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HANDBOOKFOR LABORATORY SAFETY BENJAMINR.SVEINBJORNSSON AssistantProfessor,FacultyofPhysicalSciences, UniversityofIceland,Iceland
SVEINBJORNGIZURARSON
Professor,FacultyofPharmaceuticalScience,Universityof Iceland,Iceland
Elsevier
Radarweg29,POBox211,1000AEAmsterdam,Netherlands TheBoulevard,LangfordLane,Kidlington,OxfordOX51GB,UnitedKingdom 50HampshireStreet,5thFloor,Cambridge,MA02139,UnitedStates
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Notices
Knowledgeandbestpracticeinthis fieldareconstantlychanging.Asnewresearch andexperiencebroadenourunderstanding,changesinresearchmethods,professional practices,ormedicaltreatmentmaybecomenecessary.
Practitionersandresearchersmustalwaysrelyontheirownexperienceandknowledge inevaluatingandusinganyinformation,methods,compounds,orexperiments describedherein.Inusingsuchinformationormethodstheyshouldbemindfulof theirownsafetyandthesafetyofothers,includingpartiesforwhomtheyhavea professionalresponsibility.
Tothefullestextentofthelaw,neitherthePublishernortheauthors,contributors,or editors,assumeanyliabilityforanyinjuryand/ordamagetopersonsorpropertyasa matterofproductsliability,negligenceorotherwise,orfromanyuseoroperationof anymethods,products,instructions,orideascontainedinthematerialherein.
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Publisher: CandiceJanco
AcquisitionsEditor: AnitaKoch
EditorialProjectManager: BernadineA.Miralles
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To
KristínLindaRagnarsdóttir
DavíðÖrnSveinbjörnsson GuðlaugMaríaSveinbjörnsdóttir forcontinuouslyinspiringus,believinginus andremindingushowmuchwevaluethem.
Foreword Themostimportantthingwhenworkinginalaboratoryissafety both ourownandourcoworkers.Unfortunately,accidentscananddohappen, butbypracticingawarenessofthepotentialhazardsinvolvedinourexperimentsandworkenvironment,wearebetterabletopreventaccidents andrespondinsuchamannerthatminimizesanydamageofaccidents whentheydohappen.
Thisbookisintendedtoraiseawarenessofvarioussafetyconsiderations andprovideguidelinesforworkpracticesthattheauthorshavefoundto helpenhancethesafetyinthelaboratory.Itisimpossibletoprovide guidelinesforeverysituationimaginableorprovideguaranteedmethodsto preventorreacttoanytypeofaccident,soitisimportanttobeawareof thatwhilereadingthisbook.Whilethisbookprovideshelpfulguidelines forvarioussituations,itisultimatelytheresponsibilityoftheindividual researchertomaketheriskassessmentsneededandtaketheappropriate precautionarystepstominimizeanydangeroftheirexperiments.Itis likewisetheresponsibilityoftheemployertoprovidepropersafetytraining fortheiremployees.
Attheendoftheday,weallwanttogethomesafeandsound,anditis thereforeimportantthatwealltakethestepsthatarewithinourreachto enhancethesafetyofourworkenvironmentandprioritizesafety first!
March17th,2022
BenjamínRagnarSveinbjörnsson SveinbjörnGizurarson
Acknowledgments In2010,SveinbjörnGizurarsonwroteahandbookforlaboratorysafetyin Icelandictomeettheneedforapractical,easytoaccesstextonthesubject forbothstudentsandemployeesattheUniversityofIceland.Sincethen, therehasbeenaregularrequesttoprovidethematerialinEnglish. BenjaminRagnarSveinbjornssonjoinedinonthatworkandtogetherwe builtontheoriginalIcelandichandbook.Allchaptershavebeenrevised, improved,andexpandedsincetheIcelandicversionwasmade.Additionally,wehaveaddedreallifeexamplesandexercises,whereappropriate,to emphasizetheimportanceofthesubjectsandanewchapteronoccupationalhealth,toprovideanewhandbookthatcanbeusedtomeetthe needsofawideraudience.
