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Safety Handbook

Rules for workplace safety and health monitoring University of Basel

Chemistry Department (SJR19)

Version 05/2018,

Safety Handbook University of Basel, Chemistry Department (SJR19)

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Foreword To all employees in the organic and inorganic chemistry buildings

This document is intended to help you to be able to assume responsibility for a safety-

conscious and environmentally-friendly manner of working in your workplace within our

department.

Dangerous situations can occur when working in a chemistry laboratory. Studies have

shown that in approximately 85% of all such cases, human error is the cause of

accidents on the job.

Important note: You are responsible for your own safety, as well as for that of

others in the laboratory!

Should you have any questions regarding safety or the disposal of waste, assistants,

instructors or safety representatives are ready to help at any time.

This document is by no means exhaustive. We look forward to receiving suggestions

and corrections.

We hope you will be able to enjoy an accident-free work place in this department.

Safety Officer Head of Department

Oliver Ilg Prof. Marcel Mayor


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Table of Contents

1. House Rules 1.1 Opening hours 1.2 Working outside of opening hours 1.3 Smoking, drugs and alcohol 1.4 Announcements and notices 1.5 Theft/Loss of personal items 1.6 Miscellaneous

2. Emergency contacts

2.1 Emergency numbers 2.2 In-house contacts 2.3 Fire 2.4 Alarm 2.5 Meeting place 2.6 Escape routes 2.7 Accident / Injury

2.7.1 Reporting accidents 2.7.2 First Aid

2.7.2.1 Securing accident area 2.7.2.2 Duties as a first aider 2.7.2.3 Further First Aid duties 2.7.2.4 Registering the incident

2.7.3 Contacts / First aiders 2.7.4 First Aid Kit 2.7.5 Emergency showers 2.7.6 Ice packs 2.7.7 Diphotherine Spray (Prevor) and Eye Shower 2.7.8 Defibrillators

3. Personal Protective Equipment

3.1 Protective Equipment Supply 3.2 Eye protection 3.3 Work clothing 3.4 Hand protection 3.5 Breathing protection

4. Safety in the lab

4.1 General 4.2 General use of and dealing with chemicals 4.3 Formation of organic peroxides 4.4 Potentially explosive compounds 4.5 Electrostatic discharge 4.6 Storing dangerous substances 4.7 Documenting chemicals in the lab 4.8 H/P statements 4.9 Intensive cooling 4.10 Compressed Gas Cylinders 4.11 Working with a vacuum 4.12 Hose connectors and mountings 4.13 Heating baths 4.14 Hazard visualisation / safety information sheet 4.15 Night room 4.16 Oderant room 4.17 Technical deficiencies 4.18 Working with strong magnetic fields


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4.19 Supplies Storage 4.20 Chemical Storage 4.21 Working while pregnant / breast- feeding 4.22 Listening to music in the laboratory

5. Waste Disposal

5.1 General 5.2 Waste Disposal Container 5.3 Waste solvents 5.4 Chemicals 5.5 Laboratory glass 5.6 Syringes / Needles / Pasteur pipettes / small containers 5.7 Waste oil 5.8 Aqueous extraction phases 5.9 Mercury waste 5.10 Acids / Bases 5.11 Reactive or highly poisonous products 5.12 Paper / Cardboard 5.13 Styrofoam 5.14 Waste metal 5.15 Electronic scrap 5.16 Toner / Printer Ink 5.17 Radioactive materials

6. Safety Equipment 6.1 Fire extinguishers 6.2 Fire hoses 6.3 Binder / Absorbent agents 6.4 Sand (for fires) 6.5 Fire blankets 6.6 Gas and dust masks 6.7 Mercury absorbent agents 6.8 Gas detector tubes (Dräger tubes) 6.9 Face shield

7. Safety Training /Further Training 7.1 General 7.2 Safety Training (Primary Training) of new Coworkers/Employees 7.3 Periodic Repetition of the Safety Training 7.4 Safety Seminars 7.5 Implementation of the Safety Rules/Regulations

8. Shipping of Chemicals and Biological Material 8.1 General

9. Low-VOC-Emission Policy: Laboratory Rules

10. Contacts 11. Safety Online


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1. House Rules

1.1 Opening hours The main entrances are open from 7.15 until 18.00 h. Entry to the laboratories to outsiders is strictly forbidden.

