Lab Safety Analysis

Summarize the four major categories of safety issues for the experiment:

  1. Chemical Hazards - List all chemicals used in experiment and possible hazards associated with them.  Use SDS pages to gather info.
  2. Procedural Hazards - List all necessary hazards related to an experimental procedure and describe how to minimize risk (cleanliness of work area, using hood, handling chemicals and glassware, using an instrument, etc.).
  3. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) – List all the necessary protection for safe experiment (goggles, shoes, hair, gloves, clothing, washing hands, etc.) and explain why they are needed.
  4. Waste Disposal – Explain what to do with the waste generated from the experiment.

Using the lab manual (or the experimental procedure), generate a list of all chemicals that will be used and produced during your assigned experiment. Use SDS (available in the laboratory or online at www.hazard.com ) to learn about proper handling of these chemicals. What are the hazards associated with these chemicals? What sort of personal protective equipment should be used when handling them? What wastes will be generated, and how should they be disposed- in the aqueous waste bottle, in the non-halogenated organic waste container, in the halogenated organic waste container, in the trash? 

 

Example of Safety Analysis

  1. Chemical Hazards

      ACETONE:  flammable colorless liquid. Distinctive odor. Hazardous in case of skin contact (irritant), of eye contact (irritant), of ingestion, of inhalation. Slightly hazardous in case of skin contact (permeator). Toxic to central nervous system (CNS). May be toxic to kidneys, the reproductive system, liver, skin. Repeated or prolonged exposure can produce target organs damage. Reactive with acids.

ARSENIC:  lustrous solid. Very hazardous in case of ingestion or inhalation. Slightly hazardous in case of skin contact (irritant) or eye contact (irritant). Carcinogenic. Toxic to kidneys, lungs, the nervous system, mucous membranes. Repeated or prolonged exposure to the substance can produce target organs damage. Reactive with acids.

DICALCIUM PHOSPHATE: white powder. May cause irritation of the skin, eyes, nose or throat. Avoid contact with strong acids.

PHOSPHORIC ACID, 85%:  colorless corrosive liquid. Very hazardous in case of skin contact (irritant), of eye contact (irritant), or of ingestion. Hazardous in case of skin contact (corrosive, permeator), of eye contact (corrosive). Slightly hazardous in case of inhalation (lung sensitizer). Liquid or spray mist may produce tissue damage particularly on mucous membranes of eyes, mouth and respiratory tract. Skin contact may produce burns. Inhalation of the spray mist may produce severe irritation of respiratory tract, characterized by coughing, choking, or shortness of breath. Severe over-exposure can result in death. Inflammation of the eye is characterized by redness, watering, and itching. Skin inflammation is characterized by itching, scaling, reddening, or, occasionally, blistering. May be toxic to blood, liver, skin, eyes, bone marrow. Repeated or prolonged exposure can produce target organs damage.

  1. Procedural Risk Abatement
  1. Work under the hood when using acetone or make sure there is adequate ventilation.
  2. Keep a clean and organized hood (no open containers, label everything, no backpacks, etc.)
  3. Do not allow spills to come into contact with other chemicals. Remember to report any spills to your instructor before attempting to clean up.
  4. Do not allow contact between phosphoric acid and other chemicals except as indicated during the experiment.
  5. Remember that hot glass looks like cold glass. Don’t touch without checking for heat.
  1. Personal Protective Equipment
  1. Wear goggles at all times in the lab.
  2. Minimize exposed skin:  wear natural fiber clothing that protects skin, including long pants or long skirts (to the ankle), shoes that completely cover the foot, and tops that cover from the neck down including at least the upper 1/4 of the arms.
  3. Wear gloves when working with acetone, arsenic and phosphoric acid.
  1. Waste Collection
  1. No surplus starting chemicals or reaction products may be disposed of down the drain.
  2. Collect acetone waste in the container labeled “FLAMMABLE”.
  3. Neutralize phosphoric acid with sodium bicarbonate before flushing down the drain with copious amounts of water or place in an appropriate waste container as instructed.
  4. Collect surplus arsenic, dicalcium phosphate, and reaction products in the appropriately labeled container.