Safety Update

Marty WhiteApril 13, 2009

Accident at B/66

2 waste containers next to each other in fume hood waste area (SAA) Glass Bottle for acids (containing Aqua Regia) Flam Can

Guest researcher, 2nd day at LBNL, put waste isopropyl alcohol into acid bottle, tightened cap and left room

Oxidizing acid mixture reacted with fuel, releasing gases and building up pressure in bottle

Acid bottle exploded in fume hood in empty room 30 minutes after IPA addition

Guest status was revoked and the PI’s summer pay was suspended Lesson Learned?

Separate incompatables in chemical storage and in waste areas

Staff & guests need to be trained before they work unsupervised

Electrical Equipment Survey Code requires that we have NRTL-inspected

equipment or inspect the equipment ourselves for safety.

By 9/30/09 LBNL must survey electrical equipment and document which equipment needs to be inspected (contract measure).

Each Division is responsible to survey their own equipment. Divisions will not be responsible for the inspection at a later date.

What needs to be surveyed?

Commercially-built scientific equipment

Custom-built equipment Lab built-equipment Customized Facilities-type equipment

used in NSD space

What does not need to be inspected?

Standard office equipment (copy machine, plug strips, etc.)

Consumer appliances (microwave, desk fans, lamps, etc.)

Personal computers Common electrical construction

devices (switches, receptacles, conduits, etc.)

Equipment that operates at less than 50 V or less than 5 milliamps

Some specifics All affected equipment purchased

from now on must be NRTL-certified or inspected by EHS before it may be used.

Surveyors must complete training (EHS0381) On-line Special NSD class by Keith Gershon TBA

– Those needing the class will be invited to attend

HSS Lessons Learned

LBNL tends not to do a good job of requirements/program management Time-constraints User input not often requested

HSS CAP Team requests feedback from LBNL staff on proposed corrective actions.

Contact Marty if interested.

HSS Findings Job Hazard Analysis Nonradiological Exposure Radiation Protection Document Infrastructure Electrical Safety Self Assessment Program Issue Management Occupational Injury/Illness Lessons Learned Chemical Management