School Lab ChemicalsSchool Lab Chemicals

How to avoid having this happen to you.

Information and pictures provided courtesy of the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection

Objective of this presentationObjective of this presentation

Making your routine storage and Making your routine storage and handling of lab chemicals as safe handling of lab chemicals as safe as possible.as possible.

Today’s Situation:Today’s Situation:

Aging and unused hazardous Aging and unused hazardous chemicals which pose safety chemicals which pose safety hazards should be removed.hazards should be removed.

Some lab storage areas are unsafe Some lab storage areas are unsafe due to poor storage due to poor storage

and handling and handling

methods.methods.

What happened?What happened?

Abundance of ChemicalsAbundance of Chemicals Over-estimated necessary quantities Over-estimated necessary quantities Better prices for ordering in bulkBetter prices for ordering in bulk Manufacturers or other businesses Manufacturers or other businesses

donated their excess or “exotic” donated their excess or “exotic” chemicalschemicals

No regular stockroom inventoryNo regular stockroom inventory Poor labeling or no labelingPoor labeling or no labeling

Acquisition Acquisition RecommendationsRecommendations

Order the smallest quantity Order the smallest quantity possible for each chemicalpossible for each chemical No discounts, but final cost is less No discounts, but final cost is less

Never accept “left-over” or Never accept “left-over” or “donated” chemicals“donated” chemicals There’s no guarantee of its purity There’s no guarantee of its purity If you don’t normally use it, you If you don’t normally use it, you

probably don’t need itprobably don’t need it

Chemicals may out last Chemicals may out last you!you!

Experiments and instructors Experiments and instructors can and do changecan and do change Textbooks, manuals & procedures Textbooks, manuals & procedures

changechange A new instructor may not follow your A new instructor may not follow your

teaching plan teaching plan

Labels are for everyone’s Labels are for everyone’s information information

Safe Storage & Safe Storage & HandlingHandling

VS.VS.

Recommended PracticesRecommended Practices

Examine your currently available storage space.Examine your currently available storage space.

Avoid floor clutterAvoid floor clutter

Avoid shelf clutterAvoid shelf clutter

Avoid desk clutterAvoid desk clutter

Consider inexpensive storage Consider inexpensive storage containers for small or loose items.containers for small or loose items.

Arrange containers based on compatibilityArrange containers based on compatibility

Keep your containers in good conditionKeep your containers in good condition

Re-package containers which are not in good conditionRe-package containers which are not in good condition

Use durable waterproof labels and markers Use durable waterproof labels and markers to to clearlyclearly indicate what is in the container. indicate what is in the container.

Order and use the smallest Order and use the smallest containers appropriate for your labscontainers appropriate for your labs

Food jars are designed to hold food. Store hazardous lab Food jars are designed to hold food. Store hazardous lab chemicals only in containers designed to hold them.chemicals only in containers designed to hold them.

Your chemical storage area is not Your chemical storage area is not a kitchen—no food storage please!a kitchen—no food storage please!

Sturdy Sturdy shelving shelving units with units with edging to edging to prevent prevent containercontainers from s from falling falling off.off.

Acids should be stored in an Acid CabinetAcids should be stored in an Acid Cabinet

Flammables should be stored in a Flammables CabinetFlammables should be stored in a Flammables Cabinet

Avoid overhead storageAvoid overhead storage

An eye wash unit and / or emergency shower An eye wash unit and / or emergency shower nearby (but not in the storage room)nearby (but not in the storage room)

Additional Safety Measures

Additional Safety Measures

Insure Adequate Ventilation for:Insure Adequate Ventilation for: Chemical storage areasChemical storage areas Chemical preparation areasChemical preparation areas For volatile compounds use a For volatile compounds use a

fume hood!fume hood! Chemical use areasChemical use areas

Emergency Emergency gas shut-gas shut-off valveoff valve

Additional Safety Measures

Retractable electrical outletsRetractable electrical outlets

Additional Safety Measures

Future Cost MinimizationFuture Cost Minimization

Things to consider:Things to consider: annual chemical disposal budgetannual chemical disposal budget annual chemical pick up and annual chemical pick up and

disposaldisposal chemical hygiene officerchemical hygiene officer chemical usage review for science chemical usage review for science

labslabs sign off sheet for extra-cost itemssign off sheet for extra-cost items

““Frequently used chemicals Frequently used chemicals should be ordered in bulk.”should be ordered in bulk.”

““Ordering in bulk is the best Ordering in bulk is the best deal for the money.”deal for the money.”

““Accept any donated Accept any donated chemicals…”chemicals…”

““Labs will always do the same Labs will always do the same experiments and demonstrations…”experiments and demonstrations…”

““I’ll remember what I put in that jar.”I’ll remember what I put in that jar.”

Remember these costly Remember these costly phrases:phrases:

Goals for Chemicals in Goals for Chemicals in SchoolsSchools

Aim for removal of hazardous or Aim for removal of hazardous or

excess chemicals excess chemicals

Assure no future accumulation of Assure no future accumulation of

excess or hazardous chemicalsexcess or hazardous chemicals

Assure all personnel are Assure all personnel are

adequately trained in proper adequately trained in proper

safety proceduressafety procedures

LL -- -- LLabel everything clearlyabel everything clearly AA -- -- A Appropriate containers in good conditionppropriate containers in good condition BB -- -- BBe neat and orderlye neat and orderly

SS -- -- SStore only what you will usetore only what you will use AA -- -- AAlways wear protective clothinglways wear protective clothing F F -- -- FFood allowed in eating areas onlyood allowed in eating areas only EE -- -- EEverything in its place on a shelfverything in its place on a shelf TT -- -- TTime to inventory & organizeime to inventory & organize YY -- -- YYour safety is importantour safety is important