1.2 Working outside of opening hours Working in the lab after 22.00h or at the weekend is permitted only with explicit permission of the supervisor. Because of safety reasons, everybody who is in the building after 18.00h or at the weekend must sign/register in the attendance book Location of attendance book OC: at the backyard entrance / AC: at the counter of the stores. In general, it is forbidden to work alone ((with chemicals)) in the lab. Either another person has to be present and must be within hearing distance, or a control-and-alarm system has to be activated all the time.

1.3 Smoking, drugs and alcohol Smoking is strictly forbidden in the entire building. Use of alcohol or other drugs is forbidden in the research and practical labs. Any person under the influence of drugs or alcohol will not be allowed within the lab areas.

1.4 Announcements and notices Any notifications regarding activities in the building, labs, practicals or lectures will be put on the boards in the entryway. Requests for hanging up a notice are to be submitted in the secretaries’ offices.

1.5 Theft / Loss of personal items Never leave personal items such as wallets, keys, mobiles, etc. unattended. The Department assumes no responsibility for lost or stolen items. The 'lost and found' is located in the secretary's office (Room OC 105) or in the Supplies Store (Room OC 108).

1.6 Miscellaneous You can be held responsible for negligence or intentional damage to the building or inventory. Laboratory and hallway doors are fire retardant and must always be kept closed. At the end of work, all rooms must be locked.


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2. Emergency contacts

2.1 Emergency numbers Police: 117 Fire department: 118 Ambulance: 144

Rega (air rescue): 1414

Poison control centre: 145

University hospital: 061 265 25 25 or 164 525 25 (internal)

Ophthalmologic clinic: 061 265 87 87 or 164 587 87 (internal)

Emergency doctor/pharmacy: 061 261 15 15

2.2 In-house contacts

Markus Ast, phone 7 11 14 (out-of-office times: 079 210 97 74)

fire / technical emergencies / damages / accidents / injuries

Andreas Sohler, Tel. 7 11 79

fire / technical emergencies / damages / accidents / injuries

Oliver Ilg, Tel. 7 11 01

Safety / disposal / damages

2.3 Fire Fire ! …..what do I do?

1. Alert your colleagues

- If the ALARM is not automatically set off, manually activate the alarm using

the red button in the hallway

2. Get everyone out of the danger area; give first aid

3. Close all windows and doors

4. Extinguishing

- If you are familiar with the use of fire extinguishers, help fight the fire

5. Leave the fire area following the escape routes

6. Proceed to the meeting place (courtyard), where those in charge will inform you

of any further measures

Use of the elevators is not allowed!

No one may leave the scene without permission In case of a fire, it is very important

that the fire department knows exactly how many people are still in the building


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2.4 Alarm

Alarm (siren) ! …..what do I do?

1. Secure the area around your own work/reaction

2. If possible, remove energy supplies

3. Inform your colleagues (for example, in other labs or in the basements)

4. Leave the building following the escape routes

5. Proceed to the meeting place (courtyard), where those in charge will inform you

of any further measures

Use of the elevators is not allowed!

No one may leave the scene without permission In case of fire, it is very important

that the fire department knows exactly how many people are still in the building

2.5 Meeting place The meeting place is located in the Vogesenstrasse of the building complex.

2.6 Escape routes Escape routes are marked with the following signs:

Always make sure you know where the nearest escape route is. Escape routes have to be free from combustible material all the time !


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2.7 Accident / Injury 2.7.1 Reporting accidents

In-house: Markus Ast 7 11 14 (Andreas Sohler 7 11 79)

External: Ambulance 144

Please provide the following Information:

Who? Who is calling

Where? Describe as exactly as possible the location of the accident

What? Short description of the accident

How many injured? The number of injured people

Which injuries? Especially serious injuries

Wait for questions! Do not hang up until everything has been understood

2.7.2 First Aid 2.7.2.1 Securing accident area Accident areas must first be secured; this means checking technical installations,

roadways etc.