AlotofthefeedbackSveinbjornhadreceivedontheIcelandichandbook remainedusefulforthewritingofthisbook;althoughthefeedbackis from2010,wewouldliketothankthefollowingpeoplefortheirreview andcommentsonvarioustopics(somehavelefttheirpositionssincethen): SigríðurBjörnsdóttir(formersafetycommitteeemployeefortheUniversity ofIceland),SigurðurEmilPálsson(IcelandicRadiationSafetyAuthority), KristinnTómasson,LeifurGústafsson,andGuðmundurIKjerúlf(AdministrationofOccupationalSafetyandHealthinIceland),ElínSoffíaÓlafsdóttir (Dean,FacultyofPharmaceuticalSciences,UniversityofIceland),Örvar Aðalsteinsson(TheGreaterReykjavikFireandRescueService),Ágúst Svansson(ReykjavikPoliceDepartment),JónBaldursson(formerheadofER attheUniversityHospital,Iceland),GuðborgAuðurGuðjónsdóttir(former chairofUniversityHospitalPoisonCenter,Iceland),HaukurR.Magnússon (TheEnvironmentAgencyofIceland),andEggertEggertsson(atAGAISAGAehf).ÓlafurIngiJónsson,whowasagoodfriendwhopassedaway in2018,workedfortheSudurnesFireandRescueServiceandwasthepromoterinestablishing fireextinguishingtrainingattheUniversityofIceland foroveradecade.Additionally,wewouldliketothankGísliJónsson(Icelandic RadiationSafetyAuthority)foradditionalfeedbackonnewexamples. WewouldliketothankElsevierandeveryonetherewhohasworked onthisbookwithus,especiallyPaulPrasadChandramohan,BernadineA. Miralles,CzaOsuyos,andAnitaKoch.Thankyouforhelpingusmakethis publicationintoarealityandforalltheworkthathasgoneintomakingit intothebookthatitistoday.
Wealsowanttothankallthosethathaveassisteduswiththe figuresin thisbook.WeareespeciallythankfultoBirkirEyþórÁsgeirssonfortaking manyofthepicturesusedinthisbook.Wearealsothankfulforallofthose thatposedforthepictures.Furthermore,wewouldliketothankthe followingindividualsandorganizationsforallowingustousetheirmaterial inthisbook:theWorldHealthOrganization(WHO),HelgaSigrún Harðardóttir,ManagingDirectorfortheIcelandicStandards(International OrganizationforStandardization(ISO)),UnitedNationsGHS(UN GloballyHarmonizedSystemofClassificationandLabellingofChemicals), Chem-LabNVinBelgium,BirgirFinnsson(fromTheGreaterReykjavik FireAndRescueService),andDr.PhatsaweeJansook(Chulalongkorn University,Thailand).
Last,butnotleast,wewanttothankourfamily,foralltheirsupport throughthewritingprocess:KristínLindaRagnarsdóttir;GuðlaugMaría Sveinbjörnsdóttirandherhusband,BirkirEyþórÁsgeirsson;DavíðÖrn Sveinbjörnssonandhiswife,FjólaDöggHalldórsdóttir,andtheirchildren, SalómonBlær,ElísaBjört,AnnikaBára,andMikaelBjörgvin.Thankyou allforallyourloveandsupport!
Wehopethisbookwillpromotesafeandresponsiblework,securing thateveryonegetsbackhomesafely.
Reykjavík,March6th,2022
BenjamínRagnarSveinbjörnsson SveinbjörnGizurarson
CHAPTER1 Introductiontosafety Safetymindsetandsafetycultures Oneofthestepswecantaketoenhanceoursafetyistoadaptasafety mindset.Asafetymindsetinvolvesprioritizingsafety first,practicingbeing awareofandproactivelythinkingaboutpotentialhazardsinour surroundings,takingstepstominimizepotentialdangersthatwenotice, andpreparingagameplanforwhatwewoulddointheeventofan accident.Thinkaboutyourexperimentsandworkinadvancewithsafetyin mind,remainingvigilantofyoursurroundings,howwellequippedand designedyourfacilitiesarefromasafetyperspective,andconsideryour coworkers’ safetyalongwithyourown.
Equallyimportantiscultivatingasafetyculture.Itisimportantthatyou andyourcoworkersarecomfortableindiscussinganyandallsafetyaspects ofyourwork,andthatyouareateaseaskingforadviceregardingthesafety ofyourexperiments.Wheneverdoinganewexperiment,itcanbegoodto walkthroughtheprocedurewithacoworker,notingthepotentialhazards youhavenoticed,andreceivefeedbackonwhethertherearemorehazards thatyoumighthavemissedthatyouneedtobepreparedforandwhatsteps wouldbebesttotaketominimizesuchdangers.
Youshouldalsomakesuretocommunicateanyissuesthatyounotice toyoursupervisors.Unfortunately,accidentscanhappenbecauseoffactors thatwedidnotexpecttobeapotentialhazard.Itisthereforeimportantto reportanddiscussopenlyallaccidentsthatdohappenandthinkaboutways topreventsimilaraccidentsfromtakingplaceagain.Letusallwork togethertogeteveryonesafelyhome,eachandeveryday.
