Use your browser's Find command to search for a word or phrase Please contact swihart@purdue.edu if you know of a way to sort the archives Gibberish passages are attachments, they do not archive well! HTML tags in list messages also do not always archive well. A double line as immediately below indicates the beginning of a new message ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 1 Feb 1999 08:18:36 +200 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Conrad Bosch Organization: National Centre Occupational Health Subject: Re: Emergency exit In-Reply-To: <1.5.4.16.19990131104240.211f3e60@sun1.ksu.edu.sa> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-transfer-encoding: 7BIT Hi all! You are correct - and no arguing about that! We have a similar situation an all our buildings. Emergency exits/fire doors are being locked and keys are kept with security personnel. In the event of emergency the security personnel with keys to these doors are no where to be found? Luckily the situation is starting to change with the installation of small cabinettes next to exit/fire doors in which keys will be housed. The glass faces of such cabinettes can easily be cracked in case of emergency. Also providing keys to several responsible staff members (contingency officers), for use in emergency. Some people just dont understand health and safety! (My views only) Conrad Bosch Chief Contingency Officer Occupational Hygiene Section National Centre for Occupational Health Johannesburg South-Africa cbosch@ncoh.pwv.gov.za ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 1 Feb 1999 19:57:39 +1300 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Tony Haggerty Subject: Re: Emergency exit MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit In New Zealand the Fire Evacuation law requires that Emergency Exits be opened without the use of a key. We battle with security agencies and Insurance companies but we have yet to have a major life loss from an improper exitway. If your security people jib at having emergency doors which can be opened like this, then get them to check the Coconut Grove fire in Boston in 1942 with 492 dead and ask them if they could deal with that in their lives. I'm sure US fire ordinances will allow nothing less. Aziz, you may have some education to do but hopefully good sense will prevail. Tony NZFS ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 1 Feb 1999 07:21:40 EST Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Labsafe@AOL.COM Subject: Administrative Reminders Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-transfer-encoding: 7bit Hi NACHOs Periodically, I'll post to the list this series of administrative reminders. These are some guidelines for use of LABSAFETY-L. If you have any suggestions for changes (additions or subtractions), please send them to me directly unless they are of general interest to the whole group. Thanks to Linda Swihart for help to compile the list. ... jim Administrative Reminders..... 1. All messages should be related to lab safety or topics which will be of interest to chemical hygiene officers or lab safety professionals. Minimize tangential discussions. Please take them to private email. *** We will achieve a larger and more participative readership if we stick to this.*** 2. Please DO NOT send attachments to the list! They will bog down the mail server and fill the archives and digests with ASCII code. They will also be unreadable by many subscribers. If you have a file to share, announce its availability to the list, and attach it to private email to individuals who request it. (And the requests should be made in private email, not to the list.) 3. Keep in mind that when you REPLY to a message from the list, you will reply to the *entire* list, not just to the person to whose message you are replying. Usually. Keep an eye on which address appears in the "To:" box of your emailer when you press REPLY. 4. Please trim quoted text to a bare minumum when making replies. Everyone on the list receives every message, and you need only quote minimum pertinent parts to refresh the thread of discussion. At the same time, take care to keep quotes in context so as not to misrepresent another's remarks. 5. There are many excellent products and services that are available out there. LSW would like to encourage anyone who feels they have something of value for NACHO members to use LABSAFETY-L to let them know about the product or service. This policy is intentionally different from other discussion lists. It recognizes our need to solve lab safety/CHO problems with products and services as well as ideas. We also those who have used the product or service can comment on their experiences. Specific follow-up questions and requests should be directed personally and not to the discussion list. 6. Let's maintain a discussion environment that respects diverse points of views and opinions. Be patient, polite, and treat each other with kindness. 7. Membership in the National Assoiciation of Chemical Hygiene Officers (NACHO) is free and open to anyone who is a CHO or interested in lab safety issues. You join NACHO by subscribing to the LABSAFETY-L discussion list. LABSAFETY-L is a public service of the Laboratory Safety Workshop, the list owner. Please tell your friends and colleagues about NACHO and encourage them to join. 8. Typically many people on a list are "lurkers" (read but never post). LSW would like to encourage everyone to join in the conversation. If you have not yet participated, please post a short note introducing yourself and your interests in lab safety. The more active contributors can help encourage participation. Please continue the professional-while-cheerful demeanor and clear, readable messages which have characterized our first year. 9. No question is too basic for LABSAFETY-L. Some NACHO members have been in the field for a long time, others are just beginning. Welcome all new members and all questions. As we see recurring questions, let's develop FAQs for the web site. And, let's all learn to effectively use our archives. 10. Thank you for taking the time to review these reminders. Please share comments and suggestions directly with me. ... jim ***************************************************** James A. Kaufman, President The Laboratory Safety Workshop Safety in Science Education 192 Worcester Road, Natick, MA 01760 508-647-1900 Fax: 508-647-0062 labsafe@aol.com http://www.labsafety.org/ LSW is a national non-profit educational organization dedicated to making health and safety an integral and important part of science education. Free copies of our Laboratory Safety Guidelines, seminar schedule, Publications List, AV-Lending Library List, and membership information are available on request. The LABSAFETY-L discussion list is a public service of LSW. ****************************************************** ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 1 Feb 1999 07:34:25 -0500 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Jeff Wawrzeniak Subject: Re[2]: Emergency exit Comments: To: "Dr. Linda A. Swihart" Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Didn't the Tyson chicken factory have a similar case like this several years ago when the plant was involved in a fire? Several deaths and some major fines for the company. Keep them unlocked from the inside for easy and safe egress. Sorry if this example was already posted... Monday morning came quicker than usual... ______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________ Subject: Re: Emergency exit Author: "Dr. Linda A. Swihart" at INTERNET-ACT Date: 1/29/99 2:09 AM At 09:33 AM 1/31/99 -0300, you wrote: Aziz M. Abu-Khalaf wrote: >We have an emergency exit in our lab written on it: fire door, keep closed at >all times. >Security people locked it and the key is kept with them. I argued with them >about that saying that it is to be kept closed but not locked, and the >key be kept with you, and in case of emergency we have to wait for >you to come! this will take time. >Which one of us is correct? You are correct. They are insane. An emergency exit is meant to be available RIGHT NOW during the emergency. What if the security person carrying the key were caught in the worst part of the fire and could not come? If someone is injured or killed in a fire because the door is not unlocked soon enough, your institution will be guilty. There are some precedents in US courts I believe pertaining to the locking or chaining of emergency exits in schools. Anybody on the list who can cite any? Linda ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 1 Feb 1999 07:52:48 -0500 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Barb Moore Subject: Re: Emergency exit In-Reply-To: <1.5.4.16.19990131104240.211f3e60@sun1.ksu.edu.sa> MIME-version: 1.0 Content-type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" At least you have an emergency exit to your lab. Our storage room (including flammable storage) has only one means of egress. When I questioned the advisability of this, BWC (Bureau of Workmen's Compensation) Division of Safety & Health responded as follows: After talking to one of our Safety Consultants and to a representative of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration a second means of egress in a chemical storage room is not required. The egress or secondary means of exit is pertinent to the building itself and not the storage room. i hope this information clarifies the issue for you..... I still find it hard to believe that a room storing flammables, corrosives, etc. does not have to have 2 means of egress. Barb Moore Administrative Manager Biology Department The College of Wooster Wooster, OH ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 1 Feb 1999 08:12:00 -0500 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: "Tayman, Tammy" Subject: Re: Emergency exit Comments: To: "Dr. Linda A. Swihart" MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain About two years ago, our college was fined a significant amount of money for having emergency exits chained and locked shut. They were chained and locked due to the fact that there was construction directly on the other side of the doors. If someone had tried to exit through them, they would have fallen about ten feet into a rather nasty hole. However, our fire marshall was not impressed and mearly said that arrangements would have to be made to allow for safe egress. We paid the fine and built catwalks. Tammy Tayman ---------- From: Dr. Linda A. Swihart To: LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU Subject: Re: Emergency exit Date: Friday, January 29, 1999 2:09AM At 09:33 AM 1/31/99 -0300, you wrote: Aziz M. Abu-Khalaf wrote: >We have an emergency exit in our lab written on it: fire door, keep closed at >all times. >Security people locked it and the key is kept with them. I argued with them >about that saying that it is to be kept closed but not locked, and the >key be kept with you, and in case of emergency we have to wait for >you to come! this will take time. >Which one of us is correct? You are correct. They are insane. An emergency exit is meant to be available RIGHT NOW during the emergency. What if the security person carrying the key were caught in the worst part of the fire and could not come? If someone is injured or killed in a fire because the door is not unlocked soon enough, your institution will be guilty. There are some precedents in US courts I believe pertaining to the locking or chaining of emergency exits in schools. Anybody on the list who can cite any? Linda ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 1 Feb 1999 08:58:25 -0500 Reply-To: wessonl@co.oakland.mi.us Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Larry Wesson Organization: Oakland County Michigan Subject: Re: Emergency exit MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Aziz M. Abu-khalaf wrote: > > Hello every one > > We have an emergency exit in our lab written on it: fir door, keep closed at > all times. > Security people locked it and the key is kept with them. I argued with them > about that saying that it is to be kept closed but not locked, and the > key be kept with you, and in case of emergency we have to wait for > you to come! this will take time. > Which one of us is correct? > **************************************************************************** > ******* > Aziz M. Abu-Khalaf ***** Tel: 00966 1 4676894 > Chemical Engineering Department ***** Fax: 00966 1 4678770 > King Saud University ***** E-mail: amkhalaf@ksu.edu.sa > PO Box 800 ***** > Riyadh 11421, Saudi Arabia ***** > **************************************************************************** > ******* In all codes and standards, that I follow, you are. Larry Wesson Safety Coordinator/Fire Marshal Oakland County Michigan ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 1 Feb 1999 08:25:02 -0500 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Bill Schultz Subject: Re: Emergency exit MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit You are correct. Fire doors are to remain closed to prevent the spread of fire, the exception being doors that are held open with magnets that release and allow the doors to close when the fire alarm system activates, and not for security reasons. I work in a high security building. To enter one of our research areas you have to use a magnetic card reader to enter a change room and from the change room you have to enter a code on a key pad to gain access the laboratory area. We work with highly contagious diseases and the security system is to keep personnel who are not properly trained or immunized out of the laboratories. At the far end of the laboratory opposite the change room entrance there is a fire door that leads to a corridor. The fire door is key locked from the corridor side but is crash bar activated from the laboratory side. Exit from the laboratories is always possible from the fire door and when the fire alarm is activated all magnetic door locks and card readers are deactivated. In the event of fire we want our personnel out of the laboratory as soon as possible. My point to all this is that even in a high security area there is no reason to keep fire doors locked. If you are worried about someone violating security you should put alarms on the doors so that security will know if someone opens the door. You don't have to go back to the 1940's for stories of people being trapped in fires because of locked doors. It happened seven or eight years ago in a North Carolina chicken frying plant. Since OSHA and NFPA are probably not enforceable in Riyadh, logic and history of past tragedies involving locked fire doors are your only weapons. Bill Schultz ______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________ Subject: Emergency exit Author: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List at Internet-Mail Date: 1/31/99 9:33 AM Hello every one We have an emergency exit in our lab written on it: fir door, keep closed at all times. Security people locked it and the key is kept with them. I argued with them about that saying that it is to be kept closed but not locked, and the key be kept with you, and in case of emergency we have to wait for you to come! this will take time. Which one of us is correct? **************************************************************************** ******* Aziz M. Abu-Khalaf ***** Tel: 00966 1 4676894 Chemical Engineering Department ***** Fax: 00966 1 4678770 King Saud University ***** E-mail: amkhalaf@ksu.edu.sa PO Box 800 ***** Riyadh 11421, Saudi Arabia ***** **************************************************************************** ******* ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 1 Feb 1999 08:37:03 -0500 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Bill Schultz Subject: Re[2]: Emergency exit MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit The exit requirement is not based on soley on the area use but on a combination of area use and distance to an exit. If it was based only on use a closet could be required to have two means of egress. The maximum travel distance to an exit in an unsprinklered high hazard storage area is 75 feet. If the travel distance to the exit in your storage area is more than 75 feet then a secondary exit is required. If you have only one exit and the room is large I suggest the most hazardous materials be stored the greatest distance form the exit and extra care be taken in segregating materials based on capatability. Bill Schultz ______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________ Subject: Re: Emergency exit Author: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List at Internet-Mail Date: 2/1/99 7:52 AM At least you have an emergency exit to your lab. Our storage room (including flammable storage) has only one means of egress. When I questioned the advisability of this, BWC (Bureau of Workmen's Compensation) Division of Safety & Health responded as follows: After talking to one of our Safety Consultants and to a representative of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration a second means of egress in a chemical storage room is not required. The egress or secondary means of exit is pertinent to the building itself and not the storage room. i hope this information clarifies the issue for you..... I still find it hard to believe that a room storing flammables, corrosives, etc. does not have to have 2 means of egress. Barb Moore Administrative Manager Biology Department The College of Wooster Wooster, OH ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 1 Feb 1999 11:25:37 EST Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Ilona Fiser Subject: Re: Administrative Reminders Comments: cc: Ilona Fiser In-Reply-To: <5d49bfc8.36b59c54@aol.com>; from "Labsafe@aol.com" at Feb 1, 99 7:21 am Hi NACHOs, I must say big THANKS, for NEW ADMINISTRATIVE REMINDERS-rules it will make my time spending reading my E-mail much shorter and productive.! THANKS ILONA F. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Carleton University Email address: ifiser@ccs.carleton.ca ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 31 Jan 1999 20:34:34 +0200 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Charles Hellyar Subject: Re: Emergency exit MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/mixed; boundary="---- =_NextPart_000_01BE4E16.BD6DF6A0" ------ =_NextPart_000_01BE4E16.BD6DF6A0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Dear Net, Good Evening, Having worked in various types of lab, I would not be prepared to have = to wait for 15secs for the security aspect to be attended to before I = could attempt an escape. I once had to cut a chain off to escape from a sodium lab - this could = have cost two lives, you can rest assured that I check access and egress = very carefully since that event - and not only in a lab. Each case has it's merits but very careful consideration must go into = life safety versus (often incorrectly perceived) security threat. In this case NFPA appears to be an "unenforcible guideline" but the = wisdom of the guidance it gives must surely be the equivalent of = "international best practice." Rules are for the observance of fools and for the guidance of wise men! Comments? Regards, Charles. ---------- From: Marshall Huckaby[SMTP:RVNLRRP@AOL.COM] Sent: 31 January 1999 07:25 To: LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU Subject: Re: Emergency exit The problem is that do you comply with the NFPA Fire Codes? NFPA 101, = Life ------ =_NextPart_000_01BE4E16.BD6DF6A0 Content-Type: application/ms-tnef Content-Transfer-Encoding: base64 ------ =_NextPart_000_01BE4E16.BD6DF6A0-- ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 1 Feb 1999 14:30:58 -0500 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Bob Burns Subject: H2O2 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Does anyone have a recommendation for disposal of unwanted hydrogen peroxide, 35 to 50%? Prudent Practices says something about dispose of according to your institutions procedures. We have a book from MCA from 1979 that says dilute and down the drain. Since we have to blow air through our waste water to oxidize it, a little O2 seems to be a good idea. A recommendation from some authority would be useful. Thanks! Bob "Everything is easy for the person who does not have to do it!" Robert L. Burns Group Leader, R&D Specialty Chemicals Division RUETGERS Organics Corporation 201 Struble Road State College, PA 16801 phone 814-231-9214 fax 814-238-1567 email rburns@bigfoot.com ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 1 Feb 1999 10:46:25 -0700 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Teresa Robertson Organization: CSU Bakersfield Subject: Re: H2O2 Comments: cc: trobertson@csubak.edu MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit LABSAFETY-L@siu.edu,.internet writes: >Does anyone have a recommendation for disposal of unwanted hydrogen >peroxide, 35 to 50%? I am, generally speaking, in DISAGREEMENT with "dilution is the solution to pollution", HOWEVER, when I worked at a plant that routinely used and stored 50% H2O2, that was considered the best (only) way to respond to an emergency involving a spill ---- lots of water. If I were disposing of the material here at my employment, myself (granted, it would be a very small volume), I would package it for my waste contractor. Teresa ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 1 Feb 1999 13:59:37 +0100 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Debra Sharpe Subject: Condensed O2 Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" A lab suvervisor caught an undergrad employee (lab assistant) bubbling oxygen gas into a liquid nitrogen dewer. The kid said wanted to condense O2 ! Needless to say the lab supervisor was irate and told him what a stupid idea it was. The kid has been reassigned to work when there are no chemicals but he still does not believe it was hazardous. My question is- does anyone have accident stories we can tell this kid (and others during lab safety training) about what has happened to others doing similar acts. Thanks for the info! All opinions are mine alone D. C. Sharpe, CCHO Associate Director Safety and Environmental Health 313 Leach Science Bldg Auburn University, 36849 Ph (334) 844-4870 fax 4640 ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 1 Feb 1999 17:12:14 -0500 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Nick Pinizzotto Subject: Re: H2O2 In-Reply-To: MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit I think this is a case where dilution being a solution to pollution doesn't necessarily apply. We have often diluted H2O2 in these concentrations. Just make sure you're diluting w/ water. 35-50% H2O2 is a strong oxidizer. Just my opinion( probably shared by many of you out there)! Nick Pinizzotto Environmental Health Officer Dept. Environmental Health & Safety Thomas Jefferson University nick.pinizzotto@mail.tju.edu 215-503-5853 ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 1 Feb 1999 16:45:33 -0600 Reply-To: "msturgeon@mriresearch.org" Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Mike Sturgeon Organization: MRI Subject: Re: H2O2 Bob- According to 40 CFR 261.21(a) (4), a waste defined as an oxidizer in 49 CFR 173.151 is a D001 (Ignitable) hazardous waste. Hydrogen peroxide is a DOT oxidizer and must be disposed of as hazardous waste. Mike Sturgeon Safety Officer Midwest Research Institute Kansas City, Missouri -----Original Message----- From: Bob Burns [SMTP:rburns@BIGFOOT.COM] Sent: Monday, February 01, 1999 1:31 PM To: LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU Subject: H2O2 Does anyone have a recommendation for disposal of unwanted hydrogen peroxide, 35 to 50%? Prudent Practices says something about dispose of according to your institutions procedures. We have a book from MCA from 1979 that says dilute and down the drain. Since we have to blow air through our waste water to oxidize it, a little O2 seems to be a good idea. A recommendation from some authority would be useful. Thanks! Bob "Everything is easy for the person who does not have to do it!" Robert L. Burns Group Leader, R&D Specialty Chemicals Division RUETGERS Organics Corporation 201 Struble Road State College, PA 16801 phone 814-231-9214 fax 814-238-1567 email rburns@bigfoot.com ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 1 Feb 1999 18:30:45 -0600 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: EH&S Compliance Subject: Re: H2O2 Sometimes alternatives to disposal is the best. I think landfills should only be used as last resort. Why fill up a landfill with something that can be disposed of safely, reused or made non-hazardous? There are various ways you can decompose hydrogen peroxide to water. Dilute with water and allow to decompose in sunlight (why do you think the 3% hydrogen peroxide you get in stores for use as an antiseptic is in a dark colored plastic bottle - decomposes with sunlight and with heat) Use sodium sulfite (veggie preservative) or sodium sulfide to create sodium sulfate. If residual sodium sulfite is a problem with your local POTW use an iodide/iodate test for sodium sulfite. Dilute and put a nail or piece of iron in it. I wouldn't try iron powder and concentrated H2O2 - might produce a nice fire or explosion. A piece of charcoal in dilute solution would decompose the H2O2 also. Check your MSDS and Merck index for other suggestions. Before you do any of this first see if anyone else may have a use for it. Our New York plant uses it in their scrubber. What quantity do you have? Rebecca Levins EH&S Compliance Specialist RSR Corporation Dallas, Texas RSRrdl@onramp.net (214) 583-0245 -----Original Message----- From: Teresa Robertson [SMTP:Teresa_Robertson@FIRSTCLASS1.CSUBAK.EDU] Sent: Monday, February 01, 1999 11:46 AM To: LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU Subject: Re: H2O2 LABSAFETY-L@siu.edu,.internet writes: >Does anyone have a recommendation for disposal of unwanted hydrogen peroxide, 35 to 50%? I am, generally speaking, in DISAGREEMENT with "dilution is the solution to pollution", HOWEVER, when I worked at a plant that routinely used and stored 50% H2O2, that was considered the best (only) way to respond to an emergency involving a spill ---- lots of water. If I were disposing of the material here at my employment, myself (granted, it would be a very small volume), I would package it for my waste contractor. Teresa Attachment Converted: "c:\winnet\eudora\linda\attach\WINMAIL8.DAT" end ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 1 Feb 1999 15:58:59 -0700 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Teresa Robertson Organization: CSU Bakersfield Subject: Re: H2O2 Comments: cc: trobertson@csubak.edu MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit LABSAFETY-L@siu.edu,.internet writes: >Sometimes alternatives to disposal is the best. I think landfills should >only be used as last resort. Why fill up a landfill with something that >can >be disposed of safely, reused or made non-hazardous? A few more thoughts - Our contractor recycles what can be, and due to stuff accidentally getting mixed together in land fills, and due to "cradle to grave" my institution prefers incineration. I wish we could, but we cannot treat haz waste legally without a permit (as described below), and we do not have a permit. With all the great advice we have to offer each other, we have to keep local laws in mind. PS to Rebecca - there is one of those "attachments" on your reply; one of those they've spoken of that might be created without your knowledge. >There are various ways >you can decompose hydrogen peroxide to water. Dilute with water and >allow >to decompose in sunlight (why do you think the 3% hydrogen peroxide you >get >in stores for use as an antiseptic is in a dark colored plastic bottle - >decomposes with sunlight and with heat) Use sodium sulfite (veggie >preservative) or sodium sulfide to create sodium sulfate. If residual >sodium sulfite is a problem with your local POTW use an iodide/iodate >test >for sodium sulfite. Dilute and put a nail or piece of iron in it. I >wouldn't try iron powder and concentrated H2O2 - might produce a nice >fire >or explosion. A piece of charcoal in dilute solution would decompose the >H2O2 also. Check your MSDS and Merck index for other suggestions. >Before you do any of this first see if anyone else may have a use for >it. >Our New York plant uses it in their scrubber. What quantity do you have? >Rebecca Levins >EH&S Compliance Specialist >RSR Corporation >Dallas, Texas >RSRrdl@onramp.net >(214) 583-0245 >-----Original Message----- >From: Teresa Robertson [SMTP:Teresa_Robertson@FIRSTCLASS1.CSUBAK.EDU] >Sent: Monday, February 01, 1999 11:46 AM >To: LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU >Subject: Re: H2O2 >LABSAFETY-L@siu.edu,.internet writes: >>Does anyone have a recommendation for disposal of unwanted hydrogen >peroxide, 35 to 50%? >I am, generally speaking, in DISAGREEMENT with "dilution is the >solution to pollution", HOWEVER, when I worked at a plant that >routinely used and stored 50% H2O2, that was considered the best (only) >way >to respond to an emergency involving a spill ---- lots of water. >If I were disposing of the material here at my employment, myself >(granted, it would be a very small volume), I would package it for my >waste contractor. >Teresa >X-SMTP-From: owner-labsafety-l@SIU.EDU >X-SMTP-To: Teresa_Robertson@FIRSTCLASS1.CSUBAK.EDU >Received: from saluki-mailsmtp.siu.edu (saluki-mailsmtp.siu.edu >[131.230.252.26]) by bak_compserv6.csubak.edu with SMTP id MSGYBZNY; >Tue, 2 Feb 1999 00:34:31 GMT >Received: from saluki-mail.siu.edu (saluki-mail.siu.edu >[131.230.252.17]) by saluki-mailsmtp.siu.edu (8.9.1/8.9.1) with ESMTP >id SAA50462; Mon, 1 Feb 1999 18:30:21 -0600 >Received: from saluki-mail.siu.edu (saluki-mail.siu.edu >[131.230.252.17]) by saluki-mail.siu.edu (8.9.1/8.9.1) with ESMTP id >SAA144634; Mon, 1 Feb 1999 18:32:49 -0600 >Received: from SIU.EDU by SIU.EDU (LISTSERV-TCP/IP release 1.8c) with >spool id 1109560 for LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU; Mon, 1 Feb 1999 18:32:39 -0600 >Received: from saluki-mailsmtp.siu.edu (saluki-mailsmtp.siu.edu >[131.230.252.26]) by saluki-mail.siu.edu (8.9.1/8.9.1) with ESMTP id >SAA76962 for ; Mon, 1 Feb 1999 >18:32:39 -0600 >Received: from mailhost.onramp.net (mailhost.onramp.net [199.1.11.3]) >by saluki-mailsmtp.siu.edu (8.9.1/8.9.1) with ESMTP id SAA66724 for >; Mon, 1 Feb 1999 18:29:29 -0600 >Received: from ppp12-1.dllstx.onramp.net (ppp17-250.dllstx.onramp.net >[206.50.202.250]) by mailhost.onramp.net (8.8.7/8.8.7) with SMTP id >SAA06529 for ; Mon, 1 Feb 1999 18:29:44 -0600 (CST) >Received: by ppp12-1.dllstx.onramp.net with Microsoft Mail id ><01BE4E10.FE99FB20@ppp12-1.dllstx.onramp.net>; Mon, 1 Feb 1999 18:30:51 >-0600 >Encoding: 46 TEXT, 97 UUENCODE >X-MS-Attachment: WINMAIL.DAT 0 00-00-1980 00:00 >Message-ID: <01BE4E10.FE99FB20@ppp12-1.dllstx.onramp.net> >Date: Mon, 1 Feb 1999 18:30:45 -0600 >Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List >Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List >From: EH&S Compliance >Subject: Re: H2O2 >To: LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 1 Feb 1999 19:00:02 -0600 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: EH&S Compliance Subject: Re: H2O2 True, hydrogen peroxide is a hazardous waste, if disposed of as is. However, if you are a conditionally exempt small quantity generator (usually labs are) you may treat your hazardous waste and create instead a non-hazardous waste. If you have a waste water treatment plant, they may be able to use the H2O2. If it is used, substituted for something already being bought - it is not a waste therefore not a hazardous waste. Rebecca Levins EH&S Compliance Specialist RSR Corporation Dallas, Texas RSRrdl@onramp.net (214) 583-0245 -----Original Message----- From: Mike Sturgeon [SMTP:msturgeon@MRIRESEARCH.ORG] Sent: Monday, February 01, 1999 4:46 PM To: LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU Subject: Re: H2O2 Bob- According to 40 CFR 261.21(a) (4), a waste defined as an oxidizer in 49 CFR 173.151 is a D001 (Ignitable) hazardous waste. Hydrogen peroxide is a DOT oxidizer and must be disposed of as hazardous waste. Mike Sturgeon Safety Officer Midwest Research Institute Kansas City, Missouri ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 2 Feb 1999 11:38:14 -0300 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: "Aziz M. Abu-khalaf" Subject: Administrative Reminders Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" I suggest that something be done to the original message. For example when several messages are included as a reply to the original in the automatic digest, one original to appear. No need for it to appear in all messages. **************************************************************************** ******* Aziz M. Abu-Khalaf ***** Tel: 00966 1 4676894 Chemical Engineering Department ***** Fax: 00966 1 4678770 King Saud University ***** E-mail: amkhalaf@ksu.edu.sa PO Box 800 ***** Riyadh 11421, Saudi Arabia ***** **************************************************************************** ******* ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 2 Feb 1999 07:21:33 EST Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Labsafe@AOL.COM Subject: Re: Administrative Reminders Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-transfer-encoding: 7bit In a message dated 99-02-02 03:44:42 EST, you write: << I suggest that something be done to the original message. For example when several messages are included as a reply to the original in the automatic digest, one original to appear. No need for it to appear in all messages. >> Hi NACHO's, Is there an easy way to address Aziz's concern? It would be tough on this end if we at LSW needed to moderate the list (this is what Ralph has done with SAFETY). My suggestion is that we continue to quote only the minimum needed to maintain a sane conversation. Let's see if we can try erring on the side of quoting too little. So far, I don't recall seeing very many "What were you refering to". If we each try quoting less and less, until someone responds "what were you referring to", maybe we can thin it down a bit. .... jim ***************************************************** James A. Kaufman, President The Laboratory Safety Workshop Safety in Science Education 192 Worcester Road, Natick, MA 01760 508-647-1900 Fax: 508-647-0062 labsafe@aol.com http://www.labsafety.org/ LSW is a national non-profit educational organization dedicated to making health and safety an integral and important part of science education. Free copies of our Laboratory Safety Guidelines, seminar schedule, Publications List, AV-Lending Library List, and membership information are available on request. The LABSAFETY-L discussion list is a public service of LSW. ****************************************************** ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 2 Feb 1999 07:53:55 -0600 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Ward R Phifer Subject: Re: Long messages on LABSAFETY MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Jim - The real problem is when people let the whole "chain" they are responding to go in their return mail instead of dropping off the older references. In general, everyone seems to present short, concise questions and answers on this Listserv; I'm sure that's the way everyone would prefer it.... Let's work to keep it that way. Russell Phifer WCC Environmental LLC PO Box 39, 439 S. Bolmar Street, West Chester, PA 19381 610-696-9220 / 610-344-7519 fax envasset@juno.com ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 2 Feb 1999 08:37:53 EST Reply-To: RFasano@ato.com Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Richard Fasano Subject: Condensed O2 - Reply MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Greetings all. On 2/1/99 Debra Sharpe wrote: >A lab supervisor caught an undergrad employee (lab assistant) bubbling oxygen gas into a liquid nitrogen dewer...wanted to condense O2...lab supervisor was irate...The kid has been reassigned...does not believe they did anything hazardous...does anyone have accident stories...?< While I don't have a specific story for Debra, some Tuesday morning ramblings: Why is that person not sitting at home suspended? Why are they still employed for you in any capacity? I'm sorry, but performing unsupervised and unapproved laboratory experiments with the potential to put not only the experimenter others in peril, is grounds for disclipine or termination. By reassigning, you are saying "Well, look, this was really really bad and dangerous and never do it again, but if we catch you doing it, the worst we will do is send you someplace else to work. Have a nice day." No one should ever be formally disciplined for having an accident; however, there is a difference between an accident, an experimental incident and willful negligence in performing known at-risk behaviors. If that experiment had resulted in a lab fire with the undergrad employee receiving second and third degree burns, what would the incident investigation show? Would you have been in compliance with your Chemical Hygiene Plan? How would you show/prove compliance? The fact that your employee did not, and still does not, think they were doing anything hazardous leads to some serious questions as to the quality of your employee training. You have obligations as an employer, but that employee also has obligations to you. OK, nuff of this for me, time to get back to work. Thanks for listening. Flames off the list, please. Rich Fasano (rfasano@ato.com) Supervisor, SH&E Affairs Elf Atochem NA - KoP Technical Center "It's a revolution damn it! We're going to have to offend somebody!" -John Adams, while discussing the massive changes being hacked into the Declaration of Independence in 1776. ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 2 Feb 1999 09:22:00 -0500 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: "Dr. Linda A. Swihart" Subject: incident classification - was condensed O2 Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" regarding unauthorized, unsupervised student-employee collection of LOX Rich Fasano wrote: >If that experiment had >resulted in a lab fire with the undergrad >employee receiving second and third >degree burns, what would the incident >investigation show? Is there truth in what I've heard, that OSHA incident investigators MUST classify an incident/injury as due to one of these: -- lack of training -- lack of supervision -- employee misconduct (and the way it was explained to me was that it is *never* classified as employee misconduct unless it was clear insubordination, i.e. the employee was instructed to do or not do something, but intentionally defied the instructions...) Any truth in this or is it somewhat mythical? ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 2 Feb 1999 09:31:00 -0500 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: "Tayman, Tammy" Subject: Re: H2O2 Comments: To: Teresa Robertson MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain However, if you use small quantities at a time, mix with manganese(IV) oxide (a catalyst) and observe, you have a really neat *demo* that just happens to end up with a non-hazardous supernatant (water) and the catalyst which can be dried and reused! This is the good old "genie in a bottle" demo, which is listed in Shahkashiri's books. It's fun and it uses up old or excess H2O2 without being waste treatment. Nice, eh? Tammy Tayman ---------- From: Teresa Robertson To: LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU Subject: Re: H2O2 Date: Monday, February 01, 1999 5:58PM I wish we could, but we cannot treat haz waste legally without a permit (as described below), and we do not have a permit. With all the great advice we have to offer each other, we have to keep local laws in mind. ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 2 Feb 1999 07:52:15 -0700 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: "Greene, Ben" Subject: Re: H2O2 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain I can't help but remember the old freshman chem "catalytic decomposition of hydrogen peroxide" with tetrammine copper(II). It was an exciting reaction, as far as freshman chem experiments went, with vigorous generation of oxygen. I believe a rather dilute solution of peroxide was used. Is "donating" the peroxide (as a product) to a local university an option, if it has not already been declared a waste? Ben Greene, Ph.D AlliedSignal Las Cruces, NM 88004 ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 2 Feb 1999 09:54:44 -0600 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Ward R Phifer Subject: Division Workshop Program at the ACS Meeting in Anaheim MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Following is the complete Division Workshop program for the Anaheim meeting next month. Please note that for the first time you can register online!!! Erik Talley (Division website adminstrator) is in the final stages of putting the registration page together, and you should be able to use it by the end of the week. In the meantime, if you want to get a jump on registration, you can email me with your name, affiliation, and the workshop(s) you want to attend and I'll put you on the list. Russ Phifer WCC Environmental LLC PO Box 39, 439 S. Bolmar Street, West Chester, PA 19381 610-696-9220 / 610-344-7519 fax envasset@juno.com FRIDAY, MARCH 19, 1999 8:30 - 4:30 $199 non-members / $169 DivCHAS members The Laboratory Safety Workshop Dr. Jim Kaufman This classic presentation on laboratory safety by Dr. Kaufman has been attended by thousands of safety professionals. With experience in both industrial and academic laboratories, Jim gives a "real world" approach to safety issues in the laboratory. His stories are both interesting and pertinent, and interactivedemonstrations help you deal with everything from creative wiring in the lab to administrators without a vision of what it means to have a safe workplace. Highly entertaining, and an excellent forum to speak openly about safety problems in your workplace. SATURDAY, MARCH 20, 1999 8:30 - 4:30 $199 non-members / $169 DivCHAS members How to be a More Effective Chemical Hygiene Officer Dr. Jim Kaufman Mr. Russell Phifer Dr. George Wahl Take a close look at the Chemical Hygiene Officer position, and prepare at the same time for the CHP Certification exam to be held the next day. Kaufman, Phifer and Wahl give a different slant to safety issues in the laboratory, focusing on what you do and how you can do it better. The presenters bring a wide variety of experience to the table, but the real stars of the workshop are you - past attendees note the interactive approach focusing on their problems, from getting administrators involved in safety to dealing with regulatory concerns. The course covers all of the content areas of the certification exam (presented on Sunday through NRCC), including a sample test in the same format as the real one. Whether you are a new Chemical Hygiene Officer or an "old" one, you will find something to put to real use in this fast-paced presentation. SATURDAY, MARCH 20, 1999 8:00 - Noon $175 non-members / $125 DivCHAS members Cleanup of Small Laboratory Spills Dr. Neal Langerman This presentation will help you prepare policies on dealing with small laboratory spills, from clarification of reporting requirements to actual cleanup procedures. Dr. Langerman packs a great deal of information into this half-day workshop; you will leave with ideas on preventing spills as well as preparing for the inevitable when it occurs. SATURDAY, MARCH 20, 1999 1:00 - 5:00 $175 non-members / $125 DivCHAS members Emergency Response: Contaminated Employee Dr. Neal Langerman Learn the best ways to deal with a potentially serious problem in a laboratory emergency - contaminated employees. Is issue has long been ignored, both by laboratory facilities and hospital emergency rooms. When an employee becomes contaminated and medical attention is required, having a policy in place will result in safer handling of the situation from all perspectives. Make sure your procedures can help minimize problems before the accident by attending this interesting and informative presentation. MONDAY, MARCH 22, 1999 8:30 - 4:30 Free (with ACS meeting registration) The Division Founder's Workshop - Effective Presentation Skills for the EH&S Professional Rikki Schwartz Oakland University, Rochester, MI This interactive workshop is designed to assist environmental, health and safety (EH&S) Professionals (both new and veteran) to develop and present more interesting, effective and persuasive presentations. Whether providing "training" to diverse audiences, presenting budgetary proposals to vice presidents, or participating in press conferences, the EH&S professional (at every "level") is now facing a new role: "Presenter". Workshop objectives include: Reducing mental and physical anxiety prior to presentation; Better analyzing your audience for more effective communication; Practicing presentations more effectively; Designing your "content" to better capture and maintain audience interest (via research, organization, "color", props/AV aids, and word use); Gaining/maintaining audience interest through vocal mechanics and body language; Reading and responding to audience cues more effectively; and handling difficult situations and/or questions with more poise and confidence. Russell Phifer WCC Environmental LLC PO Box 39, 439 S. Bolmar Street, West Chester, PA 19381 610-696-9220 / 610-344-7519 fax envasset@juno.com ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 2 Feb 1999 09:03:31 +0100 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Debra Sharpe Subject: Re: Condensed O2 - Reply Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" >Date: Tue, 2 Feb 1999 09:00:47 +0100 >To: RFasano@ato.com >From: Debra Sharpe >Subject: Re: Condensed O2 - Reply >Cc: >Bcc: >X-Attachments: > >>Greetings all. On 2/1/99 Debra Sharpe wrote: >>>A lab supervisor caught an undergrad employee (lab assistant) bubbling >>>oxygen gas into a liquid nitrogen dewer...wanted to condense O2...lab >>>supervisor was irate...The kid has been reassigned...does not believe >>>they did anything hazardous...does anyone >>have accident stories...?