Vince McLeod is an American Board of Industrial Hygiene-certified industrial hygienist and the senior industrial hygienist with Ascend Environmental + Health Hygiene LLC in Winter Garden, Florida. He has more…
Let’s face it: most laboratories use chemicals. Depending on the lab’s focus—research synthesis, compound production, basic acid digestions, etc.—the types and amounts of chemicals used can vary greatly. Unfortunately, reports of accidents and incidents involving the use and storage of chemicals are far too frequent. We must remain diligent in properly handling and storing these hazardous materials, or problems will arise. So, in this column we provide general safety rules of thumb for handling and storing chemicals in the laboratory.
Before we get into the details, it is important to take stock of the many federal, state, and local regulations that may include specific requirements for handling and storing chemicals in labs and stockrooms. For example, controlled substances and consumable alcohols are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration and the Drug Enforcement Agency, radioactive substances are regulated by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and hazardous wastes are governed by the Environmental Protection Agency. These specific requirements can range from simple locked storage cabinets and specific waste containers to controlled access for regulated areas. If any of your labs are using or generating potentially hazardous substances, determine which regulations apply and the specific requirements they impose. State or local building and fire codes are very common, and applicability is becoming more demanding each year.
Another hurdle frequently encountered is the fact that labs evolve and change over time. We need to focus awareness on our lab facilities and implement a regular (annual) review process to ensure our overall laboratory safety stays up to date.
The focus of this article is safe storage of chemicals. But before we start rounding up bottles of chemicals and reorganizing our labs, we need to make sure we have the proper PPE. At a minimum, this should include appropriate chemical-resistant gloves and eye protection, closed-toe shoes (essential for working in the laboratory), and lab coats and/or chemical aprons (used when needed or when required by your laboratory safety policy).
Once we have collected our PPE, there are just a couple more things to gather before we begin moving those chemical containers around. Survey your surroundings, and take notice of any potential trip hazards and locations of work stations where others are busy. Make sure exits, passageways, and emergency equipment areas (i.e., eyewash and safety showers) are clear and free of stored materials. Locate and have close at hand a full spill kit with appropriate absorbent materials, neutralizing agents, cleanup utensils, and waste containers. Finally, check that all chemical containers have complete labels in good condition and that safety data sheets (SDS) are readily available. Consult OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard 1 for guidance. Another good resource for this is the Standard System for the Identification of the Hazards of Materials for Emergency Response.2
Here are our pointers for moving chemicals safely:
Safely storing chemicals in a laboratory or stockroom requires diligence and careful consideration. Correct use of containers and common lab equipment is critical. To store chemicals safely, DO the following;
And AVOID doing the following:
Following these simple guidelines will get you well on the way to an efficient, organized, and safely operating laboratory. Ignore them, or become cavalier in their application, and you may be picking through ashes or rubble one day. Spend a few minutes going through the lab with this list on a regular basis, and you should avoid any major incidents with chemical storage. As always, safety first.
1. OSHA Hazard Communication Standard – http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=STANDARDS&p_id=10099
2. Standard System for the Identification of the Hazards of Materials for Emergency Response, National Fire Protection Association, Publication 704. http://www.nfpa.org/aboutthecodes/AboutTheCodes.asp?DocNum=704
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