Befamiliarwiththefacilities Whenyouenteralaboratory,your firsttaskshouldbegettingfamiliarwith thefacilities.Wherearetheemergencyexits,thesinks,emergencyshowers, eyewashstations, fireextinguishers,etc.?Aretheresinksthatarereserved
HandbookforLaboratorySafety
ISBN978-0-323-99320-3
https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-323-99320-3.00002-1
forhandwashingonlyoristhesamesinkalsousedforcleaningglassware? Whatpersonalprotectiveequipment(PPE)arepeoplerequiredtowearin thisworkspace?Ifthisisyour firsttimeworkinginalaboratory,beespeciallyalertandobservant,andmakesuretogetfamiliarwiththenewwork environmentandinstrumentsthere,especiallythoserelatingtosafety, beforeyoustartworking.
Neverworkaloneinthelaboratory Thisisacrucialrule.Youshouldneverworkaloneinthelaboratory!Ifa seriousaccidenttakesplace,itisimportantthatthereareotherpeoplethere whowillbeavailabletohelpimmediately.Ifyouarealoneduringaserious labaccident,thereisnoknowingwhenhelpmightarrive,andoddsarethat itwouldarrivetoolate.
Sinceweshouldneverworkaloneinthelaboratory,itisalsousefulto bemindfulofwhatothersinthelabaredoing.Ifyouseesomethingthat looksunsafe,saysomething!Accidentsinthelaboratorycanaffectmore peoplethanjustthelabworkerdoingtheexperimentthatresultedinthe accident.Itisthereforeimportanttosaysomethingifyouseesomething, bothforyourownsafetyandyourcoworkers’.Andrememberthatitis perfectlyacceptableandshouldbeencouragedtoaskforadviceifyouhave anyquestionsregardingsafety.
Food,beverages,andsmellinginlab Itisstrictlyforbiddentoeatordrinkinthelaboratory.Therecould bechemicaltracesanywhereinthelabandyoushouldnevertakethe chanceofcontaminatingyourfoodordrinkbybringingitintothe laboratory.Thisextendstoallediblesincludingcandyand/orchewinggum inyourpockets(Fig.1.1).
Ingeneral,youshouldnevertouch,taste,orsmellchemicalsthatyou areunfamiliarwith.Ifyouarefamiliarwiththem,youshouldprobablynot touch,taste,orsmellthechemicalseither,butinthosecases,youwouldat leastbemoreawareofthepotentialconsequences.Thesmellwillnottell youhowdangerousacompoundis.Manyhighlytoxiccompoundshaveno identifiedaroma.Anexampleofthatiscarbonmonoxide(CO),acolorless andodorlessgas,whichifexposedto,cancauselossofconsciousnessand evendeath(Fig.1.2).
Allworkwithharmfulandtoxiccompoundsshouldbecarriedout insideawell-ventilatedcabinetorafumehoodtominimizethechanceof
Nodrinksorfoodshouldbebroughtintothelaboratoryfor consumption. (Credit:BirkirEyþórÁsgeirsson).
Figure1.2 Youshouldneversmellchemicalsinlabunlessyouareabsolutelysure theyaresafe. (Credit:BirkirEyþórÁsgeirsson).
youunnecessarilybreathinginfumesofhazardouscompounds.Remember tolockallbottlesasrequired1,afteruse,andkeepyourworkspacecleanand organizedsothatyouhaveaclearoverviewofeverythingyouareworking with,ateverytimepoint.
1 Somebottlesshouldbelockedtightly,whileothersneedtobeabletoallowpressure build-uptobereleased.
Figure1.1
Smokingandalcohol Smokingisalsoalwaysforbiddeninthelaboratoryanditssurroundings. Duetothenumberof flammablesolventsandchemicals,smokingwould createanadditional firehazardandisthereforestrictlyprohibitedinsidethe lab.Itisalsostrictlyforbiddentobeintoxicated,nomatterhowslightly, whileinthelaboratory.Intoxicationincreasestheriskofmistakes significantly,soitisneveracceptabletoworkinlabintoxicated.
Personalstateofmind Itisalsoimportanttobeawareofourpersonalstateofmind.Tirednesscan havesimilareffectonusasalcohol,includingslowingdownourreaction timesandreducingourconcentration.Youshouldthereforemakeahabit ofgettingpropersleepbeforeworkinginlabandmakesureyouarefeeling wellawake,especiallywhendoingsomethingneworpotentiallyhazardous inlab.
Ourvariousstatesofmindcanalsocreateunnecessaryhazards,whether itbecarelessness,rashness,overconfidence,orsomeotherstateofmind thataltersourjudgmentandbehaviorinlab.Itcanbetrickyforustonotice thesebehaviorsinourselves,butbyknowingthatthesecanaffectoursafety, wearemorelikelytothinkaboutitanddowhatwecantopreventitfrom creatingunnecessaryadditionalrisksinourwork.
