Environmental Health andPublic Safety

Graduate Student Safety Training

INCIDENT AT DUKE UNIVERSITY

WednesdayApril 15, 19987.51 a.m. EDT

Firefighters reported t theGross Chemical Buildingafter the blast. (WRAL-

TV5 News)Chemical Explosion

Rocks Duke Lab

DURHAM -- A science experiment exploded in the face of a local university student late Tuesday night.

INCIDENT at UNC Chapel Hill

Student Hurt in Explosion at UNC Lab

Chapel Hill, NC – Flying glass from a laboratory explosion cut a graduate student in a UNC

Chemistry building on Wednesday

INCIDENT AT NC STATE

Wetterhahn knew that dimethylmercury was highly toxic and she took reasonable precautions; she wore safety glasses and latex gloves, and manipulated the chemical in a fume cupboard

Less than a year later, she was dead.

Dimethylmercury penetrated the glove and started entering her skin within 15 seconds.

Today researchers wear highly resistant laminated gloves underneath a pair of long-cuffed neoprene (or other heavy duty) gloves to handle dimethylmercury.

Karen Wetterhahn 1949 - 1997

LEVELS OF LEARNING

UNCONSCIOUS INCOMPETENCE

CONSCIOUS INCOMPETENCE

CONSCIOUS COMPETENCE

UNCONSCIOUS COMPETENCE

INCIDENTS and IMPACTS

Small Fire In Clean Room

Fire at U of Texas / Fire at NC State –

Pyrophoric Liquid Splash at UCLA

REGULATIONS AND REGULATORY AGENCIES

OSHA / NC OSHAEPA / DENR

NC DHHSNRC / NC RPD

Homeland Security / Patriot ActDOTFAA

North Carolina Building/Fire/Mechanical Codes

Other Regulatory Hot Buttons

Hazardous Waste / Hazardous Materials Shipping

• See Waste Storage and Handling Guidelines on Website http://www.ncsu.edu/ehs/waste.htm

• See Shipping / Transport / Security Requirements on Website

Unwanted Events

Avoid Situations Which Have a Negative Impact on our:

PeopleProperty

EnvironmentPublic Image

Ability to Do Business

An Important Question..

Could You Unintentionally Put:

Your Yourself, Your FriendsYour Building, Their BuildingYour Research, Their ResearchOur University

At Risk By Not Following Key Procedures ?

How To Prevent Unwanted Events( Plan, Do, Check, Act)

•Training– Mgr Safety Orientation

Checklist and On Line Haz Com– Review CHP, Safety Plan, and

Subject Matter Specific Training•Follow SOPS

– Work Practices, Engineering Controls, PPE

•Know Emergency Procedures

DEFENSE MECHANISMSOccupational Safety and Health Council – Charged by the ChancellorInstitutional Biosafety Committee Hazardous Materials CommitteeRadiation Safety CommitteeBiosafety CommitteeUnit Safety Committees

Environmental Health and Safety Center

Some of what we do:

Biological SafetyIndustrial HygieneChemical SafetyRadiation SafetyEnvironmental IssuesBusiness ContinuityInsurance & Risk Management

Hazard Communication

Your right to know about the chemicals that you work with

in your job.

Four Key Parts to Hazard Communication

Labels

Training

MSDS

Written Plan

Routes for Chemical Exposure

InhalationIngestion

AbsorptionInjection

LabelsIdentityHazard WarningName & Address of Manufacturer

If you notice a label is missing,torn, or unreadable, contact your supervisor

Material Safety Data Sheets

Product IdentificationCompositionHazard IdentificationFirst AidFire-fighting measuresAccidental-Release measuresExposure controlPersonal Protection

Physical and Chemical propertiesStability and reactivityToxicological infoEcological infoDisposalTransportRegulatory Info

How do I get a MSDS?