2.7.2.2 Duties as a first aider

Stay calm!

Get injured person out of the way of danger Rescue Manoeuver

Check if the injured person is conscious:

Speak loudly to them

Touch them

Shake their shoulders no reaction = they are unconscious

A Sound the alarm (or send someone to

sound the alarm) Airways – free them Are they breathing? YES Monitor breathing and pluse Put the patient in the recover position


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B

Are they breathing? NO Begin artificial respiration with

two rescue breaths Is there a pulse? YES Check breathing Begin artificial respiration, checking pulse

continuously (about every minute)

C

D

Is there a pulse? NO If available, use a defibrillator: turn on the

device, place the electrodes on naked chest and follow to the instructions

NO Defibrillator available: CPR: alternating, 30 chest compression

and two rescue breaths Is there a pulse? YES Artificial respiration


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2.7.2.3 Further First Aid duties Unconscious casualty (Breathing and circulation are okay):

Put the injured person on their side

Put them into the recovery position

Shock: Signs: sweaty forehead, pale colour, cool clammy skin, anxiety

Put the injured person on their back and elevate their legs

Control bleeding (if necessary)

Keep the injured person warm

Talk to the person (keep them distracted)

Maintain constant observation Exception: if the casualty feels chest pain (heart attack) or is not breathing. Then the upper body must be elevated

Bleeding wounds:

Elevate affected areas as much as possible

Apply direct pressure

Use sterile bandaging

Burns:

Immediately cool the area for at least 15 min. with water

If available use a cold compress instead of water (see 2.7.6 Cooling gel)

Put out fires (with water, fire-retardant blankets, lab coats etc.)

Do not remove clothing that is stuck to the skin Call a doctor immediately if the pain is intense


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Amputated limbs:

Wrap the amputated limb in sterile bandaging

Pack it on ice

Give it to the medics

Chemical burns:

Remove contaminated clothing

Rinse skin liberally

If available, use Diphoterine Spray instead of water (see 2.7.7 Diphoterine Spray)

For larger chemical burns, use the emergency showers located in the hallways

Eye Injuries:

Rinse immediately with water for at least 15 min. (Be careful that the uninjured eye remains uncontaminated)

If available, use Diphoterine Eye Spray instead of water (see 2.7.7 Diphoterine Spray)

Go to an opthamologist / Ophthalmologic Clinic Emergency Service (Tel 061 265 87 87)

Poison (ingested orally):

Do not carry out any actions of your own (like drinking, vomiting or purging)

Immediately call a doctor / Toxicology institute (Tel 145)

2.7.2.4 Registering the incident Accidents must be registered with the secretaries immediately for insurance purposes.

Students should contact their own insurance provider.

In all cases, a form must be filled out with Oliver Ilg.

2.7.3 Contacts / First aiders For minor injuries, contact

Markus Ast, Workshop OC, Tel. 7 11 14 or

Andreas Sohler, Workshop OC, Tel. 7 11 79.


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2.7.4 First Aid Kit There is a first aid kit in the hallway on every floor. Please inform Markus Ast (Tel.

7 11 14), if you remove anything from the first aid kit.

2.7.5 Emergency showers There is an emergency shower in the hallway on every floor, and marked with the

following sign.

2.7.6 Ice packs Ice packs are better than running water for the following reasons:

- Fast cooling

- Reduces pain

- Exact supply of the necessary liquid

- Protects wounds from further contamination

- Prevents hypothermia

Ice packs can be ordered in the Supplies Storage.

2.7.7 Diphotherine Spray (Prevor) and Eye Shower Chemical accidents are often treated with water; however, this allows dangerous

substances to further penetrate the skin, potentially causing edema. The first aid spray

Diphotherine is an aqueous solution with absorbant compounds which immediately

bond to the chemicals, then expel them. For more information, see

http://www.prevor.com

Diphotherine sprays and eye showers can be obtained in the Supplies Storage OC.

2.7.8 Defibrillators

Defibrillators are located in the Organic and Inorganic Chemistry buildings, and

marked with the following sign.

location AC: AC main entry, near the fire hose beside the stairs

location OC: OC Supplies Storage, 2nd floor beside the counter

http://www.prevor.com/


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3. Personal Protective Equipment

3.1 Protective Equipment Supply The following protective equipment items can be obtained at the supplies storage

AC/OC.