< >> >>While I don't have a specific story for Debra, some Tuesday morning >>ramblings: Why is that person not sitting at home suspended? Why are >>they still employed for you in any capacity? I'm sorry, but performing >>unsupervised and unapproved laboratory >>experiments with the potential to put not only the experimenter others in >>peril, is grounds for disclipine or termination. By reassigning, you are >>saying "Well, look, this was really really bad and dangerous and never do >>it again, but if we catch you >>doing it, the worst we will do is send you someplace else to work. Have a >>nice day." >> >>No one should ever be formally disciplined for having an accident; >>however, there is a difference between an accident, an experimental >>incident and willful negligence in performing known at-risk behaviors. If >>that experiment had resulted in a lab fire >>with the undergrad employee receiving second and third degree burns, what >>would the incident investigation show? Would you have been in compliance >>with your Chemical Hygiene Plan? How would you show/prove compliance? >>The fact that your employee did not, >> and still does not, think they were doing anything hazardous leads to >>some serious questions as to the quality of your employee training. You >>have obligations as an employer, but that employee also has obligations >>to you. OK, nuff of this for me, time >>to get back to work. Thanks for listening. Flames off the list, please. >> >>Rich Fasano (rfasano@ato.com) >>Supervisor, SH&E Affairs >>Elf Atochem NA - KoP Technical Center >> >> "It's a revolution damn it! We're going to have to offend somebody!" >> -John Adams, while discussing the massive changes being hacked >>into the Declaration >> of Independence in 1776. > >If he were my employee I would have fired him, but the bigger problem here >is education. If he doesn't learn about proper laboratory safety now >he'll be my problem later as a grad student conducting research in one of >the university labs (where they all act like children playing with >chemistry sets) because his major professor sure wont teach him! > > All opinions are mine alone D. C. Sharpe, CCHO Associate Director Safety and Environmental Health 313 Leach Science Bldg Auburn University, 36849 Ph (334) 844-4870 fax 4640 ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 2 Feb 1999 10:27:30 -0500 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Nick Pinizzotto Subject: Explain the hazard risk LO2 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Lots of discussion on this student bubbling O2 thru Liquid Nitrogen. Some one should explain (for the benefit of the group) where the risk of fire /burns lies and what will /may actually occur by praticing this unsafe act! Nick Pinizzotto Environmental Health Officer Dept. Environmental Health & Safety Thomas Jefferson University nick.pinizzotto@mail.tju.edu 215-503-5853 ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 2 Feb 1999 10:35:12 -0500 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Don Abramowitz Subject: Re: incident classification - In-Reply-To: <3.0.5.32.19990202092200.0081f870@postoffice.purdue.edu> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" >Is there truth in what I've heard, that OSHA incident investigators MUST >classify an incident/injury as due to one of these: > > -- lack of training > -- lack of supervision > -- employee misconduct My understanding of OSHA's approach to catastrophe/fatality investigations (they generally don't initiate inspections on the basis of minor incidents, unless it is the basis of a formal complaint) is that they are there to determine whether OSHA standards were violated in connection with the incident. The inspection can certainly address regulations that require training and/or address the role of a "competent person" (I can't recall a standard that specifically calls out a supervision function), BUT it can (and often does) also focus on the enormous array of regulations that address the physical environment (anything from machine guarding, railings, & PPE to overexposure to individual hazardous substances). OSHA is not required to assign a definitive cause to an accident - just to report whether or not standards were violated. OSHA does not enforce employee misconduct matters, though I know of no reason they couldn't/wouldn't acknowledge its presence if it was the clear cause of an accident. The problem is there is a very grey zone between "inadequate training" and "employee misconduct" where there's room for reasonable people (and unreasonable ones, for that matter) to disagree wildly as to whether a specific action or circumstance constitutes one or the other. The above opinions are based on my experience as an OSHA compliance officer many moons ago. Don ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Donald Abramowitz, CIH Occupational and Environmental Safety Officer Bryn Mawr College | Swarthmore College 101 N. Merion Avenue | 500 College Avenue Bryn Mawr, PA 19010 | Swarthmore PA 19081 ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 2 Feb 1999 10:50:53 -0500 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Julie O'Brien Subject: Re: H2O2 Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" >I can't help but remember the old freshman chem "catalytic decomposition >of hydrogen peroxide" with tetrammine copper(II). It was an exciting >reaction, as far as freshman chem experiments went, with vigorous >generation of oxygen. I've also done this demonstration before, but we used potassium iodide as the catalyst. It uses the 30% H2O2. Julie O'Brien Chemist PCR, Inc. PO Box 1466 Gainesville, FL 32602 352-376-8246 ext. 232 Fax 352-373-7503 afn35210@afn.org Education/Exhibits Committee Volunteer EXPO The Children's Museum of Gainesville PO Box 5951 Gainesville, FL 32627 ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 2 Feb 1999 10:54:27 -0500 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Madelyn Miller Subject: EH&S Director at CMU MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; CHARSET=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit Greetings All, Thought you might be interested in this post from our Human Resources. The description sounds pretty general the only draw back is the director is three levels removed from the president. Madelyn ___________________________________ Carnegie Mellon University Employment Opportunity JOB ANNOUNCEMENT CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY JOB NUMBER-CATEGORY: 9488 - Administrative/Supervisory/Managerial DATE: 1/28/99 PG TITLE: Director, Environmental Health & Safety DEPARTMENT: FMS SALARY RANGE: $40,766 - $72,571 HIRING SALARY RANGE: $40,766 - $56,000 JOB GRADE: 11 JOB CLASS CODE (JCC): 3405(not for applicant use) FLSA STATUS: Exempt HOURS: Full-time This position is responsible for providing management of and direction for Carnegie Mellon's occupational safety and health, fire prevention, radiation safety and environmental protection programs. Duties include planning and directing the Environmental Health and Safety programs (including chemical, radiological and biological lab safety, loss prevention, fire safety, and physical safety); providing, and conducting, as necessary, applicable safety training for Carnegie Mellon staff, faculty, and students; assisting in taking measurements; writing procedures and policies; provides risk communication; responding to emergency requests; reviewing plans and projects for health and safety impacts, and recommending design alternatives; and other duties as required. QUALIFICATIONS: Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of training and experience in engineering, science, safety or environmental science or health or industrial hygiene; CH, CSP, and/or PE license; minimum of five years in occupational health, safety, and environmental protection programs and functions including regulatory compliance obligations, management of comprehensive occupational health, occupational safety and/or environmental protection programs, and development and delivery of EH&S training; effectiveness in departmental management, including development and management of operational budgets; supervision of professional, technical, support staff; management of comprehensive health and safety programs; working knowledge of chemistry and mitigation to chemical hazards; ability to coordinate and interact with engineers and architects in design and specification review of new construction projects for safety issues; facility with resources for maintaining current knowledge of regulations, compliance requirements, and standards of practice; skill in delivery of oral communications in a variety of forums; ability to conduct specialized health and safety training; and quality assurance; ability (including passing medical examinations) and willingness to wear tight fitting respirators; ability and willingness to crawl, climb up and down, and to enter into and work in confined spaces; ability and willingness to work in areas with exposure to potential or actual health and safety hazard; under conditions of temperature and humidity extremes and/or dirt; and to wear personal protective equipment appropriate to the potential or actual hazard; ability to make effective strategic decisions for department and tactical decisions in the field of rapid sequence during emergencies, and to maintain a broad strategic safety perspective in the university environment; ability and willingness to respond to emergencies both during and beyond prescribed working hours and to work more than 40 hours per week to meet organizational requirements. Preferred qualifications: HAZWOPER training and asbestos management training with EPA certification and radiation safety training; five years experience as manager and supervisor of a comprehensive environmental health and safety department, operation of an academic or research institution laboratory safety program, and/or experience as an organizational radiation safety officer (RSO), and experience reviewing new construction design and specifications; knowledge in human resource systems such as injury and illness reporting, worker's compensation, ADA, EEO, personnel performance planning and appraisal, development of job descriptions and job classification. This is a summary statement of the responsibilities and qualifications for this position. AA/EEO EMPLOYER DO NOT CONTACT DEPARTMENT DIRECTLY PLEASE SPECIFY JOB NUMBER AND TITLE WHEN YOU APPLY FOR THIS POSITION SUBMIT A SEPARATE APPLICATION OR RESUME FOR EACH JOB FOR WHICH YOU APPLY CONTACT EMPLOYMENT, WHITFIELD HALL, 143 N. CRAIG ST., PITTSBURGH, PA 15213 412-268-2046 Jobline 412-268-8545 Human Resources at Carnegie Mellon University Last Update: February 1, 1999 ---------------------- Madelyn Miller Chemical Hygiene Officer, CCHO Environmental Health & Safety Carnegie Mellon University mmiller@andrew.cmu.edu ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 2 Feb 1999 11:02:18 -0500 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Madelyn Miller Subject: Accident Report - Lessons learned MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; CHARSET=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit Greetings all, I don't know how interested you are in disclosure of lab accidents. I feel we have a great deal to learn from them. I sure did on this one! Hope this helps. --------------------------------------------- Doherty Hall A 206 Accident Report January 8, 1999 Summary: Explosion closed a lab in Doherty Hall. The graduate student was thrown four feet, cracked a rib, and her hair was singed from the fire ball. She was heating dioxane, a flammable solvent, and azobisisobutyronitrile when a leak was suspected to have developed in the box. The hot plate's thermostat probably served as the ignition source. She did not have the MSDS for azobisisobutyronitrile so did not know that upon heating it produced a deadly chemical, tetramethylsuccinonitrile (TMSN). TMSN is immediately dangerous to life and health (IDLH) at 5 ppm. Cyanide gas has a IDLH at 25 ppm. Personnel from Environmental Health and Safety entered the room to retrieve coats and open the windows not knowing the presence of this chemical. Their selection of personal protective clothing was insufficient to protect them from the TMSN and both became ill from exposures. An explosion occurred on January 5, 1999 in Doherty Hall. Two graduate students were present at the time. One was located in an office area, partitioned from the laboratory, the other was running an experiment across the room. Their major professor left Carnegie Mellon to take a position elsewhere. The students were under the supervision of another professor. This student had done this procedure many times, but on this day, she was using a new glove box. The experiment involved heating 300 mL of dioxane, 30 grams of N-isopropylacrylamide, and 6.24 grams of azobisiosobutyronitrile ("VAZO" 64) in an inert atmosphere, on a hot plate. Early in the experiment the student suspected there might be an air leak because the gloves which normally were inflated were sagging. Noticing that the liquid level looked low she added more dioxane. During an addition she spilled approximately 10 mL. Working within the gloves, she wiped up the spill with some paper toweling. With no warning, the reaction exploded and threw her 3 to 4 feet into the bench behind her. She ran to the other student and told him to call Security and Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S). He proceeded to evacuate the hallway and all the adjacent labs. They grabbed the book of MSDSs before they left. She identified to EH&S only three of the four chemicals that were involved in the incident. The company had never sent her a MSDS for the "VAZO". She appeared to be visibly shaken and her eyelashes and hair was singed. EH&S recommended that she shower, change clothes, and get a medical examination, which she did. The weather was subfreezing and students were requesting their coats, backpacks, and a lap-top computer from the affected area. An employee from EH&S entered the lab with a half face respirator with organic vapor cartridges to turn off the experiment, retrieve personal items, and open windows. EH&S found that many of the windows were fixed and which had been designed to open were sealed shut. Unable to open a window after about 20 minutes, a pane of glass was broken for ventilation. An emergency response team from McCutcheon Enterprises was called after several hours to appraise the situation because the smell persisted. The emergency response team decided to wear Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA). Neither student experienced any chemical exposure symptoms and both were examined by physicians. The attending physician determined that the student involved in the explosion did crack a rib as a result of her impact with the counter. The next day the student was interviewed again. She revealed additional information about a chemical she neglected to mention the day before. The missing chemical was the azobisiosobutyronitrile or "VAZO" 64 and she thought it was causing the residual smell in the room. Researching the chemical, EH&S discovered that upon heating the "VAZO" it readily converted to Tetramethylsuccinonitrile a chemical that is highly toxic and fatal, in very small doses. According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), concentrations of Tetramethylsuccinonitrile are Immediately Dangerous to Life and Health (IDLH) at 5 ppm. [For reference NIOSH lists Sodium Cyanide, gas, at 25 ppm., both by inhalation.] Both member of EH&S who had entered the room experienced temporary symptoms from exposure to the Tetramethylsuccinonitrile that rapidly penetrated their cartridges. Tetramethylsuccinonitrile is odorless. Conclusions: The heating of flammable solvents should be done in such as way as to avoid any contact with ignition sources. An explosion proof hot plate is recommended for future experiments. It has not been established that this glove box is suitable for the use of flammable liquids due to the factory installed electrical outlets. With an air leak, all the elements were present for the fire ball that singed the students hair and threw her into the counter. The student should have researched each of the reactants and had a thorough understanding of their properties and decomposition products. EH&S should have never entering an area that has an unknown atmosphere. Students possession should have never left the room without decontamination. These items were collected again for cleaning. Recommendations: · In the future an explosion proof hot-plate and a non-electric balance should be used to avoid ignition sources. · The glove box manufacturer should be contacted and asked if the box is designed for the use of flammable solvents. · A written standard operating procedure (SOP), that includes safety procedures, should be written to demonstrate a thorough understanding of all chemicals involved. · SOPs should be reviewed by students supervisors. · Closer supervision of graduate students. · After incidents like this one the contents of the room should stay there until a thorough evaluation is completed. · No chemical should be used until the MSDS is obtained and reviewed. ---------------------- Madelyn Miller Chemical Hygiene Officer, CCHO Environmental Health & Safety Carnegie Mellon University mmiller@andrew.cmu.edu ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 2 Feb 1999 09:05:55 -0700 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: "Helen B. Gerhard" Subject: Re: H2O2 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Ben Greene, Ph.D wrote "if it has not already been declared a waste?" That is the crux. Most local agencies will allow as the last step in a process an activity which renders the material non-hazardous. However, if the material has been declared "waste" then treatment requires a license. Also, for donation, using the term "Excess" instead of "waste" takes away the requirement to treat it as waste. However, if it truly is waste (e.g. contaminated to a point that it can't be reused), then you must dispose of it properly. Thanks! Helen -----Original Message----- From: Greene, Ben [SMTP:bgreene@SMTP3.WSTF.NASA.GOV] Sent: Tuesday, February 02, 1999 7:52 AM To: LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU Subject: Re: H2O2 I can't help but remember the old freshman chem "catalytic decomposition of hydrogen peroxide" with tetrammine copper(II). It was an exciting reaction, as far as freshman chem experiments went, with vigorous generation of oxygen. I believe a rather dilute solution of peroxide was used. Is "donating" the peroxide (as a product) to a local university an option, if it has not already been declared a waste? Ben Greene, Ph.D AlliedSignal Las Cruces, NM 88004 ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 2 Feb 1999 10:11:02 -0600 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Armen Casparian Subject: Member Introdcution and MSDS Web Site Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Hello out there, I am an Associate Professor of Chemistry at Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston. As Jim knows, we have no CHO serving in an official capacity. As far as I can understand the Institute's position, our campus security director can wear "that hat" when necessary or else subcontract assignments or responsibilities as the need arises. This, of course, does not meet the intent or requirements of the law. Regarding obtaining MSDS's, I have found downloading them from Vermont SIRI MSDS Collection is quick and easy. Their url is: http://hazard. com/msds/index.html. Good Luck! ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 2 Feb 1999 09:21:08 -0700 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Dean Calhoun Subject: Re: EH&S Director at CMU Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Interesting... Was this job posted before or after the explosion? ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 2 Feb 1999 12:26:22 EST Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Gilbert Smith Subject: Re: Division Workshop Program at the ACS Meeting in Anaheim Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-transfer-encoding: 7bit In a message dated 2/2/99 9:57:36 AM Eastern Standard Time, envasset@JUNO.COM writes: << Take a close look at the Chemical Hygiene Officer position, and prepare at the same time for the CHP Certification exam to be held the next day. Kaufman, Phifer and Wahl give a different slant to safety issues in the laboratory, focusing on what you do and how you can do it better. The presenters bring a wide variety of experience to the table, but the real stars of the workshop are you - past attendees note the interactive approach focusing on their problems, from getting administrators involved in safety to dealing with regulatory concerns. The course covers all of the content areas of the certification exam (presented on Sunday through NRCC), including a sample test in the same format as the real one. Whether you are a new Chemical Hygiene Officer or an "old" one, you will find something to put to real use in this fast-paced presentation. >> TO APPLY FOR NRCC CHO CERTIFICATION EXAM CONTACT GILBERT SMITH AT: NRCC6@AOL.COM It takes about one month to process an application, so time to apply. Gilbert Smith ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 2 Feb 1999 14:11:27 -0500 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Jane Barth Subject: Source of White Phosphorus MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit To all Chemists on the list: Does anyone know of a source for white phosphorus. The major chemical catalogues do not list it. Thanks for your help. Jane Please reply to me jbarth@acad.ursinus.edu > ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 2 Feb 1999 11:25:56 -0600 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: EH&S Compliance Subject: Re: H2O2 Great idea! I would still like to know the quantity involved. We do use lots of H2O2 and if it is uncontaminated might take it. It is only a hazardous waste if it is first a waste. -----Original Message----- From: Tayman, Tammy [SMTP:ttayman@MC.CC.MD.US] Sent: Tuesday, February 02, 1999 8:31 AM To: LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU Subject: Re: H2O2 However, if you use small quantities at a time, mix with manganese(IV) oxide (a catalyst) and observe, you have a really neat *demo* that just Tammy Tayman ---------- From: Teresa Robertson To: LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU Subject: Re: H2O2 Date: Monday, February 01, 1999 5:58PM Attachment Converted: "c:\winnet\eudora\linda\attach\WINMAIL9.DAT" end ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 2 Feb 1999 14:57:44 -0500 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: "L. James Stock III" <34EMQ6K@CMUVM.CSV.CMICH.EDU> Subject: Re: attachments = gibberish in the list archives Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" >http://www.labsafety.org/archives/archives.htm This site was unavailable????? http://www.labsafety.org/archives/ This gave the directory of the archives. The stats.htm shows all the archived e-mails. I have found an absolutely fantastic way to organize my safety related e-mails from this group. I have an Apple Macintosh 7600. I use both Claris(FileMaker) e-mailer for my e-mail POP server and I use Claris(FileMaker) FileMaker Pro 4.0 for my database program. I also use Claris(FileMaker) Home Page to create my web pages. I have downloaded a neat apple script from Claris(FileMaker) that allows you to archive your e-mail messages in a FileMaker Pro database file. I also use QuickKeys that makes it easy to create a keyboard shortcut to access the macro. When I read an e-mail message I just hit command-e and the message is archived while I am reading it. I then just close the window and move on to the next message. Now my e-mail is stored not only in the single flat database file within e-mailer but also as a web accessible, search and sortable FileMakerPro file. With FileMaker Pro 4.0 you can easily turn your desktop into a web server using the built-in Web Companion. In addition Claris(FileMaker) Home Page makes it a snap to create CDML tagged pages that are easily served up to the web. I have actually put a link on my home page to these safety related e-mails from this group. Check out my page at http://www.cst.cmich.edu/users/stockj and look at the table under tithe tour picture. One of the links is for these e-mails. You will actually be sent to my desktop as the server location. Now you can search for subject or even key words. All it takes is a Mac and the right software and even a lab manager can become a web master. ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 2 Feb 1999 15:05:04 -0500 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Don Abramowitz Subject: Re: Accident Report - Lessons learned In-Reply-To: Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" >Greetings all, >I don't know how interested you are in disclosure of lab accidents. I for one, am very interested in reports of the sort you shared today. I find accident descriptions like this to catch the attention of my faculty, staff, and student audience much better than stand-alone safety instructions/notices. I pass them along via e-mail to the folks I think can benefit from them (minus identifiers), and post edited, big-print versions on the safety bulletin board in our main science building. Seems to me that sharing lessons learned and recognizing hazards that don't fit neatly into the textbook are some of the best things about our humble little group. Don ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Donald Abramowitz, CIH Occupational and Environmental Safety Officer Bryn Mawr College | Swarthmore College 101 N. Merion Avenue | 500 College Avenue Bryn Mawr, PA 19010 | Swarthmore PA 19081 ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 2 Feb 1999 12:06:08 -0800 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Neal Langerman Subject: Re: Source of White Phosphorus Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" At 02:11 PM 2/2/99 -0500, you wrote: >To all Chemists on the list: > >Does anyone know of a source for white phosphorus. The major chemical >catalogues do not list it. Thanks for your help. Jane Please reply to me >jbarth@acad.ursinus.edu > > > >> > > ChemSources lists WP sources as: FMC Corp 215 299 6000 Pechiney World Trade/Brandeis Chemical Div 203 625 9081 Neal ************************************************************* NEAL LANGERMAN chemsaf@ix.netcom.com ADVANCED CHEMICAL SAFETY 8909 Complex Drive San Diego CA 92123-1418 619 874 5577 (phone) 619 874 8239 (FAX) 619 990 4908 (cellular) visit our homepage: http://www.chemical-safety.com ************************************************************* ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 2 Feb 1999 14:37:43 -0600 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Armen Casparian Subject: Member Introduction and an MSDS Web Site Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Hello out there, I am an Associate Professor of Chemistry at Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston. As Jim knows, we have no CHO serving in an official capacity. As far as I can understand the Institute's position, the campus security director wears "that hat" when necessary or else can make assignments to outside subcontractors as the need arises. This, of course, does not meet the intent or requirements of the law. Regarding obtaining MSDS's from Aldrich Chemical, I have found downloading them Vermont SIRI MSDS Collection fairly quick and easy. Their url is: http://hazard.com/msds/index.html. Good Luck! ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 2 Feb 1999 11:45:18 -0700 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Teresa Robertson Organization: CSU Bakersfield Subject: Re: Accident Report - Lessons learned Comments: cc: trobertson@csubak.edu MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit LABSAFETY-L@siu.edu,.internet writes: >>Greetings all, >>I don't know how interested you are in disclosure of lab accidents. >I for one, am very interested in reports of the sort you shared today. I second this vote, finding this information as useful as Don does. Thanks for sharing. Teresa ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 2 Feb 1999 16:23:48 -0500 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: "Henry Boyter Jr." Subject: Re: Member Introduction and an MSDS Web Site MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Watch the Vermont system. Many of the sheets are old and the sheets can now be gotten from the Aldrich site itself. Dr. Henry Boyter, Jr. Ph.D. Chemist The opinions of Dr. Boyter are provided for informational purposes only and should not be used as advice. No warranty or expression of professionalism is implied. ***************************************************************** -----Original Message----- From: Armen Casparian To: LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU Date: Tuesday, February 02, 1999 3:34 PM Subject: Member Introduction and an MSDS Web Site Hello out there, I am an Associate Professor of Chemistry at Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston. As Jim knows, we have no CHO serving in an official capacity. As far as I can understand the Institute's position, the campus security director wears "that hat" when necessary or else can make assignments to outside subcontractors as the need arises. This, of course, does not meet the intent or requirements of the law. Regarding obtaining MSDS's from Aldrich Chemical, I have found downloading them Vermont SIRI MSDS Collection fairly quick and easy. Their url is: http://hazard.com/msds/index.html. Good Luck! ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 2 Feb 1999 18:05:16 -0600 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Comments: RFC822 error: TO field duplicated. Last occurrence was retained. Comments: RFC822 error: TO field duplicated. Last occurrence was retained. Comments: RFC822 error: TO field duplicated. Last occurrence was retained. Comments: RFC822 error: TO field duplicated. Last occurrence was retained. Comments: RFC822 error: TO field duplicated. Last occurrence was retained. Comments: RFC822 error: TO field duplicated. Last occurrence was retained. Comments: RFC822 error: TO field duplicated. Last occurrence was retained. Comments: RFC822 error: TO field duplicated. Last occurrence was retained. Comments: RFC822 error: TO field duplicated. Last occurrence was retained. Comments: RFC822 error: TO field duplicated. Last occurrence was retained. Comments: RFC822 error: TO field duplicated. Last occurrence was retained. From: Claudia Toback Subject: Fwd: EPA offers assistance to small laboratories Comments: To: AliceK13@aol.com MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii ------Begin forward message------------------------- DEAR COLLEAGUES, THIS WAS SENT TO ME BY DIANA HARDING, THE SCIENCE ASSOCIATE AT NYSED. Hope you can use the information. Please pass along the information to others who might find it useful. Many thanks, Claudia Toback Science Council of NYC EPA offers a publication entitled "Environmental Management Guide for Small Laboratories" One copy may be sent to you for free by calling the Hotline at 1 800 368-5888. Ask for the document by title or number (EPA 233-B-98-001) I've received my copy and it has useful information on: - resources - checklists, e.g., hazardous waste management, pollution prevention - incompatible chemicals - pollution prevention - hazardous and non-hazardous wastes - spill containment - air emissions ------End forward message--------------------------- ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 2 Feb 1999 22:34:40 EST Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Labsafe@AOL.COM Subject: Accident Reporting Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-transfer-encoding: 7bit Hi NACHOs, LABSAFETY-L is an excellent place for accident and injury reporting. Close calls and near misses are welcome too. This was one of the original purposed of the organization. ... jim ***************************************************** James A. Kaufman, President The Laboratory Safety Workshop Safety in Science Education 192 Worcester Road, Natick, MA 01760 508-647-1900 Fax: 508-647-0062 labsafe@aol.com http://www.labsafety.org/ LSW is a national non-profit educational organization dedicated to making health and safety an integral and important part of science education. Free copies of our Laboratory Safety Guidelines, seminar schedule, Publications List, AV-Lending Library List, and membership information are available on request. The LABSAFETY-L discussion list is a public service of LSW. ****************************************************** ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 3 Feb 1999 09:14:45 -0500 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Janeen LaPierre Subject: Re: Accident Report - Lessons learned Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit Thanks Madelyn for these examples of what can go wrong in a lab setting. So many times these types of illustrations help seed the message home that accidents happen and in some case they could have been avoided if safety guidelines had been more closely followed. I like to use this stuff in my training sessions. Janeen ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 3 Feb 1999 23:55:36 -0600 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: EH&S Compliance Subject: Please ignore: test for attacments Please ignore this e-mail. On a list I have had trouble with automatic attachments. I have changed a few things and hope it has fixed it and I am checking to see if it has. Thanks for patience. Rebecca Levins EH&S Compliance Specialist RSR Corporation Dallas, Texas RSRrdl@onramp.net ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 3 Feb 1999 13:13:07 -0500 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Mary Ann Solstad Subject: HgS protocol request from down under Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/enriched; charset="us-ascii" >>>> From: "Bronx Stefanescu" To: Date: Thu, 4 Feb 1999 04:35:41 +1100 X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook Express 4.72.3110.1 X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V4.72.3110.3 Hello, I was wondering if you could give me some advice on Mercuric Sufide (toxic black powder...not red), I am currently looking on doing some experiments with it and I would like to know what safety precautions I would need to take, what my options are when it comes to disposing of the waste after the experiment and also how to clean materials (eg containers) that have been in contact with the Mercuric Sulfide. I would appreciate any help... THANK YOU! EMAIL : <Bronx@dragon.net.au <<<<<<<< ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 4 Feb 1999 07:05:42 -0800 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: "SafetyInfo.Com" Subject: New Member MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Greetings, We are new to this list. By way of introduction, Neil & I sponsor a OH&S web site that provides free written safety programs, training material and other safety & health information. We don't sell anything, just an attempt to give a bit back. We occasionally receive questions re. lab safety and would like to re-post them, as appropriate to this list for comment, suggestions. Site address is http://www.safetyinfo.com Regards & Best Wishes Marc Neuffer, Director - interSafe Neil Gunter, President - Gunter & Associates ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 4 Feb 1999 08:41:20 -0500 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: "Stoll, Ilse (Ilse)" Subject: new member Comments: cc: "Wenger, Debra L (Deb)" MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain I am a new member to this information sharing group. I head the Lucent Technologies Environmental Laboratory, an AIHA accredited laboratory, performing industrial hygiene analyses for metals, organics and inorganic acids for all Lucent facilities. I also characterize the routine and not-so-routine wastes we generate here at our Allentown facility for prevention of worker exposure, for correct reuse/disposal procedures, as well as for obtaining an "environmental material balance" of our facility. On the side I am the coordinator for our Local Environmental Advisory Group at Lucent in Allentown; a community group with whom we share our environmental policy, goals and objectives, status of accomplishments, and ask for input and discussion of what is important to the local community with respect to environmental protection. Check out our website http://www.lucent/micro/leagpage.html on the Internet. Additionally, I am the CHO for our Allentown facility covering 23 labs (no reason to be impressed, 16 are one person labs). Last summer I took the CHO courses and took the CCHO exam. I am looking forward to hear what other labs and CHOs are doing out there. Ilse Stoll TRB198BG Environmental Laboratory Lucent Technologies 555 Union Blvd. Allentown, PA 18103 610.712.5505 voice 610.712.4400 fax ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 4 Feb 1999 09:32:47 -0600 Reply-To: khmorgan@UDel.Edu Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Kelly Morgan Subject: Re: EH&S Director at CMU MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit Madelyn, I am passing the information on to my husband who is currently a EHS Manager. Why aren't you applying for the position? I suppose that if you know enough not to apply I couldn't either so I am passing on to my husband who is also a Carnegie Mellon Graduate. Thanks for any insight. Kelly Madelyn Miller wrote: > Greetings All, > Thought you might be interested in this post from our Human Resources. > The description sounds pretty general the only draw back is the > director is three levels removed from the president. > Madelyn > ___________________________________ > Carnegie Mellon University > Employment Opportunity > > JOB ANNOUNCEMENT > CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY > > JOB NUMBER-CATEGORY: 9488 - Administrative/Supervisory/Managerial > DATE: 1/28/99 PG > TITLE: Director, Environmental Health & Safety > DEPARTMENT: FMS > SALARY RANGE: $40,766 - $72,571 > HIRING SALARY RANGE: $40,766 - $56,000 > JOB GRADE: 11 > JOB CLASS CODE (JCC): 3405(not for applicant use) > FLSA STATUS: Exempt > HOURS: Full-time > > This position is responsible for providing management of and direction > for Carnegie Mellon's occupational safety and health, fire prevention, > radiation safety and environmental protection programs. Duties include > planning and directing the Environmental Health and Safety programs > (including chemical, radiological and biological lab safety, loss > prevention, fire safety, and physical safety); providing, and > conducting, as necessary, applicable safety training for Carnegie > Mellon staff, faculty, and students; assisting in taking measurements; > writing procedures and policies; provides risk communication; > responding to emergency requests; reviewing plans and projects for > health and safety impacts, and recommending design alternatives; and > other duties as required. > > QUALIFICATIONS: Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of training > and experience in engineering, science, safety or environmental science > or health or industrial hygiene; CH, CSP, and/or PE license; minimum of > five years in occupational health, safety, and environmental protection > programs and functions including regulatory compliance obligations, > management of comprehensive occupational health, occupational safety > and/or environmental protection programs, and development and delivery > of EH&S training; effectiveness in departmental management, including > development and management of operational budgets; supervision of > professional, technical, support staff; management of comprehensive > health and safety programs; working knowledge of chemistry and > mitigation to chemical hazards; ability to coordinate and interact with > engineers and architects in design and specification review of new > construction projects for safety issues; facility with resources for > maintaining current knowledge of regulations, compliance requirements, > and standards of practice; skill in delivery of oral communications in a > variety of forums; ability to conduct specialized health and safety > training; and quality assurance; ability (including passing medical > examinations) and willingness to wear tight fitting respirators; ability > and willingness to crawl, climb up and down, and to enter into and work > in confined spaces; ability and willingness to work in areas with > exposure to potential or actual health and safety hazard; under > conditions of temperature and humidity extremes and/or dirt; and to wear > personal protective equipment appropriate to the potential or actual > hazard; ability to make effective strategic decisions for department and > tactical decisions in the field of rapid sequence during emergencies, > and to maintain a broad strategic safety perspective in the university > environment; ability and willingness to respond to emergencies both > during and beyond prescribed working hours and to work more than 40 > hours per week to meet organizational requirements. Preferred > qualifications: HAZWOPER training and asbestos management training with > EPA certification and radiation safety training; five years experience > as manager and supervisor of a comprehensive environmental health and > safety department, operation of an academic or research institution > laboratory safety program, and/or experience as an organizational > radiation safety officer (RSO), and experience reviewing new > construction design and specifications; knowledge in human resource > systems such as injury and illness reporting, worker's compensation, > ADA, EEO, personnel performance planning and appraisal, development of > job descriptions and job classification. > > This is a summary statement of the responsibilities and qualifications > for this position. > > AA/EEO EMPLOYER DO NOT CONTACT DEPARTMENT DIRECTLY PLEASE SPECIFY JOB > NUMBER AND TITLE WHEN YOU APPLY FOR THIS POSITION SUBMIT A SEPARATE > APPLICATION OR RESUME FOR EACH JOB FOR WHICH YOU APPLY CONTACT > EMPLOYMENT, WHITFIELD HALL, 143 N. CRAIG ST., PITTSBURGH, PA 15213 > 412-268-2046 Jobline 412-268-8545 > > Human Resources at Carnegie Mellon University > Last Update: February 1, 1999 > ---------------------- > Madelyn Miller > Chemical Hygiene Officer, CCHO > Environmental Health & Safety > Carnegie Mellon University > mmiller@andrew.cmu.edu ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 4 Feb 1999 12:48:40 -0500 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: EH&S Compliance Subject: Subject: Scintillation Vial Shaking I don't know if this would be vigorous enough, but we have shakers that rotate around and turn the vials upside down. They are used for TCLP samples. Rebecca Levins EH&S Compliance Specialist RSR Corporation Dallas, Texas RSRrdl@onramp.net (214) 583-0245 Date: Wed, 3 Feb 1999 16:53:49 -0800 From: Matt Kotowski Subject: Scintillation Vial Shaking We need to find a different way of getting the water and the scintillation fluid to mix reliably. Vibrating mixers have been tried and they don't work. Does anyone know of a specific method for accomplishing this? Is there any scintillation fluid or any emulsifier that might help? Thanks in advance. Matt Kotowski E. O. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 4 Feb 1999 10:35:10 -0700 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: "Helen B. Gerhard" Subject: Re: new member MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" I can't access the website. Explorer says it can't find the address. Thanks! Helen -----Original Message----- From: Stoll, Ilse (Ilse) [SMTP:ilsestoll@LUCENT.COM] Sent: Thursday, February 04, 1999 6:41 AM To: LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU Subject: new member I am a new member to this information sharing group. I head the Lucent Technologies Environmental Laboratory, an AIHA accredited laboratory, performing industrial hygiene analyses for metals, organics and inorganic acids for all Lucent facilities. I also characterize the routine and not-so-routine wastes we generate here at our Allentown facility for prevention of worker exposure, for correct reuse/disposal procedures, as well as for obtaining an "environmental material balance" of our facility. On the side I am the coordinator for our Local Environmental Advisory Group at Lucent in Allentown; a community group with whom we share our environmental policy, goals and objectives, status of accomplishments, and ask for input and discussion of what is important to the local community with respect to environmental protection. Check out our website http://www.lucent/micro/leagpage.html on the Internet. Additionally, I am the CHO for our Allentown facility covering 23 labs (no reason to be impressed, 16 are one person labs). Last summer I took the CHO courses and took the CCHO exam. I am looking forward to hear what other labs and CHOs are doing out there. Ilse Stoll TRB198BG Environmental Laboratory Lucent Technologies 555 Union Blvd. Allentown, PA 18103 610.712.5505 voice 610.712.4400 fax ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 4 Feb 1999 10:55:56 -0800 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Sam Hurlbut Subject: Re: new member MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain I got the URL to work by adding .com after lucent. Sam p.s. It must be time for a member intro. I am the CHO for the analytical laboratory at the Plutonium Finishing Plant on the Dept. of Energy's Hanford site in eastern Washington. We are a fairly small lab ~20-25 employees and we are currently disposing of a large number but small quantities of legacy chemicals. We are relatively new at being required to comply with state and federal hazardous waste guidelines but we are getting better at it. Sometime it does seem to be odd when the regulators seem to be more concerned that we might have chrome in a waste than the Pu in the waste. But maybe they are new at it, too. > -----Original Message----- > From: Helen B. Gerhard [SMTP:hbgerhard@MEDLOGIC.COM] > Sent: Thursday, February 04, 1999 9:35 AM > To: LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU > Subject: Re: new member > > I can't access the website. Explorer says it can't find the address. > > Thanks! > > Helen > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Stoll, Ilse (Ilse) [SMTP:ilsestoll@LUCENT.COM] > Sent: Thursday, February 04, 1999 6:41 AM > To: LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU > Subject: new member > > I am a new member to this information sharing group. I head > the > Lucent > Technologies Environmental Laboratory, an AIHA accredited > laboratory, > performing industrial hygiene analyses for metals, organics > and > inorganic > acids for all Lucent facilities. I also characterize the > routine and > not-so-routine wastes we generate here at our Allentown > facility for > prevention of worker exposure, for correct reuse/disposal > procedures, as > well as for obtaining an "environmental material balance" of > our > facility. > > On the side I am the coordinator for our Local Environmental > Advisory Group > at Lucent in Allentown; a community group with whom we share > our > environmental policy, goals and objectives, status of > accomplishments, and > ask for input and discussion of what is important to the local > community > with respect to environmental protection. Check out our > website > http://www.lucent/micro/leagpage.html on the Internet. > > Additionally, I am the CHO for our Allentown facility covering > 23 > labs (no > reason to be impressed, 16 are one person labs). > > Last summer I took the CHO courses and took the CCHO exam. > > I am looking forward to hear what other labs and CHOs are > doing out > there. > > > Ilse Stoll > TRB198BG > Environmental Laboratory > Lucent Technologies > 555 Union Blvd. > Allentown, PA 18103 > 610.712.5505 voice > 610.712.4400 fax ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 5 Feb 1999 11:08:39 -0600 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: EH&S Compliance Subject: chemical inventory-confidential? I'm industrial, but there are a few chemicals in our labs that I would not like to have open public knowledge. Why endanger my workers from outside sources? They may have concerns about certain chemicals or equipment that could be used by illegal drug manufacturers, made into explosives or biological weapons, or students who would want to have 'fun' with some of the chemicals (and I know that happens). I remember my academic lab experiences and the security for a lot of the chemicals/equipment was not of the highest quality. Maybe you may be able to address their concerns and let them know certain things can be kept confidential and not allow total public access. Also, SARA Community Right to Know Reporting 40 CFR 370.20(b)(2) has reporting thresholds of 10,000 pounds for hazardous chemicals and thresholds of 500 pounds or their Threshold Planning Quantity for Extremely Hazardous Chemicals. Texas had a 500lb threshold for all chemicals for a few years but went back to the 10,000lb haz & 500lb EHS and California still goes by their 500lb limit for all chemicals. Only zero limit I know of is in (b)(3) which allows for zero threshold for a request from a LEPC or local fire department. Rebecca Levins EH&S Compliance Specialist RSR Corporation Dallas, Texas RSRrdl@onramp.net (214) 583-0245 Date: Thu, 4 Feb 1999 08:45:58 -0600 From: "Raebig, Bob" Subject: chemical inventory-confidential? I'm looking for some feedback from safety netters regarding a matter that came up here recently. A graduate student working on a class project is doing a risk assessment of our sciences building. This student has requested a copy of our chemical inventory. It turns out that the stockroom manager and the dean are refusing to release this information. They feel that this info is confidential and considered sensitive. I'm very curious how other schools feel about protecting this type of information. Thanks in advance. Bob Raebig Environmental Safety Officer Campus Recycling Coordinator raebig.bob@uis.edu 217-206-6736 ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 5 Feb 1999 23:41:33 -0600 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Mark Smith Subject: Hg Stories In-Reply-To: <000d01be504f$d6f261c0$25c6e4d0@default> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Can someone point me to some of the better sources of Hg poisoning stories that have been shared? Of course, the Karen Wetterhahn story being one I would particularly like to document. Thanks, ms *************************************** MARK SMITH HENDRIX COLLEGE CHEMISTRY LABORATORY COORDINATOR CHEMICAL HYGIENE OFFICER NRCC-CHO *************************************** 1600 Washington Ave Conway, AR 72032 501-450-3812 Fax : 501-450-3829 *************************************** ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 5 Feb 1999 12:11:48 -0600 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Jeff Rubin Subject: Re: chemical inventory-confidential? In-Reply-To: <01BE515D.EC5A45A0@ppp11-19.dllstx.onramp.net> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" If you think that's a problem, consider what EPA walked into. With Right-to-Know in hand, they were advising users that this type of information (hazardous inventory, risk management plans, etc.) would have to be accessible on the web. After the DoD, DoJ, and many industries pointed out that this would amount to giving would-be terrorists blue=prints for site-specific attacks (releasing hazmat as a "secondary chemical weapon), the EPA started to figure out whether this could in fact be prevented. I don't knwo if anyone has come up with answer, but so far the info is not generally accessible on the web. More os those unintended consequences... I'm impressed that someone in academe who is not in the EHS or public-safety field would think twice (or even once) about releasing such information. JNR Jeff Rubin, Asst. Dean for EHS College of Natural Sciences G2500 W.C. Hogg Building University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX 78712-1199 (512) 471-6176 (O) (512) 471-4998 (F) jrubin@mail.utexas.edu "The opinions of Dr. Rubin are not meant to offend anyone unless otherwise specified." ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 5 Feb 1999 13:33:44 -0500 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: "M. Drago" Subject: Mercury Disposal MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Hello everyone, Does anyone know if the EPA is allowing hazmat transporters to take mercury now? At one time our transporter informed us that the EPA had put a "hold" on Hg, so we had to hold on to our supply. As a corollary thought, is there someone or some business that would take/buy our supply? We have a little over 19lbs of Hg. Thanks for your help. Marcia -- Marcia Kilday Drago Science Lab Manager Central Florida Community College 3001 SW College Road Ocala, FL 34474-4415 (352)854-CFCC, 4 + 1635 FAX: (352)237-0510 ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 5 Feb 1999 12:51:59 +0100 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Debra Sharpe Subject: ACGIH, NIOSH or OSHA Which do you use? Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" I asked this question earlier and only got a few responses, so at the risk of being obnoxious, let me ask again. Do you use the NIOSH, ACGIH or OSHA levels when implementing controls to protect your employees ( or students) from chemical exposure. For some chemicals the two are very far apart (i.e formaldehyde .75 ppm vs .016). Does your industry or institution have a policy on this or do you look at the hazards associated with the chemical? Right now my issue is with formaldehyde but it could be anything in the future. Given most of the OSHA levels are so old (1979) and are driven by special intrests, I for one, feel uncomfortable using them. Is anyone one aware of court cases were employers were considered negligent for not protecting to the more conserative NIOSH, or ACGIH levels? You may respond to me directly but I think other list members might want to hear this too. Thanks for your collective views on this. sorry for the x posting All opinions are mine alone, not Auburn University's D. C. Sharpe, CCHO Associate Director Safety and Environmental Health 313 Leach Science Bldg Auburn University, 36849 Ph (334) 844-4870 fax 4640 ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 5 Feb 1999 11:56:16 -0700 Reply-To: terrie@cc.usu.edu Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Terrie Wierenga Organization: USDA-ARS PPRL Subject: Re: ACGIH, NIOSH or OSHA Which do you use? MIME-version: 1.0 Content-type: multipart/alternative; boundary="------------A86B2DB0080FE6494FA1D18D" --------------A86B2DB0080FE6494FA1D18D Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Debra wrote: > Do you use the NIOSH, ACGIH or OSHA > levels when implementing controls to protect your employees ( or students) > from chemical exposure. > We use whichever level is the most stringent. Terrie -- **** Terrie Wierenga, CDSO, LRPO USDA-ARS Poisonous Plant Research Lab 1150 East 1400 North Logan, UT 84341 v: 435-752-2941 f: 435-753-5681 e: terrie@cc.usu.edu --------------A86B2DB0080FE6494FA1D18D Content-Type: text/html; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Debra wrote: 
Do you use the NIOSH, ACGIH or OSHA
levels when implementing controls to protect your employees ( or students)
from chemical exposure.


