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The Chemical Safety Manual

revised October 1997

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION:

THE OSHA LAB STANDARD AND THE CWRU CHEMICAL SAFETY MANUAL........................................................................................... 1

CHAPTER ONE: GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS ...................................... 5
SECTIONS:
CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY SAFETY POLICY ......................... 5
RESPONSIBILITY ............................................................................... 5
EMERGENCIES AND FIRST AID PROCEDURES ........................................ 6
Emergencies ........................................................................................ 6
First Aid Procedures .............................................................................. 7
Hazardous Chemical Spills ....................................................................... 9
Decontamination Procedures .................................................................... 10
LABORATORY DECOMMISIONING PROCEDURES ................................... 11

CHAPTER TWO: SAFETY RULES FOR LABORATORIES .......................... 13
SECTIONS:
STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES ................................................ 13
Introduction to Safe Laboratory Practices ..................................................... 13
Laboratory Practices for Specific Procedures ................................................. 16
PERSONAL PROTECTION .................................................................... 20
Introduction ........................................................................................ 20
Methodology ...................................................................................... 20
Engineering Controls ............................................................................. 21
Personal Protective Equipment.................................................................. 24
CHEMICAL STORAGE......................................................................... 28
General Rules ..................................................................................... 28
Storage of Flammable Solvents ................................................................. 29
CWRU HAZARD WARNING SIGNS ....................................................... 30
Description ........................................................................................ 30
Policy .............................................................................................. 30
Methods of Posting .............................................................................. 31
NFPA Signage ................................................................................... 31
Availability of Signs ............................................................................. 31

CHAPTER THREE: HEALTH HAZARDS .............................................. 33
SECTIONS:
TOXICOLOGY .................................................................................. 33
General Definitions .............................................................................. 33
Dose-Response Relationship ................................................................... 33
Routes of Entry Into the Body ................................................................. 33
Exposure Definintions .......................................................................... 34
Other Factors Affecting Toxicity .............................................................. 35
MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEETS ...................................................... 35
CLASSIFICATION OF TOXIC MATERIALS ............................................. 35
Physical Classifications ......................................................................... 35
Physiological Classifications ................................................................... 36
WORKING SAFELY WITH HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS .............................. 39
Hazardous Chemicals ........................................................................... 40
Controlled Substances .......................................................................... 41
Chemical Safety .................................................................................. 41
WORKING SAFELY WITH EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS ............ 41
Creating a Designated Area ..................................................................... 42
Working With Select Carcinogens............................................................. 44
Working With Reproductive Hazards......................................................... 45
Working With Substances With High Acute Toxicity ...................................... 46
Experimentation with Animals ................................................................. 46
ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION EXPOSURE ................................................ 46
Effects of Exposure ............................................................................. 46
Protection Against Ultraviolet Radiation ...................................................... 47
BIOLOGICAL HAZARDS ..................................................................... 47

CHAPTER FOUR: WASTE DISPOSAL AND WASTE REDUCTION............... 48

SECTIONS:
CHEMICAL WASTE ........................................................................... 48
Disposal of Chemicals ........................................................................... 48
Specific Labeling and Waste Procedures....................................................... 50
Disposal of Explosive or Extremely Reactive Materials ...................................... 52
Disposal of Chemicals in the Sanitary Sewer (Drains) ....................................... 52
DISPOSAL OF OTHER LABORATORY WASTE .......................................... 54
Classification of Waste and Disposal Procedures ............................................. 54
RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL SERVICE ............................................ 57
WASTE REDUCTION AND RECYCLING .................................................. 57
Waste Reduction Procedures ..................................................................... 57
Reycling Procedures .............................................................................. 58

CHAPTER FIVE: SPECIFIC LABORATORY PROCEDURES ........................ 59

SECTIONS:
CENTRIFUGE SAFETY ....................................................................... 59
Safety Precautions ................................................................................ 59
Post-Accident Procedures ....................................................................... 60
COMPRESSED GASES IN CYLINDERS ................................................... 62
General Standards ................................................................................ 62
Restricted Products ............................................................................... 65
Flammable Gases ................................................................................. 66
Acceptance of Cylinders from Vendors ........................................................ 67
Pressure Regulators and Needle Valves ........................................................ 67
Leak Testing ....................................................................................... 69
ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT ........................................................................ 70
Guidelines ......................................................................................... 70
DECONTAMINATION OF LABORATORY SINK DRAINS
TO REMOVE AZIDE SALTS .................................................................. 72
WORKING WITH BLOODBORNE PATHOGENS
RESPIRATOR TRAINING

APPENDICES
:
APPENDIX A: Table of Permissible Exposure Limits....................................... 74
APPENDIX B: Sections of an MSDS.......................................................... 75
APPENDIX C: Extremely Hazardous Substances............................................ 82
Select Carcinogens................................................................................ 84
Reproductive Hazards ............................................................................ 89
Extemely Hazardous Chemicals ................................................................ 91
APPENDIX D: Glove Compatibilities......................................................... 92
APPENDIX E: Table of Incompatible Chemicals............................................. 95
APPENDIX F: Hazardous Waste and Unwanted Chemical Disposal Listing............. 98
Select Bibliography ............................................................................... 99
Glossary of Terms ................................................................................ 101
Glossary of Organizations ....................................................................... 110

Department of Occupational and Environmental Safety

Service Building
2220 Circle Drive, Level One
Cleveland, OH 44106-7227
Fax: (216) 368-2236
Safety Services: (216) 368-2907
Radiation Safety: (216) 368-2906
Email: does@po.cwru.edu