Use EHSC Web Home Pagehttp://www.ncsu.edu/ehs/MSDS.htm

CHP

Chemical Hygiene PlanCFR 1910.1450 (OSHA)

Must be Read by All Persons who work in a Laboratory with Chemicals

Access this from A-Z menu at Environmental Health and Safety

Web Page

Compressed Gas Cylinders

Ordering Gases – Materials SupportNecessary Engineering Controls

Storage and HandlingHazard Review

See Gas Safety section of EH&S Website

Laboratory Safety – Engineering Controls

Fume Hoods, Laminar Flow Chemical Hoods, Biological Safety Cabinets

Supervisor must provide training onHow to operateLimitationsMeaning of exhaust alarmsActions to take in the event of an emergency

Fume HoodsSash and Sash Height

ClutterGreen Sticker

Energy Conservation

Meets University StandardCCCHHHEEEMMMIIICCCAAALLL HHHOOOOOODDD IIINNNSSSPPPEEECCCTTTIIIOOONNN

AAAvvvggg... FFFaaaccceee VVVeeellloooccciiitttyyy lllfffpppmmm VVVeeellloooccciiitttyyy CCCooonnntttrrrooolllllleeerrr SSSeeettttttiiinnnggg DDDaaattteee IIInnnssspppeeecccttteeeddd /// /// IIInnnssspppeeecccttteeeddd BBByyy::: This hood meets the University Standard for face velocity.

Changes in hood performance are to be reported to your Principal Investigator or Supervisor, and Environmental Health and Safety at 919-515-4190 or Kyle_Bowen@ncsu.edu

This sign must remain posted until removed by Environmental Health and Safety. Lab Resources Available on the Internet: (http://www.ncsu.edu/ehs/lab.htm)

Recommended Chemical Hood Use Procedures (http://www2.ncsu.edu/ehs/www99/right/handsMan/factsheet/fume_hood.html)

A Question...

Are Chemical, Biological, and Radiological Hazards the only Hazards of a Lab

Environment ?

Hazard Signs

Subject Specific Training

Radioactive Materials and Equipment Bloodborne PathogensLaser SafetyRespirator UseHearing ConservationOther

ELECTRICAL / MECHANICAL• Know the equipment and energy sources

that you will be using.• Use guarded equipment – avoid pinch pts.• Use ground fault protection• Use double insulated or 3-wire power tools• Lockout Tagout – electrical safety• Obtain training on the equipment that you

will be working with.

Electrical HazardsControl of hazardous energy

NEVER remove some else’s lock and tag from any machine, equipment or device

NEVER try to energize or start any machine, equipment, or device while it is locked or tagged out.You must attend NCSU Lockout Tagout training courses before you apply lockout tagout.

Personal Protective Equipment

Employees must know:When/what type PPE is necessaryHow to properly wearLimitationsMaintenance

Employers must conduct a hazard assessment to determine the PPE needed to conduct each task safely

Hazard assessments conducted for the laboratory are maintained with the safety plan

Tasks completed that are not covered by the safety plan must also be assessed to determine if and what PPE is needed.

Personal Protective Equipment

Eye protection

Gloves

Closed-toe, sturdy shoes

Lab coat

Proper Attire

Safety Glasses

Safety Glasses with side shields

Goggles

Face Shield plus safety glasses

Eye Protection

• Long Sleeves • Easy to remove - buttons• Offers protection against

solids and liquids• Splash – shed coat and

head for shower – leave majority of

contamination behind

Lab Coat

Goggles only Goggles and face shield

• Latex – Avoid powdered and consider latex allergies

• Nitrile – Available in 4 mil thickness – good dexterity

• Other – may need special glove combinations for highly toxic skin penetrants• On-line selection guides

Gloves

Hazardous Material Spill

• Red Light, Yellow Light, Green Light Approach

• Call Campus Police (911) if Yellow or Green

• If necessary, evacuate building

• Get assistance necessary

Eye Wash Stations

Shower Stations

HAZARDOUS MATERIALS SECURITY• Physical Security• Personnel Security and Reliability

EH&S WebsiteFor further information:www.ncsu.edu/ehsIndex of Services:- Sort by subject or

department- Contact information

Safety Hotline (515-5445)

How To Prevent Unwanted Events( Plan, Do, Check, Act)

•Training– Mgr Safety Orientation

Checklist, On Line Haz Com– Review CHP, Safety Plan, and

Subject Matter Specific Training•Follow SOPS

– Work Practices, Engineering Controls, PPE

•Know Emergency Procedures

Supervisor’s ResponsibilityInvestigate and to fill out accident forms

• Supervisor’s Accident/Incident Report• North Carolina Industrial Commission

Form 19

Reporting Accidents

InjuryIllnessFirst AidNear Miss