Examplesfromreallife Mindset Stayfocused.Ifyouarereadingorbrowsingyourphone,dothatwhilestanding still.Moreandmoreaccidentsarehappeningbecausepeoplearetryingto multitask.Walk,carryingsamples,checkingmessagesonthephone,allatthe sametime.Thentheywalkintoadoorortipoveradoorstep!
Theimportanceofproperpreparation Yoursafetyisheavilyinfluencedbyyourknowledgeoftheproceduresyou areabouttoperformandhowwellyouhavepreparedyourselfbefore workingonyourproject.Makeitahabittoprepareproperlyandconsider potentialriskssoyoucanpreventthem.Whatcouldgowrong?How shouldIhandleanaccidentoranemergencysituation?HowshouldI
respondtoachemicalspill?WhatifIgetchemicalsintomyeyes?Inthe eventofanaccident,youmayneedtoactimmediatelysinceeverysecond maybecritical.Therefore,itcanbeagoodideatowalkthroughwhatyou woulddoincaseofanemergency.Thatcanhelpgettingitintoyour musclememorywhichreducesthechancesofpanickingifthesituation ariseswhereyouneedtoactquickly.
Properpreparationincludescollectinginformationontheinstruments, chemicals,bacteria,etc.,thatyouwillbeworkingwith.Ifyouwillbe workingwitha chemical,youshouldknowhowitbehaves.Isit flammable, corrosive,ormaybetoxic?Itisimportanttorealizethatonlythemost importantinformationisfoundonthelabel,butyoucan findmoredetailed datainthesafetydatasheet(SDS)fromthemanufacturer.Itisyour responsibilitytoobtaintheSDSandfamiliarizeyourselfwiththeinformationthere before youstartyourwork.Therefore,makesuretoread both thelabelsandtheSDS.
Ingeneral,makesuretohandleallchemicalsextremelyrespectfully. Alwaysbealertwhenworkingwithchemicalsandhaveyourmindonthe projectathand.Asresearchcanofteninvolvethesynthesisofnovel compounds,itisalsoimportanttoknowhowtotreatthosesubstances.In caseyouareworkingwithanunknownsampleorcompound,handleitas ifitisthe “mosttoxiccompound” inexistenceuntilyouknowhowit behaves.Neverworkwithhighlytoxiccompoundsunlessyouhave receivedtheappropriatetraining.
Youshouldalsobefamiliarwithyourequipmentandhowtooperateit. Alwaysuseappropriatepersonalprotectionsuchasalabcoat,gloves,safety glasses,andotherappropriatesafetyequipmentandprecautions.Itis extremelyimportantthatyouweartheappropriatePPEforeachexperimentandputtingontherelevantPPEshouldinfactbethe firstthingyou dowhenyouenterthelab.
PACEyourself Oneapproachtopreparationwithsafetyinmindistousethefollowing four-stepapproach,whichthemnemonic “PACEyourself” mighthelpyou remember(Fig.1.3):
(1)Plan: Writedowntheplannedprocedureindetail.Notedownany risksthatyounoticerightawayandwhatneedstobedonetominimize therisk.Itcanbegoodforworkplacestohaveatemplateforthistype
Figure1.3 ThemnemonicPACEyourselfmaybeusefultohelpyouremembertoPlan yourexperiment,Askyourselfquestionsaboutitssafety,andConsultacoworker beforeyouExecuteallappropriateprecautionarystepsandtheexperimentitself.
ofplanningsheetthatcanthenbeplacedclosebytheexperimentwhile itisrunning,sopeoplewalkingpastcaninformthemselvesaboutit. Thisisespeciallyimportantforlongrunningexperimentswhereyou mightnotalwaysbeclosebyincasesomethinggoeswrong.
(2)Assess: Assessthepotentialrisks.Thiscanoftenbedonebyasking yourselfquestionsaboutthepotentialrisks,soitcanbeusefulto havealistofquestionsathandforthat.Suchalisthelpstoremind usofpossiblehazardsthatwemaynothavethoughtaboutat first. Herefollowafewexamplesofquestionsthatmightbeuseful,butit isrecommendedthatyoucreateyourownlistandaddtoitasyou thinkofmorehazardsthatyouwanttodoublecheckwithyourself:
U Howhazardousarethechemicals/biologicalsamples/othermaterial beingusedintheexperiment(e.g.,toxic, flammable,explosive, contagious)?
U Aretheinstrumentsandglasswareinagoodcondition?
U Isthenecessarysafetyequipmentathandincasesomethinggoes wrong?
U Whatsidereactionsmighttakeplaceandwhathazardswouldbe associatedwiththose?Arethereanytoxicbyproductsorcould therebeapressurebuild-upfromgaseousbyproductsinaclosed system?
