Timothy Styranec, Chemical Storekeeper/ Safety Officer

Chemistry DepartmentYoungstown State University

Lab Safety in AcademiaThe bottom line in lab safety is knowing what the

hazards might be and how to avoid themLab Safety always comes back to paying

attention to proper procedure“We have to change the paradigm where

faculty and students say they never have had an accident.”

Schools have a 10 to 50 times greater frequency of accidents than does the chemical industry, though they tend to be smaller.(Source James Kauffman, Lab Safety Institute)

Reason for Today.

Some things to think about in regards to safety in the academic lab.

A huge difference exists, he says, between university and industry labs. “There are industrial labs where the first time you are caught not wearing appropriate eye protection, you’re fired. That would never happen in an academic lab. It is a difference in culture.”

(DuPont?) has a policy that if you get caught in lab without eye protection, you get warned the first time, sent home for the day the second time, and fired the third time.

Source: http://pubs.acs.org/cen/government/88/8805gov1.html

Causes of Lab Accidents

Lack of working understanding of hazards

Improper or unintended use of equipment

InexperiencedDistractions, lack/loss of

attention to taskBroken, damaged

glassware or equipmentOther

Procedures to protect yourself

Wear the proper personal protective equipment

Do not leave operations unattended

Do not work alone

Complete the proper safety training

Have regular safety inspections

Incidents at other UniversitiesUCLA.Texas Tech.Ohio State.Hudson, Ohio High School Chemistry Lab.

Many others.

Texas TechAccording to CSB, the injured Texas Tech

student received severe burns and lacerations to his face and hands when a mixture of nickel hydrazine perchlorate exploded during the afternoon accident in the chemistry building.

[Ni(N2H4)3][ClO4]2

Texas Tech

Texas Tech AccidentDumb: Against protocol, Brown made a 10 g

batch of the NHP.Dumber: The explosion occurred when Brown

was finishing grinding  a 5 g  sample of his NHP with a mortar and pestle because it was “lumpy”.  These types of compounds are known to be shock sensitive.

Moronic:  Brown wasn’t wearing eye protection or using a blast shield at the time.

Insane: According to the police report, Brown routinely took explosive compounds home with him in his pockets.  The report made it sound as if he was testing them at his house.  The police bomb squad was called to his residence to confiscate the vials, and they conducted a controlled detonation of the samples.

Brown was routinely in the habit of working unsafely.  His luck finally ran out.

University of ColoradoGrad Student was cleaning glassware with ethanol

and nitric acid. She put the mixture in a waste bottle and began

taking off her protective clothing and goggles.She thought the reaction was done when the bottle

detonated. Received acid burns on her body and face, and glass blasted her clothing and was embedded in her side. The glass cut a nerve in her elbow.

She wound up with stitches and burns, but didn’t need surgery.

There was never a thorough investigation

University of ColoradoMulcahy(Graduate Student) was using an

old, but common technique, she says, and “one that others in my lab were also using. There were even references to it online.” Her adviser was unaware students were using the practice and ended it after her accident.

Mulcahy points out that many graduate students and faculty can tell a story about their near-miss.

Fire at OSUColeman Lab: Three-alarm blaze

2005 Improper Chemical StorageGallons of hexane were being

stored on a shelf. After several gallons fell and broke open, the graduate students soaked in hexane left, having been overcome by the fumes.

Moments later fire broke out.

Luckily, no harm came to anyone.

Case Study: Laboratory Fire KillsUCLA Researcher A 23-year-old research assistant working at UCLA who was

seriously burned in a lab fire in December 2008 died from her injuries.

• She was trying to transfer up to 2 ounces (~50ml) of t butyl lithium (pyrophoric chemical), which was dissolved in pentane from one sealed container to another by a 50 ml syringe.

• The barrel of the syringe was either ejected or pulled out of the syringe, causing liquid to be released.

A flash fire set her clothing ablaze and spread second- and third-degree burns over 43% of her body.

UCLA Accident

Root Causes of the Accident

Poor technique and improper methodUsed a 50ml syringe to transfer~50 ml

pyrophoric chemical Should have used a 100 ml syringe

Should have used Cannula Method for transferof pyrophoric chemical > 50 ml

Lack of proper trainingNo safety training record in the research group

and UCLA chemistry Department.

Root Causes of the Accident

Lack of supervision

No follow up actions had been taken after received a UCLA safety inspection report with over a dozen of deficiencies

Solo operation in the laboratory

Root Causes of the Accident

Poor housekeepingFlammable materials and water- and air

reactive chemicals were stored improperly

Improper use of fume hood

The tempered-glass vertical sash that probably was not lowered enough, otherwise, only her hands and forearms would have been burned

Root Causes of the Accident

No proper personal protective equipment

Eye protection, nitrile [rubber] gloves and lab coats were not worn by laboratory personnel

Lab coat would have been less flammable and easier to remove than the sweater which caught on fire

Victim not familiar with emergency response equipment

The injured researcher ran away from a nearby emergency shower instead of toward it

New articles from Lab Safety InstituteLab Accident Leaves Student Uninjured (February 2004)Four Hurt In Lab Explosion (January  2004) Science Lab Safety Upgraded After Mishaps (April 2003) Study Shows High School Science Labs Could Be

Safer (February 2003)Sulfuric acid spill causes scare (1/30/09,News update)Omaha college student burned with sulfuric acid (1/27/09)Accident at Mercer lab causes explosion (2/17/09)USF grad student burns face in lab accident (11/26/08)

Safety Website for ACS

http://pubs.acs.org/cen/safety/

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

GogglesGloves Lab Coats Appropriate Clothing

EmergenciesIn an emergency, immediately call 911, ext. 3665 or 3700.

911 will go directly to campus police

Waste Handling and Disposal

Red Containers: Organic WasteHalogenated and Non-Halogenated

Each time waste is dumped, fill out the form on the container.

Aqueous Waste goes in a separate container. Use a chemical waste form to label the bottle. Mercury, lead, etc. All heavy metal waste goes in a separate

container.

Solid waste goes into a separate container. Use a chemical waste form.

Label everything.

Miscellaneous CommentsDo not throw away empty containers.

Throw glass in the crocks, not in the garbage.

MSDS’s are available in the chemistry office, YSU police department, and the Chemical Management Center.

Report all incidences(eg., injuries, etc.)

Questions or ConcernsAny questions or concerns direct to me.

Tim Styranec Ext. 3665 Room 5053.

Cell phone 330-518-7637

The chemistry procurement and safety site is a good resource.

The End