We use whichever level is the most stringent.

Terrie
 

--
****
Terrie Wierenga, CDSO, LRPO
USDA-ARS Poisonous Plant Research Lab
1150 East 1400 North
Logan, UT 84341

v:  435-752-2941
f:  435-753-5681
e:  terrie@cc.usu.edu
  --------------A86B2DB0080FE6494FA1D18D-- ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 5 Feb 1999 12:02:13 -0700 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: "Greene, Ben" Subject: Re: Mercury Disposal MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain I have recycled mercury to Bethlehem Apparatus Company, Inc.; Hellerton PA; phone # 610-838-7034. The sent a 76 lb capacity container with all the shipping documentation and instructions to return it (for retort and recycle), including MSDS and how many wraps of teflon tape around the plug you need, etc. (Not an endorsement, just something I did.) Ben Greene, Ph.D AlliedSignal Las Cruces, NM 88004 > ---------- > From: M. Drago[SMTP:dragom@CFCC.CC.FL.US] > Reply To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List > Sent: Friday, February 05, 1999 11:33 AM > To: LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU > Subject: Mercury Disposal > > Hello everyone, > Does anyone know if the EPA is allowing hazmat transporters to > take > mercury now? > At one time our transporter informed us that the EPA had put a "hold" > on > Hg, so we had to hold on to our supply. > As a corollary thought, is there someone or some business that > would > take/buy our supply? > We have a little over 19lbs of Hg. > Thanks for your help. > Marcia > > -- > Marcia Kilday Drago > Science Lab Manager > Central Florida Community College > 3001 SW College Road > Ocala, FL 34474-4415 > (352)854-CFCC, 4 + 1635 FAX: (352)237-0510 > ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 5 Feb 1999 12:09:06 -0700 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Sharyn Bake Subject: Re: Hg Stories MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain Mark, For a detailed discussion of the tragic case of Karen Wetterhahn see the excellent article by Nierenberg, et al, in the June 4 1998 edition of the New England Journal of Medicine. Your library or a library near you should have this journal. Another excellent resource on toxicology is the volume edited by Sullivan and Krieger called "Hazardous Materials Toxicology: Clinical Principles of Environmental Health". I hope this is helpful. Sharyn Baker Instructor Health and Safety Division University of Colorado Health Sciences Division Denver, Colorado email: sharyn.baker@uchsc.edu > ---------- > From: Mark Smith > Reply To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List > Sent: Friday, February 5, 1999 10:41 PM > To: LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU > Subject: Hg Stories > > Can someone point me to some of the better sources of Hg poisoning stories > that have been shared? Of course, the Karen Wetterhahn story being one I > would particularly like to document. > > Thanks, > > ms > > *************************************** > MARK SMITH > HENDRIX COLLEGE CHEMISTRY > LABORATORY COORDINATOR > CHEMICAL HYGIENE OFFICER NRCC-CHO > *************************************** > 1600 Washington Ave > Conway, AR 72032 > 501-450-3812 > Fax : 501-450-3829 > *************************************** > ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 5 Feb 1999 14:29:36 -0500 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Julie O'Brien Subject: Re: Mercury Disposal Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" >Hello everyone, > Does anyone know if the EPA is allowing hazmat transporters to take >mercury now? >At one time our transporter informed us that the EPA had put a "hold" on >Hg, so we had to hold on to our supply. > As a corollary thought, is there someone or some business that would >take/buy our supply? > We have a little over 19lbs of Hg. Marsha, We just disposed of a couple of jars full of mercury-containing substances (thermometers, spill control waste) about two weeks ago. (Much less than 19 lb.) City Environmental out of Tampa handled a large lab pack for us. Mercury disposal is very costly, more than anything else we got rid of. One 1 gal. jar was about $200 to dispose of. The chemist who handled our pack claimed that no facility in the U.S. actually processes mercury recovery because the regulations are just too tight here. They have to ship it to a facility in Canada. Julie O'Brien P.S. Will you be attending Jim Kaufman's lab safety workshop in Gainesville? I remembered that you had expressed an interest in attending a local safety workshop. Chemist PCR, Inc. PO Box 1466 Gainesville, FL 32602 352-376-8246 ext. 232 Fax 352-373-7503 afn35210@afn.org Education/Exhibits Committee Volunteer EXPO The Children's Museum of Gainesville PO Box 5951 Gainesville, FL 32627 ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 6 Feb 1999 01:31:47 -0600 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: EH&S Compliance Subject: Re: Mercury Disposal Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission has a RENEW catalog - listing of materials offered & wanted. http://www.tnrcc.state.tx.us/admin/topdoc/pd/002/ A few wanted listings are: Mercury RE:W11/1227 (Aug. 10, 1998) Wanting any amount on a continuous basis for retorting. Will accept from hospitals, universities, laboratories, and industrial applications. Packaged in bulk or drums. US CONTACT: Greg Locke, 972-231-6266 Surplus Chemical RE:W11/1066 Wanting surplus chemicals. Any quantity on a continuous basis, bulk or drums. US, Canada, Mexico CONTACT: Drew Stern, 201-696-9200 Surplus Chemicals RE:W11/989 Wanting to buy all types of surplus chemicals. All geographic regions CONTACT: Harvey W. Rambach, 201-589-7774 Surplus Chemicals, Solvent, Resins, etc. RE:W11/859 Wanting from all geographical regions. Any quantity, bulk, drums or bags. CONTACT: Ted Stepanoff, 610-689-8500 Inorganic Reagents and Organic Solvents RE:W14/1067 Wanting on a continuous basis, wide variety of inorganic chemicals, organic solvents and pharmaceuticals for research. US and Canada CONTACT: Gary Clapper, 619-698-1841 Rebecca Levins EH&S Compliance Specialist RSR Corporation Dallas, Texas RSRrdl@onramp.net (214) 583-0245 -----Original Message----- From: M. Drago [SMTP:dragom@CFCC.CC.FL.US] Sent: Friday, February 05, 1999 12:34 PM To: LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU Subject: Mercury Disposal Hello everyone, Does anyone know if the EPA is allowing hazmat transporters to take mercury now? At one time our transporter informed us that the EPA had put a "hold" on Hg, so we had to hold on to our supply. As a corollary thought, is there someone or some business that would take/buy our supply? We have a little over 19lbs of Hg. Thanks for your help. Marcia -- Marcia Kilday Drago Science Lab Manager Central Florida Community College 3001 SW College Road Ocala, FL 34474-4415 (352)854-CFCC, 4 + 1635 FAX: (352)237-0510 Attachment Converted: "c:\winnet\eudora\linda\attach\WINMAIL10.DAT" end ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 5 Feb 1999 15:23:04 -0500 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Bill Schultz Subject: Re: Hg Stories MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit THE SCIENTIST, THE NEWSPAPER FOR THE LIFE SCIENCES PROFESSIONAL, Volume 11, No. 21, October 27, 1997. Scientific American, September 1997, Laboratory Safety, Page 20 ______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________ Can someone point me to some of the better sources of Hg poisoning stories that have been shared? Of course, the Karen Wetterhahn story being one I would particularly like to document. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 5 Feb 1999 20:02:41 EST Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Labsafe@AOL.COM Subject: Re: Hg Stories Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-transfer-encoding: 7bit Hi NACHOs, LSW has a collection of stories (4,000). Many are about problems working with mercury. One recent incident involved a sixth grade student who stole a bottle of mercury and took it home for the summer. He played in the basement with his brother and sisters. They all became very sick. He lost his spleen. The house was declared an EPA waste site. And the family sued the school system. They settled for over $600,000 in 1997. ... jim ***************************************************** James A. Kaufman, President The Laboratory Safety Workshop Safety in Science Education 192 Worcester Road, Natick, MA 01760 508-647-1900 Fax: 508-647-0062 labsafe@aol.com http://www.labsafety.org/ LSW is a national non-profit educational organization dedicated to making health and safety an integral and important part of science education. Free copies of our Laboratory Safety Guidelines, seminar schedule, Publications List, AV-Lending Library List, and membership information are available on request. The LABSAFETY-L discussion list is a public service of LSW. ****************************************************** ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 5 Feb 1999 21:51:34 EST Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Marshall Huckaby Subject: Re: ACGIH, NIOSH or OSHA Which do you use? Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-transfer-encoding: 7bit OSHA is regulatory, the others are advisory. ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 6 Feb 1999 13:08:15 -0600 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Peter Ashbrook Subject: Mercury Disposal Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" On Feb. 5, 1999, Marcia Drago wrote: >Hello everyone, > Does anyone know if the EPA is allowing hazmat transporters to take >mercury now? >At one time our transporter informed us that the EPA had put a "hold" on >Hg, so we had to hold on to our supply. > As a corollary thought, is there someone or some business that would >take/buy our supply? > We have a little over 19lbs of Hg. >Thanks for your help. I believe your transporter was mistaken. I have no knowledge that EPA prohibited hazmat transporters from taking mercury. We have shipped mercury wastes for disposal for each of the 17 years I have been handling waste disposal at the University of Illinois. Perhaps, your transporter is only allowed to transport mercury if it is not classified as RCRA hazardous waste? Companies that handle mercury metal include: Bethlehem Apparatus (Pennsylvania) Mercury Refining (New York) Mercury Solutions (Wisconsin) D.F. Goldsmith (Illinois) AERC (?) (Pennsylvania) maybe others. Peter Ashbrook, CHMM Assistant Director Chemical Safety Section Division of Environmental Health and Safety University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 8 Feb 1999 09:40:45 +1300 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: John Downey Subject: Alcohol flashpoints MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain Does anybody know of any work done on flashpoints of common alcohol - water mixtures> I would be interested in MeOH - H2O, EtOH - H20 and IPA - H2O mixtures. The only things I have found have been a limited table in NFPA425 and a few values in CHRIS. This would be a good little project to assign to somebody with a Pensky-Martin unit and some time - get them to come up with a formula that allows the FP to be predicted. How flammable is that Early Times and coke? What about your bottle of wine? Is beer flammable? How about sparkling wines - does the CO2 alter the FP? I suspect that the liquor industry have this information, but refuse to divulge it in case it puts their customers off. Many thanks John Downey Waitakere City Council Waitakere City New Zealand John.Downey@waitakere.govt.nz ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 8 Feb 1999 11:31:58 +1300 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Tony Haggerty Subject: Re: Alcohol flashpoints MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit John, I have a table of Flash Points for Ethanol/ Water mixes obtained through a liquor blender, which I will FAX to you. If anyone else is interested then I can retype it and post it here. Regards Tony ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 7 Feb 1999 18:31:21 -0600 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Jeff Rubin Subject: Re: Alcohol flashpoints In-Reply-To: <001d01be52e9$ada3bfc0$132864c1@HPC013.FIRE.ORG.NZ> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" There's a list of EtOH/H2O in NFPA 325 as well. JNR ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 8 Feb 1999 08:04:03 -0500 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Robert Alaimo Subject: Re: Alcohol flashpoints Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii I would like to see the table. Please post. Bob Alaimo ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 8 Feb 1999 08:32:00 -0500 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: "Tayman, Tammy" Subject: Re: Mercury Disposal Comments: To: Peter Ashbrook MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain I believe the moratorium was on disposal of mercury *salts*. We have had no problems with elemental mercury being taken. Tammy Tayman ---------- From: Peter Ashbrook To: LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU Subject: Mercury Disposal Date: Saturday, February 06, 1999 2:08PM On Feb. 5, 1999, Marcia Drago wrote: >Hello everyone, > Does anyone know if the EPA is allowing hazmat transporters to take >mercury now? >At one time our transporter informed us that the EPA had put a "hold" on >Hg, so we had to hold on to our supply. > As a corollary thought, is there someone or some business that would >take/buy our supply? > We have a little over 19lbs of Hg. >Thanks for your help. I believe your transporter was mistaken. I have no knowledge that EPA prohibited hazmat transporters from taking mercury. We have shipped mercury wastes for disposal for each of the 17 years I have been handling waste disposal at the University of Illinois. Perhaps, your transporter is only allowed to transport mercury if it is not classified as RCRA hazardous waste? Companies that handle mercury metal include: Bethlehem Apparatus (Pennsylvania) Mercury Refining (New York) Mercury Solutions (Wisconsin) D.F. Goldsmith (Illinois) AERC (?) (Pennsylvania) maybe others. Peter Ashbrook, CHMM Assistant Director Chemical Safety Section Division of Environmental Health and Safety University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 8 Feb 1999 08:07:13 -0600 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Peter Ashbrook Subject: Re: Mercury Disposal Comments: To: "Tayman, Tammy" In-Reply-To: <199902081339.HAA28363@mx1.cso.uiuc.edu> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Tammy: I would sure be interested in documentation of this moratorium, because we have been shipping mercury salts on a regular basis for the last 17 years. I am not aware of any moratorium on diposal of mercury compounds of any kind. But I've been wrong before. :( --Peter Ashbrook At 08:32 AM 2/8/99 -0500, Tayman, Tammy wrote: >I believe the moratorium was on disposal of mercury *salts*. We have had no >problems with elemental mercury being taken. > >Tammy Tayman > ---------- >From: Peter Ashbrook >To: LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU >Subject: Mercury Disposal >Date: Saturday, February 06, 1999 2:08PM > >On Feb. 5, 1999, Marcia Drago wrote: >>Hello everyone, >> Does anyone know if the EPA is allowing hazmat transporters to take >>mercury now? >>At one time our transporter informed us that the EPA had put a "hold" on >>Hg, so we had to hold on to our supply. >> As a corollary thought, is there someone or some business that would >>take/buy our supply? >> We have a little over 19lbs of Hg. >>Thanks for your help. > >I believe your transporter was mistaken. I have no knowledge that EPA >prohibited hazmat transporters from taking mercury. We have shipped mercury >wastes for disposal for each of the 17 years I have been handling waste >disposal at the University of Illinois. > >Perhaps, your transporter is only allowed to transport mercury if it is not >classified as RCRA hazardous waste? > >Companies that handle mercury metal include: > >Bethlehem Apparatus (Pennsylvania) >Mercury Refining (New York) >Mercury Solutions (Wisconsin) >D.F. Goldsmith (Illinois) >AERC (?) (Pennsylvania) >maybe others. > > >Peter Ashbrook, CHMM >Assistant Director >Chemical Safety Section >Division of Environmental Health and Safety >University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 8 Feb 1999 09:23:44 EST Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Labsafe@AOL.COM Subject: Free Lab Safety Training for Students Comments: To: Safety , nsela-l@science.coe.uwf.edu, NAOSMM@LISTSERV.RICE.EDU, hs-canada@ccohs.ca, dchas-l@SIU.EDU, chemlab_L@vax1.bemidji.msus.edu, chemed-l@atlantis.uwf.edu, biosafty@mitvma.mit.edu, APCHEM-L@LISTSERV.ACSU.BUFFALO.EDU, CHEMCOM@LISTSERV.ACSU.BUFFALO.EDU Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-transfer-encoding: 7bit The Northeastern Section of the American Chemical Society is sponsoring a series of free, one-day lab safety training seminars for undergraduates and graduate students. The next seminar will be presented this coming Saturday, February 13th at Boston College in the Shea Conference Room of the Conte Forum. The seminar, training materials, refreshments, and lunch will be provided without charge. Registration/Check-in is at 8:30AM with the seminar lasting until about 4PM. Please encourage students to attend. This is a students only seminar. After a pilot program at five institutions confirmed the effectiveness of single, large dose safety training programs for students (in addition to regular pre-lab briefings), LSW has been offering these one-day student seminars at colleges and universities throughout the United States. Pilot sites included WPI, Marine Biology Laboratory, Duquesne/Carnegie Mellon, Villanova, and University of Nevada-Reno. Other participating institutions include University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth, Framingham State College, and Simmons College. For more information about the Boston College seminar or hosting the seminar at your institution, please contact Tricia McGann, Membership Services Manager at LSW (lswpfm@aol.com). Regards, ...... jim ***************************************************** James A. Kaufman, President The Laboratory Safety Workshop Safety in Science Education 192 Worcester Road, Natick, MA 01760 508-647-1900 Fax: 508-647-0062 labsafe@aol.com http://www.labsafety.org/ LSW is a national non-profit educational organization dedicated to making health and safety an integral and important part of science education. Free copies of our Laboratory Safety Guidelines, seminar schedule, Publications List, AV-Lending Library List, and membership information are available on request. The LABSAFETY-L discussion list is a public service of LSW. ******************************************************. ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 8 Feb 1999 08:44:23 -0600 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: "Donald E. Clark, Ph.D." Subject: Re: Alcohol flashpoints In-Reply-To: <99Feb8.093618nzdt.32267@breathe.waitakere.govt.nz> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Check the archives of "Safety" 12/18/1995, "Flashpoints - Ethanol", from Wayne Wood, wayne@phyres.lan.mcgill.ca. He referenced the NFPA Guide on Hazardous Materials. Provided table of flashpoints of aqueous ethanol solutions. Hope this helps. If not, let me know and I'll redo the table for you. I've never seen anything like that on other alcohols. dec At 09:40 AM 2/8/99 +1300, you wrote: >Does anybody know of any work done on flashpoints of common alcohol - water >mixtures> > >I would be interested in MeOH - H2O, EtOH - H20 and IPA - H2O mixtures. > >The only things I have found have been a limited table in NFPA425 and a few >values in CHRIS. > >This would be a good little project to assign to somebody with a >Pensky-Martin unit and some time - get them to come up with a formula that >allows the FP to be predicted. > >How flammable is that Early Times and coke? What about your bottle of wine? >Is beer flammable? How about sparkling wines - does the CO2 alter the FP? > >I suspect that the liquor industry have this information, but refuse to >divulge it in case it puts their customers off. > >Many thanks >John Downey >Waitakere City Council >Waitakere City >New Zealand >John.Downey@waitakere.govt.nz > > Donald E. Clark, PhD Chemical and Biological Safety Officer Environmental Health and Safety Department Texas A&M University College Station, TX 77843-4472 Phone (409)845-2132 FAX (409)845-1348 E-mail declark-sh@tamu.edu ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 8 Feb 1999 13:37:10 -0500 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Robert Murphy Subject: "High degree of acute toxicity" defined, need clarification In-Reply-To: <654702d7.36bef370@aol.com> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" About a month or so ago there was a question to the list regarding OSHA's use of "high degree of acute toxicity" of a chemical under the lab standard. I do not remember a conclusion to that discussion. I have found a letter of interpretation an the issue. It concludes with : "In other words, substances that are considered to have a high degree of acute toxicity are those substances which are highly toxic or toxic as defined under the HCS and may be fatal or cause damage to target organs as a result of a single exposure or exposures of short duration." (For full text : http://www.osha-slc.gov/OshDoc/Interp_data/I19900730A.html ) It is my understanding (correct me if I am wrong) that for a person who was exposed to a chemical and after that single exposure and death occures, it must have a very low LD50, Hence extreamly toxic material. OSHA has defined was is toxic and highly toxic in the Hazard Communication Standard. What is the difference between that and "High degree of acute toxicity"??? FYI, Did you know that the NFPA and HMIS Health rating of 2 would classify as a toxic material under OSHA. A 3 would be highly toxic. ****************************************** Robert Murphy, Industrial Hygienist Environmental Health and Safety Bowling Green State University Phone: (419) 372-2171 ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 8 Feb 1999 15:18:24 -0500 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Don Abramowitz Subject: Re: "High degree of acute toxicity" defined, need clarification In-Reply-To: <3.0.5.32.19990208133710.007d48b0@mailbox.bgsu.edu> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" >It is my understanding (correct me if I am wrong) that for a person who was >exposed to a chemical and after that single exposure and death occures, it >must have a very low LD50, Hence extreamly toxic material. The phrase "exposed to a chemical" doesn't include a term for dosage. If a person were to asphyxiate after a single exposure to say, acetone (as may occur in a confined space accident), this definition would suggest that it would necessarily be regarded as an extremely toxic material. The full letter of interpretation cited the examples hydrogen cyanide, hydrogen sulfide, and nitrogen dioxide. I think I understand what the letter is getting at, but I think we're left with a definition along the lines of "I can't define a chemical with a 'high degree of acute toxicity', but I know one when I see one." Don ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 9 Feb 1999 13:17:48 +1300 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Tony Haggerty Subject: Re: Alcohol flashpoints MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit When I checked the NFPA 325 list it seems to be from the same source. Ethyl Alcohol Conc. Proof Spirit (US) Flash Point w/w v/v @15.6oC oC oF 100 100 200 12.8 55 96 97,5 192 16.7 62 95 96.8 190 17.2 63 80 85.5 160 20.0 68 70 76.9 140 21.1 70 60 67.7 120 22.2 72 50 57.8 100 23.9 75 40 47.3 80 26.1 79 30 36.2 60 29.4 85 20 24.5 40 36.1 97 10 12.4 20 49 0 120 5 6.2 10 62.2 144 E&OE Regards Tony ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 8 Feb 1999 20:56:13 EST Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Labsafe@AOL.COM Subject: How to Approach with Tact? Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-transfer-encoding: 7bit << Subj: Re: how to approach with tact? Date: 99-02-08 16:07:49 EST From: Therese.Stinnett@UCHSC.EDU (Therese M. Stinnett) Sender: BIOSAFTY@MITVMA.MIT.EDU (A Biosafety Discussion List) Reply-to: BIOSAFTY@MITVMA.MIT.EDU (A Biosafety Discussion List) To: BIOSAFTY@MITVMA.MIT.EDU I received a request to look into possible bio contamination of a tissue culture lab and an associated lab. Does this sound familiar? It may be that there is poor ventilation. It may be that some microorganism could have taken up residence in the CO2 incubators. But, the fact of the matter, is that on the face of it, the place is a mess. I almost wanted to put on blue jeans, a work shirt, rubber gloves, and start putting "stuff" in the dumpster. However, admonishing PIs doesn't work well (neither does admonishing teen age children!) So, while I have immense empathy for the constraints of time and space, how do I best get the message across that they need to do some housekeeping? >> Hi NACHOs, The message above appeared recently on the BIOSAFTY List. I thought we might also want to talk about this issue. ... jim ***************************************************** James A. Kaufman, President The Laboratory Safety Workshop Safety in Science Education 192 Worcester Road, Natick, MA 01760 508-647-1900 Fax: 508-647-0062 labsafe@aol.com http://www.labsafety.org/ LSW is a national non-profit educational organization dedicated to making health and safety an integral and important part of science education. Free copies of our Laboratory Safety Guidelines, seminar schedule, Publications List, AV-Lending Library List, and membership information are available on request. The LABSAFETY-L discussion list is a public service of LSW. ****************************************************** ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 9 Feb 1999 08:46:15 -0500 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Bob Burns Subject: Re: How to Approach with Tact? MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Someone is responsible for the lab- some prof. in this case. In industry, there is some supervisor somewhere. the thing is to get to those people. poor housekeeping is a safety problem- we all know that. You have to convince the supervisors, then they will take care of the lab people. I know that is easy to say, hard to do. We have a problem lab, too. Bob "SEMPER ADVENTURUS!!!" Robert L. Burns R&D Group Leader Specialty Chemicals Division RUETGERS Organics Corporation 201 Struble Road State College, PA 16801 phone 814-231-9214 fax 814-238-1567 email rburns@bigfoot.com -----Original Message----- From: Labsafe@AOL.COM To: LABSAFETY-L@siu.edu Date: Monday, February 08, 1999 21:17 Subject: How to Approach with Tact? ><< Subj: Re: how to approach with tact? >Date: 99-02-08 16:07:49 EST >From: Therese.Stinnett@UCHSC.EDU (Therese M. Stinnett) >Sender: BIOSAFTY@MITVMA.MIT.EDU (A Biosafety Discussion List) >Reply-to: BIOSAFTY@MITVMA.MIT.EDU (A Biosafety Discussion List) >To: BIOSAFTY@MITVMA.MIT.EDU > >I received a request to look into possible bio contamination of a tissue >culture lab and an associated lab. Does this sound familiar? > >It may be that there is poor ventilation. It may be that some microorganism >could have taken up residence in the CO2 incubators. > >But, the fact of the matter, is that on the face of it, the place is a mess. >I almost wanted to put on blue jeans, a work shirt, rubber gloves, and start >putting "stuff" in the dumpster. > >However, admonishing PIs doesn't work well (neither does admonishing teen >age children!) > >So, while I have immense empathy for the constraints of time and space, how >do I best get the message across that they need to do some housekeeping? >> > >Hi NACHOs, > >The message above appeared recently on the BIOSAFTY List. I thought we might >also want to talk about this issue. ... jim > > ***************************************************** > James A. Kaufman, President > The Laboratory Safety Workshop > Safety in Science Education > 192 Worcester Road, Natick, MA 01760 > 508-647-1900 Fax: 508-647-0062 labsafe@aol.com > http://www.labsafety.org/ > >LSW is a national non-profit educational organization dedicated to making >health and safety an integral and important part of science education. Free >copies of our Laboratory Safety Guidelines, seminar schedule, Publications >List, AV-Lending Library List, and membership information are available on >request. The LABSAFETY-L discussion list is a public service of LSW. > > ****************************************************** > > ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 9 Feb 1999 09:32:02 -0500 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Janeen LaPierre Subject: Re: ACGIH, NIOSH or OSHA Which do you use? Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit Hello Debra. You bring up a very good question. I agree with your point of view completely but... Formaldehyde is a bad acter without question. It is one of the biggest trouble makers I have here at UNE. The fact that it can trigger the immune system to mount an attach makes it very insidious. We all know that individuals are just that, no two will react the same at a given dose. I am left with using education as my only line of defense because air sampling comes in at or below OSHA levels. The university will not invest any more money to better the capture and removal of vapors because we are within OSHA regs. You see, the bottom line often drives decisions for us. When it comes to reviewing chemical for student use in teaching labs, I use all the information in making my decision. If ACGIH or NIOSH have more stringent exposure levels, I find out why. Often, faculty will work with me to find something less hazardous for the students to work with, while still maintaining the lab experience. There is no short answer to your question. When I can use the more stringent recommendations, I do. I also realize that if this will impact the bottom line of the university in a substantial way, I probably will have to revert back to OSHA, through my hands up in the air, and say "I did my best." Hope this helps, Janeen. ***************** Janeen Lapierre, CHO College of Osteopathic Medicine University of New England 11 Hills Beach Road Biddeford, ME 04005 E-Mail: JLaPierre@MAILBOX.UNE.EDU Phone: (207) 283-0170 ext 2446 Opinions are mine and not those of UNE. ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 9 Feb 1999 09:16:10 -0500 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Janeen LaPierre Subject: Re: How to Approach with Tact? Comments: To: Labsafe@AOL.COM Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit Humor helps make the message easier to swallow. I work for a couple of pack rats in microbiology myself. I guess I am lucky in that my duties as CHO overlap well with my duties as lab coordinator. I have on occasion put on the blue jeans, flannel shirt and big rubber gloves and gotten down to business. I often use a touch of humor to get the message across. Sometimes you need to point out the obvious. I have taken samples and autoclaved them then pointed out the date on the test tube. They fully realize that a biological sample that has been housed in a refrigerator for over a year will no longer be of any value to them. A bigger issue for the possible source of contamination is the personal hygiene of the folks working with the tissue culture. I wash my hands so much in the course of a day that they are forever dry and chapped. This is a possibility that must be addressed very tactfully. Again humor helps. Have the folks in the lab tried to isolate the offending organism? We have had to follow that trail before. It helps to know what type of contamination you are dealing with when looking for the source. For what its worth, Janeen. PS How do I subscribe to this Biosafety list? ***************** Janeen Lapierre, CHO College of Osteopathic Medicine University of New England 11 Hills Beach Road Biddeford, ME 04005 E-Mail: JLaPierre@MAILBOX.UNE.EDU Phone: (207) 283-0170 ext 2446 Opinions are mine and not those of UNE. ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 9 Feb 1999 09:04:40 -0600 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Harry Elston Subject: Re: How to Approach with Tact? Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Maybe you could approach the housekeeping problem as one of sample cross-comtamination. That approach has worked pretty good here in an analtyical laboratory. Harry Harry J. Elston, Ph.D., NRCC-CHO Chemical Hygiene Officer Illinois Department of Nuclear Safety Opinions are mine, not my employer's, blah, blah, blah "They give me the bill. I tear up the bill. It is very convenient." -Louie, Cassablanca ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 9 Feb 1999 09:08:40 EST Reply-To: RFasano@ato.com Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Richard Fasano Subject: Housekeeping - Reply MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii On 2/8/99 Jim Kaufman forwarded from Therese Stinnett: >>I received a request to look into possible bio contamination of a tissue culture lab and an associated lab...fact of the matter, is that on the face of it, the place is a mess...I have immense empathy for the constraints of time and space, how do I best get the message across that they need to do some housekeeping?<< It seems everyone I talk to has similar issues with housekeeping/space. I've never yet met a chemist who said "Nah, Rich, I've got tons of extra space, give some of my lab to Bob". Housekeeping will not improve until it becomes a value to the worker, until they see it as something that will improve their productivity, increase their safety and as a part of their job. First thing, you need to let them know the situation is unacceptable and never will be - perhaps you could refuse to enter the lab in your professional capacity until something is done. You must keep at it - they must see that you are serious about the issue and it is simply not a matter of you being a "neat freak". And we can't let them get away with the "hey, I work, that's why it's messy - they pay me to do research, not clean the lab" attitude. Housekeeping is not ancillary to the job, it is a part of the job as much as synthesis, crystallization, etc. Here's three things that I have seen work: a) Peer Pressure. We have the groups inspect each other's labs and the results are distributed and discussed at group safety meetings. Other groups are quick to not only pick up on housekeeping issues, but also to offer suggestions as to how to improve them. And no one wants to be called a pig by their peers. Maybe this would be the best way to start. b) Informal Audits. We had a lab manager who had a friend who used to be an OSHA inspector. The friend took an informal "back of the envelope" look at some labs and said "Bob, if I was on the job you guys would be shut down and writing checks." This was enough to convince the group to stop all work and get the lab in order. I've also seen the city Fire Marshall do the same thing. Funny how people find the time for housekeeping when push comes to shove. c) Stick. Big Stick. Big, big stick. We had a set of labs that were a disgrace. No amount of effort could get the group to find the time to clean up. Then the V.P. of R&D was leading a tour through the site and "happened" upon that lab. He was embarrassed, to say the least. When company left, he called the group director into his office (not a pretty meeting), and shut the labs down cold. They were not allowed to re-open until the V.P. and the group director both agreed they were up to standards. The V.P. then walked the site and shut other labs that were housekeeping nightmares. When was the last time the Dean of the department went through the labs? Would they allow their children to work in such a place? Would they be proud to bring visitors through that lab? Rich Fasano (rfasano@ato.com) Supervisor, SH&E Affairs Elf Atochem NA - KoP Technical Center "It's a revolution damn it! We're going to have to offend somebody!" -John Adams, while discussing the massive changes being hacked into the Declaration of Independence in 1776. ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 9 Feb 1999 11:09:28 -0600 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Katie Crysup Subject: New to NACHO Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" I just signed on to the NACHO list serv and wanted to introduce myself. I am the chemistry lab coordinator for Tx A&M Univ, Corpus Christi. After reading all the mail about Housekeeping issues, I am glad to know I am not alone. My biggest problem is convincing uppper division undergraduates without a Teaching Assistant in Lab and the graduate lab classes that lab clean-up is part of the lab assignment. They seem to think becasue they don't have a TA or that I am not in lab with them every minute hounding them, that they don't have to clean and put away their glassware. Another problem is getting the professors to help inforce the rules we have in place if they are the ones teaching the labs. I teach the safety lectures to all the labs at the beginning of each semester and periodically have unannounced inspections. The most violations occur in the labs without TA's. If the professor is not so tidy, how can I expect his students to be either? Anyway, I am always looking for suggestions on imporving the labs. We are a small university right now but we have doubled our students in the last 3 years without increasing space for them. And our numbers are only increasing, which is good for the university, but not good for lab safety. Please send any suggestions or comments. I am new to the entire chemistry experience becasue my background is mostly biology. However, I have learned a great deal in the past year and 1/2 that I have worked here. Thank you for your time. Katie Crysup Chemistry Lab Coordinator TAMU-CC 512-994-5701 ph 512-994-2742 fx kcrysup@falcon.tamucc.edu ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 9 Feb 1999 12:19:09 -0500 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Fran Martin Subject: 1998 U.S. EPA Regs on CD-ROM Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" FYI, All 24 Volumes of Title 40 (Environmental Regulations/EPA) of the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations have been updated to the latest 1998 revision levels. Title 40 CFR is available as part of an "All 50 U.S. CFRs on CD-ROM" offering. The CD-ROM has 5,000+ inline graphics, instant search/retrieval with Adobe(R) Acrobat(R) Reader, and PDF format. See http://www.env-sol.com/solutions/CFR.HTML for details. Fran Martin FM Research & Consulting ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 9 Feb 1999 11:02:47 -0600 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Brian Olson Subject: Inter/Intranet and/or MM Safety Training Survey. Comments: To: SAFETY@LIST.UVM.EDU, radsafe@romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu, BIOSAFTY@MITVMA.MIT.EDU MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit THIS SURVEY IS BEING SENT TO SEVERAL SAFETY MAIL-LISTS. TO ENSURE YOUR SURVEY IS INCLUDED, PLEASE SEND IT TO bolson@promega.com . Good day folks. As a reader and (mild) participant of the safety mail-lists for the past 5 years, I have a big favor to ask. My company is looking at training options. This survey requires mostly one-word answers. The survey looks at ELECTRONIC SAFETY TRAINING OPTIONS. I know this topic has been talked about in some of the better known publications, but I am interested in the feedback from you all. I am sending this to four safety mail-lists. To assure your entry is tabulated, please send your reply to bolson@promega.com . I will be tabulating all responses and will send them to the RADSAFE, BIOSAFETY, SAFETY, and LABSAFETY mail-lists by the end of the month. If you are using some type of electronic safety training, please take a minute and complete the survey. Between the four mail-lists that are receiving this request, I feel many could benefit from the results: 1. What type of institution are you with? (business, academia, large, small, other) 2. What factor(s) did you consider before/while you moved to electronic training? (staffing?, location of buildings?, cost?, etc.) 3. Does your institution have access to Intranet? Internet? LAN? CD-ROM Carousel? 4. What type of elec. training medium are you using? (Intranet, Internet, LAN, CD-ROM, e-mail), 5. List some of the titles you offer: (e.g. lab safety, biosafety, radsafety, hazcomm, dot, etc.), 6. Do you offer classroom and/or hands-on training in addition to the electronic training, or does this replace it? 7. Did you purchase pre-made titles or did you create your own? 8. If pre-made, what software company(s) did you go with? (Marcom, Mastery, Summit, J.J. Keller, other?) 9. If created by you, what authoring tools did you use? (Director/Authorware, Dreamweaver, Frontpage, etc.) 10. Either way, on average, what was your cost per title? Total budget (range)? 11. On average, how big is your audience - per title? 0-50, 51-99, 100-299, >300 12. Do you use electronic training for annual refresher training? 13. Is changing content annually (for freshness) important to your audience? Are you able to change your subject content when you want? Change test questions? Both? Neither? 14. Overall, are you happy with your choice to go with electronic training? (i.e. are you getting the results you want? high retention, etc.) Thanks for your participation. I will tabulate and post all results (sent to bolson@promega.com ) by the end of February. Thanks folks, Brian Olson Manager, EH&S Promega Corp. (is a biotech co.) Madison, WI bolson@promega.com ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 9 Feb 1999 13:29:50 -0600 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Katie Crysup Subject: ANSI standards Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Due to student complaints I am trying to find a goggle that students like and meets the regulations for a chemistry laboratory, also on that is somewhat cost efficient for the students. I read in the Lab Safety Supply catalog that their goggles comply with the ANSI Z87.1-1989. I logged onto the ANSI website but one can not search or browse the standards. You must purchase them, and right now a little cash poor. Our library does not have these standards either. I tried cross-referencing with the CFR's but I was told to see the ANSI standard specifically. Can anyone help? I just want to know what the standard specifies about eyewear in a chemical lab. Thanks, Katie Crysup Chemistry Lab Coordinator TAMU-CC 512-994-5701 O 512-994-2742 Fx kcrysup@falcon.tamucc.edu ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 9 Feb 1999 11:32:06 -0800 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Nadine Grady Subject: Re: ANSI standards MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" I don't have a copy of the standard in front of me, either, but if I remember correctly it specifies criteria for impact-resistance of the lenses and fire-resistance of the whole assembly. I don't think it specifies particular types of eyewear for particular work settings. We require splash-resistant (solid-sided) goggles with covered vents for anyone working in or visiting our chemistry labs. ************************************************************** Nadine B. Grady, MS, RS, CIH Chemical Hygiene Officer Whitworth College 300 W. Hawthorne Rd. Spokane, WA 99251-3903 (509) 777-4510 ngrady@whitworth.edu ******************************************************************* "There are old researchers and there are bold researchers, but there are no old, bold researchers!" -- Anon. ******************************************************************* ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 9 Feb 1999 13:58:17 -0600 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Jeff Rubin Subject: Re: ANSI standards In-Reply-To: <70A0B33719B7D211953100A0C9D06E6116DF11@exchange.whitworth.edu> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Ditto on not having a copy of the standards. I think three of the most important features are effective lateral protection, indirect venting, and relative comfort. We use Uvex Futura (their model 9301, I think) models (they make a few decent types, as do others), which can be worn over prescription glasses. JNR Jeff Rubin, Asst. Dean for EHS College of Natural Sciences G2500 W.C. Hogg Building University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX 78712-1199 (512) 471-6176 (O) (512) 471-4998 (F) jrubin@mail.utexas.edu "The opinions of Dr. Rubin are not meant to offend anyone unless otherwise specified." ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 9 Feb 1999 14:41:00 -0500 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: "Tayman, Tammy" Subject: Re: ANSI standards MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain At one point I was told that the ANSI standard for chemical safety goggles also included the splashproofing requirements. Tammy Tayman ---------- From: Nadine Grady To: LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU Subject: Re: ANSI standards Date: Tuesday, February 09, 1999 2:32PM I don't have a copy of the standard in front of me, either, but if I remember correctly it specifies criteria for impact-resistance of the lenses and fire-resistance of the whole assembly. I don't think it specifies particular types of eyewear for particular work settings. We require splash-resistant (solid-sided) goggles with covered vents for anyone working in or visiting our chemistry labs. ************************************************************** Nadine B. Grady, MS, RS, CIH Chemical Hygiene Officer Whitworth College 300 W. Hawthorne Rd. Spokane, WA 99251-3903 (509) 777-4510 ngrady@whitworth.edu ******************************************************************* "There are old researchers and there are bold researchers, but there are no old, bold researchers!" -- Anon. ******************************************************************* ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 9 Feb 1999 14:52:56 EDT Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Jennifer Reader Organization: Environmental Health and Safety Subject: Re: ANSI standards MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-transfer-encoding: 7BIT The only goggles i have ever found to be comfortable are: Uvex Stealth They are not cheap - aruond $15.00 (US dollars) per pair but they are worth it. They have a soft rubber flange that fits on your face quite unlike the cheaper goggles that cut a groove that you think is giving you a permanent deformity. I do not work for Uvex, just think that they are really on to something with these. Jennifer Reader, B.S., M.S.P.H. Hazardous Materials Safety Officer Environmental Health and Safety University of Guelph Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1 Canada 519-824-4120 X3190 Fax 519-824-0364 e-Mail jennifer@ehs.uoguelph.ca ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 9 Feb 1999 15:00:07 -0500 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Janeen LaPierre Subject: Re: ANSI standards Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit Ditto on Jeff's reply. We have been using the Futurer for a few years now and the compliance has really improved in all respects. I personally find them very comfortable. Good luck, Janeen. ***************** Janeen Lapierre, CHO College of Osteopathic Medicine University of New England 11 Hills Beach Road Biddeford, ME 04005 E-Mail: JLaPierre@MAILBOX.UNE.EDU Phone: (207) 283-0170 ext 2446 Opinions are mine and not those of UNE. ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 9 Feb 1999 14:20:48 -0600 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Jeff Rubin Subject: Re: ANSI standards In-Reply-To: Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" We looked at these - they are indeed very good. We went with Futura due to cost. The rubber flange on on the Stealth is particularly important for folks who'll be wearing them for several hours at a time. By the way, I too have no connection to Uvex; as Jennifer said, they do make quality equipment. JNR >The only goggles i have ever found to be comfortable are: > >Uvex Stealth > >They are not cheap - aruond $15.00 (US dollars) per pair but >they are worth it. They have a soft rubber flange that fits on >your face quite unlike the cheaper goggles that cut a groove >that you think is giving you a permanent deformity. ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 9 Feb 1999 13:08:09 -0700 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: "Greene, Ben" Subject: Re: ANSI standards MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain There is a selection guide chart (eyeware vs hazard) in Z87that is often referred to in PPE hazard assessments. Ben Greene, Ph.D. AlliedSignal Las Cruces NM > ---------- > From: Nadine Grady[SMTP:ngrady@WHITWORTH.EDU] > Reply To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List > Sent: Tuesday, February 09, 1999 12:32 PM > To: LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU > Subject: Re: ANSI standards > > I don't have a copy of the standard in front of me, either, but if I > remember correctly it specifies criteria for impact-resistance of the > lenses > and fire-resistance of the whole assembly. I don't think it specifies > particular types of eyewear for particular work settings. > > We require splash-resistant (solid-sided) goggles with covered vents > for > anyone working in or visiting our chemistry labs. > > ************************************************************** > Nadine B. Grady, MS, RS, CIH > Chemical Hygiene Officer > Whitworth College > 300 W. Hawthorne Rd. > Spokane, WA 99251-3903 > (509) 777-4510 > ngrady@whitworth.edu > ******************************************************************* > "There are old researchers and there are bold researchers, > but there are no old, bold researchers!" -- Anon. > ******************************************************************* > ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 9 Feb 1999 13:13:33 -0700 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: "Greene, Ben" Subject: Re: ANSI standards MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain They also have the capability for an insert prescription lens. I was once asked if the inserted prescription lenses, when prepared by the optician, should be Z87 compliant! (no endorsement implied) Ben Greene, Ph.D. AlliedSignal Las Cruces, NM > ---------- > From: Jennifer Reader[SMTP:jennifer@EHS.UOGUELPH.CA] > Reply To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List > Sent: Tuesday, February 09, 1999 11:52 AM > To: LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU > Subject: Re: ANSI standards > > The only goggles i have ever found to be comfortable are: > > Uvex Stealth... > > > > > > ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 9 Feb 1999 11:14:12 -0700 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Teresa Robertson Organization: CSU Bakersfield Subject: haz waste labels Comments: cc: trobertson@csubak.edu MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit Haz waste labels in the catalogs are yellow and red. In addition to the information required on these labels, is the color of the label part of a regulatory standard? Teresa ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 9 Feb 1999 15:16:57 -0500 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: webmaster Subject: high acute toxicity Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Hi NACHOs - I've been working on the FAQ page for the LSW website and the topic I've just added is the high acute toxicity question. The URL here will take you to the exact spot in the FAQ page http://www.labsafety.org/frames/faq.htm#highacute I would appreciate any and all comments on what I have included there. (Send comments to me, not to the list. The archive files collection is becoming larger than the State of Illinois!) PLEASE NOTE that if you decide to explore the rest of the frames version of the LSW web site, it's not very ready yet. You are likely to run across oddities and you need not feel obligated to call my attention to them. (Ordinarily I appreciate notification of oddities, but these are mostly things I know about and just can't fix/build all at once...) And don't bookmark any of it; it's moving around too quickly! Thanks, Linda "Change is inevitable...except from vending machines." PS feel free to suggest FAQ items. The hitch is that you have to suggest the question AND the answer. ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 9 Feb 1999 15:31:45 -0500 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: "Dr. Linda A. Swihart" Subject: goggles Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Uvex Stealth from Pacific Harvest Online Catalog: Safety Equipment http://www.europa.com/~pachar/SAFETY/Safety.htm Uvex Stealth from The Mallory Company (6.99?!) http://www.malloryco.com/welcome.html Uvex Stealth from Channel Supplies http://www.channelsupplies.com/product.htm I got 26 hits, probably some are road kill, by searching +uvex +stealth using the Alta Vista search engine ( http://www.altavista.com/ ) At least one of those above includes "meets industry standards ANSI...." Got 13 hits using search term +uvex +futura, including the resume of one Renata N. Dutton, who worked for LEGO Futura Boston and for Uvex Sports.... (but also got a couple good goggle hits too :-) Linda ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 9 Feb 1999 15:00:02 -0600 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: EH&S Compliance Subject: Re: ANSI standards Have your distributor of safety glasses work for you. If you have a local person for Lab Safety Supply or a direct person for the brand of glasses, they may help you get a hold of the standard or tell you what is in it - customer support. Rebecca Levins EH&S Compliance Specialist RSR Corporation Dallas, Texas RSRrdl@onramp.net (214) 583-0245 -----Original Message----- From: Katie Crysup [SMTP:kcrysup@FALCON.TAMUCC.EDU] Sent: Tuesday, February 09, 1999 1:30 PM To: LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU Subject: ANSI standards Due to student complaints I am trying to find a goggle that students like and meets the regulations for a chemistry laboratory, also on that is somewhat cost efficient for the students. I read in the Lab Safety Supply catalog that their goggles comply with the ANSI Z87.1-1989. I logged onto the ANSI website but one can not search or browse the standards. You must purchase them, and right now a little cash poor. Our library does not have these standards either. I tried cross-referencing with the CFR's but I was told to see the ANSI standard specifically. Can anyone help? I just want to know what the standard specifies about eyewear in a chemical lab. Thanks, Katie Crysup Chemistry Lab Coordinator TAMU-CC 512-994-5701 O 512-994-2742 Fx kcrysup@falcon.tamucc.edu Attachment Converted: "c:\winnet\eudora\linda\attach\WINMAIL11.DAT" end ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 9 Feb 1999 15:23:31 -0800 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: "SafetyInfo.Com" Subject: Re: ANSI standards MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Katie, Regardless of meeting ANSI Standards (impact, ect) Goggles used as a hazard against chemical splashes should be indirectly vented.... not all goggles are... also if a splash hazard is present, face shields are required to complete the PPE requirement... the best goggles we have found for comfort, wide range of fit and anti-fog are made by UVEX (UVEX-Extreme). Your local safety distributor can get them for about $9 a pair (if more you're being gouged) If you can't find them we can direct you to a supplier we have used. Regards & Best Wishes Marc Neuffer Safety Info.Com http://www.safetyinfo.com -----Original Message----- From: Katie Crysup To: LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU Date: Tuesday, February 09, 1999 12:09 PM Subject: ANSI standards >Due to student complaints I am trying to find a goggle that students like >and meets the regulations for a chemistry laboratory, also on that is >somewhat cost efficient for the students. I read in the Lab Safety Supply >catalog that their goggles comply with the ANSI Z87.1-1989. I logged onto >the ANSI website but one can not search or browse the standards. You must >purchase them, and right now a little cash poor. Our library does not have >these standards either. I tried cross-referencing with the CFR's but I was >told to see the ANSI standard specifically. Can anyone help? I just want >to know what the standard specifies about eyewear in a chemical lab. > >Thanks, >Katie Crysup >Chemistry Lab Coordinator >TAMU-CC >512-994-5701 O >512-994-2742 Fx >kcrysup@falcon.tamucc.edu > ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 9 Feb 1999 16:44:32 -0500 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Mark Yanchisin Subject: Re: ANSI standards MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" I agree with most everything said about buying goggles, especially about letting your distributor do the leg work. Fisher has done this for us, even bringing various types for folks to try on and then gave us a great discount for quantity buys. (This is not a plug- just history.) As an additional info tidbit, remember that any ANSI compliant eyewear will be stamped with "Z87" somewhere on it (usually molded onto the lens). This may be helpful if you or the students do your/their own "shopping". If they buy their own- check them!! Mark Yanchisin Coordinator for Clinical and Lab Safety Programs University of Florida Env. Health and Safety PO Box 112190 Gainesville, FL 32611-2190 352-846-2550 (T) 352-392-7386 (F) Mark@ehs.ufl.edu ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 9 Feb 1999 17:44:37 -0400 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Don Abramowitz Subject: Re: ANSI standards Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" At the risk of yet another testament to the UVEX stealth, a couple of tidbits (I'm not receiving a commission on these either): We like them as much as everyone else - they really helped change attitudes here, due to comfort - but we found the elastic straps to be surprisingly short-lived. Also, like many goggles, a squirt of acetone or similar solvent will irreparably etch the lens. We sell the goggles in our bookstores, and I buy replacement straps and lenses in bulk, to hand out free when people need replacements, so students only have to pony up one time for goggles. (As a bonus, I save the etched lenses for training purposes if they come with a good story.) >They are not cheap - aruond $15.00 (US dollars) per pair but >they are worth it. At the risk of this looking like a commercial, we purchase ours from a vendor who consistently prices their items significantly below Fisher and other sources who I thought offered reasonable discounts. The vendor is: Arbill Glove and Safety Products, Inc. 10450 Drummond Road Philadelphia PA 19154 1-800-523-5367 http://www.arbill.com Apologies if this seems inappropriate here, but the savings may be helpful for those who are "budgetarilly challenged." Don ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Donald Abramowitz, CIH Occupational and Environmental Safety Officer Bryn Mawr College | Swarthmore College 101 N. Merion Avenue | 500 College Avenue Bryn Mawr, PA 19010 | Swarthmore PA 19081 ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 9 Feb 1999 17:30:49 -0600 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Jeff Rubin Subject: Re: goggles In-Reply-To: <3.0.5.32.19990209153145.008358d0@postoffice.purdue.edu> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" We got our Uvex eyewear from Airgas Safety (during a promotion, I think) - good prices and service. (888) 274-7233 JNR ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 9 Feb 1999 15:39:34 -0800 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Ray Campbell Subject: Re: haz waste labels In-Reply-To: Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Yes. At 11:14 AM 2/9/99 -0700, you wrote: >Haz waste labels in the catalogs are yellow and red. > >In addition to the information required on these labels, is the color >of the label part of a regulatory standard? > >Teresa ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 9 Feb 1999 18:47:03 -0500 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: "Dr. Linda A. Swihart" Subject: Re: haz waste labels In-Reply-To: <4.1.19990209153927.0093d1f0@solan.spp.varian.com> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" first post: >>Haz waste labels in the catalogs are yellow and red. >> >>In addition to the information required on these labels, is the color >>of the label part of a regulatory standard? next post: >Yes. my post: Says who and what exactly do they say!? As many chapters and verses as possible please. And it's important to distinguish between labels required during accumulation by the generator (call it a research or teaching lab, for example), labels required during storage and/or compositing (and differences for CESQG, SQG, LQG, and permitted TSDF), and labels required for DOT shipping of RCRA waste. ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 9 Feb 1999 19:41:46 -0500 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Mary Ann Solstad Subject: Re: ANSI standards In-Reply-To: <3.0.1.16.19990209132512.20bf153c@falcon.tamucc.edu> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" At 01:29 PM 2/9/99 -0600, you wrote: >Due to student complaints I am trying to find a goggle that students like >and meets the regulations for a chemistry laboratory, also on that is >somewhat cost efficient for the students. I read in the Lab Safety Supply >catalog that their goggles comply with the ANSI Z87.1-1989. I logged onto >the ANSI website but one can not search or browse the standards. You must >purchase them, and right now a little cash poor. Our library does not have >these standards either. I tried cross-referencing with the CFR's but I was >told to see the ANSI standard specifically. Can anyone help? I just want >to know what the standard specifies about eyewear in a chemical lab. > >Thanks, >Katie Crysup >Chemistry Lab Coordinator >TAMU-CC >512-994-5701 O >512-994-2742 Fx >kcrysup@falcon.tamucc.edu > More to the point, what does the Committee on Chemical Safety of ACS say? Their strong recommendation is for goggles (not just snappy safety glasses, but liquid drip proof glasses) while in the chemistry lab. I'm sure there are labs with chemical operations involving mostly instrumentation, rather than manipulation of chemicals, where safety glasses would be appropriate. And of course goggles or glasses should meet the ANSI standard for that type of wear. Mary Ann Mary Ann Solstad, CIH 4 A's of Safety SOLSTAD Health & Safety Evaluations Attitude 16 Pequot Rd, Marblehead, MA 01945 Awareness 781-631-4748 tel, 781-631-1832 FAX Automatic Application Authority Past Chair, DivCHAS, ACS msolstad@mediaone.net ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 9 Feb 1999 22:26:27 -0500 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: "Julie J. O'Brien" Subject: Re: ANSI standards Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" >As an additional info tidbit, remember that any ANSI compliant eyewear will >be stamped with "Z87" somewhere on it (usually molded onto the lens). This >may be helpful if you or the students do your/their own "shopping". If they >buy their own- check them!! The Z87 stamp should be on nearly every piece of the safety goggle. There are specifications about where the stamp should be placed. Check carefully. We were purchasing a model of safety glasses that did not have the Z87 stamped on part of the frame. Turns out it didn't pass the ANSI test. The ANSI standard does REQUIRE that goggles (Indirect vent) be worn whenever a splash hazard (chemicals) is present. Julie O'Brien Julie O'Brien EXPO The Children's Museum of Gainesville Education and Exhibits Committee PO Box 5951 Gainesville, FL 32627 PCR, Inc. Chemist, Research & Development PO Box 1466 Gainesville, FL 32602 352-376-8246 ext. 232 ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 9 Feb 1999 22:20:44 EST Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Labsafe@AOL.COM Subject: Re: ANSI standards Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-transfer-encoding: 7bit In a message dated 99-02-09 14:28:05 EST, you write: << I just want to know what the standard specifies about eyewear in a chemical lab. >> Hi NACHO, One source of a good summary of the ANSI Z-*&.1 Standard is in the Laboratory Safety Pocket Handbook published by Genium ($14.00). It's also available from LSW (for less). Companies like Fisher Scientific or Lab Safety Supply may have some product information sheets on this. I have not checked recently by the Lab Safety supply Fax Back service my have something. ... jim ***************************************************** James A. Kaufman, President The Laboratory Safety Workshop Safety in Science Education 192 Worcester Road, Natick, MA 01760 508-647-1900 Fax: 508-647-0062 labsafe@aol.com http://www.labsafety.org/ LSW is a national non-profit educational organization dedicated to making health and safety an integral and important part of science education. Free copies of our Laboratory Safety Guidelines, seminar schedule, Publications List, AV-Lending Library List, and membership information are available on request. The LABSAFETY-L discussion list is a public service of LSW. ****************************************************** ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 9 Feb 1999 22:42:20 -0500 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: "Julie J. O'Brien" Subject: Re: ANSI standards Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" >Companies like Fisher Scientific or Lab Safety Supply may have >some product information sheets on this. I have not checked >recently by the Lab Safety supply Fax Back service my have >something. ... jim Lab Safety Supply does have info. about the ANSI standard in its Fax Back service. It includes a diagram of where you will find the Z87 symbol. Julie O'Brien Julie O'Brien EXPO The Children's Museum of Gainesville Education and Exhibits Committee PO Box 5951 Gainesville, FL 32627 PCR, Inc. Chemist, Research & Development PO Box 1466 Gainesville, FL 32602 352-376-8246 ext. 232 ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 10 Feb 1999 07:55:49 EST Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Labsafe@AOL.COM Subject: Re: Vendor Sources and Cost Savings Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-transfer-encoding: 7bit In a message dated 99-02-09 17:45:10 EST, you write: << Apologies if this seems inappropriate here, but the savings may be helpful for those who are "budgetarilly challenged." >> Hi NACHO's I appreciate Don recommending a source for a product. We need to help each other in this area by identify good, reliable, less expensive sources. I'd like NACHO members to feel very comfortable sharing this type of information and asking this type of question here. .... jim ***************************************************** James A. Kaufman, President The Laboratory Safety Workshop Safety in Science Education 192 Worcester Road, Natick, MA 01760 508-647-1900 Fax: 508-647-0062 labsafe@aol.com http://www.labsafety.org/ LSW is a national non-profit educational organization dedicated to making health and safety an integral and important part of science education. Free copies of our Laboratory Safety Guidelines, seminar schedule, Publications List, AV-Lending Library List, and membership information are available on request. The LABSAFETY-L discussion list is a public service of LSW. ****************************************************** ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 10 Feb 1999 08:34:09 -0600 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Katie Crysup Subject: Re: haz waste labels In-Reply-To: <3.0.5.32.19990209184703.007e4400@postoffice.purdue.edu> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" I have the same problem and question. What is the best label to use for waste. We are a generator (eg. teaching and research lab). We are about to resort to making our own labels because we recylce used solvent, acid, and base bottles with original labels removed. We are about to have our waste pick-up from the local waste disposal company and I am going to find out what they suggest for our situation. At 06:47 PM 2/9/99 -0500, you wrote: >first post: >>>Haz waste labels in the catalogs are yellow and red. >>> >>>In addition to the information required on these labels, is the color >>>of the label part of a regulatory standard? > >next post: >>Yes. > >my post: > >Says who and what exactly do they say!? As many chapters and verses as >possible please. And it's important to distinguish between labels required >during accumulation by the generator (call it a research or teaching lab, >for example), labels required during storage and/or compositing (and >differences for CESQG, SQG, LQG, and permitted TSDF), and labels required >for DOT shipping of RCRA waste. > > Katie Crysup Chemistry Laboratory Coordinator Texas A&M University -- Corpus Christi 6300 Ocean Drive, CS 130 Corpus Christi, Tx 78412 512-994-5701 (O) 512-994-2742 (F) kcrysup@falcon.tamucc.edu ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 10 Feb 1999 08:16:04 -0700 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Monte Shirts Subject: Re: ANSI standards In-Reply-To: Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; types="text/plain,text/html"; boundary="=====================_7466537==_.ALT" --=====================_7466537==_.ALT Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" At 05:44 PM 02/09/99 -0400, you wrote: >At the risk of yet another testament to the UVEX stealth, a couple of >tidbits (I'm not receiving a commission on these either): > >other sources who I thought offered reasonable discounts. The vendor is: > > Arbill Glove and Safety Products, Inc. > 10450 Drummond Road > Philadelphia PA 19154 > > 1-800-523-5367 > http://www.arbill.com > For many additional sources of supply try going to uvex.com, then click on links, then click on distributors. This gives direct access to many vendors (including Arbill) around the US, Canada, So. America. Clicking on products one can review the several varieties of goggles they offer. Monte Shirts HazMat Specialist Dixie College St. George, UT --=====================_7466537==_.ALT Content-Type: text/html; charset="us-ascii" At 05:44 PM 02/09/99 -0400, you wrote:
>At the risk of yet another testament to the UVEX stealth, a couple of
>tidbits (I'm not receiving a commission on these either):
>

>other sources who I thought offered reasonable discounts.  The vendor is:
>
>        Arbill Glove and Safety Products, Inc.
>        10450 Drummond Road
>        Philadelphia PA 19154
>
>        1-800-523-5367
>        http://www.arbill.com
>

For many additional sources of supply try going to  uvex.com, then click on links, then click on distributors.  This gives direct access to many vendors (including Arbill) around the US, Canada, So. America.  Clicking on products one can review the several varieties of goggles they offer.

Monte Shirts
HazMat Specialist
Dixie College
St. George, UT
--=====================_7466537==_.ALT-- ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 10 Feb 1999 09:20:02 -0700 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Teresa Robertson Organization: CSU Bakersfield Subject: Re: ANSI standards Comments: cc: trobertson@csubak.edu MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit LABSAFETY-L@siu.edu,.internet writes: >The ANSI standard does REQUIRE that goggles (Indirect vent) be worn >whenever >a splash hazard (chemicals) is present. Are there any regulatory guidelines as to the definition of a splash hazard ? As far as I know, this is a subjective evaluation on an individual-situation, individual-lab basis, and I find my opinions on this to differ from that of some of my co-workers. Thanks, Teresa ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 10 Feb 1999 13:36:19 -0500 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Amy Gregory Subject: CHO EXAM Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Hi Fellow NACHO Members! I plan to take the CHO exam this summer, but when they sent my application I did not receive test dates for 1999. Does anyone know the dates and locations? I was also wondering what types of questions are on this exam. Do we have to know from memory certain standards (i.e. 29 CFR 1910.1 etc...). Even though a percentage of my job deals with health and safety issues, I have never been forced to learn all the standards and regulations. I would also like to have more information on the prepartory course for the CHO exam given by LSW. I would appreciate it if anyone could supply me with this information. Thanks. Amy R. Gregory Bio/Chem Lab Manager UC/Clermont College ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 10 Feb 1999 13:50:51 -0500 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Madelyn Miller Subject: Re: CHO EXAM In-Reply-To: <199902101832.NAA12352@newman.bch.uc.edu> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; CHARSET=US-ASCII Greetings, I would take a good look at NFPA 45. Read over the lab standard completely. I think the CHO overview class is great but didn't help prepare me for the test (no offense). Experience doing lab inspections and reading Prudent Practices helped me the most. When I think back on the questions, most of the sources for my answers came from Prudent Practices. Hope this helps and good luck to you! Madelyn On Wed, 10 Feb 1999 13:36:19 -0500 Amy Gregory wrote: > Hi Fellow NACHO Members! > > I plan to take the CHO exam this summer, but when they sent my application > I did not receive test dates for 1999. Does anyone know the dates and > locations? I was also wondering what types of questions are on this exam. > Do we have to know from memory certain standards (i.e. 29 CFR 1910.1 > etc...). Even though a percentage of my job deals with health and safety > issues, I have never been forced to learn all the standards and regulations. > > I would also like to have more information on the prepartory course for the > CHO exam given by LSW. I would appreciate it if anyone could supply me > with this information. Thanks. > > > Amy R. Gregory > Bio/Chem Lab Manager > UC/Clermont College ---------------------- Madelyn Miller Chemical Hygiene Officer, CCHO Environmental Health & Safety Carnegie Mellon University mmiller@andrew.cmu.edu ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 10 Feb 1999 14:01:03 EST Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Gilbert Smith Subject: Re: CHO EXAM Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-transfer-encoding: 7bit tentative DATES/SITES FOR CHEMICAL HYGIENE OFFICER EXAMINATION As of February 10, 1999 03-21-99...................................................................Ana heim, CA (ACS meeting) 06-08-99...................................................................... ...local sites/local proctors 07-25-99.....................................................Philadelphia, PA (LS&EM Conference) 08-??-99..............................................................New Orleans, LA (ACS meeting) 10-04-99........................................................ ................local sites/local proctors For further information see: National Registry in Clinical Chemistry Request information/application packet by sending name & mailing address to: NRCC6@aol.com Gilbert Smith ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 10 Feb 1999 14:06:01 -0500 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Bob Burns Subject: Re: CHO EXAM MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit I did think the class was good preparation for the test. I do agree that Prudent Practices is the most important guide. I'd be familiar with the Lab Standard too. Bob "SEMPER ADVENTURUS!!!" Robert L. Burns R&D Group Leader Specialty Chemicals Division RUETGERS Organics Corporation 201 Struble Road State College, PA 16801 phone 814-231-9214 fax 814-238-1567 email rburns@bigfoot.com -----Original Message----- From: Madelyn Miller To: LABSAFETY-L@siu.edu Date: Wednesday, February 10, 1999 13:53 Subject: Re: CHO EXAM >Greetings, >I would take a good look at NFPA 45. Read over the lab standard >completely. I think the CHO overview class is great but didn't help >prepare me for the test (no offense). Experience doing lab inspections >and reading Prudent Practices helped me the most. When I think back on >the questions, most of the sources for my answers came from Prudent >Practices. Hope this helps and good luck to you! >Madelyn > >On Wed, 10 Feb 1999 13:36:19 -0500 Amy Gregory >wrote: > >> Hi Fellow NACHO Members! >> >> I plan to take the CHO exam this summer, but when they sent my application >> I did not receive test dates for 1999. Does anyone know the dates and >> locations? I was also wondering what types of questions are on this exam. >> Do we have to know from memory certain standards (i.e. 29 CFR 1910.1 >> etc...). Even though a percentage of my job deals with health and safety >> issues, I have never been forced to learn all the standards and regulations. >> >> I would also like to have more information on the prepartory course for the >> CHO exam given by LSW. I would appreciate it if anyone could supply me >> with this information. Thanks. >> >> >> Amy R. Gregory >> Bio/Chem Lab Manager >> UC/Clermont College > >---------------------- >Madelyn Miller >Chemical Hygiene Officer, CCHO >Environmental Health & Safety >Carnegie Mellon University >mmiller@andrew.cmu.edu > > ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 10 Feb 1999 16:34:26 -0500 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Don Abramowitz Subject: Re: ANSI standards In-Reply-To: Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" >Are there any regulatory guidelines as to the definition of a splash >hazard ? > >As far as I know, this is a subjective evaluation on an >individual-situation, individual-lab basis, and I find my opinions on >this to differ from that of some of my co-workers. I looked into this some time ago, and came up with no official definition of a splash. My recollection is that for defining purposes, "splash" was, in effect, synonymous with "liquid", as in a hazardous liquid. So, if the worst-case scenario was a single droplet of a hazardous liquid being directed at one's eye, manufacturer's reps and others I asked defaulted to the indirectly vented goggle as the proper choice. The lesson I took from this was that it simply wasn't worth it for me to attempt to make case-by-case evaluations, because if someone did in fact receive an injury from a hazardous liquid while wearing something less than the official, indirectly vented goggle, the documentation will say they should have been wearing the goggle. That said, I find it interesting to note that in the case of bloodborne pathogens, I noticed that every body-fluid spill response kit I've seen comes with cheap safety glasses, not goggles. Don ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Donald Abramowitz, CIH Occupational and Environmental Safety Officer Bryn Mawr College | Swarthmore College 101 N. Merion Avenue | 500 College Avenue Bryn Mawr, PA 19010 | Swarthmore PA 19081 ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 10 Feb 1999 20:19:28 -0600 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Mike Gantz Subject: Hg levels in soils Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Where might I find some info on what is considered acceptable Hg levels in soils? I have a soil sample that has been analyzed at 5.7 ppm. Thanks. Mike Gantz Box 63 Donnelly, Id 83615 mgantz@cyberhighway.net 208-325-8692 ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 11 Feb 1999 08:05:23 -0600 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: "Scott M. Davis" Subject: Re: Hg levels in soils Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Mike, I can not answer your question...but it raised one in my mind. What does 5.7 ppm MEAN in reference to a soil sample? 0.0000057% by weight? Is this a common way to report results from a lead bulk sample? I haven't seen it done that way. Do we have a Chemical Practice CIH out there listening? OSHA is not applicable to your question, since we are discussing the content of a bulk sample, rather than the exposure of an employee. HUD 24 CFR Part 35 and EPA 40 CFR Part 745 both define "lead based paint" as equal to or in excess of 0.5% by weight or 1 mg per cm squared. Scott Davis, CIH University Industrial Hygienist UNC Charlotte >Where might I find some info on what is considered acceptable Hg levels in >soils? I have a soil sample that has been analyzed at 5.7 ppm. >Thanks. > >Mike Gantz >Box 63 >Donnelly, Id 83615 >mgantz@cyberhighway.net >208-325-8692 > ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 11 Feb 1999 09:28:12 -0500 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Madelyn Miller Subject: Perchloric acid use in non perchloric hoods MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; CHARSET=US-ASCII Greetings all, Has anyone had any direct experience with testing and decontaminating a hood for perchloric acid and it's metal salts? Will ductwork really explode? Madelyn ---------------------- Madelyn Miller Chemical Hygiene Officer, CCHO Environmental Health & Safety Carnegie Mellon University mmiller@andrew.cmu.edu ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 11 Feb 1999 09:34:08 -0500 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Don Abramowitz Subject: Re: Hg levels in soils In-Reply-To: <199902111405.IAA58446@saluki-mailsmtp.siu.edu> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" What does >5.7 ppm MEAN in reference to a soil sample? 0.0000057% by weight? Is this >a common way to report results from a lead bulk sample? I usually see contaminants in soil and other solid media reported in mg/kg. This would be the same as ppm by weight. With soil, it's important to be sure the moisture content was accounted for as part of the analytical method. It gets a tad trickier with water contaminants, which get reported in mg/liter. Here, the ppm equivalence only works when the contaminant has the same density as water. As to what standards are relevant, it's going to depend on the setting. Acceptable soil concentrations would likely be established by state or federal authorities on a waste or spill site remediation project, TCLP (toxicity characteristic leachate profile) values (and test methods) would be applicable if you are trying to determine the waste classification of a soil pile, and I don't know where you look if it's a soil sample from the playground of a day care center. Don ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 11 Feb 1999 07:35:22 -0700 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: "Greene, Ben" Subject: Re: Hg levels in soils MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain ppm in soil is typically mg/kg, and based on the soil's dry weight as well. Ben Greene, Ph.D. AlliedSignal Las Cruces, NM > ---------- > From: Scott M. Davis[SMTP:smdavis@EMAIL.UNCC.EDU] > Reply To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List > Sent: Thursday, February 11, 1999 7:05 AM > To: LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU > Subject: Re: Hg levels in soils > > Mike, > I can not answer your question...but it raised one in my mind. What > does > 5.7 ppm MEAN in reference to a soil sample? 0.0000057% by weight? Is > this > a common way to report results from a lead bulk sample? I haven't > seen it > done that way. Do we have a Chemical Practice CIH out there > listening? > > OSHA is not applicable to your question, since we are discussing the > content > of a bulk sample, rather than the exposure of an employee. HUD 24 CFR > Part > 35 and EPA 40 CFR Part 745 both define "lead based paint" as equal to > or in > excess of 0.5% by weight or 1 mg per cm squared. > > Scott Davis, CIH > University Industrial Hygienist > UNC Charlotte > > > > >Where might I find some info on what is considered acceptable Hg > levels in > >soils? I have a soil sample that has been analyzed at 5.7 ppm. > >Thanks. > > > >Mike Gantz > >Box 63 > >Donnelly, Id 83615 > >mgantz@cyberhighway.net > >208-325-8692 > > > ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 11 Feb 1999 07:39:18 -0700 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: "Greene, Ben" Subject: Re: Perchloric acid use in non perchloric hoods MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain There was a huge and very informative discussion on this subject the last day or two on the "safety@list.uvm.edu server. > ---------- > From: Madelyn Miller[SMTP:mmiller@ANDREW.CMU.EDU] > Reply To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List > Sent: Thursday, February 11, 1999 7:28 AM > To: LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU > Subject: Perchloric acid use in non perchloric hoods > > Greetings all, > Has anyone had any direct experience with testing and decontaminating > a > hood for perchloric acid and it's metal salts? Will ductwork really > explode? > > Madelyn > ---------------------- > Madelyn Miller > Chemical Hygiene Officer, CCHO > Environmental Health & Safety > Carnegie Mellon University > mmiller@andrew.cmu.edu > ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 11 Feb 1999 20:49:45 -0600 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Mark Smith Subject: Re: Hg levels in soils In-Reply-To: Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Soil samples, as reported to the EPA, are measured in mg/kg. You may want to verify that the sample's concentration of Hg was calcualted in those terms. Other than that, I believe I would refer to your State EPA office. The US EPA regulatory level for Hg is listed at .2 mg/L Also, the EPA-RCRA hotline (1-800-424-9346) may help. *************************************** MARK SMITH HENDRIX COLLEGE CHEMISTRY LABORATORY COORDINATOR CHEMICAL HYGIENE OFFICER NRCC-CHO *************************************** 1600 Washington Ave Conway, AR 72032 501-450-3812 Fax : 501-450-3829 *************************************** ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 11 Feb 1999 09:31:25 -0500 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: "Norman, Randy" Subject: Re: Perchloric acid use in non perchloric hoods MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" There was a long discussion of this earlier this week on the SAFETY listserv. A couple of excerpts most pertinent to your question: * I have an old case history of a repairman making repairs to an exhaust duct from a fume hood that had been used for perchloric acid and organic compounds. He turned a bolt which had crystallized organic perchlorates in the threads. They detonated and the employee was killed. Estimated amount of perchlorate was one to ten grams. You might want to contact one of the following, they should all have some experience with explosive safety: Fire Dept., Police Dept., Military units, ATF, State Hazard Response Teams, or Perchloric Acid manufacturer. (Ron Luldow) * The age of your facility has an important bearing on your question. If the ductwork was put together with any of the old cements (e.g. glycerine-litharge, or others) or contains organic pieces as seals in the flanges, or there are organics in the filter banks, then you might have major problems. You can find information on laboratory ventilation accidents in journals and perhaps through web searching. The manufacturers have a lot of materials available. My major warning to you is that it does not take much organic matter with perchloric acid vapor to make an explosive situation, and some of the products of "perchloricatioin" such as perchlorate of linoleum or similar tile, will spontaneously ignite in the presence of strong acids such as conc. sulfuric. It also works the other way around with linoleum or wood sulfate (from old conc. sulfuric spills) igniting with cold perchloric acid. I have had a hood blown off the wall with less than 20 1 ml aliquots in digestions on a hot plate. One went off, and set off the rest. A major mess with water, gas, steam, vacuum, DI water, and electric services all disrupted. The ventilation ducts were destroyed back to the filter banks which also had to be replaced. (Michael A. Kay, ScD, CHMM) * We have not done swab samples, but that seems like a reasonable thing to do. We spray visible salts with Methylene blue. If positive, we steam the hood for 24 hours. Then we look for salts once more. If we find them, we spray again with Methylene blue. (David Wolff, Iowa State) Just a few excerpts. Others may want to add. Randy Norman Safety Specialist Sr. BioReliance Corporation Rockville, MD 20850 Rnorman@bioreliance.com "Success is a journey, not a destination" - Ben Sweetland ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 11 Feb 1999 09:57:32 +0000 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Stan Harts Organization: University of North Carolina at Wilmington Subject: Re: Hg levels in soils In-Reply-To: <199902111405.IAA58446@saluki-mailsmtp.siu.edu> MIME-version: 1.0 Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-transfer-encoding: 7BIT Mike, In my previous job as an environmental consultant working with soil and ground water contamination I delt with this often. That level is high for most soils but the natural or background concentration of metals varies considerably with soil/rock types. My experience is that 0-3 ppm is average. You can try with your state geologic survey to see if they have a summary of chemical analytical data for sediments. North Carolina has such a database. You can also get an average concentration in soils from known clean areas as close to your sample as possible. At $15-$25 per sample this is not a bad option and I used it on industrial sites. Now however I am now "budgetarily challanged" probably would not be able to choose this option. Using the rules of thumb to divide the total metals by 30 or 40 to estimate TCLP or "leachable metals", I suspect that if you run a TCLP metals analysis on the soil you will be somewhere in the range of 0.1-0.2 mG/L of "leachable mercury". If it is above 0.2 mg/L of "leachable mercury" then you hava a haz waste. Good luck in your quest! Scott, Most analytical laboratories report metals concentration in soil in mg per Kg and call this ppm. So yes it is equivalent to weight percent. This data should be on the laboratory report Stan H. Harts Environmental Safety Manager University of North Carolina at Wilmington 601 South College Road Wilmington, NC 28403-3297 E-Mail: Hartss@uncwil.edu Phone: (910) 962-7017 Fax: (910) 962-4014 ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 11 Feb 1999 07:45:29 -0800 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Sam Hurlbut Subject: Re: Hg levels in soils MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain I hate to sound picky here, but this has touched on one of my pet peeves. I really try to avoid using unit-less numbers such as ppm. Some people want it to mean w/w while others want it to mean w/v. In any case 5.7 ppm would translate to 0.00057% by weight. Sam > -----Original Message----- > From: Scott M. Davis [SMTP:smdavis@EMAIL.UNCC.EDU] > Sent: Thursday, February 11, 1999 6:05 AM > To: LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU > Subject: Re: Hg levels in soils > > Mike, > I can not answer your question...but it raised one in my mind. What > does > 5.7 ppm MEAN in reference to a soil sample? 0.0000057% by weight? Is > this > a common way to report results from a lead bulk sample? I haven't > seen it > done that way. Do we have a Chemical Practice CIH out there > listening? > > OSHA is not applicable to your question, since we are discussing the > content > of a bulk sample, rather than the exposure of an employee. HUD 24 CFR > Part > 35 and EPA 40 CFR Part 745 both define "lead based paint" as equal to > or in > excess of 0.5% by weight or 1 mg per cm squared. > > Scott Davis, CIH > University Industrial Hygienist > UNC Charlotte > > > > >Where might I find some info on what is considered acceptable Hg > levels in > >soils? I have a soil sample that has been analyzed at 5.7 ppm. > >Thanks. > > > >Mike Gantz > >Box 63 > >Donnelly, Id 83615 > >mgantz@cyberhighway.net > >208-325-8692 > > ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 11 Feb 1999 10:19:22 -0800 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Debbie Decker Subject: Re: Perchloric acid use in non perchloric hoods In-Reply-To: <7E0AD3486F4AD21197670060081CEBCA40CFE9@BIO_NT_1> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" At 09:31 AM 2/11/99 -0500, Randy Norman wrote: >There was a long discussion of this earlier this week on the SAFETY >listserv. A couple of excerpts most pertinent to your question: -BIG SNIP- If you surf on over to http://hazard.com (the SAFETY listserv archive site, among other good stuff) and search on the archives for perchloric acid hoods, you'll find a wealth of information. This topic has been discussed several times over the past few years on that listserv but the most recent discussion had by far, IMHO, the best information. If you can't get there from where you are, let me know and I'll see if I can forward the good stuff (in addition to Randy's post) that might be of use. Deb. (who is taking the Monday holiday and going to visit the snow - that's what we do in CA - most of us don't actually live where there's snow - the horror of it ) Debbie Decker EH&S UCDavis (530)754-7964 dmdecker@ucdavis.edu ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 12 Feb 1999 09:37:35 +1300 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: John Downey Subject: Re: Hg levels in soils MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain If someone approached me with 5.7 ppm Hg in soil I would translate this as 5.7 mg/kg on a saturated-surface dry basis (going back to my days as a concrete technician). If it were 5.7 ppm in groundwater I would suspect 5.7 mg/L. If it were 5.7 ppm in bromoform I would need to go back and ask the question. In other words, horses for courses - though Sam is, of course, quite right. John Downey Waitakere City Council Waitakere City New Zealand > -----Original Message----- > From: Sam Hurlbut [SMTP:Samuel_T_Hurlbut@RL.GOV] > Sent: Friday, February 12, 1999 4:45 AM > To: LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU > Subject: Re: Hg levels in soils > > I hate to sound picky here, but this has touched on one of my pet > peeves. I really try to avoid using unit-less numbers such as ppm. > Some people want it to mean w/w while others want it to mean w/v. In > any case 5.7 ppm would translate to 0.00057% by weight. > > Sam > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: Scott M. Davis [SMTP:smdavis@EMAIL.UNCC.EDU] > > Sent: Thursday, February 11, 1999 6:05 AM > > To: LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU > > Subject: Re: Hg levels in soils > > > > Mike, > > I can not answer your question...but it raised one in my mind. What > > does > > 5.7 ppm MEAN in reference to a soil sample? 0.0000057% by weight? Is > > this > > a common way to report results from a lead bulk sample? I haven't > > seen it > > done that way. Do we have a Chemical Practice CIH out there > > listening? > > > > Scott Davis, CIH > > University Industrial Hygienist > > UNC Charlotte > > > > > > > > >Where might I find some info on what is considered acceptable Hg > > levels in > > >soils? I have a soil sample that has been analyzed at 5.7 ppm. > > >Thanks. > > > > > >Mike Gantz > > >Box 63 > > >Donnelly, Id 83615 > > >mgantz@cyberhighway.net > > >208-325-8692 > > > ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 11 Feb 1999 16:18:52 -0500 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Bob Burns Subject: Re: Hg levels in soils MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit I was taught that ppm and percent are always weight/weight, unless otherwise specified. "SEMPER ADVENTURUS!!!" Robert L. Burns R&D Group Leader Specialty Chemicals Division RUETGERS Organics Corporation 201 Struble Road State College, PA 16801 phone 814-231-9214 fax 814-238-1567 email rburns@bigfoot.com -----Original Message----- From: John Downey To: LABSAFETY-L@siu.edu Date: Thursday, February 11, 1999 15:41 Subject: Re: Hg levels in soils >If someone approached me with 5.7 ppm Hg in soil I would translate this as >5.7 mg/kg on a saturated-surface dry basis (going back to my days as a >concrete technician). If it were 5.7 ppm in groundwater I would suspect 5.7 >mg/L. If it were 5.7 ppm in bromoform I would need to go back and ask the >question. > >In other words, horses for courses - though Sam is, of course, quite right. > >John Downey >Waitakere City Council >Waitakere City >New Zealand > >> -----Original Message----- >> From: Sam Hurlbut [SMTP:Samuel_T_Hurlbut@RL.GOV] >> Sent: Friday, February 12, 1999 4:45 AM >> To: LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU >> Subject: Re: Hg levels in soils >> >> I hate to sound picky here, but this has touched on one of my pet >> peeves. I really try to avoid using unit-less numbers such as ppm. >> Some people want it to mean w/w while others want it to mean w/v. In >> any case 5.7 ppm would translate to 0.00057% by weight. >> >> Sam >> >> > -----Original Message----- >> > From: Scott M. Davis [SMTP:smdavis@EMAIL.UNCC.EDU] >> > Sent: Thursday, February 11, 1999 6:05 AM >> > To: LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU >> > Subject: Re: Hg levels in soils >> > >> > Mike, >> > I can not answer your question...but it raised one in my mind. What >> > does >> > 5.7 ppm MEAN in reference to a soil sample? 