProjects-Other
Ê Alsoprohibitedareprojectsinvolving:Ê AlcoholandTobaccoÊ FirearmsandExplosives-includingair
softguns,paintballguns,B.B.guns,pelletguns,airrifles
Ê CreatingExplosionsorSettingItemsonFire-Exceptions:usingafullyassembledrocketmotor,reloadkitorpropellantmodules;burningfoodwithacalorimeter
CA Ed. Code
Exceptions
Ê Thefollowingareexceptionstothepreviouslylistedprohibitedprojects:Ê modelrocketexperimentationusingafullyassembled
rocketmotor,reloadkitorpropellantmodulesÊ commonlyusedlaboratorydevices,assumingthatthe
studentresearcherhasexperienceworkingwiththem,suchasBunsenburners,hotplates,scales,saws,drills,hammers,etc.withoversightbyanadult
Ê usingdryiceifwearingpropersafetygearandanadultsupervisorispresent
Supervision
Ê ThestudentresearchermustconductariskassessmentincollaborationwithaDesignatedSupervisororQualifiedScientistpriortoexperimentation.
Ê TheuseofhazardousmaterialsanddevicesandinvolvementinhazardousactivitiesrequiresdirectsupervisionbyaDesignatedSupervisor.
Ê AllstudiesusingDEA Schedule 1 substancesmusthavetheresearchprotocolapprovedbytheDEAbeforeresearchbegins.
Ê Forallchemicals,devicesoractivitiesrequiringaFederaland/orStatePermit,thestudent/supervisorwillbeexpectedtohavethepermitpriortotheonsetofexperimentation.
RiskAssessments
Ê AproperriskassessmentofchemicalsmustbeconductedincollaborationwithaDesignatedSupervisororQualifiedScientistthatincludesareviewof:Ê Toxicity:thetendencyofachemicaltobehazardoustohealth
wheninhaled,swallowed,injected,orincontactwiththeskin
Ê Reactivity:thetendencyofachemicaltoundergochemicalchange
Ê Flammability:thetendencyofachemicaltogiveoffvaporswhichreadilyignitewhenusedundernormalworkingconditions
Ê Corrosiveness:thetendencyofachemical,uponphysicalcontact,toharmordestroylivingtissuesorphysicalequipment
SafetyPrecautions
Ê Thestudentresearchermustdesignexperimentstominimizetheimpactthatanexperimenthasontheenvironment,forinstanceusingminimalquantitiesofchemicalsthatmustsubsequentlybedisposedofinanenvironmentallysafemannerinaccordancewithgoodlaboratorypractices.
Ê Otherprecautions:Ê Alwayshandledryicewithinsulated
glovesandweareyeprotection.Ê Burningsolidsubstances(suchwitha
calorimeter)mustbeperformedunderafumehoodoroutsidetheclassroom.
WasteDisposal
Ê Experimentationmustincludeproperdisposalmethodsforthechemicals/materialsusedinanexperiment.
Ê TheFlinn Scientific Catalogprovidesgoodinformationfortheproperdisposalofchemicals.Ifapplicable,thestudentresearchermustincorporateintheresearchplandisposalprocedurerequiredbyfederalandstateguidelines.
HazardousDevices
Ê Thedocumentationofariskassessmentisrequiredwhenastudentresearcherworkswithpotentiallyhazardous/dangerousequipmentand/orotherdevices,inoroutsidealaboratorysetting,thatrequireamoderatetohighlevelofexpertisetobeusedsafely.
Ê Useofotherpotentiallydangerousdevicessuchashighvacuumequipment,heatedoilbaths,NMRequipment,andhightemperatureovensmusthavedocumentationofariskassessment.
Ê Itisrecommendedthatallstudent-designedinventionsalsohavedocumentationofariskassessment.
Radiation:Lasers
Ê Ariskassessmentmustbeconductedwhenastudentusesnon-ionizingradiationbeyondthatnormallyencounteredineverydaylife.
Ê Non-ionizingradiationincludesthespectrumofultraviolet(UV),visiblelight,infrared(IR),microwave(MW),radiofrequency(RF)andextremelylowfrequency(ELF).
Ê Neverlookdirectlyintoalaseroralaserreflectionthinkingitissafe.Followstandardlasersafetyprotocolstoavoidlaserexposuretobystanders.
Lasers:ClassesI&II
Ê ClassIlasersarethosefoundinCDplayers,laserprinters,geologicalsurveyequipmentandsomelaboratoryequipment.TherearenoknownrisksassociatedwithusingaClassIlaser.
Ê ClassIIlasersarefoundinlaserpointers,aimingandrangefindingdevicesandposeariskifthebeamisdirectlyviewedoveralongperiodoftime.
Lasers:ClassesIII&IV
Ê ClassIIIlasersarefoundinhigherpoweredlaserpointers,printersandspectrometers.Theyaretobeconsideredhazardousdevices,whichcancauseeyedamagewhenthebeamisdirectlyviewedevenforashortperiodoftime.
Ê ClassIVlasersarehigh-poweredlasersusedinsurgery,research,andindustrialsettings.Theyareextremelyhazardousandcancauseeyeandskindamagefrombothdirectandindirectexposure.Thebeamisalsoafirehazard.
Ê ALLLASERS(CLASSESI-IV)REQUIREPRE-APPROVAL!
Radiation:Radioisotopes&X-Rays
Ê Projectsinvolvingradionuclides(radioisotopes)andX-raysmustinvolveacarefulexaminationoftherisksassociatedwiththestudy.
Ê StudentResearchersshouldcontacttheRadiationSafetyOfficeattheresearchinstitutionwheretheexperimentisbeingconductedtodetermineandminimizerisks.
MakingChanges
Ê AnyproposedchangesintheResearchPlanaftertheinitialSRCapprovalmusthaveanotherSRCapprovalbeforethechangesaremadeandbeforeexperimentationbegins.
Ê SubmitproposedchangestoFairPresident,NishatAlikhan,atnalikhan@lascifair.orgpriortothepublisheddeadlineinJanuary.
CommonMistakes
Ê Aclearexplanationoftheexperimentislacking/methodsandmaterialsarevagueorconfusing.
Ê Potentialriskshavenotbeenassessedorminimized.
Ê Molarityoramountsofchemicalstobeusedarenotdefined.
Ê WhattheAdultSupervisorwilldoduringtheexperiment(andwhen)isnotclear.
Ê Safetyprecautionsarenotthoroughlydescribed.
Ê Locationoftheexperimentisunclear.
NextSteps
Ê PleasemakesuretolookatourPre-Approval page FAQs- with answerstomanyofyourquestions
Ê Don’tforgettoreadoverourRules and Regulationsforallthespecificsoutlinedinthiswebinar.
Ê ViewthechecklistSRCReviewerswilluseforHazardousMaterials/ActivitiesResearchtomakesureproposalsareincompliance.Itispostedonourwebsite.
Ê SendanyquestionstoFairPresident,Nishat Alikhan,atnalikhan@lascifair.org