U Couldanyeffectsoftheexperimentreachfar?Dopeopleneedto benotifiedoftheexperiment?Somechemicalshave,e.g.,astrong smellthatmightcatchpeopleoff-guardanditwouldbegoodto notifytheminadvanceiftheymightbeaffectedbyyour experiment.
(3)Consult: Itisalwaysusefultoconsultwithsomeoneelseregarding potentialhazardsthatyoumighthavemissed.Thisworksbestwhen suchaconsultationisanormalpartofthesafetycultureatyour
institution.Bewillingtoaskforconsultationandbewillingtoprovide consultationwhenaskedforit.
(4)Executeprecautionarysteps: Makesuretoexecuteallappropriate precautionaryandpreventativestepsnecessary.Keepinmindthatit isgoodwhentheprecautionarystepsincludecontingencyplans. Thenwheneverythingisready,goaheadandexecutetheexperiment.
Keepitcleanandorganized Neverleavebags,clothes,orsomethingelseinthewalkway,otherwise someonemightwalkintoitandtrip.Youshouldalso never runinthelab anditisrecommendedtoavoidwet floorsastheymightbeslippery.
Makesureyourworkspaceiscleanandorganized,especiallyaround balances,infumehoods,andaroundanychemicalstorage.Allbottlesand packagingshouldbewelllabeled,cleanandwithoutstrips,drops,or contamination.Cleanyourworkareainordertopreventcrosscontaminationtothenextpersonworkingthereortheirexperiment.Ifyour chemicalgetsspilled,neverpouritbackintoitsbottle!Cleaneverything, includingglassware,packaging,etc.,anddisposeofitaccordingtothe properguidelines.Tables, floors,andfumehoodsshouldbecleanedbefore youleaveattheendoftheday.
Allworkwith flammablecompounds,suchassolvents,shouldbecarriedoutinsideproperlyventilatedfumehoodsorcabinets.Flammable chemicalsshould never beheatedwithanopen flame,butwater/oil/sand baths,orothersafeequipmentcanoftenbeusedinsteadifyouneedtoheat them.
Ifyouneedtotransportcompoundsfromoneplacetoanother,make sureallbottlesareclosedandinasecondarycontainerduringtransportation,andwalkcalmlywhilecarryingthecompounds.Neverremove chemicalsfromthelaboratoriesforyourpersonaluseortomakepractical jokes.Thatmayresultinawarningand/ortermination/expulsion.
Attheendoftheday Makesureyourworkspaceiscleanandorganized.Ifanemployee,student, oracleaningpersonnelplacestheirhandonthetable,willtheyget
contaminatedwithachemical,radioactivecompound,oramicrobethat mayaffecttheirhealthcondition?Beforeyouleaveyoushould
U Turnoffgas,water,andelectricity.
U Turnoffanyinstrumentsthatdonotneedtobeon.
U Cleanyourworkspace.
U Makesurethatallbottlesareappropriatelyclosed.
U Makesurethatallchemicalsareproperlylabeledandbackwherethey shouldbestored.
U Closethefumehoods.
U Washyourhands.
Examplesfromreallife Attheendoftheday Thewateralarmwenton,onenight.Whenthemaintenancepeoplearrived, therewaswateralloverthe floor,drippingtothenext floorbelow.What happenedwasthatatechnicianinthelaboratoryhadturnedonthewater,but thisdaythewaterhadbeenshutdownduetomaintenance.Unfortunately,this employeewasnotawareofthat,butforgottoturnitoffagain.
Laterthatafternoon,astudenthadplacedaclothonthesink,anditfellinto thesink.Whenthewatermaintenancewasover,inthelateafternoon,thecloth cloggedthesink, fillingitwithwater,andcausedseriousdamagetothe surroundings.
Alwaysremembertoleaveyourworkplaceinsafecondition,attheendof theday.
CHAPTER2 Personalprotectiveequipment Overviewofpersonalprotectiveequipment Oneofthemostimportantprecautionarystepswecantakeinthelabisto useappropriatepersonalprotectiveequipment(PPE).PPEshouldbethe firstthingyouputonbeforeorimmediatelyuponenteringthelaboratory asitactsasavitallayerofdefenseintheeventofanaccident.The appropriatePPEcanvarybetween fields,locations,andexperimental settings,butisgenerallyanyprotectivewearables.Itisimportanttokeepin mindthatthechoiceofPPEshouldnotbesolelydependentonthe experimentsyouaredoing,butyoushouldalsobemindfulofexperiments takingplaceinyourvicinity.Reflectiveclothing,wornoutsideinthedark sothatdriverscanseeusbetter,canbeconsideredanexampleofgeneral PPEthatiswornbecauseofpotentialhazardsfromothers.