0.0000057% by weight? Is >> > this >> > a common way to report results from a lead bulk sample? I haven't >> > seen it >> > done that way. Do we have a Chemical Practice CIH out there >> > listening? >> > >> > Scott Davis, CIH >> > University Industrial Hygienist >> > UNC Charlotte >> > >> > >> > >> > >Where might I find some info on what is considered acceptable Hg >> > levels in >> > >soils? I have a soil sample that has been analyzed at 5.7 ppm. >> > >Thanks. >> > > >> > >Mike Gantz >> > >Box 63 >> > >Donnelly, Id 83615 >> > >mgantz@cyberhighway.net >> > >208-325-8692 >> > > > > ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 11 Feb 1999 17:00:29 -0500 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Madelyn Miller Subject: ANSI standards splash def. In-Reply-To: MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; CHARSET=US-ASCII Greetings, A year ago I was at a lecture Jim Kaufman was giving, and I asked him if it were ok to wear a safety glass when using a small amount of hazardous chemicals and a safety goggle for a larger quantity. Like they say in Practicing Safety Science (Howard Hughes Inst.) His answer made a big impression. He said come up here and lie on this table I have a hypodermic syringe with concentrated nitric acid in it (he didn't really) and tell me how much of this I can put in your eye. Well.... that answered that. Madelyn ---------------------- Madelyn Miller Chemical Hygiene Officer, CCHO Environmental Health & Safety Carnegie Mellon University mmiller@andrew.cmu.edu ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 11 Feb 1999 18:34:45 -0600 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: EH&S Compliance Subject: ppm As I understood ppm it was x parts per million parts and the units had to be of the same type ie w/w or v/v sort of stuff. My CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics (66th edition) has conversion factors. ppm to grams/metric ton multiply by 1 ppm to milligram/kilogram multiply by 1 ppm to milliliter/cubic meter multiply by 1 (cubic meter to liter multiply by 1000) ppm to ounce(troy)/ton(long) multiply by 0.03266667 Rebecca Levins EH&S Compliance Specialist RSR Corporation Dallas, Texas RSRrdl@onramp.net (214) 583-0245 ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 11 Feb 1999 16:22:09 -0800 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Debbie Decker Subject: FW: 14 ft. Bermese Python Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" I know this has absolutely nothing to do with labsafety and I apologize for taking up the band width, but this just struck me as terribly amusing this afternoon! I get the weirdest stuff, sometimes. An adoption notice for a 14ft python with a head cold is about the weirdest :-) If anyone is interested (it could happen!), please contact Ann Kelleher (address at bottom). Deb. >From: Julie McNeal >Subject: FW: 14 ft. Bermese Python >Sender: owner-ehs-staff@ucdavis.edu > >Any takers? >Julie >> >>This was forwarded to me by someone I work with. It is a very serious >>request to find a home for this python. Not sure if they'd be willing >>to surrender it to a zoo, but if the Folsom Zoo would be interested, it >>wouldn't hurt to ask. If you know of other snake lovers, please pass >>the word along. >>Ellen >>Hi all, >>Anyone interested - or know of someone who might be >>interested - inadopting a 14 ft male bermese python? He currently >>lives with a coworker who is looking to adopt him out, as she is >>unable to spend as much time with him as she used to. He prefers to have >>his own room (no kidding) rather than a cage (who wouldn't?), and >>he only eats every 1-2 months. (of course his culinary preferences >>include live rabbits and chickens). It is doubtful that he will >>get any bigger, unlike the females which evidently grow an additional >>ten feet. He loves to go to the park and bask in the sun when it's >>warm outside. He does have a slight chronic upper respiratory >>infection, but it only seems to act up when it's really cold, and then he >>just gets a runny nose. He also seizes on rare occasion - my coworker >>used to give him medication for that but apparently no longer needs to. Anyway, he sounds like a great addition to any family >>that would enjoy a large reptile (and would be able to facilitate the >>natural food chain...) Let me know if there are any takers! >>:) Sam >> >>>>_________________________________________________________ >> >>DO YOU YAHOO!? >> >>Get your free @yahoo.com address at >>http://mail.yahoo.com >> >> >> > >>>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ >> >Ann Kelleher >> >Vice Chancellor's Office >> >Student Affairs >> >(530) 752-6866 >> >(530) 752-2565 Fax >> >amkelleher@ucdavis.edu >>>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ >> > >> >>Ellen Yoshimura >>Student Affairs >>Office Manager >>476 Mrak Hall >> >>(530) 752-2418 >>FAX: (530) 752-2565 >> > > ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 11 Feb 1999 14:43:53 -0600 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Ward R Phifer Subject: Re: Hg levels in soils MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Many states have cleanup standards for Hg in soils. In Pennsylvania, there are several standards depending on whether or not the aquifer below is used for drinking water or not. Our standards for soil range from a low of 2 ppb (0.002ppm) for used aquifers to 2,000 ppb (2 ppm) for non-use aquifers. Analysis is usually on a "dry weight" basis; the method is usually EPA 6010 (atomic absorption, I believe). Russell Phifer WCC Environmental LLC PO Box 39, 439 S. Bolmar Street, West Chester, PA 19381 610-696-9220 / 610-344-7519 fax envasset@juno.com On Thu, 11 Feb 1999 08:05:23 -0600 "Scott M. Davis" writes: >Mike, >I can not answer your question...but it raised one in my mind. What >does >5.7 ppm MEAN in reference to a soil sample? 0.0000057% by weight? Is >this >a common way to report results from a lead bulk sample? I haven't >seen it >done that way. Do we have a Chemical Practice CIH out there >listening? > >OSHA is not applicable to your question, since we are discussing the >content >of a bulk sample, rather than the exposure of an employee. HUD 24 CFR >Part >35 and EPA 40 CFR Part 745 both define "lead based paint" as equal to >or in >excess of 0.5% by weight or 1 mg per cm squared. > >Scott Davis, CIH >University Industrial Hygienist >UNC Charlotte > > > >>Where might I find some info on what is considered acceptable Hg >levels in >>soils? I have a soil sample that has been analyzed at 5.7 ppm. >>Thanks. >> >>Mike Gantz >>Box 63 >>Donnelly, Id 83615 >>mgantz@cyberhighway.net >>208-325-8692 >> > Russell Phifer WCC Environmental LLC PO Box 39, 439 S. Bolmar Street, West Chester, PA 19381 610-696-9220 / 610-344-7519 fax envasset@juno.com ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 12 Feb 1999 13:55:49 -0500 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: John Lakanen Subject: Re: fire suppression systems for chemical storage Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" LABSAFETY List, We are in the process of designing a new wing on our existing science building at Indiana Wesleyan. All of our labs and chemical storage will be part of the new construction. Does anyone have advice on whether a fire suppression system (halon, CO2 etc.) is a good idea for flammables storage areas or is this expensive over-kill for a small to medium college program? Thanks for any advice, John Lakanen Assistant Professor of Chemistry Indiana Wesleyan University Jlakanen@indwes.edu ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 12 Feb 1999 14:10:27 -0500 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Madelyn Miller Subject: Re: fire suppression systems for chemical storage In-Reply-To: <1.5.4.32.19990212185549.00679f38@popmail.indwes.edu> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; CHARSET=US-ASCII You can have 3 solvent cabinets in a "fire area" but they must be 4 feet apart from each other. 60 gal. per cabinet. Just how much are you talking about? Madelyn On Fri, 12 Feb 1999 13:55:49 -0500 John Lakanen wrote: > LABSAFETY List, > > We are in the process of designing a new wing on our existing science > building at Indiana Wesleyan. All of our labs and chemical storage will be > part of the new construction. Does anyone have advice on whether a fire > suppression system (halon, CO2 etc.) is a good idea for flammables storage > areas or is this expensive over-kill for a small to medium college program? > > Thanks for any advice, > > John Lakanen > Assistant Professor of Chemistry > Indiana Wesleyan University > Jlakanen@indwes.edu ---------------------- Madelyn Miller Chemical Hygiene Officer, CCHO Environmental Health & Safety Carnegie Mellon University mmiller@andrew.cmu.edu ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 12 Feb 1999 14:56:15 -0400 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Don Abramowitz Subject: Re: fire suppression systems for chemical storage Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" All of our labs and chemical storage will be >part of the new construction. Does anyone have advice on whether a fire >suppression system (halon, CO2 etc.) is a good idea for flammables storage >areas? A conventional, water sprinkler system would likely be desirable for your entire new wing. (It may be required for new construction on this scale, depending on your local fire codes.) I doubt that you would need specialized CO2 or other media suppression systems for the quantity of flammables likely to be present in a store room. The engineers who design the system could take into account the anticipated quantities of flammables in their selection of sprinkler head distribution and type. Though you would never want to blast away with a pressurized water fire extinguisher at a flammable liquid fire, water sprayed from a sprinkler head can do wonders for suppression and for preventing stored flammables from becoming part of an existing fire. (For what it's worth, our 1992-vintage Chemistry wing has water sprinklers, including its then-newly-designed solvent storage room. The sprinklers proved their worth in response to an ether fire in an organic research lab, which occurred soon after the new wing was commissioned.) >is this expensive over-kill for a small to medium college program? A sprinkler system is never too expensive after a fire starts. (An argument in favor of the cost-effectiveness of sprinklers is the possible insurance premium savings, but likely not a big enough savings in itself to carry the day.) If this wing will house ALL of your labs, it would be valuable to know that you could still be in the business of teaching science if there was a fire in a single lab. It is also much less expensive to install a sprinkler system during new construction than to add one afterwards. Your insurance company's loss control reps. can be a valuable resource in making fire protection determinations. They will also likely want to review the drawings for the building before you break ground. Don Personal bias disclosure: I really like sprinklers in buildings! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Donald Abramowitz, CIH Occupational and Environmental Safety Officer Bryn Mawr College | Swarthmore College 101 N. Merion Avenue | 500 College Avenue Bryn Mawr, PA 19010 | Swarthmore PA 19081 ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 12 Feb 1999 15:04:00 -0500 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: "Tayman, Tammy" Subject: Re: fire suppression systems for chemical storage MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain Be VERY careful about having a conventional water sprinkler system in a flammables storage room. Many people also store flammable *water reactive* chemicals in the same area. Needless to say, if a fire starts and the sprinklers activate, you are going to have a BIG problem! Tammy Tayman ---------- From: Don Abramowitz To: LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU Subject: Re: fire suppression systems for chemical storage Date: Friday, February 12, 1999 1:56PM All of our labs and chemical storage will be >part of the new construction. Does anyone have advice on whether a fire >suppression system (halon, CO2 etc.) is a good idea for flammables storage >areas? A conventional, water sprinkler system would likely be desirable for your entire new wing. (It may be required for new construction on this scale, depending on your local fire codes.) I doubt that you would need specialized CO2 or other media suppression systems for the quantity of flammables likely to be present in a store room. The engineers who design the system could take into account the anticipated quantities of flammables in their selection of sprinkler head distribution and type. Though you would never want to blast away with a pressurized water fire extinguisher at a flammable liquid fire, water sprayed from a sprinkler head can do wonders for suppression and for preventing stored flammables from becoming part of an existing fire. (For what it's worth, our 1992-vintage Chemistry wing has water sprinklers, including its then-newly-designed solvent storage room. The sprinklers proved their worth in response to an ether fire in an organic research lab, which occurred soon after the new wing was commissioned.) >is this expensive over-kill for a small to medium college program? A sprinkler system is never too expensive after a fire starts. (An argument in favor of the cost-effectiveness of sprinklers is the possible insurance premium savings, but likely not a big enough savings in itself to carry the day.) If this wing will house ALL of your labs, it would be valuable to know that you could still be in the business of teaching science if there was a fire in a single lab. It is also much less expensive to install a sprinkler system during new construction than to add one afterwards. Your insurance company's loss control reps. can be a valuable resource in making fire protection determinations. They will also likely want to review the drawings for the building before you break ground. Don Personal bias disclosure: I really like sprinklers in buildings! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~ Donald Abramowitz, CIH Occupational and Environmental Safety Officer Bryn Mawr College | Swarthmore College 101 N. Merion Avenue | 500 College Avenue Bryn Mawr, PA 19010 | Swarthmore PA 19081 ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 12 Feb 1999 15:17:35 -0500 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Naomi Kelly Subject: Re: fire suppression systems for chemical storage In-Reply-To: Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" What regulation does the 3 cabinets, 4 ft. apart come from? At 02:10 PM 2/12/99 -0500, you wrote: >You can have 3 solvent cabinets in a "fire area" but they must be 4 >feet apart from each other. 60 gal. per cabinet. Just how much are >you talking about? >Madelyn > >On Fri, 12 Feb 1999 13:55:49 -0500 John Lakanen >wrote: > >> LABSAFETY List, >> >> We are in the process of designing a new wing on our existing science >> building at Indiana Wesleyan. All of our labs and chemical storage will be >> part of the new construction. Does anyone have advice on whether a fire >> suppression system (halon, CO2 etc.) is a good idea for flammables storage >> areas or is this expensive over-kill for a small to medium college program? >> >> Thanks for any advice, >> >> John Lakanen >> Assistant Professor of Chemistry >> Indiana Wesleyan University >> Jlakanen@indwes.edu > >---------------------- >Madelyn Miller >Chemical Hygiene Officer, CCHO >Environmental Health & Safety >Carnegie Mellon University >mmiller@andrew.cmu.edu Naomi Kelly Environmental Health and Safety Clemson University nkelly@clemson.edu (864)656-7554 Fax (864)656-7630 ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 12 Feb 1999 12:54:52 -0800 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Barry Rutledge Subject: Re: fire suppression systems for chemical storage In-Reply-To: <199902122011.OAA125174@saluki-mailsmtp.siu.edu> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" You won't have a big problem if the chemicals are properly stored inside appropriate storage cabinets. We have numerous (15 +) "H" rated rooms which are much more safe than other rooms no matter what is stored in them. I like sprinklers also. Do it! Barry At 03:04 PM 2/12/99 -0500, you wrote: >Be VERY careful about having a conventional water sprinkler system in a >flammables storage room. Many people also store flammable *water reactive* >chemicals in the same area. Needless to say, if a fire starts and the >sprinklers activate, you are going to have a BIG problem! > >Tammy Tayman Kenneth "Barry" Rutledge Senior Safety Specialist The Scripps Research Inst. La Jolla, CA ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 12 Feb 1999 16:25:44 -0400 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Don Abramowitz Subject: Re: fire suppression systems for chemical storage Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" >Be VERY careful about having a conventional water sprinkler system in a >flammables storage room. Many people also store flammable *water reactive* >chemicals in the same area. Needless to say, if a fire starts and the >sprinklers activate, you are going to have a BIG problem! I agree that it would be desirable to separate the flammable, water reactive stuff from bulk storage of solvents, for lots of reasons. Some thoughts about sprinklers and lab-scale quantities of water reactive materials: If the sprinkler head trips (barring a mechanical accident) it is because the air temperature has exceeded 168 degrees F (typical configuration). I dare say that at this point you already have a big problem. Only those individual sprinklers heads exposed to sufficient heat open. If the water reactives are stored in individual, smallish containers (say 250 ml or so - at least that's what I see around here), I'd venture that the 35 gallon per minute flow of typical sprinkler heads would carry the day. Don ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 12 Feb 1999 16:24:03 -0600 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Ward R Phifer Subject: Re: fire suppression systems for chemical storage MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit By all means, skip the halon idea! Expensive and way overkill..... go for the sprinklers. Make sure any DWW chemicals are stored elsewhere. Russell Phifer WCC Environmental LLC PO Box 39, 439 S. Bolmar Street, West Chester, PA 19381 610-696-9220 / 610-344-7519 fax envasset@juno.com On Fri, 12 Feb 1999 13:55:49 -0500 John Lakanen writes: >LABSAFETY List, > >We are in the process of designing a new wing on our existing science >building at Indiana Wesleyan. All of our labs and chemical storage >will be >part of the new construction. Does anyone have advice on whether a >fire >suppression system (halon, CO2 etc.) is a good idea for flammables >storage >areas or is this expensive over-kill for a small to medium college >program? > >Thanks for any advice, > >John Lakanen >Assistant Professor of Chemistry >Indiana Wesleyan University >Jlakanen@indwes.edu > Russell Phifer WCC Environmental LLC PO Box 39, 439 S. Bolmar Street, West Chester, PA 19381 610-696-9220 / 610-344-7519 fax envasset@juno.com ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 12 Feb 1999 16:44:36 -0500 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: "Chang, Jim C" Subject: Fire Suppression Systems in Labs MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" You might want to look at the entire picture - not only is a good suppresssion system needed (sprinklers with water or sprinklers with AFFF foam), but construction features (rated walls), a means to carry off sprinkler water, secondary containment, ventilation systems are also important. Traditional water sprinklers are a good idea - look at an ordinary hazard group II or extra hazard density - your local code officials or insurers can advise what they would like to see. If you are concerned about large amounts of flammable materials, you might choose an AFFF low expansion system. They work very well however have additional maintenance requirements. With regard to the DWW or water reactive items, you might want to consider not having these items in the same room (or at least place them in a proper cabinet), as they are "ignition sources". Jim Chang, CIH Safety Engineer Glaxo Wellcome Inc. RTP, NC ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 12 Feb 1999 16:10:56 -0600 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Joe Chase Subject: Re: fire suppression systems for chemical storage Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii I've heard about the 3 solvent cabinet "rule" in a "fire area". Can you give me source? --Joe ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 12 Feb 1999 15:25:13 -0800 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Barry Rutledge Subject: Re: fire suppression systems for chemical storage In-Reply-To: <06256716.0079DA2A.00@twtsrv1.twt.com> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" At 04:10 PM 2/12/99 -0600, you wrote: >I've heard about the 3 solvent cabinet "rule" in a "fire area". Can you give me >source? --Joe > > Joe, You will find it in the Uniform Fire Code Section 79 or 80. You may also find it in NFPA Standards but I don't know the section without looking. Barry Kenneth "Barry" Rutledge Senior Safety Specialist The Scripps Research Inst. La Jolla, CA ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 13 Feb 1999 09:47:47 -0300 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: "Aziz M. Abu-khalaf" Subject: dry powder/dry chemicals? Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" It seems that there is some kind of confusion between dry powder and dry chemicals. I have seen a fire extinguisher written on it: multipurpose dry powder ABCE, with the corresponding symbol of each fire. They are both dry, chemical compounds, and both may be in powder form. Can dry powder be used for other fires? Cannot we use other distinguishing names? **************************************************************************** ******* Aziz M. Abu-Khalaf ***** Tel: 00966 1 4676894 Chemical Engineering Department ***** Fax: 00966 1 4678770 King Saud University ***** E-mail: amkhalaf@ksu.edu.sa PO Box 800 ***** Riyadh 11421, Saudi Arabia ***** **************************************************************************** ******* ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 14 Feb 1999 23:22:03 EST Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Labsafe@AOL.COM Subject: LSW's Laboratory Safety Guidelines Comments: To: Safety , Safe-NZ@niwa.cri.nz, nsela-l@science.coe.uwf.edu, "Nat'l.al Assn. for Res. in Sci. Teaching" , NAOSMM@LISTSERV.RICE.EDU, hs-canada@ccohs.ca, dchas-l@SIU.EDU, chemlab_L@vax1.bemidji.msus.edu, CHEMCOM@LISTSERV.ACSU.BUFFALO.EDU, biosafty@mitvma.mit.edu Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-transfer-encoding: 7bit LSW's "Laboratory Safety Guidelines: 40 Suggestions for a Safer Laboratory" are now available online at www.labsafety.org on the services page. The "Guidelines" were written in 1976 and distributed by Dow Chemical to 2,000 colleges and universities. Within one year Dow received requests for 250,000 reprints. Today, more than two million copies have been distributed. Carolina Science and Math, Inc. is assisting LSW in preparing a 20th Anniversary edition of the "Guidelines" to celebrate LSW's 20th year of service safety in science education. Poster size copies should be available for the NSTA national meeting in Boston this coming March. ... jim ***************************************************** James A. Kaufman, Director The Laboratory Safety Workshop Safety in Science Education 192 Worcester Road, Natick, MA 01760 508-647-1900 Fax: 508-647-0062 labsafe@aol.com http://www.labsafety.org/ LSW is a national non-profit educational organization dedicated to making health and safety an integral and important part of science education. Free copies of our Laboratory Safety Guidelines, seminar schedule, Publications List, AV-Lending Library List, and membership information are available on request. The LABSAFETY-L discussion list is a public service of LSW. ****************************************************** ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 14 Feb 1999 23:11:06 -0600 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Jeff Rubin Subject: Re: fire suppression systems for chemical storage In-Reply-To: <1.5.4.32.19990212185549.00679f38@popmail.indwes.edu> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" In our new chemical storeroom we went to a AFFF foam deluge system. If you dump water in your storeroom, that's a LOT of water, and you may just be making things worse. AFFF (Aqueous Film-Forming Foam) works by creating a polymer film that suppresses vapors. It's generally used in 3% or 6% aqueous solutions, the latter for polar solvents that quickly wipe out a 3% blanket. Although the sprinkler heads on the deluge system are standard activation temp (136 deg. F, boiling-liquid heads), the system dumps out enough foam to fill the room. UVIR sensors will charge the system with foam, but will not actually activate the heads (good thing, too, because UVIR sensors have a lot more false activations than sprinkler heads). We evaluated several systems (water, CO2) but everyone agreed on AFFF. The foam tank is mounted directly above the storeroom, with an in-line compressor rated for fire-suppression foam systems. As we told our fire dept., the goal is not to make it safer to fight fires in the storeroom, it's to eliminate the need for anyone to have to enter in order to fight fire at all (at least in that room). Automated systems work well and sprinkler systems as a whole (home, office, industry) have a miniscule false-activation rate. NO Halon in this setting! It's expensive, politically incorrect, and potentially hazardous. Onward, JNR ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 15 Feb 1999 09:58:13 -0300 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: "Aziz M. Abu-khalaf" Subject: Re: LABSAFETY-L Digest - 13 Feb 1999 to 14 Feb 1999 Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" On Sun, 14 Feb 1999 23:11:06 -0600 Jeff Rubin wrote: >Subject: Re: fire suppression systems for chemical storage > >In our new chemical storeroom we went to a AFFF foam deluge system. If you >dump water in your storeroom, that's a LOT of water, and you may just be >making things worse. Dumping the room with aquous foam may also have bad effects. >false-activation rate. NO Halon in this setting! It's expensive, >politically incorrect, and potentially hazardous. What do you mean by: politically incorrect? **************************************************************************** ******* Aziz M. Abu-Khalaf ***** Tel: 00966 1 4676894 Chemical Engineering Department ***** Fax: 00966 1 4678770 King Saud University ***** E-mail: amkhalaf@ksu.edu.sa PO Box 800 ***** Riyadh 11421, Saudi Arabia ***** **************************************************************************** ******* ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 15 Feb 1999 04:45:38 -0600 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Harry Elston Subject: Re: LABSAFETY-L Digest - 13 Feb 1999 to 14 Feb 1999 In-Reply-To: <1.5.4.16.19990215095013.26ffbe7a@sun1.ksu.edu.sa> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" At 09:58 AM 2/15/99 -0300, you wrote: >>false-activation rate. NO Halon in this setting! It's expensive, >>politically incorrect, and potentially hazardous. > >What do you mean by: politically incorrect? Halon in "politically incorrect" because it is one of those nasty halogen compounds which supposedly depletes the earth's ozone layer. Harry Harry J. Elston, NRCC-CHO Chemical Hygiene Officer Illinois Department of Nuclear Safety My opinions only, not my employer's, blah, blah,blah "Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world, she has to walk into mine" -Rick, Casablanca ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 15 Feb 1999 10:07:36 -0400 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Don Abramowitz Subject: Re: dry powder/dry chemicals? Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" >It seems that there is some kind of confusion between dry powder >and dry chemicals. I have seen a fire extinguisher written on it: >multipurpose dry powder ABCE, with the corresponding symbol of each fire. > >They are both dry, chemical compounds, and both may be in powder form. >Can dry powder be used for other fires? >Cannot we use other distinguishing names? I'm not aware of an official distinction between the terms "dry chemical" and "dry powder", but there is more than one dry, powdered extinguishing agent used in fire extinguishers. The multipurpose A:B:C extinguishers generally contain monoammonium phosphate (there may be other agents) . There are also dry extinguishers that are rated B:C only (flammable liquids:electrical) which contain sodium/potassium bicarbonate and perhaps other materials. "Purple K" is an example of a trade name extinguishing agent that is rated for B:C uses only. (A is for "ordinary" combustibles - wood, paper, etc.) Class D (metal fires) extinguishers also contain a dry, powdered agent, but that's a specialized category in itself. Don ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Donald Abramowitz, CIH Occupational and Environmental Safety Officer Bryn Mawr College | Swarthmore College 101 N. Merion Avenue | 500 College Avenue Bryn Mawr, PA 19010 | Swarthmore PA 19081 ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 15 Feb 1999 09:55:17 -0600 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Jeff Rubin Subject: Fire extinguishing agents In-Reply-To: <1.5.4.16.19990215095013.26ffbe7a@sun1.ksu.edu.sa> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" On AFFF foam vs. water. It is true that use of AFFF foam will also necessitate cleanup, but there's a lot less water used (and thus a lot less waste/runoff/whatever) to fill a room with foam than to do so with water only, and extinguishment is much quicker with foam. Dry chemical extinguishers: as far as I know, "dry powder" and "dry chemical" are synonymous in this case. BC dry chem extinguishers are pretty exclusively NaHCO3 (cheaper than KHCO3). There are several class D (flammable metal) extinguishing agents - as far as I know none cover the entire spectrum. "Purple K" (from Ansul, I think) is KHCO3 and is primarily intended for Mg (and Al, I think) fires (it's one of the ingredients in the internal engine-extinguishing system on aircraft). "Metal-X" is mostly NaCl in some type of medium that allows the NaCl melt evenly, coating the burning metal. Sometimes sand works, too (dry sand - if it's wet it'll generate steam explosively) - I guess that's a "dry chemical." The problem with many class D agents is that one must build up a large pile to cover the burning metal. Cool (hot?) chem tidbit: most flammable metals burn so hot that they will break down common extinguishing agents (e.g., H2O, CO2). Burning Zr, for example, will use CO2 (i.e., from a BC dry ice extinguisher) as an O2 source and keep right on burning. Onward, JNR Jeff Rubin, Asst. Dean for EHS College of Natural Sciences G2500 W.C. Hogg Building University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX 78712-1199 (512) 471-6176 (O) (512) 471-4998 (F) jrubin@mail.utexas.edu "The opinions of Dr. Rubin are not meant to offend anyone unless otherwise specified." ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 15 Feb 1999 14:53:01 -0500 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: "David C. Finster" Organization: Wittenberg University Subject: Re: Fire extinguishing agents MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Some comments about fire extinguishers: Jeff Rubin wrote: > On AFFF foam vs. water. It is true that use of AFFF foam will also > necessitate cleanup, but there's a lot less water used (and thus a lot less > waste/runoff/whatever) to fill a room with foam than to do so with water > only, and extinguishment is much quicker with foam. Jeff, and other are right about the volume of water needed. I add only one further comment, and I speak here as a (volunteer) firefighter who's learned something about AFFF foam from textbooks, but used it little. It's not necessary to "fill the room with foam." The foam creates a layer, which might be a little as a few inches thick, over the surface of the flammable liquid which suppresses the liquid from vaporizing and igniting. There is also something called "high-expansion foam" (for which you need a special nozzle) which is specifically designed to occupy large volumes. (There are, in fact, many types of foam used in firefighting for use on polar solvents, nonpolar solvents, and for coating Class A fires.) > Dry chemical extinguishers: as far as I know, "dry powder" and "dry chemical" > are synonymous in this case. I'd like some clarification from others on the list about this, just to satiate curiosity. I have always taken "dry chemical" to mean either BC or ABC extinguishers and "dry powder" to mean Class D. I treat this mostly as jargon, and would certainly identify extinguishers by their letter codes to avoid ambiguity. Dave -- David C. Finster Professor and Chair of Chemistry University Chemical Hygiene Officer 937-327-6441 dfinster@wittenberg.edu http://userpages.wittenberg.edu/dfinster/ ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 15 Feb 1999 14:23:15 -0600 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Jeff Rubin Subject: Re: Fire extinguishing agents In-Reply-To: <36C87B1D.B9D82BC7@wittenberg.edu> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Good points on foam. I'm a VFF too (I'll bet we could staff a whole dept. with CHOs who are/were VFFs - what a hazmat team! We'd probably spend the entire call scolding the people who spilled, doing paperwork, and playing chemist with the material...) and have used both AFFF and hi-ex foam. As Dave pointed out, Hi-ex requires a very different delivery system and has no polymer base. The simplest version is Dawn dishwashing liquid, water, and compressed air - a combination used by the Forest Service to great effect for years. We didn't actually require our deluge system to fill the room; the system has excess capacity, however, and will do so. Important point on the polymer layer: even 6% foam will eventually dissipate in a polar solvent. I hadn't heard "dry powder" used much at all - it probably is just jargon. If it really is supposed to differnetiate between class D and non-D use, that's a dangerous similarity (although not as bad as "inflammable"). One thing I saw overseas (Australia, New Zealand) much more than here was the AFFF fire extinguisher. Fairly common in "petrol" stations - great idea for small spills. >I'd like some clarification from others on the list about this, just to >satiate >curiosity. I have always taken "dry chemical" to mean either BC or ABC >extinguishers and "dry powder" to mean Class D. I treat this mostly as >jargon, >and would certainly identify extinguishers by their letter codes to avoid >ambiguity. Jeff Rubin, Asst. Dean for EHS College of Natural Sciences G2500 W.C. Hogg Building University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX 78712-1199 (512) 471-6176 (O) (512) 471-4998 (F) jrubin@mail.utexas.edu http://www.utexas.edu/cons/safety/ "The opinions of Dr. Rubin are not meant to offend anyone unless otherwise specified." ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 16 Feb 1999 08:06:39 -0500 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Dave Gelpke Subject: Re: LABSAFETY-L Digest - 14 Feb 1999 to 15 Feb 1999 Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii We have just set up a small countertop autoclave that essentially is a pressure cooker. Are there any additional safety concerns other than what we discovered in the manual during the operation, ie past experience, best management practices etc? Of course, everyone is ready to duck at a moments notice :-) ...but I'm not really familiar with this piece of equipment. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 16 Feb 1999 09:01:27 EST Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Dave Williams Subject: Introduction; and a question. Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-transfer-encoding: 7bit Hello! I am new to this list. I'll put my signature up front by way of introduction. Dave Williams Science Department Chair Valencia Community College, East Campus 701 N. Econlockhatchee Trail Orlando, FL 32825 407-299-5000 x2443 profdhw@aol.com My question is this. Does N,N-dimethylaniline create unusual hazards when used in a second-semester, undergraduate organic chemistry course. My instructor wants to use a dilute solution in the synthesis of methyl orange. My lab manager says it's too dangerous; a spill would create too much of a hazard and would be too difficult to clean up. Is the risk of this chemical greater than that of the ones we already use (sulfuric acid, nitric acid, potassium chromate, potassium dichromate, etc.)? Are any unusual (we would keep it diluted under a hood and use gloves) precautions necessary to maintain and use a small quantity of this chemical once per semester? I'm looking forward to working with the list. Dave Williams Valencia Community College 701 N. Econlockhatchee Trail Orlando, FL 32825 407-299-5000 x2443 profdhw@aol.com ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 16 Feb 1999 09:53:01 -0500 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Paula Ortiz Subject: Re: LABSAFETY-L Digest - 14 Feb 1999 to 15 Feb 1999 In-Reply-To: <8525671A.004805A2.00@aragorn.canberra.com> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Just a few suggestions. Use an indicator, whether it is autoclave tape or a specific microbe, during each operation. Also you should be sure to keep a log of maximum temperature and pressure each time. I can tell you that from past experience it is important to designate one person to operate and maintain the autoclave. One problem I have experienced is with the seal around the closure not working properly. This will diminish the effectiveness of the autoclaving. Just keep a check on the seals. Hope this helps...:) Paula Ortiz, MEd, CCHO, CPT Science Laboratory Coordinator Chemical Hygiene Officer Washington State Community College 710 Colegate Dr. Marietta, Ohio 45750 740.374.8716 At 08:06 AM 2/16/99 -0500, you wr >We have just set up a small countertop autoclave that essentially is a >pressure cooker. >Are there any additional safety concerns other than what we discovered in >the manual during the operation, ie past experience, best management >practices etc? >Of course, everyone is ready to duck at a moments notice :-) ...but I'm >not really familiar with this piece of equipment. Any help would be >appreciated. Thanks > ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 16 Feb 1999 10:03:46 -0500 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: "Warren C. Pinches" Subject: Re: Fire extinguishing agents Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii I agree that "dry chemical" is usually used to mean BC or ABC and "dry powder" means Class D. In my fire extinguisher training I still use parts of an old video on fire chemistry where they are quite emphatic about the difference. Of course, I also agree that one should talk in terms of classes and not in terms of something as nebulous as chemical vs. powder. "David C. Finster" on 02/15/99 02:53:01 PM Please respond to LABSAFETY-L Discussion List To: LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU cc: (bcc: Warren Pinches) Subject: Re: Fire extinguishing agents Some comments about fire extinguishers: > Dry chemical extinguishers: as far as I know, "dry powder" and "dry chemical" > are synonymous in this case. I'd like some clarification from others on the list about this, just to satiate curiosity. I have always taken "dry chemical" to mean either BC or ABC extinguishers and "dry powder" to mean Class D. I treat this mostly as jargon, and would certainly identify extinguishers by their letter codes to avoid ambiguity. Dave -- David C. Finster Professor and Chair of Chemistry University Chemical Hygiene Officer 937-327-6441 dfinster@wittenberg.edu http://userpages.wittenberg.edu/dfinster/ ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 16 Feb 1999 10:17:36 -0600 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Jeff Rubin Subject: Lab safety discussions Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Someone pointed out to me an interesting discussion on the Sciencemag website. Would you believe that some non-CHOs think safety is important, too? Check it out at http://wellengaged.com/engaged/nextwave.cgi?c=academic_life&f=0&t=1 Onward, JNR Jeff Rubin, Asst. Dean for EHS College of Natural Sciences G2500 W.C. Hogg Building University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX 78712-1199 (512) 471-6176 (O) (512) 471-4998 (F) jrubin@mail.utexas.edu http://www.utexas.edu/cons/safety/ "The opinions of Dr. Rubin are not meant to offend anyone unless otherwise specified." ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 16 Feb 1999 11:34:11 -0800 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: "SafetyInfo.Com" Subject: More OSH info MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Monday? Did you have to Work? We did! SAFETY FORUM NEWS 15 Feb 1999 http://www.safetyinfo.com WHAT'S NEW QUESTIONS FROM READERS (You can help) WEB SITES OF INTEREST SAFETY INCENTIVE PROGRAMS - ARE YOU WASTING YOU MONEY? WHAT'S NEW THIS WEEK ON SAFETY INFO.COM 1. Changed Home Page in effort to make navigation easier 2. Added Safety Clip Art and Safety Photos. Click on [Safety Cartoons & Art] 3. New Weekly Supervisor Safety Brief is ready: Emerg. Lighting, Fire Extinguishers & Eye Protection 4. New Weekly Bulletin Board Safety Poster is available: Slip & Trip Awareness 5. 3 New Forms for conducting PPE Assessment & Certification IAW OSHA Regs ACCIDENT/INCIDENT KIT RECOMMENDATIONS This comes from Fred Gillett at Xordium, Inc http://www.xordium.com Incident Response Vest. Fred Says: It is a fishing vest with about twenty pockets. I carry in the vest - Pad/pen/woodworkers pencil/ clip board with graph paper in back section - Two disposable Cameras w/flash and thirty six exposures, front top pockets - Yellow and red warning barricade tapes/ small roll of yellow electricians tape - Roll of white bandage tape (great for writing on) - Measuring tape 50 feet - Box of six Large sidewalk-type Chalks different colors/ Black permanent marker - Small pocket tape recorder (extra batteries) - Large Plastic zip lock freezer bags for samples or evidence (they have labels you can mark on) - Amp meter - Swiss Army knife, tweezers - Plastic Stay straps and danger do not use tags, caution tags and plain label tags. - magnifying glass - Small flash light (uses same batteries as amp meter and tape recorder) - Gloves (leather/rubber and vinyl) - Safety glasses and goggles - Pocket First Aid Kit and pocket CPR mouth piece - Tyvek coveralls - Extra pair of reading glasses I also have available in my jeep - Mobile phone - Hard hat - Reflective triangles - Yellow rope - Fire extinguisher - CB radio - Extra gloves PS. Don't forget the tape recorder, camera & extra rolls of film While we're on the subject, if you investigate vehicle accidents you may also want a tire tread and pressure gage and a form for recording these measurements QUESTIONS & REQUESTS YOU CAN HELP WITH >From Michael Angell: . I am a college student studying Industrial Risk and Safety Management at Eastern Kentucky University. I am currently researching safety programs on indoor air quality and seem to be having a difficult time locating sample programs. I would like any information or sites that you know of to help me in my research. I am responsible for developing a program on indoor air quality for a hypothetical meat packing plant. Any information you can give would be greatly appreciated. [contact Michael at kamikea@aol.com ] Russell Randle asks: Does anyone have a form that they used for equipment calibration ( i.e Air monitors) that I may use as a template to create one for my specific use? [contact Russell at saftec@iquest.net ] WEB SITES OF INTEREST Ron Lechwar sent in this site for those needing free trench & excavating safety info: www.gov.mb.ca/labour/safety/bulletins/excavate/excavate Caught this one from another news group. Web site for job descriptions not JSAs): http://www.hr-guide.com OSSA is a new Canadian H&S organization created under government legislation to educate workers and employers around H&S issues and ultimately, to prevent workplace injury and illness. They report that their website is still in the formative stage but is functional. Address is http://www.ossa.com SAFETY INCENTIVE PROGRAMS - ARE YOU WASTING YOUR MONEY? We have had many requests and questions on Safety Incentive Programs. This is a compilation of our answers: Our opinion on Safety Incentive Programs is not popular with the companies that develop these programs. We believe that safety incentives are simply a placebo and do nothing towards fixing the problem of too many accidents. Do Safety Incentive Programs work? In some cases yes, however, the reason they work is because during the incentive program management and supervisors pay closer attention to safety, communicate safety more frequently and basically do the things that they had not been doing in the first place. These activities (and not the incentive trinkets) are the reason the program works. Management & Supervisors can increase safety awareness, observation & correction without conducting an incentive program. There is no magic pill for accident reduction. Paying "extra" for safety becomes like an addictive drug that must be administered in increasingly larger doses to achieve the same effect. It masks the real problem. Your money would be better spent educating employees and supervisors in hazard awareness and correction. If you must have an incentive program, the best return on your dollar would be to conduct one for supervisors & managers. They are the ones who control the safety environment. You might also consider a Safety Recognition Program instead of incentives. REGARDS & BEST WISHES Marc & Neil & all the little folks here (Ben, Hannah & Chris) Special note to Nan M. who fought the good fight. Don't give up, time is on your side. ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 16 Feb 1999 10:39:49 -0700 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: "Helen B. Gerhard" Subject: Re: Inter/Intranet and/or MM Safety Training Survey. MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain We are not currently using electronic training. Thanks! Helen -----Original Message----- From: Brian Olson [SMTP:BOlson@PROMEGA.COM] Sent: Tuesday, February 09, 1999 10:03 AM To: LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU Subject: Inter/Intranet and/or MM Safety Training Survey. THIS SURVEY IS BEING SENT TO SEVERAL SAFETY MAIL-LISTS. TO ENSURE YOUR SURVEY IS INCLUDED, PLEASE SEND IT TO bolson@promega.com . Good day folks. As a reader and (mild) participant of the safety mail-lists for the past 5 years, I have a big favor to ask. My company is looking at training options. This survey requires mostly one-word answers. The survey looks at ELECTRONIC SAFETY TRAINING OPTIONS. I know this topic has been talked about in some of the better known publications, but I am interested in the feedback from you all. I am sending this to four safety mail-lists. To assure your entry is tabulated, please send your reply to bolson@promega.com . I will be tabulating all responses and will send them to the RADSAFE, BIOSAFETY, SAFETY, and LABSAFETY mail-lists by the end of the month. If you are using some type of electronic safety training, please take a minute and complete the survey. Between the four mail-lists that are receiving this request, I feel many could benefit from the results: 1. What type of institution are you with? (business, academia, large, small, other) 2. What factor(s) did you consider before/while you moved to electronic training? (staffing?, location of buildings?, cost?, etc.) 3. Does your institution have access to Intranet? Internet? LAN? CD-ROM Carousel? 