Chemical handling in Laboratory - Safety Dos and Don’ts
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Chemical handling in Laboratory - Safety Dos and Don’ts |
Chemical handling in Laboratory - Safety Dos and Don’ts
Laboratories store and handle
several types of hazardous and non-hazardous chemicals and therefore there is a
certain level of risk associated with each chemical. Recognizing the hazards
and assessing the risks to decide on control measures is the important step in
any safety management system.
Before assessing the risk, it
is very important to identify all types of hazards such as different types of
harmful chemicals (including acids and bases, corrosive, cryogenic, flammable,
halogen, hydrocarbons, volatile organic compounds, mercury, oxidizing agents,
peroxides, pyrophoric, etc.), biological agents, compressed gases and
electrical hazards.
In addition, we need to know
the route of the exposure and its consequences. Chemical can be exposed though
inhalation, injection, ingestion, and absorption. After analyzing and assessing
the risk, it should be managed by providing the appropriate control measures,
including emergency management and response plan.
First Aid and Safety
Dos and Don'ts of Chemical Handling in Laboratory
provides quick risk management guides for the chemist and all staff. It can be
prepared as a safety poster and displayed in important places. This will help
to remember safety precautions during storage, handling, during the experiment
and after the experiment. The risks associated with handling and storing
chemicals in the laboratory can be managed by using modern equipment or
techniques or procedures to limit exposures.
It is also very important to
use personal protective equipment when handling chemicals. It cannot eliminate
dangers but serve as a barrier against contact. This safety dos and
don'ts of handling chemicals in the laboratory helps you understand
best labeling practices, general guidance for handling chemicals, and safety
precautions when handling chemicals.
Chemical handling in Laboratory: Safety Dos and Don’ts
Following safety dos and
don'ts gives quick guides to manage laboratory risks when handling chemicals.
Dos
- Label all chemicals and close the containers tightly.
- Know the chemical hazards using safety data sheet before use.
- Display and keep safety data sheet (SDS) where chemicals are handled and stored
- Select glassware material depending on type of work.
- Apparatus and reagents should have fixed places.
- Dispose broken glassware in a separate receptacle.
- Store poisonous chemicals in a labeled cupboard
- Keep adequate ventilation in fume hood.
- Promptly clean any spillage of chemicals.
- Use fume hood for high toxic or flammable materials.
- Use flame fume hood for all operation with toxic and flammable materials.
- Use wire-mesh to heat the glassware with chemical.
- Store and dispose waste solvent separately
- On contact, use safety shower or eye wash for minimum 15 minutes
- While disposing off chemicals in the sink, dilute them first.
- Ensure availability of carbon dioxide fire extinguisher in laboratory
- Use the appropriate PPEs including hand gloves and chemical splash safety googles for the chemicals handled.
- Ensure heartiness of firefighting equipment and systems
- Always prepare the chemical samples inside the ventilation hood.
- All compressed gas cylinders must be secured and in safe place.
- Minimize the chemical inventory.
- Leaked container must be immediately removed at contain at safe location.
- Toxic chemicals must be kept in closed container and disposed though appropriate agency.
- Use bottle-carrier for safe transportation.
- Mix chemical slowly with stirring.
- Transfer chemical into clean and properly labeled container
- Inform to supervisor immediately if you exposed to any chemical
- Maintain general hygiene immediately after every work.
- All contaminated wastes must be collected and diposed appropriately as per disposal procedure.
Don’ts
- Don’t use cracked, chipped glassware
- Don’t store incompatible chemicals together
- Don’t heat glassware on naked flame
- Don’t transfer used chemicals back into primary container
- Don’t start work without proper clamping the apparatus
- Don’t store corrosive liquids above eye level
- Don’t open toxic chemical container in normal room where occupant may exposed due to air circulation.
- Don’t lean over test tube or other reaction vessel.
- Don’t apply mouth suction for pipetting
- Don’t siphon chemical with mouth for transferring from one container to another.
- Don’t handle volatile solvent near an open flame or electrical hot plate.
- Don’t leave heating operation unattended
- Don’t leave electricity and service line ON after job.
- Don’t keep fume hood door permanently open
- Don’t pour water over immiscible flammable fluids.
- Don’t use deteriorated or cracked hoses with compressed gas cylinder.
- Don’t use DCP (Dry Chemical Powder) fire extinguishers on chemical fire.
- Don’t dispose left over samples in normal wash basin.
These Safety Dos and Don'ts of Chemical handling
in laboratory can be prepared in pictorial format and displayed in the
prominent location to provide a quick
and easy guide for all laboratory employees. It can also be used to educate the
staff about safety precautions when
using chemicals in Laboratory.
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