Inthelaboratorysetting,therearethreeprimaryPPEsthatshouldbe wornmost,ifnotall,ofthetimewhileinlab.Thesearesafetyglassesto guardyoureyes,andalabcoatandglovestoguardyourskin.Inadditionto these,youmightneedtowearotherPPEdependingonthesetting.These couldincludemasks,toguardyourrespiration,orapersonalradiation detector,tomonitoryourradiationexposure.Makesureyoualwayswear alloftheappropriatePPEforthelaboratoryenvironmentyouareworking in,aswellasanyadditionalPPEneededforthespecificexperimentsyou areworkingon.Herefollowsamoredetaileddiscussionaboutthemain typesofPPEsworninthelab.
Eyeprotection Oureyesareoneofthemostvaluablesenseorganswehave;therefore,itis extremelyimportantthatwemakesuretokeepoureyesassafeaspossible! Thatmeans,weshould always wearsafetyglasses/goggleswhileinsidethe lab.Itisimportanttobeawarethatwhileconventionalglassesmayprovide someprotection,alas,theytendtocoveronlytheareainfrontofoureyes
HandbookforLaboratorySafety ISBN978-0-323-99320-3
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andarethusnotenough.Propersafetyglassesprovideadditionalprotection onthesidesaswell(Fig.2.1).Chemicalsplashsafety goggles mayprovidethe bestprotectionastheyreducethechanceofamajorsplashrunningdown thefaceandintotheeyes.Ifyouuseglassesforyourdailylife,youmay needtowearsafetygogglesoverthose.Prescriptionsafetyglassesmightalso beavailable,andsomeinstitutionsofferthosefortheiremployees,butthey arenotaseasilyavailableassafetygoggles.
Foremployers,supervisors,and/orprincipalinvestigators,itisimportant tomakesurethatsafetyglassesareavailableforeveryoneworkinginthe laboratoryaswellasforanyvisitors/gueststhatmightbeenteringthe laboratory,nomatterhowshortterm.Somelaboratorieshaveasmallbin withextrasafetyglassesforshort-timevisitorstothelab.
Theuseoflensesisnotrecommendedwhenworkinginalabwith chemicals.Thereisthedangerofsolventvaporsmessingwiththelensor gettingtrappedbetweenthelensandyoureyescausingirritationor damage.Somecorrosivecompoundscouldalsoaccidentallysplashinto youreye(s)andthenaturalresponsetothatisclampingoureyelidsshut,
Figure2.1 Safetyglasses(right)provideadditionalprotectiononthesides,whereas regularglasses(left)donotprovidethatprotection.Safetygoggles(notpictured) provideevenmorecoverage,reducingthechanceofasplashrunningdowntheface intotheeyes.Alsonotethatlonghairshouldbetiedupinatail(right)orkeptunder thelabcoatwhileworkinginlab.Ifitisnotkeptoutoftheway(left),itcancreate unnecessarysafetyhazards. (Credit:BirkirEyþórÁsgeirsson.)
makingitreallydifficulttoremovethecontactlenses.Allinall,itis generallybettertojustleavethecontactlensesoutofthelab.
Thechoiceofsafetyglassesisimportant.Forchemistrywork,itis recommendedtousechemical-resistantgoggles,andwhenworkingwith lasers,appropriatelaserglassesareneededtoprotectagainstthewavelength thatthelaseremits.Laseraccidentsarealwaysseriousaccidents.Ingeneral, itisimportanttochoosetherightprotectiveeyeweardependingonthe workbeingdoneinthelab.
Propereyeprotection1 Apostdoctoralscholarwascarryingoutascale-upofareactionhehaddone before.Thepostdochadrecentlychangedthework-upprocedureandtestedit outonasmallscalewithnoobservableproblems.However,duringthework-up forthescaled-upreaction,therewasaviolentreactionthatresultedinliquids splashingontotheresearcher’sfaceandlabcoat.Thepostdocwaswearing safetyglasses,gloves,anda flame-resistantlabcoatwithalong-sleevedshirt underneath.
Afterthesplash,theresearcherfollowedproperprocedures,removingtheir labcoatandshirt,andwenttotheemergencyshowerwheretheyrinsedoff beforeheadingtotheeyewashstationwheretheyrinsedtheirfaceandeyes withthehelpofagraduatestudent.
Thelabcoatandshirthaddonetheirjob,minimizingchemicalexposureto thebody.Thesafety glasses,however,hadnotbeenenough.Whilethey providedsomeprotection,thechemicalswerestillabletorunundertheglasses, downthefaceandintobotheyes.Chemicalsplashsafety goggles wouldhave providedmoreeyeprotectionhere.Thankfully,withtheproper firstreaction andsubsequenttreatmentatthehospital,theresearcherwasclearedtoreturn toworkafewdaysaftertheincident.
