General Laboratory

General Laboratory Safety
Training

Staying safe means that you…
• Read labels on containers of chemicals
• Read Material Safety Data Sheets
(MSDS)
• Handle chemicals with care
• Use correct protective clothing and
equipment
• Remember emergency procedures

Chemical Labels
• Every container of chemicals is labeled by
the manufacturer.
• The label will tell you
– Name of chemical
– Name, address and emergency phone
number of manufacturer
– Physical and health hazards
– Precautionary measures
– First-aid instructions
– Proper handling/storage instructions

Health Hazards on
a Chemical Label
•
•
•
•
•

Carcinogen
Highly toxic agent
Toxic agent
Reproductive hazard
Irritant

•
•
•
•
•

Corrosive
Sensitizer
Hepatotoxin
Nephrotoxin
Neurotoxin

Typical Precautionary Measures
on a Label
• Do not breathe vapors
• Use in well-ventilated areas
• Keep container closed when not in
use
• Avoid contact with skin
• Wash thoroughly with soap and
water after handling

• Keep away from sparks, heat, and
flame
• Do not store near combustible
materials
• Store in tightly closed container
• Remove and wash contaminated
clothing promptly
• Keep from contact with clothing and
other combustible materials

Common Signal Words
on Labels
• Danger – Can cause immediate serious
injury or death
• Warning – Can cause potentially serious
injury or death
• Caution – Can cause potentially
moderate injury

Special Symbols Used on Labels
Helps you recognize kind of hazard a chemical
could present if you are not careful
– Toxicity
– Corrosivity (acids and bases)
– Ignitability (flammable solvents and
certain solids)
– Reactivity (sodium and various waterreactive reagents)

Special Symbols Used on Labels
Explosive (Symbol:
exploding bomb)

Flammable
(Symbol: flame)

Hazardous to the
environment (Symbol:
Dead tree and fish)

Oxidising (Symbol:
flame over circle)

Health hazard/Hazardous to
the ozone layer (Symbol:
Exclamation mark)

Corrosive (Symbol:
Corrosion)

Serious health hazard
(Symbol: health hazard)

Acute toxicity (Symbol:
Skull and crossbones)

Gas under pressure
(Symbol: Gas cylinder)

Radiation danger

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Color and Number Coded Label
Systems
NFPA-type label

3
4

2

National Fire Protection Association

Colors represent kind of hazard
•
•
•
•

Red = fire
Yellow = instability
Blue = health
black = specific hazard
& personal protection

Numbers show degree of hazard
•
•
•
•
•

0 = Minimal
1 = Slight
2 = Moderate
3 = Serious
4 = Severe

Color and Number Coded
Label Systems
NFPA-type labels

Black = specific hazard
• OX = Oxidizer

3
4

• ACID = Acid

2
COR

• ALK = Alkali
• COR = Corrosive
• W = Use no water
• Other symbols:

Material Safety Data Sheets
(MSDS)
Provides more detailed information about a chemical, including
– Composition, information on ingredients
– Hazards identification
– First aid measures
– Accidental Release measures
– Handling and Storage
– Exposure controls, personal protection
– Stability and reactivity
– Toxicological information

MSDS (cont’d)
Hazards Identification
– Inhalation: Respiratory tract (lungs) through inhalation
– Ingestion: Digestive tract through eating or smoking with
contaminated hands or in contaminated work areas
– Absorption through the skin or eyes: Dermatitis or
damage to the liver, kidney, or other organ systems
– Injection: Percutaneous injection of a toxic substance
through the skin

MSDS (cont’d)
Specific possible health hazards:
– Acute poisoning (rapid assimilation of

substance, i.e., carbon monoxide)
– Chronic poisoning (prolonged exposure, i.e.,
lead poisoning)
– Cumulative poisons (numerous chronic
exposures, i.e., heavy metals)
– Substances in combination (synergistic effect, i.e.,
exposure to alcohol and chlorinated solvents)

MSDS (cont’d)
Potential Health Effects
– Eye irritation
– Nausea
– Dizziness
– Skin rashes
– Headache
– Existing medical conditions possibly
aggravated by exposure

MSDS (cont’d)
• Emergency/first-aid procedures to follow
• Accidental Release Measures
What to do if substance spills and leaks
How to correctly dispose of substance
Equipment/procedures for cleaning up
spills and leaks

MSDS (cont’d)
Handling and Storage
– How to handle and store substance safely
– Any other precautions (i.e., grounding
containers during transfer of flammables)

MSDS (cont’d)
• Exposure Controls, Personal
Protection
Respirator
Gloves
Eye protection
Protective clothing
Ventilation