3.2 Eye protection In chemistry labs, continuous eye protection is compulsory. Do not wear contact

lenses, as these could make eye injuries worse. People with glasses should consider

wrap-around safety goggles.

3.3 Work clothing In the laboratories, a long-sleeved lab coat must be worn at all times. This coat may

not be worn outside of the laboratory areas at any point (eg. seminar rooms, libraries,

offices).

Cotton or linen clothing is suitable; synthetic materials are not.

Always wear long trousers with closed shoes.

3.4 Hand protection When working with chemicals, protective gloves should be worn. These must be

appropriate for the intended usage. When leaving the lab, remove the gloves.

Contaminated gloves could endanger other people and articles.

Careful! Many chemicals can diffuse through the gloves.

Protective hand cream is also important to prevent harmful substances from entering

the skin and is a necessary part of skin care.

3.5 Breathing protection It is important to enact measures preventing dangerous substances from being

inhaled. If it is not possible to prevent this entirely, either a complete or half respirator

mask should be worn.


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4. Safety in the Lab

4.1 General A disorderly workspace is a danger to everyone in the room!

All employees are to ensure order and cleanliness.

Food and drinks are forbidden. Lab fridges are not to be used for food.

It is mandatory to a wear lab coat and safety goggles while working at the fume hoods

or at the writing desks within the lab. In general, it is forbidden to work alone (with chemicals) in the lab. Another person must to be present within hearing distance, or a control-and-alarm system has to be activated all the time. Before working in the lab, external personnel (maintenance personnel) must be informed about exisiting dangers and instructed about safety regulations.

4.2 General use of and dealing with chemicals Chemicals must always be transported in appropriate receptacles and labelled clearly.

Dangerous chemicals must be handled in the fume hoods. Try to keep the hood

sashes as closed as possible.

Working with dangerous chemicals is only allowed outside of the fume hoods when the

security of all others has been ensured, be this by the use of equipment that can be

sealed off, cold traps, or effective suctioning devices.

Chemicals must be stored in the safety cupboards.

Private use of chemicals is forbidden.

4.3 Formation of organic peroxides Peroxides tend to decompose explosively, especially when they are heated.

Liquids which tend to form peroxides must be protected from light (UV radiation).

Always check for the presence of peroxides before distillation or vaporisation.

Compounds which tend to form peroxides include diethyl ether, dioxane,

tetrahydrofuran, aldehydes, ketones etc.

4.4 Potentially explosive compounds When working with potentially explosive substances, always work with the lowest

possible concentrations, and be very careful. Follow appropriate rules. Overheating,

naked flames, sparks, knocks and friction must be avoided. Stocks should be

protected from exposure to heat or flames, and stored when possible in a special

room. It is forbidden to store inflammable or explosive materials and compressed

gases together - this includes common storage in the special safety cupboards.

Explosive substances include (among many others) many organic nitrous or nitro

compounds, nitric acid esters, diazo compounds, hydrazine, hydrazoic acid, their

corresponding salts and esters, the salts from fulminic acid, acetylene and derivatives,

heavy metal perchlorates, chlorine gas, organic peroxides and peroxy acids.

Mixing oxidising compounds, like nitrogen-containing, chromate, chlorates,

perchlorates, vaporising nitric acid, concentrated perchloric acid and hydrogen


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peroxide solutions with combustible or reductive elements can have the same

characteristics as explosive substances. For example, nitric acid reacts explosively

with acetone, ethers, alcohols or terpentine oil.

When working with acetylenes, remember that acetylene forms acetylides with various

heavy metals (e.g. copper), which are also very explosive.

4.5 Electrostatic discharge Be careful of electrostatic discharge! Containers of flammable solutions over a volume

of 5 L must be grounded when decanting.

Stainless steel safety containers (Salzkotten) with wire mesh flame arrestor and

pressure relief have proven effective.

4.6 Storing dangerous substances Dangerous substances are to be held or stored so as not to endanger human health or

the environment.