1 ThiscasewasextractedfromChance,B.S.Casestudy:Reactionscale-upleadstoincident involvingbromineandacetone. JournalofChemicalHealth&Safety.23(1),2 4,2016.
Labcoat Theprimaryfunctionofthelabcoatistoprotectyourbodyandyour clothesfromcontactwithchemicalsandothercontacthazardsinlab.Small chemicalspillsorsplashescanoftenleadtoholesinyourclothes,sousinga labcoatcanactuallysaveyoufromabadaccidentandsaveyoumoneyon newclothes.Intheeventofamajorchemicalspillonyourself,thelabcoat providesaremovablebarrierthatyoushouldbeabletotakeoffquickly.
Thebestlabcoatshavebuttonsthatyoudon’tneedtotaketimetounbuttonintheeventofanemergency,butthatyoucaneasilyripopen quickly,sortofsupermanstyle.Notallofthemaredesignedthatway though,butitcanbeworthcheckinghoweasyitistotakeyourlabcoatoff quickly,soyouarebetterpreparedintheeventofarealspill.
Sincethelabcoatistheretoprovideyouwithanouterlayerprotection againstthechemicalsinlab,bemindfulofwhereandhowyoustoreit.For example,ifyouhangitupontopofanotherlabcoat,thenexttimeyou wearityoumightbeputtingonsomechemicalsfromtheoutsideofthe otherlabcoat.Anycross-contaminationofpotentiallyhazardouschemicals isbad,especiallywhenitispreventable.So, findagoodplacetostoreyour labcoatinawaywheretheinsideparts,thatyouwillbeinthemostcontact with,willstaysafeanduncontaminated(Fig.2.2).
Figure2.2 Labcoatsshouldbestoredinamannerwherethestorageconditionsdo notresultincross-contaminationtotheinsideofanotherlabcoat. (Credit:Benjamin RagnarSveinbjornsson.)
Anotherbenefitoflabcoatsisthattheycanhelppreventunnecessary spreadofcontaminationoutsideoflab.Justlikewedonotwanttheir insidestogetcross-contaminated,wealsodonotwanttheiroutsidesto cross-contaminatethings/areasoutsideoflab.Theworkplaceoftenhas “chemicalfreezones,” themostimportantofwhichmightbewherever peopletendtoeat.Remembertotakeoffyourlabcoatbeforegoingtoany ofthosecommonareas.Ingeneral,itisbesttoisolatetheuseofthelabcoat totheareasandsituationswheretheyareneeded.Thiscanbeespecially importantforbiohazardlabs.
Youshouldalsobemindfuloftheconditionofyourlabcoat. Remembertowashitregularly,butmakesurethatitisnottogetherwith otherclothes.Ifitgetscontaminatedwithtoxiccompounds,washitor destroyit.Ifitisstartingtogetold,tattered,and/orholey,itwillnot provideproperprotection,soifthat’sthecase,itisprobablytimetoinvest inanewlabcoat.
Thereareseveraltypesoflabcoatsavailable,includingsplash-resistant, chemical-resistant,and fl ame-resistantlabcoats.Itisimportanttopickthe appropriatetypeoflabcoatthatmeetstheneedsofyourexperimentsand labenvironment.Forexample,ifthereisanychanceofa fi re,thenyou shouldnotwearalabcoatmadeofsyntheticfabricsastheycanmeltand sticktotheskinwhentheyburn.Manylaboratoriesalsohavelabcoats indifferentcolors,dependingonwheretheyareused:inaregularlaboratory,inanisotopelaboratory,orinalabwhereyouworkwith biohazards.Therefore,makesurethatyouhavetherightlabcoat(s)for yourneeds.
Youshouldalsomakesurethatyourlabcoatisagood fitfromasize perspective.Lengthwise,itshouldreachatleastdowntoyourknees.For yourarms,itshouldreachapproximatelytoyourwrists,sothatitisnotin thewaywhenyouareworking,butsothatitcoversyourwholearms downtoyourgloves.Somelabcoatshave fittedwristbandsthathelpreduce thechanceofasplashupthearmontheinsideofyourlabcoat.Sincewe dowantthelabcoattoprovideafullandproperprotection,youshould alwayswearitbuttonedandneverrollupthesleeves(Fig.2.3).
Figure2.3 Itisimportanttousealabcoatofanappropriatesizeandwearitproperly sothatitprovidesthebestcoverageandprotection. (Credit:SveinbjörnGizurarson.)
