Working with hazardous chemicals can have a serious risk to health if are used incorrectly and without the necessary training or safety precautions. In this post, I will give you guidance on how to work with these hazardous materials safely so that you can be confident working with these materials in your laboratory.
1. Carcinogens: Carcinogens are hazardous chemicals that cause cancers in humans, such as arsenic, formaldehyde, benzene and carbon tetrachloride.
2. Toxins: Toxins cause tissue damage to individual tissues as can cause damage to the entire body. A few examples of chemical toxins are: Lead, Mercury and Arsenic.
3. Irritants: Irritants are one of the most common types of chemical substances to be found in laboratories. They are typically used in laboratory experiments and procedures to create a reaction or change within the experimental sample. Some examples of chemical irritants are: Hydrosulfuric acid, Nitrogen Dioxide and Hydrogen chloride.
4. Corrosives: Corrosives are one of the most dangerous types of chemical substances and are extremely destructive. Examples of corrosive chemical substances are Hydrochloric acid, Sulfuric acid and Nitric acid.
5. Sensitizer: Chemicals that may produce tissue damage by contributing to secondarily making one’s body more susceptible to other toxic agents; (examples: perfumes, dyes, etc.)
6. Hepatotoxins: Hepatotoxins are chemicals that have the potential to injure or destroy liver cells--examples being arsenic, lead and mercury.
7. Nephrotoxins: Nephrotoxic compounds are those that injure or destroy the function of the kidney(s)--for example, lead and mercury.
8. Neurotoxins: Neurotoxin is a term used to refer to chemicals that cause injury to brain/nervous tissue--again, this would include both lead and mercury.
1. Create guidelines for safe handling of hazardous chemicals. Create a team of knowledgeable people to create these safety guidelines and help ensure that everyone has understanding of them so that everyone in the team can work under the same safety procedures.
2. Know the hazards of the specific hazardous chemicals you are using in your laboratory. You can find this information on product labels of chemicals or from internet. You should also know the signs and symptoms of exposure to each type of hazardous chemical and how to treat someone who has been exposed to these hazardous chemicals.
3. Follow the safety procedures listed on the hazardous chemical products you are using in your laboratory are designed for safe use. For example, the hazardous chemical labeling and other draft safety procedures may prescribe such safety measures as requiring personal protective equipment (PPE), having fire extinguishing equipment ready nearby or restricting access to the area where hazardous chemicals are located.
4. Maintain accurate records of your exposure hazardous chemicals and use. Accurate and proper recordkeeping will help you to identify trends or accidents so that you can adjust your safety procedures as needed.
2. Nausea/Vomiting: Many dangerous chemicals can result in nausea or vomiting. When inflicted with nausea or vomiting, it is important to seek help quickly, as it could have serious consequences. Always wear appropriate PPE when dealing with the dangerous chemical.
3. Skin Irritant: Most dangerous chemicals will irritate the skin and thus it is important to wear appropriate PPE when handling these chemicals so as to avoid getting your skin irrititated by the chemicals.
4. Eye Irritant: Most dangerous chemicals can irritate your eyes and so it is important that you wear appropriate PPE when handling these chemicals and do not let the chemicals get in contact with your eyes.
5. Headache: Several chemicals will cause headaches. In addition, remain hydrated by consuming sufficient quantities of fluids and take appropriate steps to avoid dehydrating.
6. Chemical Burns: Several chemicals once contacted, can cause chemical burns. Proper PPE must be used when using such chemical and contact with the skin must be prevented.
7. Fire: While there are many hazardous chemicals that you may work with today that could spontaneously combust, there are also many hazardous chemicals that you will work with that have been classified as having flash points and potential ignition sources that could create a fire hazard.
1. Read material safety data sheet (MSDS) for each chemical for their use. This data provides information about the possible hazards of the chemical, their handling and precautions to take during their use and handling.
2. Always wear protective gears like gloves, eye protection, a face shield and PPE kit whenever required before using the hazardous chemicals.
3. Keep your working area clean and organized so that you can find the items you are looking for easily during the use of hazardous chemicals.
4. Hazards from materials may be reduced through use of appropriate containers and storage methods. It is important to only store materials in designated containers that are clearly labeled. Hazardous chemicals should not be stored in open containers.
Types of Hazardous Chemicals
A variety of chemicals are used in laboratory while conducting analysis and experiments on a daily basis. There are specific classes of chemicals that could potentially be hazardous to your health when used incorrectly. These hazardous chemicals can be categorized as below.1. Carcinogens: Carcinogens are hazardous chemicals that cause cancers in humans, such as arsenic, formaldehyde, benzene and carbon tetrachloride.
2. Toxins: Toxins cause tissue damage to individual tissues as can cause damage to the entire body. A few examples of chemical toxins are: Lead, Mercury and Arsenic.