Per lab, the maximal amount of highly combustible liquids is 15 litres, larger amounts

must be stored in saftey cupboards.

In the laboratories, inflammable waste is collected in metal buckets with self-closing

lids (Hobbockeimer, see 5.6).

Only one container of each type of solvent waste is allowed per lab (halogenated, non-

halogenated solvent).

Dangerous chemicals may not be freely accessible and have to be stored in locked

cabinets. Laboratories have to be locked at night.

4.7 Documenting chemicals in the lab All chemicals in the labs must be listed. This inventory should be updated at regular

intervals.

Safety data sheets must be available for all substances. These are provided by the

suppliers (and can be downloaded via the supplier’s website). Links to further

suppliers of safety data sheets can be found in section 8 “Safety on the Web”.

4.8 H/P statements H/P statements (Hazard and Precautionary Statements) is a system of hazard codes

for labelling dangerous compounds. These should be taken into consideration when

using dangerous substances.

4.9 Intensive cooling When using a cooling bath of carbon dioxide and solvents, it is important that the

contents of the glass vessel will not react with the coolant should the glass vessel

break. For example, acetone may not be used as a coolant when fluids containing

hydrogen peroxide are cooled. Were the glass to break, acetone peroxide could be

formed, which is a shock-sensitive substance.

Solid carbon dioxide must be added to the solvent carefully (danger of frothover).


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Dewar flasks are to be dry when they are filled with liquid gases. Always wear

protective goggles and appropriate gloves.

Liquid oxygen or air may not be used for cooling, as they will form explosive mixtures

with organic substances.

Dewar flasks with a volume <50L may be stored in the lab; see also the risk analysis

Liquid Nitrogen (can be obtained from the Safety Officer).

4.10 Compressed Gas Cylinders Laboratories equipped with gas cylinders are to be marked with the

symbol “Warning: Gas Cylinders.”

The number of gas cylinders stored in laboratories should be kept to an absolute

minimum. Secure the cylinders so that they cannot fall over.

No gas cylinders may be kept or used in the hallways or escape routes.

The cap of a gas cylinder should be tightly fastened for transport. Never transport gas

cylinders when the pressure-regulating assembly is attached.

Before releasing the gas, fittings of the pressure-regulating assembly should be leak-

checked. Open the valve carefully.

The gas-supply valve should be closed and pressure-regulating assembly backed off

after use.

The label (full/empty) with the name of the purchaser must always remain on the

cylinder.

In case of fire, the danger of cylinders exploding as a result of the heat is very high.

The fire department must be told of the presence of gas cylinders.

4.11 Working with a vacuum Only use glass containers with the form appropriate for creating a vacuum. Never use

thin flasks like Erlenmeyers or volumetric flasks.

All glass should be checked for physical defects (stellate defect) before the air is

pumped out. Glass containers should be reinforced with shatter protection in case of

implosion; this can be done through the use of a safety screen, protective curtains,

wire mesh cages, or with a layer of plastic shrinkwrap.

Never heat vacuumed containers only on one side.

For vacuum distillations superheating must be avoided (eg. use boiling chips). The

equipment should be pumped empty before the heating begins, and not refilled until it

has cooled down again.

Vacuum containers and equipment (vacuum pumps, freeze-dryers) may NOT be used

or stored in the hallways.

For vacuum pumps refer to operating instructions “Operating Procedure


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Vacuumpumps”. Download: http://www.chemie.unibas.ch/safety/index.html

4.12 Hose connectors and mountings Hoses and tubes must be able to withstand the appropriate pressures, as well as

mechanical, thermal, and chemical strains.

They must be prevented from slipping, with straps, clamps or cable clips, etc.

The use of glass equipment with breakable hose connectors should be avoided (glass

olives). Plug clutches or screw couplings are better as hose connectors.

4.13 Heating baths Oil baths are used to heat equipment. Heating with gas flame or electric heating

mantles is to be avoided.

The maximum temperature of the oil bath equipment must be at least 20°C less than

that of the flashpoint of the oil. Only water-soluble oil should be used. This can be

obtained from the Supplies Storage.

