General Chemical Safety
&
Handling of Chemicals in
Labs
Edited Version
Dr. Khurram Imran Khan
GIK Institute, Topi.
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 & 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 • Sensitizer
(Cancer Causing) • Hepatotoxin
• Highly toxic agent (Toxic to Liver)
• Toxic agent • Nephrotoxin
• Reproductive (Toxic to Kidneys)
hazard • Neurotoxin
• Irritant (Toxic to Nervous
• Corrosive System)
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 water-
reactive reagents)
Color and Number Coded Label
Systems
NFPA-type label
Colors represent kind of hazard
3 •
•
Red = fire
Yellow = instability
4 2 • Blue = health
• Black/White = 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 • ACID = Acid
• ALK = Alkali
4 2 • COR = Corrosive
COR • W = Use no water
• Other symbols:
Material Safety Data Sheets
(MSDS)
Provides more detailed information about a chemical,
including
– Composition, information on ingredients (Section 2)
– Hazards identification (Section 3)
– First aid measures (Section 4)
– Accidental Release measures (Section 6)
– Handling and Storage (Section 7)
– Exposure controls, personal protection (Section 8)
– Stability and reactivity (Section 10)
– Toxicological information (Section 11)
JLF 9/05 12
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)
• Exposure Limits
Threshold Limit Value (TLV)
TLV-C (Ceiling Limit)
TLV-STEL (Short Term 15 Min)
TLV-TWA (Time Weighted Average Days or
Weeks))
Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL)
Recommended Exposure Limit (REL)
MSDS (cont’d)
• Toxicological Information
LC50: median lethal concentration by
inhalation in a single exposure over a
specified time period
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
Inside storage room
• safety cans, or
• an inside storage room
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
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
Useful and helpful websites regarding safety:
http://www.luc.edu/environmentalservices/safety_information
.shtml
http://www.ilpi.com/safety/
http://www.chem.uky.edu/resources/stockroom/waste.html
http://www.uttyler.edu/safety/labwastemanual.pdf
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npg/
http://avogadro.chem.iastate.edu/MSDS/