• Special work and hygiene practices
that should be followed

MSDS (cont’d)
• Toxicological Information
LC50: median lethal concentration by
inhalation in a single exposure over a
specified time period
LCLO: lowest reported LC50
LD50: median lethal concentration by a route
other than inhalation

So, what is “highly toxic”?
• “Highly Toxic” is indicated by
– LD50  50 mg/kg body wt by ingestion to albino rats
each weighing between 200 to 300 gms
OR
– LD50  200 mg/kg by continuous contact for 24 hrs with
skin of albino rabbits each weighing between 2 and 3
kg
OR
– LC50  200 ppm of gas or vapor inhalation (or 2 mg/L of
mist, dust, or fumes) for one hour by albino rats each
weighing between 200 to 300 gms

Handle Chemicals with Care
– Dispose of chemicals, broken glass, and
other waste in approved containers
– Clean up broken glass and spills immediately
– Keep the lab clean and neat
– Store incompatible chemicals in separate
storage areas

Chemical Storage
• Labs have established separate storage areas for
 Flammable and combustible organic liquids and solvents
 Acids
 Dry poisons, salts, and oxidizers
 Bases

• Chemicals are stored in
 Chemical storage cabinets
 Flammable storage refrigerators (No food)
 Chemical storage refrigerators/freezers (No food)
 On shelves with retaining barriers

Storage Fundamentals
• Identify incompatible chemicals – check the Material
Safety Data Sheet
• Isolate and separate incompatible materials
– Isolate by storing in another area or room
– Degree of isolation depends on quantities, chemical
properties and packaging
– Separate by storing in same area or room, but apart
from each other

Storage of Flammable and
Combustible Liquids
• Storage must not limit the use of
exits, stairways, or areas normally
used for the safe regress of
people
• Storage must be in:
• closed metal containers
inside a storage cabinet, or
• safety cans, or
• an inside storage room

Inside storage room

Storage Cabinets
• Not more than 60 gal of Class I
and/or Class II liquids, or not more
than 120 gal of Class III liquids
permitted in a cabinet
• Must be conspicuously labeled,
“Flammable - Keep Fire Away”
• Doors on metal cabinets must
have a three-point lock (top, side,
and bottom), and the door sill
must be raised at least 2 inches
above the bottom of the cabinet

Use correct protective clothing and equipment
• Eye Protection
 Safety glasses – flying particles, chemical splashes,
dust
 Splash goggles – corrosive liquids, solvents, powders
 Face Shields – high pressure systems
• Respiratory Protection

– normally not needed at LUC

• Skin and Body Protection
 Gloves – see the MSDS
 Aprons and lab coats – strong acids and bases
 Shoes – always worn in lab, closed toe and closed
heel
• Hearing Protection – normally not needed at LUC

Do not
– Use damaged glassware
– Store chemicals near heat, sunlight, or other
substances with which they might react
– Store materials on floors or other places where
people could trip over them
– Leave equipment unattended when its operating
(unless it is designed to do so or you have an SOP)
– Put custodians and fellow workers in danger

If Overexposed to a Hazardous
Substance
•
•
•
•

Get medical help immediately!
Inform your lab supervisor
Check MSDS for first-aid instructions.
Some general guidelines are
• Eyes: Flush with water for 15 minutes
• Ingestion: Follow label and MSDS instructions
• Skin Contact: Stand under emergency shower and
remove contaminated clothing immediately
• Inhalation: Get to fresh air and get prompt medical
attention

Other Emergency Procedures
1. If the spill presents an immediate danger, leave the spill site and warn
others, control entry to the spill site, and wait for safety officer.
2. Attend to any persons who may have been contaminated. Remove
contaminated clothing. Flush skin/eyes with water at least for 15 min to 30
min; use soap for intermediate and final cleaning of skin areas.
3. If flammable vapours are involved, do not operate electrical switches. Try
to turn off or remove heat sources, where it is safe to do so.
4. Do not touch the spill without protective clothing. Where the spill does
not present immediate personal danger, try to control the spread or volume
of the spill. It means shutting a door, moving nearby equipment to prevent
further contamination, repositioning an overturned container or one that has
a hole in the bottom or side, creating a dike by putting an absorbent around
a spill.
5. Absorbents should be used to collect substances. Reduce vapour
concentrations by covering the surface of a liquid spill with absorbent.
Control enlargement of the spill area by diking with absorbent.