Heated reactions are to be carried out in the daytime under constant supervision.

Heated equipment which is to run during the night must be set up in the night room

(Basement OC). See 4.15 Night room.

4.14 Hazard visualisation of reactions / safety information sheet All reactions must be labelled with a safety information sheet containing the reaction

equation, a table listing all chemicals used, their danger symbols, H/P statements, and

contact details.

The safety information sheet also comprises a risk assessment for hazards like

combustion, oxidation, explosion, acute toxicity, caustic character, chronic toxicity, and

environmental hazards. From this risk assessment measures are to be deduced and

listed on the sheet.

A template for the safety information sheet is one included in the software

“Sciformation ELN” (enventory) to which all members of the department have access.

Link: https://sciformation.chemie.unibas.ch

4.15 Night room Heated reactions that run over night must be carried out in the night room for reasons

of fire protection. These reactions are to be labelled with a safety information sheet,

see 4.14 Hazard visualisation / safety information sheet.

The night room is in the basement of OC, room 023b. This room is equipped with

smoke and heat detectors as well as a sprinkler system.

4.16 Oderant room The oderant room is on the fourth floor of OC, room 305.

Dangerous reactions and reactions with strong-smelling chemicals are to be carried

out in the oderant room. The reaction equipment or fume hood is to be labelled with a

safety information sheet , see 4.14 Hazard visualisation / safety information sheet.

http://www.chemie.unibas.ch/safety/index.html

https://sciformation.chemie.unibas.ch/


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4.17 Technical deficiencies Deficiencies in equipment or dangerous conditions must be remedied immediately.

4.18 Working with strong magnetic fields NMR spectrometers produce a very strong magnetic field. People with a pacemaker

are especially at risk, as the functions of the pacemaker can be affected or even

interrupted.

People with metallic prostheses or metal screws or plates must first check if their metal

parts will interact in the magnetic field before they can work with an NMR instrument.

All metallic objects (like keys, tools, but also credit cards, USB flash drives) should be

set aside before working with an NMR spectrometer.

4.19 Supplies Storage Most standard glass equipment, tubes, office supplies, etc. can be obtained in the

Supplies Storage.

4.20 Chemical Storage Over 3000 chemicals can be reserved for free in the Chemical Storage.

4.21 Working while pregnant / breast-feeding A pregnant (or breast-feeding) woman must report to her supervisor or the safety

representative. The attending doctor will evaluate her working capacity according to a

risk assessment conducted by the Department of Chemistry.

If the person is able to work, the following rules apply:

- Pregnant or lactating women have the opportunity to lie down to rest in

appropriate conditions

- Pregnant women should not work more than 9 hours a day

- Pregnant women may not work between 20.00h at night and 06.00h in

the morning

4.22 Listening to Music in the Lab Regulate the volume of music in the lab so that the alarm can be heard at every point

in the lab. The music must not disturb other people in the same room and nearby.

Listening to music with head phones or ear-pieces is forbidden by the safety

regulations.


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5. Waste Disposal

5.1 General Keep waste to a minimum.

Everyone is responsible for the correct and safe disposal of their own waste.

Please do not store any rubbish in the laboratory. Chemicals or solvents that are no

longer in usemust be disposed of regularly or given to the Chemical Storage.

Full waste solvent canisters and metal buckets (Hobbockeimer) must be removed from

the laboratory immediately and placed in the Waste Disposal Storage.

5.2 Waste Disposal Container The Disposal Container is in the parking area beside the transport elevator.

The Disposal Storage is in the parking area vis a vis of the Anatomisches Museum.

5.3 Waste solvents Waste solvents are collected and disposed of in 5L waste canisters. Remove the

original solvent label on the canister and replace it with a waste label that can be

obtained from the Supplies Storage.

It is not distinguished between „halogenated“ and „not halogenated“ waste solvents.

Full containers are to be taken to the Waste Disposal Container

Important note: No more than two full waste solvent canisters must be stored per lab.

5.4 Chemicals Well-sealed and clearly labelled chemicals are to be handed to Oliver Ilg

(Tel. 7 10 11) at the Supplies Storage AC.