Deadly fireatUCLA2 Attheendof2008,anaccidentthatresultedinthedeathofayounglabworker atUCLAshookthechemistryworld.Thisincidentaffectedsafetyprotocolsand trainingatmanyhighereducationinstitutionsinthefollowingyearsandisstill aprimeexampleoftheimportanceofpropersafetytrainingandthe responsibilityofthesupervisorsinprovidingsuchtraining.
A23-year-oldcollegegraduatewasonly3monthsintoherjobina chemistrylabwhenshewasstartingtoextract54mLof tert-butyllithiumfroma sealedcontainerusingaplasticsyringe.Thischemicalcanigniteinstantlywhen exposedtoair.Duringthisprocess,thesyringecameapartinherhands, spewing flamingchemicals,accordingtotheaccidentreport.Shewasnot wearinga flame-resistantlabcoatandthe flash firesetherclothingablazeand spreadseriousburnsover43%ofherbody,resultinginhereventualdeath 18dayslater.Therewereseveralmoresafetyprotocolsthatmighthavehelped butwereneglected,alotofwhichweretracedtolackofpropersafetytraining. Thiscaseservesasatragicreminderoftheimportanceofproviding/receiving propersafetytrainingforalllabworkers,aswellastheimportanceofwearing theappropriatePPE,asaremovable flame-resistantlabcoatmighthave reducedtheburninjuries.
2 ExtractedfromnewsreportsincludingareportfromTorontoStar, Ayounglabworker,a professorandadeadlyaccident byKateAllen,publishedMarch30th,2014andaccessedOctober 27th,2021.
Shoesandlongpants Sincethelabcoatdoesnotprovideprotectionallthewaydowntoyour feet,itisimportanttowearclosedtoeshoeswhenworkinginlabtoprotect yourfeet.Donotwearopensandals,highheeledshoes,orothertypesof openshoesinsidethelaboratory.Ifyouspillsomething,itwillmostlikely dropdownonyourtoesorfeet,souseappropriateshoes.Theabovealso appliestoyourlegs.Therefore,uselongpants/trousersandnotshorts.
Someshoematerialsmayinducestaticelectricity,whichcouldcause damagetosensitiveinstruments,orevencausechemicalstoburstin flames, soalsokeepthatinmindwhenchoosingwhatshoestowearinlab(Fig.2.4).
Gloves Yourhandsareprecioussouseglovestoprotectthem!Theirimportance cannotbeunderestimated.Still,glovescannotprotectagainstallchemicals, whichiswhyitisimportanttoremainvigilantandalsobefamiliarwith whattypeofglovesworkbestforthetypeofworkthatyouwillbedoing. Wouldalatexoranitrilegloveworkbetter?Woulddisposableglovesbe sufficient,orwouldathicker,moredurableglovebemoresuitable?The chemicalsthatyouwillbeworkingwithwillhavedifferentpermeabilities throughdifferenttypesofgloves,soitisworthcheckingitoutinadvance. WhileglovesserveasanimportantPPE,itisalsoimportanttoremain vigilantandrealizethatsomechemicalscanevengothroughcertaintypes
Figure2.4 Alwayswearclosedtoeshoesandlongpantsinlab. (Credit:Sveinbjörn Gizurarson.)
ofgloveswithoutleavingatraceandresultinrealharm(see Deadlydropsof dimethylmercury in Chapter4)(Fig.2.5).
Ingeneral,youshouldalwaysusegloveswhenworkingwithcorrosives, toxiccompounds,andbiologicalssuchasbloodsamplesormicrobes.Itis alsoimportanttobemindfulofwhatsurfacesyoutouchwiththegloveson. Donot openanydoorswithyourgloveson,noroperateawaterfountain, noruseyourglovesonanyothercommonareathatpeopletouchwithout gloves.Thatcouldresultincross-contaminationthatcouldbecomeharmful forthenextperson.Itissaferandsimplertothrowuseddisposablegloves awayinthetrashandputnewoneson.
Withtheadventofsmartphones,ithasalsobecomeincreasingly commontoseepeopleinlaboperatetheirphoneswiththeirgloveson. Thisisnotawisethingtodo!Thetracechemicalsthatmaybeonyour glovescouldthenjourneytoyourphoneandlater,whenyouansweracall andputthephoneupagainstyourface,theymightendupthere.Justtake offyourglovesbeforeusingthephoneandthinkaboutthesafetyaspectsof everything youdoinlab.
Jewelryshouldnotbewornwhenworkingwithbiologicalmaterialsor sterilesamples.Microbesarewellprotectedbetweentheskinandthe jewelryandevenafterathoroughhandwash,itisdifficulttoeliminateall microbes.Youshouldalsoremovealljewelryifyouareworkingwith compoundsthatmayreactwithgoldormercury.
Figure2.5 Makesureyouwearappropriateglovesforthematerialyouwillbe workingwith. (Credit:SveinbjörnGizurarson.)