Emergencies can happen, so
• Avoid working alone in the lab
• Know where emergency phone numbers are posted
• Review MSDS
• Know where to go and what to do in an emergency
• Know the location of the closest safety showers,
eyewashes, and fire extinguishers

Chemical Hygiene Plan (CHP)
Outlines specific work practices for all work
involving hazardous substances in the lab
• Gives procedures to follow when working
with hazardous chemicals
• Provides details on how your chemical exposure
will be monitored and limited
• Assures that you have the right personal protective
equipment (PPE)
• Specifies that some hazardous tasks to be
approved in advance by the PI

Disposal
1. Safe disposal of chemicals is a specialized field.
2. In many cases the method of disposal is substance
specific.
3. The chemical properties, hazards, incompatibles, etc,
should be studied and expert advice should be
sought.
4. Planning for safe disposal has to be meticulous and
the procedure should be approved by the competent
authority.
5. Execution should be under the guidance of experts.
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General Guidelines
1. Liquid and solid wastes should be kept separate.
2. Chemicals for disposal must be placed in a non-reactive, sealed
container with a screw type cap.
3. Waste container must be kept closed.
4. Attach a tag to each and every container of the chemical waste.
5. The outside of the containers must be clean and free of chemical
contaminants and residues.
6. Date and label each container with the following information:
1) Hazardous waste;
2) Full name(s) of chemical contents and approximate percent if necessary;

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7. Separate wastes into the different waste categories that collect
acids in a separate container from solvents, etc.
8. Incompatible materials should not be mixed in the same container.
9. Corrosive or reactive chemicals should not be put in metal cans.
10. For liquids, fill containers to about 90 percent of container volume.
Containers should not be filled to the brim.
11. Metal barrels should not be stored outside where they will rust.
Smaller containers of chemicals should not be packed into a
large drum for disposal.

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Regarding some of the specific substances, the following must be noted
while planning disposal.
1) Ignitable liquids and organic solvents —
Halogenated wastes should be separated from non-halogented solvent
wastes. Separate organic solvents from aqueous solutions. Keep acidified
solvents separate from other solvents and acid wastes.
2) Acids, bases, and aqueous solutions —
Strong inorganic acids or oxidizers with organic compounds should not be
mixed . Keep acids, bases or aqueous solutions containing heavy metals
separate from other wastes. Avoid mixing concentrated acids and bases
together in the same container.
3) Wastes containing mercury salts should be separated from all other
wastes.
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4. Corrosive materials —
Corrosive liquids shall not be mixed with any other hazardous waste
under any circumstances.
5) Perchloric acid and perchlorates —
Keep perchloric acid and perchlorate wastes separate from other wastes.
6) Toxic wastes — Separate toxic wastes from other hazardous wastes.
7) Paint and paint thinner — Separate solid sludge from paint thinners by
pouring off thinners into a separate waste container. Brushes, rollers,
paper or other debris should not be put in paint wastes. Water and waterbase paint wastes should be separated from oil-base paint wastes. Label
wastes as paint stripper waste or paint sludge.
8) Oils, lubricating fluids and cooling fluids —
Flammable solvents, halogenated solvents (degreasers), water or
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should not be mixed with waste oils.

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Special Treatments

Hydrogen fluoride, hydrofluoric acid or related compounds
a) Splashes in the eye —
Immediately flood with large volumes of gently running water from a tap
for at least 15 min.
b) Splashes on the skin —
•

All contaminated clothing should be removed and flood the skin with
large volumes of running water.

•

Thereafter 2 % calcium gluconate gel should be applied liberally to the
affected parts and massaged into the

•

If nails have been penetrated by the acid the gel be liberally applied over
and around the nail and the area, and massaged continuously for at least
15 min.

Must be referred to hospital after washing the skin and starting the above
treatment
with the ointment.
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Hydrogen cyanide inhalation:
a) Care should be taken so that rescuer does not fall a victim to the same
gas.
b) If conscious and breathing, remove the patient immediately to the
hospital.
c) If breathing stops, place the casualty in the prone position with the
mouth down with a clear breathing passage.
Do not use the mouth-to-mouth method because the first-aider may
inhale the hydrogen cyanide gas himself. Artificial respiration should be
given by a trained first-aider.

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Electric Shock
Power supply should be isolated. If the victim is unconscious or has
stopped breathing, begin artificial respiration without delay. The patient
is to be shifted to hospital for treatment of,
a) Unconsciousness — Always victims should be placed on their sides
to prevent suffocation.
b) Broken bones, dislocations — Keep the victim still. Do not
manipulate the injury.
c) Shock, heart attack — If the face is white, place upper part of the
body in low position. If the face is red, place upper part of the body in a
high position.
d) Convulsions/fits — Patient should be laid down carefully, protecting
his head with a pillow or clothing.
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