Highly reactive chemicals must be quenched in the lab by the user before

disposal.


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5.5 Laboratory glass Laboratory glass is to be disposed of in the appropriate green/blue bins.

Please rinse the glass beforehand, no chemical residues should remain in the

container!! No non-specified glass items!!

5.6 Syringes / Needles / Pasteur pipettes / small containers Syringes, needles, pasteur pipettes, TLC sheets, silica gel and small containers (like

pill containers or test tubes) are collected in the synthetic bins (with lids,

Hobbockeimer). Full bins are to be taken to the Waste Disposal Storage and placed on

the appropriate europallet. Empty canisters can be found in the Waste Disposal

Container. IMPORTANT: The synthetic bins (Hobbockeimer) must stand compelling in metal buckets (Ochsner). Max. 2 metal buckets per lab are permitted!


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5.7 Waste oil Waste oil is disposed of in white 10 L pails with a green label. Full pails are to be taken to the Waste Disposal Container and placed on the appropriate europallet. Empty canisters can be found in the Waste Disposal Storage.

5.8 Aqueous extraction phases If you use solvent for extraction, the aqueous phase is to be collected in white 10 L containers with a blue label. Full containers are to be taken to the Waste Disposal Container and placed on the appropriate europallet. Empty canisters can be found in the Waste Disposal Storage.


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5.9 Mercury waste Mercury waste must be brought to Oliver Ilg in the Supplies Storage AC or Roy Lips in

the Supplies Storage OC.

Aids for collecting spilled mercury are available, see 6.7 Mercury Absorbent Agents.

5.10 Acids / Bases Concentrated acids and bases are to be carefully neutralised, diluted, and then poured

down the drain under running water.

5.11 Reactive or highly poisonous products Using the appropriate methods, poisonous or reactive substances must be carefully

transformed into safer substances, and then disposed of according to the methods

above (for example, cyanides…).

5.12 Paper / Cardboard Paper waste has special waste containers. Cardboard can be left in the mesh cart in

the AC room 3, across from Supplies Storage AC.

5.13 Styrofoam Styrofoam is to be placed in special recycling bags in AC room 3.

Important: only hard white styrofoam. Black or soft styrofoam is disposed of in the

regular garbage.

5.14 Waste metal Waste metal is disposed of in the Waste Disposal Storage.

5.15 Electronic scrap Electronic scrap is disposed of in the Waste Disposal Storage, please contact Markus

Ast (Tel. 7 11 14) or Oliver Ilg (Tel. 7 10 11).

5.16 Toner / Printer Ink Empty toner or ink cartridges can be given to the workshop.

5.17 Radioactive materials For disposal of radioactive materials please contact Oliver Ilg (Tel 7 10 11).


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6. Safety Equipment

6.1 Fire extinguishers There are various fire extinguishers in the laboratories, hallways, etc.

Locate the fire extinguisher nearest your workspace.

6.2 Fire hoses There are fire hoses in the hallways, which are labelled with this symbol:

6.3 Binder / Absorbent agents Absorbent Agents for spilled liquids are available on every floor (AC/OC) in the boxes

for the fire hoses.

Please report to the Supplies Storage when the container is empty!

6.4 Sand (for fires) Sand is available in the Supplies Storage OC.

6.5 Fire blankets Fire blankets are in the practical laboratories. They are right next to the fire

extinguishers.

6.6 Gas and dust masks Gas masks (half and full masks) and dust masks are available in the Supplies Storage

AC.

6.7 Mercury absorbent agents A set for the collection and absorption of spilled mercury is available in the Supplies

Storage OC and AC.

6.8 Gas detector tubes (Dräger tubes) Detector tubes with semi-quantitative measurement of specific poisonous gases in the

air are available in the Supplies Storage AC. Each use must be registered at the desk!

6.9 Face shield A face shield is available in the Supplies Storage OC.


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7. Safety Training / Further Training

7.1 General It is the responsibility of research group leaders that:

- new coworkers attend/undergo a primary safety training

- they train themselves and their coworkers regularly

- their coworkers are always informed about applicable safety

regulations/rules

- the safety rules are observed

7.2 Safety Training (Primary Training) for new Coworkers/Employees New employees undergo a safety training, which is held by the safety officer (SiBe) in

the first week of the month and has to be documented in written form. Without this

safety training the new coworker is not allowed to work with/handle chemicals in the

lab.