3. Irritants: Irritants are one of the most common types of chemical substances to be found in laboratories. They are typically used in laboratory experiments and procedures to create a reaction or change within the experimental sample. Some examples of chemical irritants are: Hydrosulfuric acid, Nitrogen Dioxide and Hydrogen chloride.
4. Corrosives: Corrosives are one of the most dangerous types of chemical substances and are extremely destructive. Examples of corrosive chemical substances are Hydrochloric acid, Sulfuric acid and Nitric acid.
5. Sensitizer: Chemicals that may produce tissue damage by contributing to secondarily making one’s body more susceptible to other toxic agents; (examples: perfumes, dyes, etc.)
6. Hepatotoxins: Hepatotoxins are chemicals that have the potential to injure or destroy liver cells--examples being arsenic, lead and mercury.
7. Nephrotoxins: Nephrotoxic compounds are those that injure or destroy the function of the kidney(s)--for example, lead and mercury.
8. Neurotoxins: Neurotoxin is a term used to refer to chemicals that cause injury to brain/nervous tissue--again, this would include both lead and mercury.
What Exactly is a Hazardous Material Management Plan?
A hazardous material management program can be as different from one laboratory to the next as the need for safety precautions varies from person to person in the laboratory. The basic components of a hazardous materials management program would contain all of the following components:- A listing or identification of all of the hazardous materials present in the laboratory.
- Description of how and where the laboratory handles, stores, processes and produces hazardous waste.
- Description of how the laboratory will manage and prevent accidents and exposure to hazardous materials through proper laboratory practices.
- Periodic inventory of the hazardous materials that are present in the laboratory.
- Procedures must be established for cleaning and decontaminating laboratory facilities and equipment that have been exposed to hazardous chemicals.
- Procedures must be established for properly disposing of all unused and expired hazardous wastes.
- Procedures for safety must be established when disposing and recycling hazardous wastes.
How to Handle Hazardous Chemicals Safely
There are several simple things you can do to ensure that you and your coworkers are working safely with hazardous chemicals.1. Create guidelines for safe handling of hazardous chemicals. Create a team of knowledgeable people to create these safety guidelines and help ensure that everyone has understanding of them so that everyone in the team can work under the same safety procedures.
2. Know the hazards of the specific hazardous chemicals you are using in your laboratory. You can find this information on product labels of chemicals or from internet. You should also know the signs and symptoms of exposure to each type of hazardous chemical and how to treat someone who has been exposed to these hazardous chemicals.
3. Follow the safety procedures listed on the hazardous chemical products you are using in your laboratory are designed for safe use. For example, the hazardous chemical labeling and other draft safety procedures may prescribe such safety measures as requiring personal protective equipment (PPE), having fire extinguishing equipment ready nearby or restricting access to the area where hazardous chemicals are located.
4. Maintain accurate records of your exposure hazardous chemicals and use. Accurate and proper recordkeeping will help you to identify trends or accidents so that you can adjust your safety procedures as needed.
What are the Hazards of Hazardous Chemicals?
1. Poisoning: The greatest risk of dangerous chemical handling is poisoning. A majority of chemicals are dangerous when they are consumed or breathed and could cause harm or even death.2. Nausea/Vomiting: Many dangerous chemicals can result in nausea or vomiting. When inflicted with nausea or vomiting, it is important to seek help quickly, as it could have serious consequences. Always wear appropriate PPE when dealing with the dangerous chemical.
3. Skin Irritant: Most dangerous chemicals will irritate the skin and thus it is important to wear appropriate PPE when handling these chemicals so as to avoid getting your skin irrititated by the chemicals.
4. Eye Irritant: Most dangerous chemicals can irritate your eyes and so it is important that you wear appropriate PPE when handling these chemicals and do not let the chemicals get in contact with your eyes.
5. Headache: Several chemicals will cause headaches. In addition, remain hydrated by consuming sufficient quantities of fluids and take appropriate steps to avoid dehydrating.
6. Chemical Burns: Several chemicals once contacted, can cause chemical burns. Proper PPE must be used when using such chemical and contact with the skin must be prevented.
7. Fire: While there are many hazardous chemicals that you may work with today that could spontaneously combust, there are also many hazardous chemicals that you will work with that have been classified as having flash points and potential ignition sources that could create a fire hazard.
Prevention Tips for Hazardous Chemical Handling
It is important to take precautions while using hazardous chemicals in laboratory. Following are some important tips that can help to handle hazardous chemicals safely.1. Read material safety data sheet (MSDS) for each chemical for their use. This data provides information about the possible hazards of the chemical, their handling and precautions to take during their use and handling.
2. Always wear protective gears like gloves, eye protection, a face shield and PPE kit whenever required before using the hazardous chemicals.
3. Keep your working area clean and organized so that you can find the items you are looking for easily during the use of hazardous chemicals.
4. Hazards from materials may be reduced through use of appropriate containers and storage methods. It is important to only store materials in designated containers that are clearly labeled. Hazardous chemicals should not be stored in open containers.
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