7.3 Periodic Repetition of the Safety Training The research group leader has to organise and document a yearly repetition of the

safety training (for his/her group).

7.4 Safety Seminars The research group leader has to organise for himself/herself and his/her coworkers

twice a year safety seminars on particular safety-relevant subjects/topics twice a year.

The seminar must be documented in written form.

7.5 Implementation of Safety Rules/Regulations The research group leaders must control/monitor periodically that the safety rules are

met in his/her group. The controls/monitoring and possible violations have to be

documented in written form.

It is at the discretion of the group leader to sanction violations of the safety

rules/regulations in consulation with Human Resources.

8. Shipping of Chemicals and Biological Material

8.1 General It is imperative to meet the legal shipping specifications. Information on regulations on dangerous goods, classifications and packaging as well as labels for printing can be found on the University’s platform for hazardous materials: https://wiki.biozentrum.unibas.ch/x/LAizAQ (login with Uni account)

Support is offerd by the dangerous goods safety advisors of the University of Basel:

Karin Hinni: [email protected]

Dominique Wyss: [email protected]

https://wiki.biozentrum.unibas.ch/x/LAizAQ

mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]


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9. Low-VOC-Emission Policy: Laboratory Rules

The University of Basel was asked by the cantonal administration for air pollution prevention to initiate and implement measures to reduce VOC-emission in our laboratories with the best available technique. As requested by the regulation, laboratory rules have been formulated, which can be found in the appendix "Low-VOC-Emission Policy: Laboratory Rules"

10. Contacts

Oliver Ilg, OC office 108

Tel. 7 11 01

Supplies, safety officer

Markus Ast, OC workshop room 11

Tel. 7 11 14

out-of-office times: 079 210 97 74

Techn. services, alarms, first aid, techn.

emergency

Bernhard Jung, AC office 206

Tel. 7 10 02

EDP

Andreas Sohler, OC workshop room 11

Tel. 7 11 79

Techn. services, alarms, first aid

Andres Koller, OC workshop room 11

Tel. 7 11 15

Techn. services, alarm

Hisni Meha OC workshop room 11

Tel 7 11 16

Techn. services, alarms, first aid

Marina Mambelli, OC office 211

Tel. 7 11 13

Secretary OC

Brigitte Howald, OC office 105

Tel. 7 11 12

Secretary OC

Olaf Lips, OC office 2

Tel. 7 11 04

Managing Director


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11.Safety Online

http://www.chemie.unibas.ch/intra/index.html

Safety in the chemistry department, current safety and information documents

http://www.ekas.admin.ch

Federal Coordination Commission of Occupational Safety (FCOS)

http://www.cusstr.ch/

Suggested security rules from the Commission Universitaire pour la santé et la sécurité au

travail romande (in French/German)

http://www.chemlin.de

Internet Chemie Forum

http://www.eusdb.de

Safety data sheets (MSDS)

http://www.gefahrstoffdaten.de/

Dangerous substance data

www.dguv.de/bgia/stoffdatenbank

Gestis data base (MSDS)

http://www.suva.ch

Accident insurance

http://www.toxi.ch

Swiss Toxicological Information Centre

http://www.bafu.admin.ch/

Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN). Governament specialist department for the

environment.

http://www.gischem.de/index.htm

Hazardous substance information

http://www.bgchemie.de

Berufsgenossenschaft Chemie

http://www.dguv.de/de/index.jsp

Deutsche Gesetzliche Unfallversicherung

http://www.chemie.unibas.ch/intra/index.html

http://www.ekas.admin.ch/

http://www.cusstr.ch/

http://www.chemlin.de/

http://www.eusdb.de/

http://www.gefahrstoffdaten.de/

http://www.dguv.de/bgia/stoffdatenbank

http://www.suva.ch/

http://www.toxi.ch/

http://www.bafu.admin.ch/

http://www.gischem.de/index.htm

http://www.dguv.de/de/index.jsp

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