4. What type of elec. training medium are you using? (Intranet, Internet, LAN, CD-ROM, e-mail), 5. List some of the titles you offer: (e.g. lab safety, biosafety, radsafety, hazcomm, dot, etc.), 6. Do you offer classroom and/or hands-on training in addition to the electronic training, or does this replace it? 7. Did you purchase pre-made titles or did you create your own? 8. If pre-made, what software company(s) did you go with? (Marcom, Mastery, Summit, J.J. Keller, other?) 9. If created by you, what authoring tools did you use? (Director/Authorware, Dreamweaver, Frontpage, etc.) 10. Either way, on average, what was your cost per title? Total budget (range)? 11. On average, how big is your audience - per title? 0-50, 51-99, 100-299, >300 12. Do you use electronic training for annual refresher training? 13. Is changing content annually (for freshness) important to your audience? Are you able to change your subject content when you want? Change test questions? Both? Neither? 14. Overall, are you happy with your choice to go with electronic training? (i.e. are you getting the results you want? high retention, etc.) Thanks for your participation. I will tabulate and post all results (sent to bolson@promega.com ) by the end of February. Thanks folks, Brian Olson Manager, EH&S Promega Corp. (is a biotech co.) Madison, WI bolson@promega.com ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 16 Feb 1999 13:47:11 -0600 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Jeff Rubin Subject: AFFF questions/comments Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" I received the following off-line and thought it worth answering on-line: "If someone is unlucky enough to be caught in the room when the sprinklers go off, would they suffocate? I figure that the assumption is that any room that has this system has at least two modes of egress so as to prevent that." This is one advantage over a gas-suppression system, although even those have delays following alarm activation. Our deluge system has a 45-sec delay, which also allows the system to charge. There is only one way out of the flammable-liquid storage area, which is the only portion of our storeroom to have the deluge system. Activation of the deluge system would not preclude the escape of someone "caught" in the FL area. The system is required to discharge for ten minutes and actually will go for 17. The room does not instantly fill with foam. Most deluge/gas systems also have delay/deactivation switches to manually override an activation, but they generally must be used before the system starts to "spew" (please excuse the technical jargon). Another off-line comment (from yet another volunteer FF - in my VFD - who is also a prof and a CHO) also bears mention, as it clarifies the importance of creating a large volume of foam (i.e., "filling the room"). Three-dimensional fires - just what it sounds like, where the flame base has vertical and horizontal components, like many aircraft fires or burning solvents on the floor and shelves - are difficult to extinguish with a shallow or single application of foam. A large-volume application is very effective to either extinguish a 3-D fire or prevent a leak from a shelf/container from becoming a 3-D fire. That's one of the ways that hi-expansion foam (mentioned yesterday) can be very effective. Jeff Rubin, Asst. Dean for EHS College of Natural Sciences G2500 W.C. Hogg Building University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX 78712-1199 (512) 471-6176 (O) (512) 471-4998 (F) jrubin@mail.utexas.edu http://www.utexas.edu/cons/safety/ "The opinions of Dr. Rubin are not meant to offend anyone unless otherwise specified." ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 16 Feb 1999 13:53:27 -0600 Reply-To: "swiki@bihs.net" Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: "Swiki A. Anderson" Organization: Swiki Anderson & Associates, Inc. Subject: Re: Lab safety discussions MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit It is obvious that all think safety is important. It becomes more important to you when it is in your back yard and even more important to your when you have the problem. Now the question is what are we going to do about it, especially in our universities and colleges? I can show any number of photographs of labs in college and universities that have defects that have lacked attention for years and have not gotten any better over time. This is especially true with ventilation problems. see http:wwwl.saai-svc.com/engineer/html/tech-notes.htm and click on about the fourth line down, the one titled "LINKS....". Now, so what? We can spend millions on our football stadium and other athletic complexes but not fixing the ventilation system -- with known defects-- UPI guess I don't understand. Maybe someone will set me straight and I can understand. In industry if one is harmed, we sue 'em. In state funded universities we don't even say we are sorry. Swiki Anderson -----Original Message----- From: Jeff Rubin [SMTP:jrubin@MAIL.UTEXAS.EDU] Sent: Tuesday, February 16, 1999 10:18 AM To: LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU Subject: Lab safety discussions Someone pointed out to me an interesting discussion on the Sciencemag website. Would you believe that some non-CHOs think safety is important, too? Check it out at http://wellengaged.com/engaged/nextwave.cgi?c=academic_life&f=0&t=1 Onward, JNR Jeff Rubin, Asst. Dean for EHS College of Natural Sciences G2500 W.C. Hogg Building University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX 78712-1199 (512) 471-6176 (O) (512) 471-4998 (F) jrubin@mail.utexas.edu http://www.utexas.edu/cons/safety/ "The opinions of Dr. Rubin are not meant to offend anyone unless otherwise specified." ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 16 Feb 1999 15:57:32 -0500 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Tony Mitchell Subject: Safety Requirements for a Physical Therapy Assistants Laboratory Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" To everyone on the Lab Safety Discussion List, We are a regional community college in SE Kentucky and are in the process of setting up a laboratory area for clinical practices in physical therapy. We know that the discussions on this list generally revolve around biological and chemical situations but there are a number of situations that could be considered safety related issues and we would like to get your input regarding these issues. The lab will contain a water bath with the temperature set at 160 F and will be used for hot packs during clinicals. It is a type of device which cannot be turned off and on but must be constantly on. We also have ice pack machine that must also be constantly on. There are also electric simulation units, a traction table, and other equipment normally associated with patient care in a physical therapy environment. We would like to keep the lab under lock and key with limited access but because of scheduling done by others, there are classes utilizing this space. Any suggestions that can be offered are greatly appreciated. Time is of the essence and we apologize for not asking the questions sooner. We have a site visit late next week and would like to have some things ready in case they ask. As this is not the normal type discussion, please respond to either Suzanne Smallwood (ssmal2@pop.uky.edu) or Tony Mitchell (amitc0@pop.uky.edu) off list and we will see that a summary is posted. Suzanne Smallwood, Instructor - Physical Therapist Assistant Program Tony Mitchell - Campus Safety Officer S. E. Community College - Whitesburg Whitesburg, KY Tony Mitchell, Ph. D. Chemistry Southeast Community College, Whitesburg campus 100 Long Avenue Whitesburg, KY 41858 (606) 633-0279 x 2027 Fax 633-7225 ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 17 Feb 1999 11:32:14 -0300 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: "Aziz M. Abu-khalaf" Subject: dry powders/dry chemicals Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" In the literature they distinguish between dry powder and dry chemicals. For example in the book by Kavianian/Wentz: "Occupational and environmental safety engineering and management" it written: The term "dry chemical" shoul not be confused with "dry powder". The latter refers to an extinguishing agent suitable for combustible metal fires. **************************************************************************** ******* Aziz M. Abu-Khalaf ***** Tel: 00966 1 4676894 Chemical Engineering Department ***** Fax: 00966 1 4678770 King Saud University ***** E-mail: amkhalaf@ksu.edu.sa PO Box 800 ***** Riyadh 11421, Saudi Arabia ***** **************************************************************************** ******* ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 17 Feb 1999 11:54:17 -0600 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Joe Chase Subject: Drum Sight gauges Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Can someone recommend a place to purchase a sight gauge for a 55-gallon drum, used in a vertical position, to collect solvent waste. I'm presently using a self-closing funnel in the 2" opening and would like to put a reliable sight gauge in the 3/4" opening. I have been using a tally system to fill the drum with everyone keeping a running total of what they have contributed, but because someone occasionally forgets to record a deposit we eventually have an overfill situation. Does anyone else have a suggested method for filling 55 gallon drums 3 to 5 gallons at a time? ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 17 Feb 1999 13:30:19 -0500 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Nick Pinizzotto Subject: Drum Sight gauges Comments: cc: Stephen.Baker@mail.tju.edu In-Reply-To: <0625671B.00625B01.00@twtsrv1.twt.com> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Joe, Aren't those overflows real fun??????? I've seen the drum gauges in Lab Safety Supply's catalog. We used them at one time but they didn't last too long for us. One of the researchers' flammables wastes contained < 1% TFA and it tore them up in relatively short order. I wasn't too fond of them because we have so much solvent waste from histology activities and fill our drums up very fast. Changing them over to the new drums got old. Our chemical waste Coordinator is pretty diligent about counting and watching the drum. Sounds like you have more than one person adding to the drum. We have one. As for the 3-5 gallon question. If they are carboys you are using, you can do what we're doing. Get a wide drumtop funnel, Lab Safety Supply carries them as well. The funnel is as wide as the 55gallon drum and lays flat on top of it. We lay the carboy over on it's sideand the spout hooks under the rim. The rim of the funnel rolls over so it minimizes any splashing. They work real nice. Nick Pinizzotto Environmental Health Officer Dept. Environmental Health & Safety Thomas Jefferson University nick.pinizzotto@mail.tju.edu 215-503-5853 ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 17 Feb 1999 10:57:19 -0700 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Teresa Robertson Organization: CSU Bakersfield Subject: Re: Drum Sight gauges Comments: cc: trobertson@csubak.edu MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit LABSAFETY-L@siu.edu,.internet writes: >Can someone recommend a place to purchase a sight gauge for a 55-gallon >drum, I can buy them from several local stores. Is it possible you might have a local source? ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 18 Feb 1999 07:13:49 -0700 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Monte Shirts Subject: Re: Drum Sight gauges In-Reply-To: <0625671B.00625B01.00@twtsrv1.twt.com> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" At 11:54 AM 02/17/99 -0600, you wrote: >Can someone recommend a place to purchase a sight gauge for a 55-gallon drum, >used in a vertical position, to collect solvent waste. I'm presently using a >self-closing funnel in the 2" opening and would like to put a reliable sight >gauge in the 3/4" opening. No suggestions on sight gauges other than already stated in other reply messages. My interest is in where you can purchase a self closing funnel. One that closes after every use and not one that just closes in case of fire. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 18 Feb 1999 10:14:20 -0500 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Janeen LaPierre Subject: Re: Lab safety discussions Comments: To: swiki@bihs.net Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit Hello all. I guess this is where I get hung up too. We can see what is wrong, write reports till we are blue in the face, but some just don't get it. When I started here at UNE, I was coming back to academia after a few years in industry. When the Lab Standard hit the street, my lab manager jumped into action. Training programs were instituted. Inventory was taken. CHP's were put in place and safety equipment went on a regular inspection schedule that was logged in books kept by the equipment. It was an exciting time to be in analytical chemistry. I learned a lot from my manager( a chemical engineer ). Don't get me wrong, this was no panacea. The owner was motivated by the fact that we had lots of government contracts and we often had government types on site. But what ever the motivation, I was grateful to be working with folks who could really explain the regs and the rational behind a lot of it. I learned how to read MSDS's from someone who could help be decipher the fine ! print and who showed me where to get more info to make a fully educated decision on the risks and how to handle the stuff safely. Now I work in academia. I work with PhD's and DO's and MD's... the list goes on and on. These are highly educated people who are charged with the task of educating others. I have never encountered a group with so little common sense as a collective whole in my life. I should also add that this lack of common sense is not limited to the educators but pervades the administrative level too. Their decisions are driven by the bottom line as well as industry but their rational is very different and therefore leads to a very different method of dealing with Safety. You say,"This is what OSHA says we must do." They respond with, "What do other schools like us do?" If they can find one example of another school our size doing nothing about the problem, then you can bet that is the road they will take. This said, I must give credit where credit is due. The attitude has started to shift. I guess these past years of my in-their-face attitude and moral outrage at lack of funding has paid off. But it just shouldn't be this hard to get folks to do the right thing. It shouldn't be this hard to get lab safety into the curriculum for future science types. I often wonder how safe the labs are that my children will one day attend in middle and high school right here in my own community. Yet, I am only one. How can we effect change? Is there something that we as a collective group of Safety Professional can do to further this cultural change? I do not have the answers. I would be interested in talking more about this more theoretical vein with those who share the interest and have the time. I know how stretched many of you are. I apologize to those who feel I have gone on too long but I share Mr. Anderson's concerns. If others do and would like to pursue this line of thought, please reply to me directly. For what its worth, Janeen. ***************** Janeen Lapierre, CHO College of Osteopathic Medicine University of New England 11 Hills Beach Road Biddeford, ME 04005 E-Mail: JLaPierre@MAILBOX.UNE.EDU Phone: (207) 283-0170 ext 2446 Opinions are mine and not those of UNE. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 18 Feb 1999 08:43:59 -0800 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Debbie Decker Subject: Re: Drum Sight gauges In-Reply-To: <199902181456.HAA29718@dixie.edu> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" At 07:13 AM 2/18/99 -0700, you wrote: >At 11:54 AM 02/17/99 -0600, you wrote: >>Can someone recommend a place to purchase a sight gauge for a 55-gallon drum, >>used in a vertical position, to collect solvent waste. I'm presently using a >>self-closing funnel in the 2" opening and would like to put a reliable sight >>gauge in the 3/4" opening. > >No suggestions on sight gauges other than already stated in other reply >messages. My interest is in where you can purchase a self closing funnel. >One that closes after every use and not one that just closes in case of fire. Try the New Pig Corporation. They have a drum funnel that has a tight-sealing lid, when closed, will not allow the contents of the drum to spill. They have several different models, spark arresting for flammables, "drainable" for oil and sludges, etc. You can reach New Pig at (800)HOT-HOGS (really!). Their catalog is cool and they have the neatest stuff. Some of the drum funnels are not inexpensive (>$150, ea.) but definitely worth a look. If you order over a certain dollar threshold, they'll send you funky free stuff :-) Hope this helps, deb. Debbie Decker EH&S UCDavis (530)754-7964 dmdecker@ucdavis.edu ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 18 Feb 1999 16:20:07 +0200 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Charles Hellyar Subject: Re: Drum Sight gauges MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/mixed; boundary="---- =_NextPart_000_01BE5B75.8FC360C0" ------ =_NextPart_000_01BE5B75.8FC360C0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Hi Joe, What about a float with a marked stick attached - works well if you are = using the drum with the two holes uppermost, also works with one hole in = the side where the drum is placed horizontally and it's cheap and = effective. Regards, Charles. ---------- From: Joe Chase[SMTP:Joe_Chase@TWT.COM] Sent: 17 February 1999 07:54 To: LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU Subject: Drum Sight gauges Can someone recommend a place to purchase a sight gauge for a 55-gallon = drum, used in a vertical position, to collect solvent waste. I'm presently = using a self-closing funnel in the 2" opening and would like to put a reliable = sight gauge in the 3/4" opening. I have been using a tally system to fill the drum with everyone = keeping a running total of what they have contributed, but because someone = occasionally forgets to record a deposit we eventually have an overfill situation. = Does anyone else have a suggested method for filling 55 gallon drums 3 to 5 = gallons at a time? ------ =_NextPart_000_01BE5B75.8FC360C0 Content-Type: application/ms-tnef Content-Transfer-Encoding: base64 ------ =_NextPart_000_01BE5B75.8FC360C0-- ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 18 Feb 1999 12:31:19 -0600 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Peter Ashbrook Subject: Drum Sight gauges In-Reply-To: <199902180600.AAA53496@saluki-mail.siu.edu> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" At 12:00 AM 2/18/99 -0600, you wrote: >Can someone recommend a place to purchase a sight gauge for a 55-gallon drum, >used in a vertical position, to collect solvent waste. I'm presently using a >self-closing funnel in the 2" opening and would like to put a reliable sight >gauge in the 3/4" opening. We used one of those gauges you can buy from Lab Safety Supply, but we were not very happy with them. We found that they often got stuck and did not pop up at the right time. The best we have been able to do is to watch the level carefully. As for emptying 3-5 gallons of solvents at a time, we strongly discourage the use of containers over 2.5 gallons in size. For larger containers, we use a pump to empty the containers into the drum. Peter C. Ashbrook, CHMM, Assistant Director Chemical Safety Section Division of Environmental Health and Safety University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 217/244-9278 ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 19 Feb 1999 01:58:12 -0600 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Mark Smith Subject: Tox. Info In-Reply-To: Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" We just received a chemical from Aldrich called 1-butylimidazole On the MSDS it is described as "HIGHLY TOXIC (USA)" under Hazards info, yet ther is no toxicological data (no LD-50's, etc.) Anyone got some info on this "highly toxic" substance? I found nothing in Merck, nothing at Vermont SIRI. ms *************************************** MARK SMITH HENDRIX COLLEGE CHEMISTRY LABORATORY COORDINATOR CHEMICAL HYGIENE OFFICER NRCC-CHO *************************************** 1600 Washington Ave Conway, AR 72032 501-450-3812 Fax : 501-450-3829 *************************************** ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 19 Feb 1999 02:24:37 -0600 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Mark Smith Subject: 1-butylimidazole Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Sorry if this went out twice, I received a rejection message. We just received an Aldrich chemical called 1-butylimidazole It is described as "HIGHLY TOXIC (USA)" in the MSDS under Hazards info, yet ther is no toxicological data (no LD-50's, etc.) Anyone got some info on this "highly toxic" substance? I found nothing in Merck, nothing at Vermont SIRI. ms *************************************** MARK SMITH HENDRIX COLLEGE CHEMISTRY LABORATORY COORDINATOR CHEMICAL HYGIENE OFFICER NRCC-CHO *************************************** 1600 Washington Ave Conway, AR 72032 501-450-3812 Fax : 501-450-3829 *************************************** ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 18 Feb 1999 14:38:22 -0600 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Susan Lauterbach Subject: safety incentives Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Can anyone share with me incentives that might be used to promote safety in a department??? Susan K. Lauterbach, M.S. Coordinator, Instructional Laboratories and Facility Safety University of Oklahoma Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry 620 Parrington Oval, Room 208 Norman, OK 73019 Phone: 405-325-2742 FAX: 405-325-6111 e-mail: sklauterbach@ou.edu ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 18 Feb 1999 15:36:53 -0500 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Bob Burns Subject: Re: 1-butylimidazole MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Couldn't find it on my CD version of Sax, either. "SEMPER ADVENTURUS!!!" Robert L. Burns R&D Group Leader Specialty Chemicals Division RUETGERS Organics Corporation 201 Struble Road State College, PA 16801 phone 814-231-9214 fax 815 333 4805 email rburns@bigfoot.com -----Original Message----- From: Mark Smith To: LABSAFETY-L@siu.edu Date: Thursday, February 18, 1999 15:24 Subject: 1-butylimidazole >We just received an Aldrich chemical called 1-butylimidazole ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 18 Feb 1999 14:50:14 -0800 Reply-To: Marc Neuffer Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Marc Neuffer Subject: Re: safety incentives MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Susan, Nothing works better than: 1) defining who is responsible for what in your safety programs 2) good quality, periodic safety training for managers, supervisors & employees 3) daily safety walk-though 4) rotating safety posters each week 5) asking the employees how you can promote safety Regards & Best Wishes Marc Neuffer Director-interSafe http://www.safetyinfo.com -----Original Message----- From: Susan Lauterbach To: LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU Date: Thursday, February 18, 1999 1:19 PM Subject: safety incentives >Can anyone share with me incentives that might be used to promote safety in >a department??? > > > >Susan K. Lauterbach, M.S. >Coordinator, Instructional Laboratories and Facility Safety >University of Oklahoma >Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry >620 Parrington Oval, Room 208 >Norman, OK 73019 >Phone: 405-325-2742 >FAX: 405-325-6111 >e-mail: sklauterbach@ou.edu > ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 18 Feb 1999 16:13:29 -0500 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Bill Schultz Subject: Re: 1-butylimidazole MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit It is listed in REGISTRY OF TOXIC EFFECTS OF CHEMICAL SUBSTANCES (RTECS) under the number N13565000. My RTECS is not current so it does not list any LD-50's for the material. There may not be any LD-50s' listed in the current RTECS. RTECS is where Sigma get the information for many of their MSDSs'. In my RTECS it is listed as a Poison A by DOT. Hope this helps. Bill Schultz ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 18 Feb 1999 16:36:21 -0500 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Nick Pinizzotto Subject: safety incentives Comments: To: sklauterbach@CHEMDEPT.CHEM.OU.EDU In-Reply-To: <3.0.5.32.19990218143822.0080e220@chemdept.chem.ou.edu> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Susan, We do something very simple. We occasionally honor the good labs with a free pizza lunch from the local pizza shop. We arrive at the lab with A few pizzas and some sodas and thank them for a good job done. Then we usually try to work them into our lab newsletter to give the reward a little publicity. Of course we eat the pizza outside of the lab! Nick Pinizzotto Environmental Health Officer Dept. Environmental Health & Safety Thomas Jefferson University nick.pinizzotto@mail.tju.edu 215-503-5853 ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 18 Feb 1999 17:22:49 -0500 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Nick Pinizzotto Subject: safety incentives Comments: To: sklauterbach@CHEMDEPT.CHEM.OU.EDU In-Reply-To: <3.0.5.32.19990218143822.0080e220@chemdept.chem.ou.edu> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Susan, We do something very simple. We treat labs to pizza lunches from the local pizza shop to recognize good efforts in safety. We just show up at the lab with a few pizzas and some sodas. Then we take everyone's picture and usually try to give them publicity in our lab safety newsletter. Of course we eat the pizza outside of the lab! Nick Pinizzotto Environmental Health Officer Dept. Environmental Health & Safety Thomas Jefferson University nick.pinizzotto@mail.tju.edu 215-503-5853 ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 18 Feb 1999 15:05:05 -0800 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Terri Hellman Subject: Re: safety incentives MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit One plant I worked with had 2 awards they gave each month. A pig award, for poor housekeeping and safety efforts, and an eagle award for good housekeeping and safety efforts. The plant manager actually had plaques made for these awards. It seemed to be very effective. One department kept recieving the Pig so a another department actually gave them a pen to keep the pig in. Of course they built themselves a landing strip for the eagle. Seems silly but it worked. Safety issues were taken care of very quickly. Susan Lauterbach wrote: > Can anyone share with me incentives that might be used to promote safety in > a department??? > > Susan K. Lauterbach, M.S. > Coordinator, Instructional Laboratories and Facility Safety > University of Oklahoma > Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry > 620 Parrington Oval, Room 208 > Norman, OK 73019 > Phone: 405-325-2742 > FAX: 405-325-6111 > e-mail: sklauterbach@ou.edu ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 18 Feb 1999 18:23:00 -0500 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: "Tayman, Tammy" Subject: Re: safety incentives MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain I would be a little leery about trying the "pig" award. While it may be effective and is probably *well* deserved, it could lead to problems. If the name of the recipient is well publicized, you are opening yourself up to possible lawsuits. I know it sounds silly, but this is a result of the current litigious nature of our society. Tammy Tayman ---------- From: Terri Hellman To: LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU Subject: Re: safety incentives Date: Thursday, February 18, 1999 6:05PM One plant I worked with had 2 awards they gave each month. A pig award, for poor housekeeping and safety efforts, and an eagle award for good housekeeping and safety efforts. The plant manager actually had plaques made for these awards. It seemed to be very effective. One department kept recieving the Pig so a another department actually gave them a pen to keep the pig in. Of course they built themselves a landing strip for the eagle. Seems silly but it worked. Safety issues were taken care of very quickly. Susan Lauterbach wrote: > Can anyone share with me incentives that might be used to promote safety in > a department??? > > Susan K. Lauterbach, M.S. > Coordinator, Instructional Laboratories and Facility Safety > University of Oklahoma > Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry > 620 Parrington Oval, Room 208 > Norman, OK 73019 > Phone: 405-325-2742 > FAX: 405-325-6111 > e-mail: sklauterbach@ou.edu ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 18 Feb 1999 18:51:12 -0500 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Don Abramowitz Subject: Re: Drum Sight gauges In-Reply-To: <4.1.19990218122837.00a1ebb0@postoffice.ehs.uiuc.edu> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" >As for emptying 3-5 gallons of solvents at a time, we strongly discourage >the use of containers over 2.5 gallons in size. For larger containers, we >use a pump to empty the containers into the drum. Please say more about your choice of pumps. I'm in the market for something suitable for flammable solvents and chlorinated solvents (lots of methylene chloride and chloroform) for just this application. At present: We've been collecting solvent waste in 2.5 and 5 gallon, HDPE containers which have spigots on the top (See Lab Safety catalog, Item 9A-28813, p. 714 in the Jan 99 edition as an example). When full, the containers are layed on their side atop a designated accumulation drum, open the valve, and let the contents flow into the drum through one of the bung openings. The transfer occurs without splashing, and the person doing the transferring can leave the room while the product flows. (We eyeball the drum level with an explosion-proof flashlight beforehand to see that there is enough space in the drum to handle the addition.) The emptied containers are returned to the labs for re-use. A flexible exhaust duct, which connects to the storage rooms' exhaust system, is fitted to the remaining 2" bung via a close-fitting short length of plastic pipe. The draw through the exhaust provides a nice vapor capture at the drum opening used for filling, and mesurements with a portable flame ionization detector organic vapor monitoring instrument suggest effective vapor control via the ventilation. A grounding wire runs the length of the flexible plastic duct, and is clipped to the drum when the flex duct is connected. The wire runs to the metal ducting of the exhaust sytem and then to a water pipe. We use steel drums to collect our non-halogented solvent waste and plastic (HDPE, I believe) drums to collect halogenated solvent waste, because past practice has shown that our halogenated waste solvents run sufficiently acidic to eat through the metal drums. I'd appreciate critiques of this set-up, and I could be convinced to go entirely to pumped transfer from containers to drums. I like the greatly reduced splashing and vapor release this method has provided compared to manually emptying waste containers into drum funnels, but I have concerns about collecting flammable liquids in containers that are clearly not flammable liquid safety cans, and about possible static electricity build-up during transfer from these containers to the drums. Does a bonding/grounding wire serve any useful purpose when connecting two plastic containers? (The primary solvents collected in these are not flammable, but flammable solvents may at times be present in the mix.) Thanks, Don ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Donald Abramowitz, CIH Occupational and Environmental Safety Officer Bryn Mawr College | Swarthmore College 101 N. Merion Avenue | 500 College Avenue Bryn Mawr, PA 19010 | Swarthmore PA 19081 ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 19 Feb 1999 13:24:01 +1300 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Tony Haggerty Subject: Re: 1-butylimidazole MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Try this Aldrich site. It will lead you to R/S (Risk & Safety) Phrases for this substance. No LD50s but at least a guide. Tony Haggerty https://www.sigma-aldrich.com/SAWS.nsf/Pages/Aldrich?editDocument ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 18 Feb 1999 20:38:54 -0500 Reply-To: Bob Burns Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Bob Burns Subject: Re: Drum Sight gauges MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Our last lost time injury was a guy carrying a 5 gal. waste container to the drums. Now we have 2.5 gal. containers. -----Original Message----- From: Don Abramowitz To: LABSAFETY-L@siu.edu Date: Thursday, February 18, 1999 6:53 PM Subject: Re: Drum Sight gauges >>As for emptying 3-5 gallons of solvents at a time, we strongly discourage >>the use of containers over 2.5 gallons in size. For larger containers, we >>use a pump to empty the containers into the drum. > >Please say more about your choice of pumps. I'm in the market for >something suitable for flammable solvents and chlorinated solvents (lots of >methylene chloride and chloroform) for just this application. > >At present: > >We've been collecting solvent waste in 2.5 and 5 gallon, HDPE containers >which have spigots on the top (See Lab Safety catalog, Item 9A-28813, p. >714 in the Jan 99 edition as an example). When full, the containers are >layed on their side atop a designated accumulation drum, open the valve, >and let the contents flow into the drum through one of the bung openings. >The transfer occurs without splashing, and the person doing the >transferring can leave the room while the product flows. (We eyeball the >drum level with an explosion-proof flashlight beforehand to see that there >is enough space in the drum to handle the addition.) The emptied >containers are returned to the labs for re-use. > >A flexible exhaust duct, which connects to the storage rooms' exhaust >system, is fitted to the remaining 2" bung via a close-fitting short length >of plastic pipe. The draw through the exhaust provides a nice vapor >capture at the drum opening used for filling, and mesurements with a >portable flame ionization detector organic vapor monitoring instrument >suggest effective vapor control via the ventilation. > >A grounding wire runs the length of the flexible plastic duct, and is >clipped to the drum when the flex duct is connected. The wire runs to the >metal ducting of the exhaust sytem and then to a water pipe. > >We use steel drums to collect our non-halogented solvent waste and plastic >(HDPE, I believe) drums to collect halogenated solvent waste, because past >practice has shown that our halogenated waste solvents run sufficiently >acidic to eat through the metal drums. > >I'd appreciate critiques of this set-up, and I could be convinced to go >entirely to pumped transfer from containers to drums. I like the greatly >reduced splashing and vapor release this method has provided compared to >manually emptying waste containers into drum funnels, but I have concerns >about collecting flammable liquids in containers that are clearly not >flammable liquid safety cans, and about possible static electricity >build-up during transfer from these containers to the drums. > >Does a bonding/grounding wire serve any useful purpose when connecting two >plastic containers? (The primary solvents collected in these are not >flammable, but flammable solvents may at times be present in the mix.) > >Thanks, > Don > > >~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~ > Donald Abramowitz, CIH > Occupational and Environmental Safety Officer > > Bryn Mawr College | Swarthmore College > 101 N. Merion Avenue | 500 College Avenue > Bryn Mawr, PA 19010 | Swarthmore PA 19081 > > ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 19 Feb 1999 10:23:40 +0000 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Karen Glover Organization: Clarke College Subject: Summary of CHO job MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Hello All: I am interested in the data which was gathered on this list concerning the chemical hygiene officer's duties/responsibilities. In addition, I would like the information collected on the salaries expected for the CHO position. I am particularly interested in this information as it pertains to academic institutions. Does someone out there have the summary? I'd be grateful to have a copy of it. Thanks. Karen Glover Clarke College ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 19 Feb 1999 10:54:11 -0500 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Madelyn Miller Subject: Hydrogen generators MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; CHARSET=US-ASCII Greetings, I have a researcher here who worries about using compressed hydrogen gas and thinks the purchase of a hydrogen generator would be safer. The advantages of this generator is it would produce just the amount of H2 he needs as opposed to a cylinder in his walk-in hood. The generator is expensive. Any thoughts? Madelyn ---------------------- Madelyn Miller Chemical Hygiene Officer, CCHO Environmental Health & Safety Carnegie Mellon University mmiller@andrew.cmu.edu ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 19 Feb 1999 11:08:51 EST Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Labsafe@AOL.COM Subject: Re: Summary of CHO job Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-transfer-encoding: 7bit In a message dated 2/19/99 10:23:04 AM Eastern Standard Time, kglover@KELLER.CLARKE.EDU writes: << I am interested in the data which was gathered on this list concerning the chemical hygiene officer's duties/responsibilities. In addition, I would like the information collected on the salaries expected for the CHO position. >> Hi NACHOs, The survey that LSW did informally at a CHO training session showed that folks were spending (on average) 25% of their time on CHO responsibilities. They were being paid $10-15K for that work. I have the results of a separate internet survey of CHO responsibilities and I will post it next week to LABSAFETY-L and see about getting it on our web site (LABSAFETY.ORG). ... Jim Kaufman ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 19 Feb 1999 13:43:22 -0500 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Nick Pinizzotto Subject: Hydrogen generators In-Reply-To: MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Madeline, What kind of housekeeper is he? Is he diligent about restraining the H2 cylinder. Does he shut the supply valve off when he's finished or does he close it down via the pressure gauges? I would look at it from the viewpoint of assessing the possibilty for uncontrolled release of the H2. If he's got his house in order with a cylinder and you're like most people today (short on bucks)I'd vote for the cylinder. Unless of course money is not a big factor. Nick Pinizzotto Environmental Health Officer Dept. Environmental Health & Safety Thomas Jefferson University nick.pinizzotto@mail.tju.edu 215-503-5853 ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 19 Feb 1999 11:58:15 -0700 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: "Helen B. Gerhard" Subject: Re: Hydrogen generators MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain You may wish to look at CFR 1910.103. If your facility has more than 400 cu. ft. of compressed hydrogen that is delivered to you, you may have other requirements to follow. However, the scope for 1910.103 applies to the gases that are supplied from outside the premises. Thus, if you are generating it in-house, the 400 cu. ft. rule would not be pertinent. That may make the generator more palatable. Thanks! Helen ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 19 Feb 1999 14:31:54 -0500 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Bob Burns Subject: Re: Hydrogen generators MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit I'd use the cylinder. We use them all the time. No problem is the proper safety precautions are taken. Don't forget to ground the cylinder! "SEMPER ADVENTURUS!!!" Robert L. Burns R&D Group Leader Specialty Chemicals Division RUETGERS Organics Corporation 201 Struble Road State College, PA 16801 phone 814-231-9214 fax 815 333 4805 email rburns@bigfoot.com -----Original Message----- From: Nick Pinizzotto To: LABSAFETY-L@siu.edu Date: Friday, February 19, 1999 13:47 Subject: Hydrogen generators >Madeline, > >What kind of housekeeper is he? Is he diligent about restraining the H2 >cylinder. Does he shut the supply valve off when he's finished or does he >close it down via the pressure gauges? I would look at it from the viewpoint >of assessing the possibilty for uncontrolled release of the H2. > >If he's got his house in order with a cylinder and you're like most people >today (short on bucks)I'd vote for the cylinder. Unless of course money is not >a big factor. > >Nick Pinizzotto >Environmental Health Officer >Dept. Environmental Health & Safety >Thomas Jefferson University >nick.pinizzotto@mail.tju.edu >215-503-5853 > > ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 19 Feb 1999 15:20:39 -0600 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Jeff Rubin Subject: Maintenance and safety Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit I received some info (not a complaint, actually) from a PI about a potential hazard associated with maintenance on environmental chambers. An cold room in one of our lab buildings needed maintenance earlier this month. Apparently part of the climate control mechanism that provide cool air (I don't know if it was the thermostat or just the cold air supply) was dc'd as part of the work. Unbeknownst to the mechanic, the room had a heater that came on when the light did. With no cold air and the light on, the temperature rose. The PI happened by at an unusual time and noticed that the temp had risen to approx 80°C, and still rising. The PI was very concerned that if he hadn't gone by, the high temp could have led to failure of the compressed-gas cylinder inside. If not the cylinder, such high temp could easily have created a boil-over of a chemical or two. I may have left a mechanical detail or two out, but the PI suggested that any env. room maintenance (or any other lab maintenance) be preceded by contact with the appropriate PI or some member of the lab group, to ensure that the Maintenance folks know about any "hidden" features. I think this is a prudent suggestion. This strikes me as a good example of unintended consequences. It's also a good example of a prestigious faculty member taking a constructive, non-punitive step to prevent future problems. I notified our Physical Plant and Safety Office (the latter is separate from my position) for distribution. I thought someone else out there might find it useful. Onward, JNR Jeff Rubin, Asst. Dean for EHS College of Natural Sciences G2500 W.C. Hogg Building University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX 78712-1199 (512) 471-6176 (O) (512) 471-4998 (F) jrubin@mail.utexas.edu http://www.utexas.edu/cons/safety/ "The opinions of Dr. Rubin are not meant to offend anyone unless otherwise specified." ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 19 Feb 1999 17:31:43 -0500 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Madelyn Miller Subject: Columbia Univ. fined $77,500 by OSHA MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; CHARSET=US-ASCII Greetings, Check out this web site: http://www.osha.gov/media/oshnews/jan99/reg2ny111.html Columbia Univ. cited by OSHA for alleged willful and other safety and health violations: $77,500 in penalties proposed. Love this quote: "It is a serious matter when an institution such as a university fails to comply with OSHA standards by exposing its employees to a dangerous chemical such as formaldehyde without providing proper protection." Ouch! I dare say many univ. could have passed OSHA's muster on this problem. ---------------------- Madelyn Miller Chemical Hygiene Officer, CCHO Environmental Health & Safety Carnegie Mellon University mmiller@andrew.cmu.edu ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 19 Feb 1999 17:01:58 -0600 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Peter Ashbrook Subject: Re: LABSAFETY-L Digest - 17 Feb 1999 to 18 Feb 1999 In-Reply-To: <199902190600.AAA82122@saluki-mail.siu.edu> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" On Thu, 18 Feb 1999 18:51:12 , Don Abramowitz wrote: >>As for emptying 3-5 gallons of solvents at a time, we strongly discourage >>the use of containers over 2.5 gallons in size. For larger containers, we >>use a pump to empty the containers into the drum. > >Please say more about your choice of pumps. I'm in the market for >something suitable for flammable solvents and chlorinated solvents (lots of >methylene chloride and chloroform) for just this application. We purchased several explosion proof peristaltic pumps from TAT Engineering Corp in Branford, CT 800/243-2526. >At present: > >We've been collecting solvent waste in 2.5 and 5 gallon, HDPE containers >which have spigots on the top (See Lab Safety catalog, Item 9A-28813, p. >714 in the Jan 99 edition as an example). When full, the containers are >layed on their side atop a designated accumulation drum, open the valve, >and let the contents flow into the drum through one of the bung openings. >The transfer occurs without splashing, and the person doing the >transferring can leave the room while the product flows. (We eyeball the >drum level with an explosion-proof flashlight beforehand to see that there >is enough space in the drum to handle the addition.) The emptied >containers are returned to the labs for re-use. There may be other problems, but my biggest concern is that the 5-gallon drums are very heavy (>40 lbs). If you have very many of those, you will get sore quickly. Maybe this isn't an issue with your volume. >A flexible exhaust duct, which connects to the storage rooms' exhaust >system, is fitted to the remaining 2" bung via a close-fitting short length >of plastic pipe. The draw through the exhaust provides a nice vapor >capture at the drum opening used for filling, and mesurements with a >portable flame ionization detector organic vapor monitoring instrument >suggest effective vapor control via the ventilation. This is better than no ventilation, but I am surprised your monitoring equipment doesn't show more. What do you do for ventilation when containers without spigots are used for waste? >A grounding wire runs the length of the flexible plastic duct, and is >clipped to the drum when the flex duct is connected. The wire runs to the >metal ducting of the exhaust sytem and then to a water pipe. > >We use steel drums to collect our non-halogented solvent waste and plastic >(HDPE, I believe) drums to collect halogenated solvent waste, because past >practice has shown that our halogenated waste solvents run sufficiently >acidic to eat through the metal drums. That is what we found, too. >I'd appreciate critiques of this set-up, and I could be convinced to go >entirely to pumped transfer from containers to drums. I like the greatly >reduced splashing and vapor release this method has provided compared to >manually emptying waste containers into drum funnels, but I have concerns >about collecting flammable liquids in containers that are clearly not >flammable liquid safety cans, and about possible static electricity >build-up during transfer from these containers to the drums. Anything you can do to reduce vapors is usually a good thing. However, my concern in this setup is the physical (lifting) hazard, rather than the chemical hazard. Using a pump gives you the same opportunity for vapor control and reduces the need for lifting. Whatever you do, I would strongly recommend that you get away from the 5-gallon containers because of the weight. We have not seen any benefit to be gained and many operating difficulties when flammable liquid safety cans are used for collected wastes. >Does a bonding/grounding wire serve any useful purpose when connecting two >plastic containers? (The primary solvents collected in these are not >flammable, but flammable solvents may at times be present in the mix.) As I understand it, there is almost no problem with containers 5-gallons or smaller. If you ground the receiving drum by means of a wire in the liquid, the problem should go away completely. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong (and please include the reference). Peter C. Ashbrook, CHMM, Assistant Director Chemical Safety Section Division of Environmental Health and Safety University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 217/244-9278 ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 19 Feb 1999 16:47:24 -0600 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Phil Bennett Subject: Re: Hydrogen generators In-Reply-To: Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" In making a decision of cost v. safety with hydrogen generators, it is worth evaluating what level of purity your researcher requires, and how much they use. A new hyrogen generator is safer (the operating pressure is usually about 60 psi, with a pretty small reservoir volume) and very easy to maintain, and typically produces better than UHP 5.0 (99.999%) hydrogen - i.e. the good stuff. By the cylinder this is pretty expensive, not to mention the demurage fee. If your researcher is using 2 or more GC's with hydrogen carrier gas and FID's on a regular basis, for example, then a hydrogen generator can pay for itself in as little as two or three years. But even though the generators are safer, they are also expensive, and use that hard to find equipment-type money. If your researcher only requires "zero" 4.5 hydrogen (99.995%), then I would be inclined to agree with the previous comments - stick with the cylinders, and follow the usual safety rules. Phil Bennett At 10:54 AM 2/19/99 -0500, you wrote: >Greetings, >I have a researcher here who worries about using compressed hydrogen >gas and thinks the purchase of a hydrogen generator would be safer. >The advantages of this generator is it would produce just the amount of >H2 he needs as opposed to a cylinder in his walk-in hood. The >generator is expensive. Any thoughts? >Madelyn >---------------------- >Madelyn Miller >Chemical Hygiene Officer, CCHO >Environmental Health & Safety >Carnegie Mellon University >mmiller@andrew.cmu.edu > **************************************************** Philip Bennett Associate Professor Dept. of Geological Sciences The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX 78712 Voice: 512-471-3587 FAX: 512-471-9425 ********************************************************* ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 20 Feb 1999 15:21:55 -0500 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: "L. James Stock III" <34EMQ6K@CMUVM.CSV.CMICH.EDU> Subject: Re: Introduction; and a question. Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" Your lab manager is correctly concerned about the toxicity of N,N-Dimethylaniline. ORL-HMN LDLO : 50mg/kg My first question would be one about your facility. Does every student have their own fume hood? How would this solution be measured and dispensed? I would suggest using a repipter set to the appropriate delivery volume. I use them for nasty things like bromine, Chlorosulfonic acid, etc. They really make life easier in an organic chemistry lab. Once a student dispenses into their flask or test tube they stopper it and return to their fume hood from the dispensing hood to continue their reaction. This practically eliminates any spilling. If any occurs it is contained in a fume hood where it can be easily absorbed and packed for disposal. As long as gloves are worn and it is used in a fume hood I see it as a very valuable experiment. Colorful and useful, especially if you buy the wonderful Style #43 Multifiber Fabric 43-warp strips, ribbon, 4" wide test fabric from Test Fabrics Inc. P.O. Box 118 200 Blackford Ave. Middlesex, N.J. 08846 it only costs 2.25/yard and the students can see how different fabrics react to the dye. ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 20 Feb 1999 15:28:44 -0500 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: "L. James Stock III" <34EMQ6K@CMUVM.CSV.CMICH.EDU> Subject: Re: Drum Sight gauges Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" I buy poly 55 gal drums in the natural color so they are translucent and you can easily see the liquid level of the solvent waste so you know it will accept a 5gal addition. I hate steel drums. Poly is the only way to go! ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 20 Feb 1999 19:44:20 -0500 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: "Julie J. O'Brien" Subject: Carbide lamps Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" I am on another listserv for museum professionals. Recently they have been discussing Carbide lamps. As far as I can tell, a carbide lamp uses calcium carbide plus water to produce acetylene which makes a flame. They appear to be used in caving. Can anyone give me more info. about such lamps? The ideas several scientists have for using these for demonstrations in museums sounds rather scary. I am attaching below two of the responses regarding the carbide lamps. What types of safety precautions should they be taking? Should it be done at all?? Thanks for your help!! Julie O'Brien Chemist & Museum Volunteer Carbide lamps are still available. Check to see if you have a caving club in the area and ask them about it. I did a LOT of caving while in college and while working at the museum in Memphis, and carbide lamps do have their advantages. You do have to be careful though. The flame is much hotter than a candle flame and the leftover residue is toxic. If you have a local chapter of the National Speleological Society, they can give you all the information that you need. In one of our outreach programs, we do a demonstration with calcium carbide. We mix some with water in a flask, then put a balloon over the neck, allowing it to fill with acetylene gas while going on to other experiments. Later in the show, we use it to make several points. One is the state change of liquid and solid to gas. Another is the expansion of gas. Next is a comparison of a balloon filled with carbon dioxide from our lungs, one filled with nitrogen gas from a demo with liquid nitrogen, and the other the acetylene gas. When held over a flame (using a 4-foot extension claw!) the first two pop harmlessly, the third gives a satisfying ball of flame and impressive whoosh! We then use it to make the safety point that while all three balloons looked identical, one was very, very dangerous, and when doing experiments, you should work with only things you know, and not fool around with unknown liquids, powders or chemical, no matter how harmless they may look. Julie O'Brien EXPO The Children's Museum of Gainesville Education and Exhibits Committee PO Box 5951 Gainesville, FL 32627 PCR, Inc. Chemist, Research & Development PO Box 1466 Gainesville, FL 32602 352-376-8246 ext. 232 ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 20 Feb 1999 21:07:36 -0500 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: "Dr. Linda A. Swihart" Subject: Allentown Chemical Plant Explosion In-Reply-To: <199902210044.TAA22694@freenet4.afn.org> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Alta Vista had this in their headlines today. See http://abcnews.go.com/sections/us/DailyNews/explosion990220.html Five people were found dead Saturday in a chemical processing plant leveled by an explosion that blew out windows in nearby buildings and could be felt for miles. Fourteen people were injured. The walls of the 25-foot high building at the Lehigh Valley Industrial Park collapsed inward and buckled after the explosion Friday night. Metal studs, concrete, glass and insulation flew through the air. A large chemical cloud rose above the explosion. "I don't think it could get much worse than what it was," said Capt. Dan Hartman, one of the first emergency workers to arrive at the scene. "Debris was strewn more than 100 feet around." The building housed Concept Science Inc., a chemical processing company. State police were meeting with company executives, who weren't available for comment. "The company was only operating about a week (in the building) so it's too early to make a judgment about the safety and propriety of the business operation there," Lt. Gov. Mark Schweiker said. Four of the five victims worked at Concept Sciences. The fifth worked in the building but not for that company. They were identified as: Anthony Mondello Sr., 55; his son Paul Mondello, 25; Paul Wanamaker, 43; Rubin Soto Sr., 52; and Terry Bowers, 48. The company Bowers worked for was not immediately known. Fourteen people, including six rescue workers suffering from chemical burns and chest pains, were taken to hospitals. One person was in critical condition. Authorities Speculate on Cause -- Authorities believe the explosion was triggered during the distillation of a volatile chemical, hydroxylamine, which Concept Science uses to make an etching solution for computer chips. Investigators also believe potassium hydroxide was involved. Nearby residents were asked to stay in their homes for about two hours while authorities determined the chemicals spewed into the air from the explosion were not harmful. About 80 workers were decontaminated with a water and soap solution. The blast at the industrial park, about 3 miles southwest of downtown Allentown and 50 miles north of Philadelphia, was felt and heard throughout the area for miles. Down the street from the plant, Nichola Pierce, 24, was on the phone with her supervisor at Inter-Media Marketing when the explosion happened. "There was a flicker of light and a big bang and then the power went out," Mrs. Pierce said. "You could actually feel the ceiling come down and go back up again. It felt like a plane had landed on our roof. That's what we thought it was." ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 22 Feb 1999 09:52:53 +1300 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: John Downey Subject: Re: Carbide lamps MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain Calcium carbide is a UN Class 4.3 substance, dangerous when wet, UN1402. As you say, it reacts with water to produce acetylene and CaO. In carbide lamps, the carbide is held in a lower canister and an upper tank holds water. The size of flame and hence the amount of light produced is controlled by adjusting a bleed screw which allows water to drip through onto the carbide at varying (slow) rates. These lamps were widely used in very early automobiles, and I can recall my father telling me that he had a carbide lamp on his bicycle in the 1930's. As far as safe demos go, I would suggest that a carbide lamp set up and working would be as good and safe a demo as you come across. It is a real application, and you can show the onlookers how to adjust the flame and how to handle carbide safely. I have real problems with people making "acetylene bombs", as your second attachment describes, though I realise most trainee engineering people would have done so at some stage, and a surprising number live to tell the tale. Cheers John Downey Waitakere City Council Dangerous Goods Inspector Waitakere City New Zealand > -----Original Message----- > From: Julie J. O'Brien [SMTP:afn35210@AFN.ORG] > Sent: Sunday, February 21, 1999 1:44 PM > To: LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU > Subject: Carbide lamps > > I am on another listserv for museum professionals. Recently they have been > discussing Carbide lamps. As far as I can tell, a carbide lamp uses > calcium > carbide plus water to produce acetylene which makes a flame. They appear > to > be used in caving. Can anyone give me more info. about such lamps? The > ideas > several scientists have for using these for demonstrations in museums > sounds > rather scary. I am attaching below two of the responses regarding the > carbide lamps. What types of safety precautions should they be taking? > Should it be done at all?? > > Thanks for your help!! > > Julie O'Brien > Chemist & Museum Volunteer > > Carbide lamps are still available. Check to see if you have a caving club > in > the area and ask them about it. I did a LOT of caving while in college > and > while working at the museum in Memphis, and carbide lamps do have their > advantages. You do have to be careful though. The flame is much hotter > than > a candle flame and the leftover residue is toxic. If you have a local > chapter > of the National Speleological Society, they can give you all the > information > that you need. > > > In one of our outreach programs, we do a demonstration with calcium > carbide. We mix some with water in a flask, then put a balloon over the > neck, allowing it to fill with acetylene gas while going on to other > experiments. Later in the show, we use it to make several points. One > is the state change of liquid and solid to gas. Another is the > expansion of gas. Next is a comparison of a balloon filled with carbon > dioxide from our lungs, one filled with nitrogen gas from a demo with > liquid nitrogen, and the other the acetylene gas. When held over a > flame (using a 4-foot extension claw!) the first two pop harmlessly, the > third gives a satisfying ball of flame and impressive whoosh! We then > use it to make the safety point that while all three balloons looked > identical, one was very, very dangerous, and when doing experiments, you > should work with only things you know, and not fool around with unknown > liquids, powders or chemical, no matter how harmless they may look. > Julie O'Brien > EXPO The Children's Museum of Gainesville > Education and Exhibits Committee > PO Box 5951 > Gainesville, FL 32627 > > PCR, Inc. > Chemist, Research & Development > PO Box 1466 > Gainesville, FL 32602 > 352-376-8246 ext. 232 ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 22 Feb 1999 09:57:49 +1300 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: John Downey Subject: Re: Drum Sight gauges MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain But what about vapour transmission? Solvent attack? Are the drums approved for use with these solvents? How do you deal with static buildup? You can't earth a normal poly drum or clip an earth strap to it. John Downey Dangerous Goods Inspector Waitakere City Council Waitakere City New Zealand > -----Original Message----- > From: L. James Stock III [SMTP:34EMQ6K@CMUVM.CSV.CMICH.EDU] > Sent: Sunday, February 21, 1999 9:29 AM > To: LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU > Subject: Re: Drum Sight gauges > > I buy poly 55 gal drums in the natural color so they are translucent and > you can easily see the liquid level of the solvent waste so you know it > will accept a 5gal addition. I hate steel drums. Poly is the only way to > go! ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 21 Feb 1999 17:18:12 EST Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Dave Williams Subject: Re: Carbide lamps & N,N-dimethylaniline Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-transfer-encoding: 7bit When specifically adjusted to do so the flame from a carbide lamp will produce lots of soot. We used them exclusively to blacken our rifle sights when I was with the First Army rifle team back in the early sixties. We used spit as a source of water. Thanks to all those who responded to my question about N,N-dimethylaniline. I am now in a much better position to make an informed decision. Dave Williams Valencia Community College 701 N. Econlockhatchee Trail Orlando, FL 32825 407-299-5000 x2443 profdhw@aol.com ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 22 Feb 1999 08:27:58 -0800 Reply-To: Marc Neuffer Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Marc Neuffer Subject: Recommended Sites, et. al. MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Good Morning, A short message to let you know what's new and available (free) on Safety Info.Com http://www.safetyinfo.com [Weekly Poster] - eye protection - print and post on employee bulletin boards [Weekly Safety Brief] - Power Tool Safety - print & distribute to your supervisors [Supervisor Development] - 10 Module Section that can be used for training supervisors [Extras] - 6 recommended new sites for the HR & Safety Professional. The [Extra] section also has this month's Safety Committee Activity [Forms] - NFPA & HMIS - OSHA requires that your written Hazard Communication Program contain examples of your Chemical Labeling system - these are the 2 most used systems. Print out and place in your HazCom program. Regards & Best Wishes Marc Neuffer Director-interSafe http://www.safetyinfo.com ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 22 Feb 1999 14:45:39 -0500 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Bob Burns Subject: hydroxylamine MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit The explosion in Allentown was something to do with distilling hyroxylamine, according to the reports I have seen. here's the Merck Index entry for hydroxylamine: 4874. Hydroxylamine. H3NO; mol wt 33.03. H 9.15%, N 42.41%, O 48.44%. NH2OH. Prepn as the hydrochloride: W. L. Semon, Org. Syn. coll. vol. I, 318 (1932). Prepn: Hurd, Inorg. Syn. 1, 87 (1939); Benson et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 78, 4202 (1956). Crystal structure: Meyers, Lipscomb, Acta Cryst. 5, 583 (1955). Toxicity data: Riemann, Acta Pharmacol. Toxicol. 6, 285 (1950); R. P. Smith, W. R. Layne, J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. 165, 30 (1969). Mutagenic action: Phillips, Brown in Progr. Nucl. Acid Res. Mol. Biol. 7, 349-368 (1967). Reviews: Mason, "Hydroxylamine" in Mellor's vol. VIII, supplement 2, Nitrogen (part 2), 115- 157 (1967); Jones in Comprehensive Inorganic Chemistry vol. 2, J. C. Bailar, Jr. et al., Eds. (Pergamon Press, Oxford, 1973) pp 265-276. Unstable, large white flakes or needles, mp 33 deg, bp22 58 deg. d40 1.2255; d440 1.204. K at 20 deg = 1.07x10-8. Very sol in water. Very sol in liq ammonia and methanol. The soly in the higher alcohols decreases with increasing mol wt. Sparingly sol in ether, benzene, carbon disulfide, chloroform. Very hygroscopic. Dec by hot water. Undergoes rapid decompn at room temps esp in the presence of atm moisture and CO2. Detonates in test tube heated with flame. LD50 i.p. in mice: 1.83 mmol/kg (Smith, Layne). Caution: Skin irritant. May cause methemoglobinemia, sulfhemoglobinemia, cyanosis, convulsions, hypotension and coma: Clinical Toxicology of Commercial Products, R. E. Gosselin et al., Eds. (Williams Wilkins, Baltimore, 5th ed., 1984) Section II, p 117. Hydrochloride, H3NO.HCl, oxammonium hydrochloride . Monoclinic columnar crystals; slowly dec when moist. d17 1.67. mp about 151 deg. One gram dissolves in about 1 ml water (83 g in 100 ml water at 17 deg); 19 ml alcohol; 8 ml methanol. Sol in glycerol, propylene glycol. Insol in cold ether. pH of 0.2 molar aq soln 3.2. Keep well closed. LD50 orally in mice: 408 mg/kg (Riemann). Sulfate, (H3NO)2.H2SO4, oxammonium sulfate . Crystals, mp about 170 deg. Freely sol in water. USE: As reducing agent in photography; in synthetic and analytical chemistry; to purify aldehydes and ketones. As antioxidant for fatty acids and soaps. As dehairing agent for hides. "SEMPER ADVENTURUS!!!" Robert L. Burns R&D Group Leader Specialty Chemicals Division RUETGERS Organics Corporation 201 Struble Road State College, PA 16801 phone 814-231-9214 fax 815 333 4805 email rburns@bigfoot.com ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 22 Feb 1999 14:23:50 -0800 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Michael Ahler Subject: hydroxylamine In-Reply-To: <000501be5e9b$ed1e99a0$0100007f@BBURNS> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; name="hydroxylamine" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit NACHOS, Here is another reference on hydroxylamine. This one is quoted from Bretherick, Reactive Chemical Hazards. "1. Ashford, J.S., private Comm., 1967 "2. Brauer, 1963, vol. 1, 502 "3. Vervalin, C.H., Hydrocarbon Proc. Petr. Ref., 1963, 42(2), 174 "4. Rust, 1948, 302 "5. Bailar, 1973, Vol. 2, 272 "The base was being prepared by distilling a mixture of hydroxylamine hydrochloride and sodium hydroxide in methanol under reduced pressure, and a violent explosion occurred towards the end of distillation [1], probably owing to an increase in pressure above 53 mbar. It explodes when heated under atmospheric pressure [2]. Traces of hydroxylamine remaining after reaction with acetonitrile to form acetamide oxime caused an explosion during evaporation of solvent. Traces can be removed by treatment with diacetyl monoxime and ammoniacal nickel sulfate, forming nickel dimethylglyoxime [3]. An account of an extremely violent explosion towards the end of vacuum distillation had been published previously [4]. Anhydrous hydroxylamine is usually stored at 10 deg. C. to prevent internal oxidation-reduction reactions which occur at room temperature [5]." Bretherick's tome is a great reference. If you are engaged in CHO work, get Bretherick if you haven't already got one. Thanks for listening. Michael Ahler, CHO mahler@calpoly.edu Risk Management Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, California ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 22 Feb 1999 16:13:57 -0800 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Sam Hurlbut Subject: Re: hydroxylamine MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain Here is another story about an hydroxylamine. In our case it was the nitrate form. It started as a dilute solution in a tank that evaporated until it went boom. We were very fortunate that no one was nearby when it happened. http://www.hanford.gov/safety/accident/prf_a109/summrpt.htm Sam Hurlbut ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 23 Feb 1999 09:48:33 -0500 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Janeen LaPierre Subject: Re: Maintenance and safety Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit Jeff, This is an excellent example of the need for open lines of communication. I had an incident with chemical fume hoods and routine fan maintenance. We had a lab full of sophomore organic students distilling Stuff(I use the technical term here because my memory isn't what it used to be), when the hoods went down. After getting everything shut off and windows opened, the students sat in the hall while I made several calls. We soon discovered the facilities folks were replacing some belts on the roof and had shut the unit down for the preventative maintenance. We had added this morning lab to accommodate our growing number of students and facilities was unaware we had a class. The organic lab had always been Friday afternoons. It is a standard part of the safety training now for facilities to have their folks talk to the PI or lab coordinator prior to work in areas such as these. We actually give a lab safety training to the facilities and housekeeping staff that is specifically designed to heighten awareness in these areas. Pay off is great! I get notes from Housekeeping about housekeeping issues in labs that I might not get into that often. Sometimes it's not a problem and I use this as an opportunity to educate the housekeepers on finer points of the lab standard. Sometimes, the info has really saved our collective butts. For what its worth, Janeen. ***************** Janeen Lapierre, CHO College of Osteopathic Medicine University of New England 11 Hills Beach Road Biddeford, ME 04005 E-Mail: JLaPierre@MAILBOX.UNE.EDU Phone: (207) 283-0170 ext 2446 Opinions are mine and not those of UNE. ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 23 Feb 1999 07:59:37 -0800 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Nick Spare Subject: Re: hydroxylamine MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit -----Original Message----- From: Michael Ahler To: LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU Date: Monday, February 22, 1999 2:29 PM Subject: Re Bretherick's > >Bretherick's tome is a great reference. If you are engaged in CHO >work, get Bretherick if you haven't already got one. > We have the third edition from 1985 - is there a newer one? Nick Spare Pilot Chemical ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 23 Feb 1999 12:27:57 EST Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Labsafe@AOL.COM Subject: Re: hydroxylamine Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-transfer-encoding: 7bit In a message dated 2/23/99 11:07:36 AM EST, NJSpare@PILOTCHEMICAL.COM writes: << We have the third edition from 1985 - is there a newer one? >> Hi NACHOs, There is a 4th edition of Bretherick and it's available from LSW!. ... jim ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 23 Feb 1999 11:37:25 -0800 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Michael Ahler Subject: Re: hydroxylamine In-Reply-To: <001a01be5f45$fb4a8660$3404400c@nick> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; name="Re:" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Nick, [Concerning the question on the most recent issue of Bretherick:] I have the 4th (1990)edition, but Lab Safety Supply is offering the 5th edition (1995): $272.80 for the "book" version and $606.90 for the CD Rom version. Other vendors may have it as well. Thanks. Michael Ahler, CHO mahler@calpoly.edu Risk Management Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, California ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 23 Feb 1999 14:41:34 -0600 Reply-To: "swiki@bihs.net" Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Swiki Anderson Subject: Columbia Univ. fined $77,500 by OSHA-- a Containment Ventilation Problem? MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Fellow LABSAFETY friends and Ms Miller.... If the ventilation systems in the Columbia labs and work areas had been designed on a to containment versus dilution ventilation basis, and had been preforming on this basis, would this have happened? I invite you to share what the "Old Saints" of the atomic energy era learned regarding this ... click on http://www.saai-svc.com/engineer/html/tech-notes.htm and then click on the fourth checked item down, starting with "Fume Hoods And Laboratory Air Flow Sytems: Lessons, Features, and Improvements, from the 'Old Saints' of the Atomic Energy Era through Today, CSHEMA presentation". Some safety folks in our universities don't know the difference between containment vs. dilution ventilation systems and concerns. As this goes out, some of you are having laboratory air flow control systems (LAFCS) installed in your labs that do not work, supplied by vendors that know they don't work, and purchased by physical plant personnel who are ignorant to the fact that what they have specified does not work or, worse yet, they are indifferent to associated system defects and concerns. Runs some unbiased tests, Examine the test results of other. Find out for your self. It my be someone else's heath or life that is on the line because of action or inaction on your part. Swiki Anderson, Ph.D., P.E. Some Greetings, Check out this web site: http://www.osha.gov/media/oshnews/jan99/reg2ny111.html Columbia Univ. cited by OSHA for alleged willful and other safety and health violations: $77,500 in penalties proposed. Love this quote: "It is a serious matter when an institution such as a university fails to comply with OSHA standards by exposing its employees to a dangerous chemical such as formaldehyde without providing proper protection." Ouch! I dare say many univ. could have passed OSHA's muster on this problem. ---------------------- Madelyn Miller Chemical Hygiene Officer, CCHO Environmental Health & Safety Carnegie Mellon University mmiller@andrew.cmu.edu ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 24 Feb 1999 06:49:17 +0800 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Martin Lindsay Subject: Hair Dryers Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Read this on the CHEMLAB-L list Please direct replies to the original poster X-From_: CHEMLAB_L@VAX1.BEMIDJI.MSUS.EDU Tue Feb 23 18:19:03 1999 Delivered-To: ausweb-clarke@web.net.au Date: Tue, 23 Feb 1999 13:10:34 -0500 From: "Robert N. Latsch" Subject: Hir Dryers in Chemical Laboratories. To: chemlab_L@vax1.bemidji.msus.edu Cc: SAFETY@LIST.UVM.EDU Reply-To: CHEMLAB_L@VAX1.BEMIDJI.MSUS.EDU Hi I am a lurker with an unusual problem from my laboratories. Numerous personnel are turning to hair dryers to dry glassware, plates and such. We have become concerned since the hair dryers and heat guns are being used in proximaty to flammable liquids. We were going to just instruct our people to use explosion resistant devices. Only we cannot find them. What policies and reasonings do others have for allowing, prohibiting, restricting hair dryer/heat gun use in chemistry labs? Bob ________________________________________________ __ / _______________________________________________ _ \ / /Robert N. Latsch USSF State Referee 6 Environmental Safety \ \ / / 27610 Tremiane Dr. USSF Assessor 7 CWRU \ \/ / Euclid, Ohio, 44132 High School, Indoor Occupational & \ / U.S.A. RA Member Environmental Safety ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 24 Feb 1999 12:46:51 +1300 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Tony Haggerty Subject: Re: Hair Dryers MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit In my youth, the standard method of drying laboratory glassware was on a device that was in essence a length of copper tube with a right angle bend. Air passed through the horizontal length which was heated by a strip gas burner and the glass ware sat on the vertical pipe against a stop. We washed with distilled water followed by meths followed by Acetone, shook it out and popped it on the drier. This sounds like a lab techs nightmare but in the 5 years I was there I never heard of or saw anything untoward. The only incident I recall was when a glass blowing operation was attempted on a flask that wasn't "dry" and it exploded. Some minor abrasions to the operator and a change of trousers for the rest of us. Probably doesn't help your query but it did bring back memories of "the good old days" >(;-) Tony ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 24 Feb 1999 08:45:51 -0500 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Julie O'Brien Subject: Re: Hair Dryers Comments: cc: rnl2@po.cwru.edu Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" I have also witnessed this practice on many occassions. I think that heat guns are one of the more dangerous pieces of equipment we use in the laboratories. They can get as hot as 500 degrees Celsius. They also spark sometimes. A bad combination with flammable chemicals. I don't have a solution to the problem, but I do have an account of a deadly accident involving a heat gun. I once worked in a laboratory that had a fatality about 10 years ago. They could not reconstruct exactly what he was doing. A man was using a fume hood. All they found at the accident scene were a heat gun and the remains of 3-500mL bottles of flammable solvents (hexane, acetone, toluene). The investigators think that the heat gun sparked and somehow caused the bottles to explode, killing the worker. Julie O'Brien Chemist PCR, Inc. PO Box 1466 Gainesville, FL 32602 352-376-8246 ext. 232 Fax 352-373-7503 afn35210@afn.org Education/Exhibits Committee Volunteer EXPO The Children's Museum of Gainesville PO Box 5951 Gainesville, FL 32627 ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 24 Feb 1999 22:38:39 +0800 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Martin Lindsay Subject: Baloon Gas Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" It always concerns me when I see unrestrained Helium gas cylinders, "G" size, being used to inflate party balloons, usually in public places such as shopping centres, with their highly polished tile floors, or school fetes, where there are a lot of people, especially children, in a confined space. The risk of a cylinder falling over, with subsequent damage to the valve stem, resulting in a propelled missile is significant. I have approached people in charge of the stands, and the reaction is usually one of ignorance and complacency, "She'll be right mate" The solution is education of operators to the hazard, and management of that hazard. I urge you all to lobby your government authorities for legislation requiring operators of helium balloon gas cylinders to be required to pass a competency certificate to ensure the safe handling of compressed gas cylinders in public places. Suppliers should be instructed to supply helium balloon gas only to certified operators. It would also be a good idea to canvas the shopping centre mangers and distribute some literature on the hazards of unrestrained compressed gas cylinders. Martin Lindsay ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 24 Feb 1999 10:02:10 -0500 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Don Abramowitz Subject: Re: Hair Dryers In-Reply-To: <199902241345.IAA10579@freenet4.afn.org> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" >I have also witnessed this practice on many occassions. I think that heat >guns are one of the more dangerous pieces of equipment we use in the >laboratories. Ditto on the heat guns. One alternative for glassware drying that I see in use here, for processes where moisture is critical, is keeping a supply of glassware in drying ovens kept at around 150 degrees F. Requires some planning to keep it stocked, and the drying ovens themselves are no doubt potential sources of ignition, but at least they're stationary. (Maybe I better give this some more thought...) Don ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Donald Abramowitz, CIH Occupational and Environmental Safety Officer Bryn Mawr College | Swarthmore College 101 N. Merion Avenue | 500 College Avenue Bryn Mawr, PA 19010 | Swarthmore PA 19081 ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 24 Feb 1999 10:30:00 -0500 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Ian Fraser Subject: Re: Hair Dryers In-Reply-To: <199902241345.IAA10579@freenet4.afn.org> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" We had a student use a heat gun to evaporate ether in a fume hood, the result was a badly burned face. The reason, it took too long using a steam mantle. Thanks in advance Ian Fraser Safety Office University of Waterloo 200 University Ave. W. Waterloo, ON Canada, N2L 3G1 mailto:igfraser@uwaterloo.ca http://www.safetyoffice.uwaterloo.ca ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 24 Feb 1999 23:32:19 +0800 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Martin Lindsay Subject: Re: Students In-Reply-To: <4.1.19990224102624.00980540@mc1adm.uwaterloo.ca> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" I rmember a student heating ether over a busen burner.... Luckily nobody was hurt but it was exciting.. >We had a student use a heat gun to evaporate ether in a fume hood, the >result was a badly burned face. > >The reason, it took too long using a steam mantle. > > >Thanks in advance > >Ian Fraser >Safety Office >University of Waterloo >200 University Ave. W. >Waterloo, ON >Canada, N2L 3G1 >mailto:igfraser@uwaterloo.ca >http://www.safetyoffice.uwaterloo.ca > > ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 24 Feb 1999 08:48:34 -0700 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: "Greene, Ben" Subject: Re: Students MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain I remember a student boiling methanol in a beaker over a bunsen burner. The bottom of the beaker fell off, spilling (now) flaming methanol over the lab bench and his lab notebook, which was destroyed in the flames. There were no injuries. > ---------- > From: Martin Lindsay[SMTP:clarke@WEB.NET.AU] > Reply To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List > Sent: Wednesday, February 24, 1999 8:32 AM > To: LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU > Subject: Re: Students > > I rmember a student heating ether over a busen burner.... Luckily > nobody > was hurt but it was exciting.. > > > >We had a student use a heat gun to evaporate ether in a fume hood, > the > >result was a badly burned face. > > > >The reason, it took too long using a steam mantle. > > > > > >Thanks in advance > > > >Ian Fraser > >Safety Office > >University of Waterloo > >200 University Ave. W. > >Waterloo, ON > >Canada, N2L 3G1 > >mailto:igfraser@uwaterloo.ca > >http://www.safetyoffice.uwaterloo.ca > > > > > ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 24 Feb 1999 09:02:19 -0700 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: "Greene, Ben" Subject: Re: Students MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain I remember a student boiling methanol in a beaker on a ring stand over a bunsen burner. The bottom of the beaker fell off, spilling (now) flaming methanol over the lab bench and his lab notebook, which was destroyed in the flames. There were no injuries. > ---------- > From: Martin Lindsay[SMTP:clarke@WEB.NET.AU] > Reply To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List > Sent: Wednesday, February 24, 1999 8:32 AM > To: LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU > Subject: Re: Students > > I rmember a student heating ether over a busen burner.... Luckily > nobody > was hurt but it was exciting.. > > > >We had a student use a heat gun to evaporate ether in a fume hood, > the > >result was a badly burned face. > > > >The reason, it took too long using a steam mantle. > > > > > >Thanks in advance > > > >Ian Fraser > >Safety Office > >University of Waterloo > >200 University Ave. W. > >Waterloo, ON > >Canada, N2L 3G1 > >mailto:igfraser@uwaterloo.ca > >http://www.safetyoffice.uwaterloo.ca > > > > > ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 24 Feb 1999 09:09:14 -0700 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: "Helen B. Gerhard" Subject: Re: Baloon Gas MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" There is another issue. Helium is a limited commodity. Granted, we have more than enough now. However, several hundred years from now, the supply of helium may be gone...especially if balloon usage continues. As scientists needing helium as a carrier gas, we should also try to educate how we are squandering a natural resource. Probably won't get anywhere though...after all, we're talking balloons. Thanks! Helen -----Original Message----- From: Martin Lindsay [SMTP:clarke@WEB.NET.AU] Sent: Wednesday, February 24, 1999 7:39 AM To: LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU Subject: Baloon Gas It always concerns me when I see unrestrained Helium gas cylinders, "G" size, being used to inflate party balloons, usually in public places such as shopping centres, with their highly polished tile floors, or school fetes, where there are a lot of people, especially children, in a confined space. The risk of a cylinder falling over, with subsequent damage to the valve stem, resulting in a propelled missile is significant. I have approached people in charge of the stands, and the reaction is usually one of ignorance and complacency, "She'll be right mate" The solution is education of operators to the hazard, and management of that hazard. I urge you all to lobby your government authorities for legislation requiring operators of helium balloon gas cylinders to be required to pass a competency certificate to ensure the safe handling of compressed gas cylinders in public places. Suppliers should be instructed to supply helium balloon gas only to certified operators. It would also be a good idea to canvas the shopping centre mangers and distribute some literature on the hazards of unrestrained compressed gas cylinders. Martin Lindsay ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 24 Feb 1999 08:11:30 -0800 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Nick Spare Subject: Re: Students & bunsen burners MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit In my TA days first semester organic included a Grignard reaction using ethyl ether. At the beginning of each session I told the students that the simplest way to get a zero for this lab was for me to see them even trying to light a bunsen burner. Given that at any one time probably 60% of the class were pre-meds for whom points are very important I never had a problem. One question while we're on the subject of hair dryers, heat guns etc. and flammable solvents. I have heard many stories over the years of fires caused by heating solvents on hot-plates - recrystallizations etc. I have never witnessed such an occurance. How safe are hot-plates really and if they are unsafe, how come very few are explosion proof? Nick Spare Pilot Chemical -----Original Message----- From: Martin Lindsay To: LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU Date: Wednesday, February 24, 1999 7:35 AM Subject: Re: Students >I rmember a student heating ether over a busen burner.... Luckily nobody >was hurt but it was exciting.. > > ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 24 Feb 1999 11:22:02 -0500 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Naomi Kelly Subject: Laundering Laboratory Coats Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" A couple of years ago we closed the laundry facility on campus. Now we have the problem of having no place to launder laboratory coats. When I tell people that they cannot, of course, take these home to launder them; then offer them no good alternative... The expense of a laundry service that will pick up is too great for the already meager budgets of most departments. We (EHS) are looking at trying to locate space to set up a some equipment designated for that purpose. I am wondering how others are handling this and looking for suggestions. Naomi Kelly Environmental Health and Safety Clemson University nkelly@clemson.edu (864)656-7554 Fax (864)656-7630 ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 24 Feb 1999 09:26:09 -0700 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: "Greene, Ben" Subject: Re: Baloon Gas MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain Hopefully the balloonists won't resort to hydrogen. > ---------- > From: Helen B. Gerhard[SMTP:hbgerhard@MEDLOGIC.COM] > Reply To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List > Sent: Wednesday, February 24, 1999 9:09 AM > To: LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU > Subject: Re: Baloon Gas > > There is another issue. Helium is a limited commodity. Granted, we > have > more than enough now. However, several hundred years from now, the > supply > of helium may be gone...especially if balloon usage continues. As > scientists needing helium as a carrier gas, we should also try to > educate > how we are squandering a natural resource. Probably won't get > anywhere > though...after all, we're talking balloons. > > Thanks! > > Helen > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Martin Lindsay [SMTP:clarke@WEB.NET.AU] > Sent: Wednesday, February 24, 1999 7:39 AM > To: LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU > Subject: Baloon Gas > > It always concerns me when I see unrestrained Helium gas > cylinders, > "G" > size, being used to inflate party balloons, usually in public > places such > as shopping centres, with their highly polished tile floors, > or > school > fetes, where there are a lot of people, especially children, > in a > confined > space. > > The risk of a cylinder falling over, with subsequent damage to > the > valve > stem, resulting in a propelled missile is significant. > > I have approached people in charge of the stands, and the > reaction > is > usually one of ignorance and complacency, "She'll be right > mate" > > The solution is education of operators to the hazard, and > management > of > that hazard. > > I urge you all to lobby your government authorities for > legislation > requiring operators of helium balloon gas cylinders to be > required > to pass > a competency certificate to ensure the safe handling of > compressed > gas > cylinders in public places. Suppliers should be instructed to > supply > helium > balloon gas only to certified operators. > > It would also be a good idea to canvas the shopping centre > mangers > and > distribute some literature on the hazards of unrestrained > compressed > gas > cylinders. > > > Martin Lindsay > ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 24 Feb 1999 11:47:23 -0500 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Mary Ann Solstad Subject: Re: Baloon Gas In-Reply-To: <3.0.5.32.19990224223839.007d6c50@web.net.au> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Good idea, mate. While you are at it, alert the balloon people to the hazard to wild life, particularly marine, of mass launching of balloons. When they eventually fall to earth they look just like the favorite food of sea turtles and several marine mammals. A great many such creatures are found with these clogging their throat or further down the intestinal tract. What a sad end to great celebrations. Mary Ann Mom to a marine biologists. At 10:38 PM 2/24/99 +0800, you wrote: >It always concerns me when I see unrestrained Helium gas cylinders, "G" >size, being used to inflate party balloons, usually in public places such >as shopping centres, with their highly polished tile floors, or school >fetes, where there are a lot of people, especially children, in a confined >space. > >The risk of a cylinder falling over, with subsequent damage to the valve >stem, resulting in a propelled missile is significant. > >I have approached people in charge of the stands, and the reaction is >usually one of ignorance and complacency, "She'll be right mate" > >The solution is education of operators to the hazard, and management of >that hazard. > >I urge you all to lobby your government authorities for legislation >requiring operators of helium balloon gas cylinders to be required to pass >a competency certificate to ensure the safe handling of compressed gas >cylinders in public places. Suppliers should be instructed to supply helium >balloon gas only to certified operators. > >It would also be a good idea to canvas the shopping centre mangers and >distribute some literature on the hazards of unrestrained compressed gas >cylinders. > > >Martin Lindsay > ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 24 Feb 1999 12:29:23 -0500 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Paula Ortiz Subject: Re: Laundering Laboratory Coats In-Reply-To: <4.1.19990224110841.00a87390@mail.clemson.edu> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" We use disposable laboratory coats and face shields in our biological sciences and medical laboratory labs. Students and faculty are not permitted to wear cloth laboratory coats. Paula Paula Ortiz, MEd, CCHO, CPT Science Laboratory Coordinator Chemical Hygiene Officer Washington State Community College 710 Colegate Dr. Marietta, Ohio 45750 740.374.8716 At 11:22 AM 2/24/99 -0500, you wrote: >A couple of years ago we closed the laundry facility on campus. Now we have >the problem of having no place to launder laboratory coats. When I tell >people that they cannot, of course, take these home to launder them; then >offer them no good alternative... The expense of a laundry service that >will pick up is too great for the already meager budgets of most >departments. We (EHS) are looking at trying to locate space to set up a >some equipment designated for that purpose. I am wondering how others are >handling this and looking for suggestions. >Naomi Kelly >Environmental Health and Safety >Clemson University >nkelly@clemson.edu >(864)656-7554 >Fax (864)656-7630 > ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 24 Feb 1999 13:17:45 -0500 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: "Reeder, Deborah" Subject: Workman's Comp MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain Could someone explain to me the types of injuries Workman's Comp covers? I have a lab assistant that injured her back lifting a 20 liter bottle of deionized water and they have denied her claim. They seemed to have been looking for some type of human error that caused the injury. They implied to her that if you are injured in the normal performance of your duties following normal procedures that is just your tough luck. Deborah M. Reeder Chemistry Laboratory Manager Anne Arundel Community College 101 College Parkway Arnold, Maryland 21012 voice: 410-541-2224 fax: 410-541-2525 e-mail: dmreeder@mail.aacc.cc.md.us ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 24 Feb 1999 10:20:09 -0800 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Michael Ahler Subject: Re: Students & bunsen burners In-Reply-To: <001a01be6010$8725d7a0$ce28400c@nick> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; name="Re:" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit [In reply to the question: I have heard many stories over the years of fires caused by heating solvents on hot-plates - recrystallizations etc. I have never witnessed such an occurance. How safe are hot-plates really and if they are unsafe, how come very few are explosion proof? ] Nick, I have seen hot plates ignite ether on many occasions. The first one was when I was a university student 100 years ago in organic chemistry. One of my classmates was evaporating ether from a series of small erlenmyer flasks ( from column chromatography, I think) on a hot plate in an old fume hood. The resulting fire and CO2 extinguisher that was used obliterated the results of two weeks of synthesis and isolation. No injuries but anguish all around. Even better are the ether fires I have started DELIBERATELY using a hot plate in a fume hood - to illustrate that it can happen easily. Part of the training for student employees in the Chemistry department here includes information on flammable hazards. Part of that training is the following demo ( done in a chemistry laboratory): 1. Get your department chairperson's permission to do all this. 2. Have available a 15 lb CO2 fire extinguisher (We had several we purchased and used for demos and were so labeled; I painted them blue; they were refillable on the spot. Don't use the existing "emergency" extinguisher presently in the lab.) Remove all flammables or comustible liquids from the lab. Also have an assistant who is experienced with a fire extinguisher standing by with a dry chemical type extinguisher and prepared to use it if needed. YOU need at least a cotton lab coat (not synthetic), full face protection and leather gloves. In an empty fume hood, set up a hot plate heated to "high". The Corning brand hotplates ( the kind with the white top that discolors to light yellow when hot) always worked best for this. While explaning to your learners what you are doing, place a 250 mL erlenmyer flask containing about 25 ml of diethyl ether on the hot plate. It is even more effective if you un-plug the power cord for the hot plate just before placing the ether flask on the hot surface - no spark ignition can be suspected. Only the hot surface exists. As you place the flask on the hot plate turn off ( temporarily) the fan motor to the fume hood. The ether will begin to boil within a few seconds and will ignite shortly thereafter. The flame will be about 30 cm tall from the mouth of the flask. Using the demo CO2 extinguisher, lightly smother the flask with just enough "snow" to extinguish the flame without toppling the flask. In about 15 seconds ( if the ether hasn't all burned off) the fire will re-ignite (WOW!) if the hot plate surface is still hot enough ( above the auto ignition temperature for diethyl ether). Now turn the hood fan back on. If the ether flask is still burning, use tongs to move it from the hot plate to a heat-proof surface in the hood. Allow the ether to burn off, or place a 90 mm watch glass over the top of the flask. The flames will cease at this point. This demo serves to show several things: ** Some flammable materials can be ignited even without the existence of a spark or flame. Diethyl ether and carbon disulfide are two notorious lab materials that will do this. Carbon disulfide can even be ignited by a steam table ( I have not tried this one). ** Even if you extinguish a fire successfully, it is possible to have re-ignition ( Never turn you back on an extinguished fire.) ** Try this demo again, but leave the hood fan running. If the hood is working properly, the ether will merely boil away without igniting. This is an excellent illustration of the benefit of using a hood for work with flammable liquids. At the time I was conducting this training for our student employees, I was videotaping these sessions at the same time. The Chemistry Department continues to use these tapes for this training. As for explosion proof hotplates: My guess is that explosion proof hot plates are available, but you don't see them in labs very often because they are much more expensive than the non-explosion proof design. (To a lesser degree the same argument exists for explosion proof refrigerators.) My guess is also that there are many lab workers/managers who have not witnessed the occurrance of an ether/hotplate fire and are not sure how real is the hazard. At the moment I can think of only one specific person who has told me this recently. It may also be that many lab workers are using hotplates inside a fume hood (as they should) to work with ether. The ventilation protection offered by the hood may be masking the ignition risk existing in the hot plate. Of course, hot plates need only very low heat to evaporate diethyl ether, and I think most lab workers are aware of this and work accordingly. Thanks for listening. Michael Ahler, CHO mahler@calpoly.edu Risk Management Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, California ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 24 Feb 1999 10:31:15 -0800 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Terri Hellman Subject: Re: Workman's Comp MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Different states have different laws but this doesn't seem right. My experience is that worker's comp is denied if there is evandence of negligence to take proper precautions, like tools or lifting techniques, or if they believe the injury is not work related. There should be an appeals process that you worker could pursue. Also have start talking to the person at your location who deals with the w/c. Reeder, Deborah wrote: > Could someone explain to me the types of injuries Workman's Comp covers? I > have a lab assistant that injured her back lifting a 20 liter bottle of > deionized water and they have denied her claim. They seemed to have been > looking for some type of human error that caused the injury. They implied to > her that if you are injured in the normal performance of your duties > following normal procedures that is just your tough luck. > > Deborah M. Reeder > Chemistry Laboratory Manager > > Anne Arundel Community College > 101 College Parkway > Arnold, Maryland 21012 > > voice: 410-541-2224 > fax: 410-541-2525 > e-mail: dmreeder@mail.aacc.cc.md.us ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 24 Feb 1999 13:25:58 -0600 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Jeff Rubin Subject: Re: Baloon Gas In-Reply-To: Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" The US used to keep a strategic stockpile of He, started back in the days of dirigibles and blimps. It used to be considerably more difficult to obtain. It's primarily recovered from natural gas wells, although recovery has weakened with price; like any other commodity, it's driven by economics. As long as we have gas wells and it's worthwhile, we can recover more. If we ever establish a lunar colony (and fusion becomes a more realistic pwower source), they'll probably mine He from the lunar soil as a fuel for "clean" fusion. JNR >There is another issue. Helium is a limited commodity. Granted, we have >more than enough now. However, several hundred years from now, the supply >of helium may be gone...especially if balloon usage continues. As >scientists needing helium as a carrier gas, we should also try to educate >how we are squandering a natural resource. Probably won't get anywhere >though...after all, we're talking balloons. Jeff Rubin, Asst. Dean for EHS College of Natural Sciences G2500 W.C. Hogg Building University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX 78712-1199 (512) 471-6176 (O) (512) 471-4998 (F) jrubin@mail.utexas.edu http://www.utexas.edu/cons/safety/ "The opinions of Dr. Rubin are not meant to offend anyone unless otherwise specified." ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 24 Feb 1999 13:29:19 -0600 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Jeff Rubin Subject: Re: Students In-Reply-To: <45C82258A1B2D111892500805FCC9B0D0115277E@nt05.wstf.nasa.gov> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" This happened here, too, a year or two before our more famous lab fire. A beaker broke, possibly assisted by a magnetic stirrer, and the material within caught fire as it spilled over the counter. The next casualty was the user's research notes (2-3 years of dissertation research, much of which was not copied or backed up), which were nearby and burned up. Another good reason for good lab hygiene... JNR >I remember a student boiling methanol in a beaker over a bunsen burner. >The bottom of the beaker fell off, spilling (now) flaming methanol over >the lab bench and his lab notebook, which was destroyed in the flames. >There were no injuries. Jeff Rubin, Asst. Dean for EHS College of Natural Sciences G2500 W.C. Hogg Building University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX 78712-1199 (512) 471-6176 (O) (512) 471-4998 (F) jrubin@mail.utexas.edu http://www.utexas.edu/cons/safety/ "The opinions of Dr. Rubin are not meant to offend anyone unless otherwise specified." ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 24 Feb 1999 13:31:10 -0600 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Jeff Rubin Subject: Re: Laundering Laboratory Coats In-Reply-To: <3.0.3.32.19990224122923.0069fc08@wscc.edu> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Sane hear for bio/med research. Other labs use cloth - our cleaning service costs the same per coat as the disposable coats (approx $0.40/change). JNR >We use disposable laboratory coats and face shields in our biological >sciences and medical laboratory labs. Students and faculty are not >permitted to wear cloth laboratory coats. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 24 Feb 1999 13:34:21 -0600 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Jeff Rubin Subject: Re: Workman's Comp In-Reply-To: <36D44573.8816971C@scs.unr.edu> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Ditto! It varies between states, but even employee negligence may not void a claim (although it may result in termination). There should be a formal appeals process if a claim has actually been rejected. JNR >Different states have different laws but this doesn't seem right. My >experience >is that worker's comp is denied if there is evandence of negligence to take >proper precautions, like tools or lifting techniques, or if they believe the >injury is not work related. There should be an appeals process that you >worker >could pursue. Also have start talking to the person at your location who >deals >with the w/c. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 24 Feb 1999 13:26:51 -0600 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: "Dr. Earl Hansen" Subject: Re: Workman's Comp In-Reply-To: <5F88844307A0D01191B4006097089A15011C3A7D@mail.aacc.cc.md.u s> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Deborah: Worker Compensation for the most part is built on the concept "of in the course of or arising out of (from) work)" and one is compensated. Whomever "they" are is looking to find themselves in contact with the legal profession from misinforming the injured party, let alone the comp claim. Earl Hansen, Professor Safety Studies Program Northern Illinois University Department of Technology College of Engineering DeKalb, IL. 60115 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --- At 01:17 PM 2/24/99 -0500, you wrote: >Could someone explain to me the types of injuries Workman's Comp covers? I >have a lab assistant that injured her back lifting a 20 liter bottle of >deionized water and they have denied her claim. They seemed to have been >looking for some type of human error that caused the injury. They implied to >her that if you are injured in the normal performance of your duties >following normal procedures that is just your tough luck. > > >Deborah M. Reeder >Chemistry Laboratory Manager > >Anne Arundel Community College >101 College Parkway >Arnold, Maryland 21012 > >voice: 410-541-2224 >fax: 410-541-2525 >e-mail: dmreeder@mail.aacc.cc.md.us > > ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 24 Feb 1999 12:10:30 -0800 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Debbie Decker Subject: MSDS for portable toilet treatment chemical Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Hey gang: Efforts to locate a MSDS for Enviro-Chem (by Monsanto) portable toilet treatment chemical have been unsuccessful. Any ideas? Monsanto website no good and searching for Enviro-Chem has been for naught. Help! TIA, deb. Debbie Decker EH&S UCDavis (530)754-7964 dmdecker@ucdavis.edu ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 24 Feb 1999 15:07:56 -0500 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: "Dr. Linda A. Swihart" Subject: trapping and decomposing phosgene Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" A postdoc here has a reaction he wants/needs to perform, an established prep, which will produce approximately 1 gram of phosgene as a byproduct (based on the quantity of desired product, rxn stoichiometry and 100% rxn). He wishes to trap the phosgene and hydrolyse it, rather than just shooting it out the top of the building from the hood. It liquifies at about 8 Celsius and could be trapped in a cold trap during the reaction. I don't think there's a good way to trap it in a solution of any sort (the prep reaction is a solid-gas reaction in glass apparatus at 100 C and may not be exposed to water vapor or organic solvent). Keep in mind that the fellow is a good chemist, knows what he's doing and understands the dangers of phosgene. I would appreciate your comments and suggestions. Thanks in advance, Linda ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 24 Feb 1999 13:26:56 -0700 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: "Helen B. Gerhard" Subject: Re: MSDS for portable toilet treatment chemical MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain Can you call their technical department? Thanks! Helen -----Original Message----- From: Debbie Decker [SMTP:dmdecker@UCDAVIS.EDU] Sent: Wednesday, February 24, 1999 1:11 PM To: LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU Subject: MSDS for portable toilet treatment chemical Hey gang: Efforts to locate a MSDS for Enviro-Chem (by Monsanto) portable toilet treatment chemical have been unsuccessful. Any ideas? Monsanto website no good and searching for Enviro-Chem has been for naught. Help! TIA, deb. Debbie Decker EH&S UCDavis (530)754-7964 dmdecker@ucdavis.edu ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 24 Feb 1999 16:04:58 -0500 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: "Thomas J. Shelley" Subject: Re: MSDS for portable toilet treatment chemical In-Reply-To: <3.0.3.32.19990224121030.007ab910@scarlet.ucdavis.edu> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" >Hey gang: > >Efforts to locate a MSDS for Enviro-Chem (by Monsanto) portable toilet >treatment chemical have been unsuccessful. Any ideas? Monsanto website no >good and searching for Enviro-Chem has been for naught. deb--The best approach is usually to call the company and request an MSDS. Tom ********************************************************* Tom Shelley, Chemical Hygiene Officer, Cornell University Department of Environmental Health and Safety, 125 Humphreys Service Building, Ithaca, NY 14853. (607) 255-4288 tjs1@cornell.edu ****************************DISCLAIMER******************** The comments and views expressed in this communication are strictly my own and are not to be construed to officially represent those of my peers, supervisors or Cornell University. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 24 Feb 1999 16:11:45 -0600 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Brian Olson Subject: Second and last call for Safety Training Survey. Comments: To: SAFETY@LIST.UVM.EDU, 'radsafe@romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu', 'BIOSAFTY@MITVMA.MIT.EDU' MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit If you are using electronic training techniques, PLEASE take a minute to fill out the following survey and send to bolson@promega.com . I will be compiling the results and will post to these four lists later this month. -----Original Message----- From: Brian Olson To: 'Safety'; 'LABSAFETY-L Discussion List'; 'radsafe@romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu'; 'BIOSAFTY@MITVMA.MIT.EDU' Subject: Inter/Intranet and/or MM Safety Training Survey. THIS SURVEY IS BEING SENT TO SEVERAL SAFETY MAIL-LISTS. TO ENSURE YOUR SURVEY IS INCLUDED, PLEASE SEND IT TO bolson@promega.com . Good day folks. As a reader and (mild) participant of the safety mail-lists for the past 5 years, I have a big favor to ask. My company is looking at training options. This survey requires mostly one-word answers. The survey looks at ELECTRONIC SAFETY TRAINING OPTIONS. I know this topic has been talked about in some of the better known publications, but I am interested in the feedback from you all. I am sending this to four safety mail-lists. To assure your entry is tabulated, please send your reply to bolson@promega.com . I will be tabulating all responses and will send them to the RADSAFE, BIOSAFETY, SAFETY, and LABSAFETY mail-lists by the end of the month. If you are using some type of electronic safety training, please take a minute and complete the survey. Between the four mail-lists that are receiving this request, I feel many could benefit from the results: 1. What type of institution are you with? (business, academia, large, small, other) 2. What factor(s) did you consider before/while you moved to electronic training? (staffing?, location of buildings?, cost?, etc.) 3. Does your institution have access to Intranet? Internet? LAN? CD-ROM Carousel? 4. What type of elec. training medium are you using? (Intranet, Internet, LAN, CD-ROM, e-mail), 5. List some of the titles you offer: (e.g. lab safety, biosafety, radsafety, hazcomm, dot, etc.), 6. Do you offer classroom and/or hands-on training in addition to the electronic training, or does this replace it? 7. Did you purchase pre-made titles or did you create your own? 8. If pre-made, what software company(s) did you go with? (Marcom, Mastery, Summit, J.J. Keller, other?) 9. If created by you, what authoring tools did you use? (Director/Authorware, Dreamweaver, Frontpage, etc.) 10. Either way, on average, what was your cost per title? Total budget (range)? 11. On average, how big is your audience - per title? ( 0-50, 51-99, 100-299, >300 ) 12. Do you use electronic training for annual refresher training? 13. Is changing content annually (for freshness) important to your audience? (i.e. Are you able to change your subject content when you want? Change test questions? Both? Neither? ) 14. Overall, are you happy with your choice to go with electronic training? (i.e. are you getting the results you want? high retention, etc.) Thanks for your participation. I will tabulate and post a summary analysis of the results (sent to bolson@promega.com ) by the end of February. Thanks folks, Brian Olson Manager, EH&S Promega Corp. (is a biotech co.) Madison, WI bolson@promega.com ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 24 Feb 1999 15:01:36 -0800 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Roberta Black Subject: Re: Second and last call for Safety Training Survey. Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit We do not use electronic media for safety presentations, just excerpts from Lab Safety Supply MSDS videotape. NIC is a community college. We give presentations on blood-borne pathogens, MSDS, and general safety. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 24 Feb 1999 07:23:50 -0600 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: EH&S Compliance Subject: Re: Laundering Laboratory Coats We launder on site (at two facilities) and at the others we send off site (with appropriate warnings of chemicals on coats to the industrial laundry facility). At some they pick up and at a small operation we drop off & pick up. Rebecca Levins EH&S Compliance Specialist RSR Corporation Dallas, Texas RSRrdl@onramp.net (214) 583-0245 -----Original Message----- From: Naomi Kelly [SMTP:nkelly@CLEMSON.EDU] Sent: Wednesday, February 24, 1999 10:22 AM To: LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU Subject: Laundering Laboratory Coats A couple of years ago we closed the laundry facility on campus. Now we have the problem of having no place to launder laboratory coats. When I tell people that they cannot, of course, take these home to launder them; then offer them no good alternative... The expense of a laundry service that will pick up is too great for the already meager budgets of most departments. We (EHS) are looking at trying to locate space to set up a some equipment designated for that purpose. I am wondering how others are handling this and looking for suggestions. Naomi Kelly Environmental Health and Safety Clemson University nkelly@clemson.edu (864)656-7554 Fax (864)656-7630 Attachment Converted: "c:\winnet\eudora\linda\attach\WINMAIL12.DAT" end ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 24 Feb 1999 20:05:14 -0500 Reply-To: Bob Burns Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Bob Burns Subject: Re: trapping and decomposing phosgene MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Sounds OK to me. I ve used a lot of COCl2 in labs- it, like any other chemical, can be used safely if done properly. Sure you can't scrub it into H2O/NaOH? "HAPPINESS IS A WARM PUPPY!" Bob & Evelyn Burns Mill Hall, PA -----Original Message----- From: Dr. Linda A. Swihart To: LABSAFETY-L@siu.edu Date: Wednesday, February 24, 1999 3:30 PM Subject: trapping and decomposing phosgene >A postdoc here has a reaction he wants/needs to perform, an established >prep, which will produce approximately 1 gram of phosgene as a byproduct >(based on the quantity of desired product, rxn stoichiometry and 100% rxn). > >He wishes to trap the phosgene and hydrolyse it, rather than just shooting >it out the top of the building from the hood. It liquifies at about 8 >Celsius and could be trapped in a cold trap during the reaction. I don't >think there's a good way to trap it in a solution of any sort (the prep >reaction is a solid-gas reaction in glass apparatus at 100 C and may not be >exposed to water vapor or organic solvent). > >Keep in mind that the fellow is a good chemist, knows what he's doing and >understands the dangers of phosgene. > >I would appreciate your comments and suggestions. > >Thanks in advance, >Linda > > ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 24 Feb 1999 22:40:54 EST Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Marshall Huckaby Subject: Re: Workman's Comp Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-transfer-encoding: 7bit In some states you have quite a long time submitting a claim. In my job as Safety Manager I look at the circumstances, witnesses, when reported, and if any unsafe work practices are involved. I feel we have to "fix" our injured workers if there is a work relationship, however W/C is not a welfare program for persons injured off the job. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 25 Feb 1999 07:51:52 -0500 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Mark Yanchisin Subject: M E K Question MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Is Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) a peroxide forming compound? I have 3 references that cover all possibilities. One says yes, one says no, one says possibly. Thank you in advance!! Mark Yanchisin Coordinator for Clinical and Lab Safety Programs University of Florida Env. Health and Safety PO Box 112190 Gainesville, FL 32611-2190 352-846-2550 (T) 352-392-7386 (F) Mark@ehs.ufl.edu ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 25 Feb 1999 08:32:28 -0500 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: "Stoll, Ilse (Ilse)" Subject: cyanogenchloride MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain I need some information: We have a problem with welding fumes from strapping machines. These machines are used to strap carton boxes with strapping bands. > These bands consist of 99.99% polypropylene and 0.01% fastogen blue or > 0.01% fastogen green. Fastogen blue consists of Beta-phthalocyanine/NC. > Fastogen green consists of chlorinated Phthalocyanine. What will the > welding fumes consist of ? The welding process is very simple : heat from > a stainless steel rod is applied to melt the straps. We need to carry out > air monitoring to check for employee exposure. What pollutants / > contaminants should we analyse for ? > Ilse Stoll Lucent Technologies Allentown, PA 610.712.5505 ilsestoll@lucent.com ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 25 Feb 1999 09:01:35 -0500 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Naomi Kelly Subject: Formaldehyde Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" In light of the recent Columbia University citations, I am wondering if any of you have a written hazard communication program for formaldehyde that you would like to share? Thanks Naomi Kelly Environmental Health and Safety Clemson University nkelly@clemson.edu (864)656-7554 Fax (864)656-7630 ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 25 Feb 1999 09:42:07 -0500 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Janeen LaPierre Subject: Re: Formaldehyde Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit Hi Naomi and fellow CHO types. I have taken the Columbia citation as an opportunity to turn up the heat on the formaldehyde users here. I am hoping that our CHP will be updated soon and then I will be happy to share with those who are interested. In fact, if any of you have bits or pieces of formaldehyde programs, send them my way. I will see what I can come up with and post the results, maybe on the web? Let me know if this is something of value to you out there. Janeen ***************** Janeen Lapierre, CHO College of Osteopathic Medicine University of New England 11 Hills Beach Road Biddeford, ME 04005 E-Mail: JLaPierre@MAILBOX.UNE.EDU Phone: (207) 283-0170 ext 2446 Opinions are mine and not those of UNE. >>> Naomi Kelly - 2/25/99 9:01 AM >>> In light of the recent Columbia University citations, I am wondering if any of you have a written hazard communication program for formaldehyde that you would like to share? ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 25 Feb 1999 09:03:51 -0600 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Mark Smith Subject: Criteria for Formaldehyde Standard In-Reply-To: Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Can someone share in brief what would necesitate having a formaldehyde standard haz com program in place. For instance, if it is used in very minute quatities twice each year, do you need a program? ms *************************************** MARK SMITH HENDRIX COLLEGE CHEMISTRY LABORATORY COORDINATOR CHEMICAL HYGIENE OFFICER NRCC-CHO *************************************** 1600 Washington Ave Conway, AR 72032 501-450-3812 Fax : 501-450-3829 *************************************** ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 25 Feb 1999 10:45:40 -0500 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: "Dr. Linda A. Swihart" Subject: Formaldehyde Standard ... HazCom Standard In-Reply-To: Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" At 09:03 AM 2/25/99 -0600, Mark wrote: >Can someone share in brief what would necesitate having a formaldehyde standard >haz com program in place. For instance, if it is used in very minute >quatities twice each year, do you need a program? "This standard applies to all occupational exposures to formaldehyde, i.e. from formaldehyde gas, its solutions, and materials that release formaldehyde." That's how the Formaldehyde Standard starts. The PEL, STEL and action level are quite low: PEL = 0.75 ppm 8hTWA, STEL = 2 ppm (15-minute), and action level = 0.50 ppm as 8hTWA Complying with the Formaldehyde Standard (or any of the other substance-specific standards) is separate from, in addition to, or "above and beyond" complying with the HazCom Standard requirements, although all are parts of an overall chemical safety program and the HazCom standard mentions the OSHA substance-specific standards in 1910.1200(f)(4): "If the hazardous chemical is regulated by OSHA in a substance-specific health standard, the chemical manufacturer, importer, distributor or employer shall ensure that the labels or other forms of warning used are in accordance with the requirements of that standard." (...I always thought this was a tiny bit odd -- there's no implication anywhere that the manufacturer, .... employer would NOT have to ensure that labels/warnings complied with the substance-specific standards, but I guess this was just maybe OSHA's way of reminding people that there ARE other standards and that HazCom doesn't include everything that must be considered.) Your institution's written Hazard Communication Program could indeed include requirements pertaining to all the substance-specific standards, or at least the ones that apply to your institution, as well as to 1910.1200. (I'm starting to think it should also include 1910.132, PPE.) The Formaldehyde Standard 1910.1048 and its appendices are at http://www.osha-slc.gov/OshStd_data/1910_1048.html http://www.osha-slc.gov/OshStd_data/1910_1048_APP_A.html http://www.osha-slc.gov/OshStd_data/1910_1048_APP_B.html http://www.osha-slc.gov/OshStd_data/1910_1048_APP_C.html http://www.osha-slc.gov/OshStd_data/1910_1048_APP_D.html http://www.osha-slc.gov/OshStd_data/1910_1048_APP_E.html Linda ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 25 Feb 1999 11:26:00 EST Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Ilona Fiser Subject: Re: Laundering Laboratory Coats Comments: cc: Ilona Fiser In-Reply-To: <01BE5FC6.A5719400@ppp15-7.dllstx.onramp.net>; from "EH&S Compliance" at Feb 24, 99 7:23 am Hi All, specially canadien Universities! I need to know if in Canada we have any support from labor Law for laundering laboratory coats ? Thanks!!! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Carleton University Email address: ifiser@ccs.carleton.ca ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 25 Feb 1999 13:07:21 EST Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Ilona Fiser Subject: Re: Laundering Laboratory Coats (fwd) Comments: cc: Ilona Fiser Ilona Fiser writes: > From ifiser Thu Feb 25 11:26:02 1999 > From: Ilona Fiser > Message-Id: <199902251626.QAA19564@rideau.carleton.ca> > Subject: Re: Laundering Laboratory Coats > To: LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU > Date: Thu, 25 Feb 99 11:26:00 EST > Cc: ifiser (Ilona Fiser) > In-Reply-To: <01BE5FC6.A5719400@ppp15-7.dllstx.onramp.net>; from "EH&S Compliance" at Feb 24, 99 7:23 am > X-Mailer: ELM [version 2.3 PL11] > > Hi All, specially canadien Universities! I need to know if in Canada we > have any support from labor Law for laundering laboratory coats ? > Thanks!!! > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > Carleton University > > Email address: ifiser@ccs.carleton.ca > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Carleton University Email address: ifiser@ccs.carleton.ca ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 25 Feb 1999 13:21:34 EST Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Ilona Fiser Subject: Laundering LABORATORY COATS! Comments: cc: Ilona Fiser Hi All, a specially Canadian Universities! I need to know if in Canada we have any support from Labor Law for laundering laboratory coats ? Thanks! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Carleton University Email address: ifiser@ccs.carleton.ca ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 25 Feb 1999 13:21:57 -0500 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Nick Pinizzotto Subject: Baloon Gas Comments: To: clarke@WEB.NET.AU In-Reply-To: <3.0.5.32.19990224223839.007d6c50@web.net.au> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit I for one, am not in favor of any more governmental legislation. A little too much of it going around for my liking. Perhaps if there were many accounts of accidents involving compressed HE cylinders in public places, I might reconsider. However even then it probably wouldn't have much positive effect. I vote in favor of education on proper restraint. I try and point this out whenever I see them unrestrained! Nick Pinizzotto Environmental Health Officer Dept. Environmental Health & Safety Thomas Jefferson University nick.pinizzotto@mail.tju.edu 215-503-5853 ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 25 Feb 1999 14:03:27 -0500 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: "L. James Stock III" <34EMQ6K@CMUVM.CSV.CMICH.EDU> Subject: Chloro tri base Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" I recently had a pint size bottle of a red liquid left at my chemistry stockroom window for disposal. It is labeled Chloro tri base and was manufactured by BASF with a cat.# of 279 7540. Any ideas for the exact chemical name? ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 25 Feb 1999 15:00:25 -0500 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Bob Burns Subject: Re: Chloro tri base MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Call BASF and ask for a MSDS. You have lots of information. Usually we don't have this much. Bob -----Original Message----- From: L. James Stock III <34EMQ6K@CMUVM.CSV.CMICH.EDU> To: LABSAFETY-L@siu.edu Date: Thursday, February 25, 1999 14:02 Subject: Chloro tri base >I recently had a pint size bottle of a red liquid left at my chemistry >stockroom window for disposal. It is labeled Chloro tri base and was >manufactured by BASF with a cat.# of 279 7540. Any ideas for the exact >chemical name? > > ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 25 Feb 1999 12:23:42 -0800 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Michael Hottott Subject: Re: Chloro tri base In-Reply-To: <199902251859.MAA43442@saluki-mailsmtp.siu.edu> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Phone BASF at 800-669-2273 -- product info desk \ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Michael G. Hottott Department of Chemistry University of Puget Sound Tacoma, WA 98416 e-mail: mhottott@ups.edu Voice: 253-756-3350 FAX: 253-756-3352 ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 25 Feb 1999 15:38:10 +0000 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Comments: Authenticated sender is From: Herman curtis Subject: chloro tri- base MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-transfer-encoding: 7BIT Now there are a lot of us wondering what chloro tri-base is. Let us know when you find out. Herman Curtis Department of Physical Science Cameron University 2800 W Gore Blvd Lawton, OK 73505 hermanc@cameron.edu (580)591-8007 ,(580)581-2323 ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 25 Feb 1999 15:52:09 -0800 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Michael Ahler Subject: chloro tri- base In-Reply-To: <199902252140.PAA32018@cuok.cameron.edu> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; name="chloro" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Hi Gang, ( Isn't this The Debbie Decker Salutation ?) Not having seen this bottle of mysterious liquid, I am still moved to wonder if the label currently on the bottle has any relationship to the contents. Is it possible that someone used an available empty bottle to put the red liquid waste in? I assume the label for "chloro tri base' is the original commercial label since you have mentioned a manufacturer. This wouldn't be the first occurrance of mystery material being put into a previously other-labeled empty bottle and abondoned. I see this frequently. If you are lucky, the information you get from the manufacturer will be consistent with the red liquid you have. If not, you are the proud possessor of an unknown. My most optomistic view is that you may be able to devine who left this gift for you, and you can ask him/her about it. Beware, it may not matter what the true nature of chloro tri base is. Good luck. Michael Ahler, CHO mahler@calpoly.edu Risk Management Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, California ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 25 Feb 1999 19:51:27 -0500 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: "Dr. Linda A. Swihart" Subject: First non-hoax virus warning I've ever had! Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" There is apparently a virus/worm/trojan horse file making rounds, and it's usually called Happy99.exe. Not sure what it does except make your email program misbehave and send itself to everyone you email, but that would be enough. It sounds like listservers and newsgroups are its favorite vectors. Just received the following message from our sysadmin at PU Physical Facilities and thought I would pass it along. This woman knows what she's talking about pretty much 100% of the time as far as I've ever been able to tell. (I have cited some www refs below as well.) "This is an alert to a virus that is currently being passed around the wire. It is called Happy99.exe and presented itself today in an email attachment. DO NOT save it to your harddrives, and do NOT open it in the email attachment. Delete the mail message immediately. Often, especially in Pegasus, there is a second email with the attached file. Delete this one also. DO NOT OPEN or execute this file called Happy99.exe. It is a virus. This is not a hoax. "While I am on the subject, you need to know that you take a risk of virus infection whenever you open an executable file that comes in an email attachment, or that you download off of the Internet. Downloaded executables (.exe files) should have a virus scan done on them before launching. This is the reason that we disable the automatic viewing feature in Pegasus mail when we roll out new equipment. It is better to save, virus scan and then execute when you are not sure of the source of the file in question. For those of you who have asked to have viewing via mail enabled, your risk of virus infection is much higher. So, what I am asking is that you save, scan and then execute. Don't choose view or the save and edit functions within pmail when dealing with .exe files. "As always, if you believe your machine has been infected, please report the incident to one of the Computing Support Staff immediately. The faster we can clean these viruses, the better off we are!" http://www.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/happy99.worm.html http://www.europe.datafellows.com/v-descs/ska.htm http://www.e-musicbox.com/happy99virus.htm Linda ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 25 Feb 1999 16:58:59 -0800 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: "Lorenz, Robert" Subject: Re: LABSAFETY-L Digest - 22 Feb 1999 to 23 Feb 1999 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain There was a reference made several weeks ago about a Web site which listed Flash Points vs. ethanol/water concentrations. I knew I would need that information some day, but I did not bookmark it. Does anyone recall where I can get this information? Thanks in advance, Bob Lorenz Pacific Gas and Electric Company rwl1@pge.com 805-545-4690 805-545-3858 fax ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 25 Feb 1999 20:11:00 -0500 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: "Tayman, Tammy" Subject: Re: First non-hoax virus warning I've ever had! Comments: To: "Dr. Linda A. Swihart" MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain I have also received a warning that this is a legit problem. I have verified this with several sources! Tammy Tayman ---------- From: Dr. Linda A. Swihart To: LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU Subject: First non-hoax virus warning I've ever had! Date: Thursday, February 25, 1999 7:51PM There is apparently a virus/worm/trojan horse file making rounds, and it's usually called Happy99.exe. Not sure what it does except make your email program misbehave and send itself to everyone you email, but that would be enough. It sounds like listservers and newsgroups are its favorite vectors. Just received the following message from our sysadmin at PU Physical Facilities and thought I would pass it along. This woman knows what she's talking about pretty much 100% of the time as far as I've ever been able to tell. (I have cited some www refs below as well.) "This is an alert to a virus that is currently being passed around the wire. It is called Happy99.exe and presented itself today in an email attachment. DO NOT save it to your harddrives, and do NOT open it in the email attachment. Delete the mail message immediately. Often, especially in Pegasus, there is a second email with the attached file. Delete this one also. DO NOT OPEN or execute this file called Happy99.exe. It is a virus. This is not a hoax. "While I am on the subject, you need to know that you take a risk of virus infection whenever you open an executable file that comes in an email attachment, or that you download off of the Internet. Downloaded executables (.exe files) should have a virus scan done on them before launching. This is the reason that we disable the automatic viewing feature in Pegasus mail when we roll out new equipment. It is better to save, virus scan and then execute when you are not sure of the source of the file in question. For those of you who have asked to have viewing via mail enabled, your risk of virus infection is much higher. So, what I am asking is that you save, scan and then execute. Don't choose view or the save and edit functions within pmail when dealing with .exe files. "As always, if you believe your machine has been infected, please report the incident to one of the Computing Support Staff immediately. The faster we can clean these viruses, the better off we are!" http://www.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/happy99.worm.html http://www.europe.datafellows.com/v-descs/ska.htm http://www.e-musicbox.com/happy99virus.htm Linda ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 25 Feb 1999 20:32:42 EST Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Labsafe@AOL.COM Subject: Re: Formaldehyde Standard ... HazCom Standard Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-transfer-encoding: 7bit << Can someone share in brief what would necessitate having a formaldehyde standard haz com program in place. >> Hi NACHOs, If we're talking about a laboratory, the formaldehyde standard would be invoked if there was reason to believe that you would routinely exceed the action level. .... jim ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 25 Feb 1999 17:28:55 -0800 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Gillian Gardner Subject: Movable shelving in stockrooms? In-Reply-To: <199902260117.TAA97150@saluki-mailsmtp.siu.edu> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII In a discussion about renovating our building and stockroom today, the facilities planner asked about the possibility of using movable shelving in the chemistry stockroom. What he had in mind was the type of shelving used in some libraries where you can push the shelves all closed together and then move them apart to access the chemicals. Obviously, this would work only for solids (at least in my opinion). I'm also concerned about air circulation or increased difficulties in fighting a fire. Any ideas, comments? My inclination is to say bad idea. Gillian Gardner Lewis & Clark College ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 26 Feb 2000 15:37:40 +1300 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Tony Haggerty Subject: Re: LABSAFETY-L Digest - 22 Feb 1999 to 23 Feb 1999 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Not a web site Rob but available through NFPA? (Can't recall the number) I have a copy on my PC at the office. I will post here ASAP. It's already Friday PM here. :-) Tony ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 26 Feb 1999 02:42:32 -0500 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Mary Ann Solstad Subject: Re: Movable shelving in stockrooms? In-Reply-To: Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" At 05:28 PM 2/25/99 -0800, you wrote: >In a discussion about renovating our building and stockroom today, the >facilities planner asked about the possibility of using movable shelving >in the chemistry stockroom. What he had in mind was the type of shelving >used in some libraries where you can push the shelves all closed together >and then move them apart to access the chemicals. Obviously, this would >work only for solids (at least in my opinion). I'm also concerned about >air circulation or increased difficulties in fighting a fire. Any ideas, >comments? My inclination is to say bad idea. > >Gillian Gardner >Lewis & Clark College > Makes me shudder to think about it. And if they stick or jerk on their rollers, then what? Reactive chemicals ending up pushed nearer to each other. Tell them to forget it. Mary Ann Mary Ann Solstad, CIH 4 A's of Safety SOLSTAD Health & Safety Evaluations Attitude 16 Pequot Rd, Marblehead, MA 01945 Awareness 781-631-4748 tel, 781-631-1832 FAX Automatic Application Authority Past Chair, DivCHAS, ACS msolstad@mediaone.net ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 26 Feb 1999 08:30:27 -0500 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: "Stoll, Ilse (Ilse)" Subject: waste disposal MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain We usually analyze any content of containers (which have been opened) before we decide to dispose. An IR followed by GC, IC or ICP usually gives us enough information for safe disposal. Ilse Stoll Lucent Technologies Environmental Lab Allentown, PA > ---------- > From: Michael > Ahler[SMTP:Ahler_Michael_D/cpslo_employee1@POLYMAIL.CPUNIX.CALPOLY.EDU] > Reply To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List > Sent: Thursday, February 25, 1999 6:52 PM > To: LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU > Subject: chloro tri- base > > Hi Gang, > ( Isn't this The Debbie Decker Salutation ?) > > Not having seen this bottle of mysterious liquid, I am still moved to > wonder if the label currently on the bottle has any relationship to the > contents. Is it possible that someone used an available empty bottle > to put the red liquid waste in? I assume the label for "chloro tri > base' is the original commercial label since you have mentioned a > manufacturer. This wouldn't be the first occurrance of mystery > material being put into a previously other-labeled empty bottle and > abondoned. I see this frequently. > If you are lucky, the information you get from the manufacturer will be > consistent with the red liquid you have. > > If not, you are the proud possessor of an unknown. > > My most optomistic view is that you may be able to devine who left this > gift for you, and you can ask him/her about it. > > Beware, it may not matter what the true nature of chloro tri base is. > > Good luck. > > Michael Ahler, CHO > mahler@calpoly.edu > Risk Management > Cal Poly > San Luis Obispo, California > ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 25 Feb 1999 08:18:40 -0600 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: EH&S Compliance Subject: flash points Below is a e-mail listing I saved on it. Rebecca Levins EH&S Compliance Specialist RSR Corporation Dallas, Texas RSRrdl@onramp.net (214) 583-0245 When I checked the NFPA 325 list it seems to be from the same source. Ethyl Alcohol Conc. Proof Spirit (US) Flash Point w/w v/v @15.6oC oC oF 100 100 200 12.8 55 96 97,5 192 16.7 62 95 96.8 190 17.2 63 80 85.5 160 20.0 68 70 76.9 140 21.1 70 60 67.7 120 22.2 72 50 57.8 100 23.9 75 40 47.3 80 26.1 79 30 36.2 60 29.4 85 20 24.5 40 36.1 97 10 12.4 20 49 0 120 5 6.2 10 62.2 144 E&OE Regards Tony Attachment Converted: "c:\winnet\eudora\linda\attach\WINMAIL13.DAT" end ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 26 Feb 1999 09:10:21 -0500 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Janeen LaPierre Subject: Re: Movable shelving in stockrooms? Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit We use this type of shelving in our specimen museum. The specimens are in a 20% solution of ethylene glycol and water. We have had no problems with the units. The shelves have lips so items can not fall off. I am not sure how I would like this in a full scale stock room though. It could possibly put incompatibles together when shelves were closed. I would also be concerned with ventilation as you stated. That's my opinion for what its worth, Janeen. ***************** Janeen Lapierre, CHO College of Osteopathic Medicine University of New England 11 Hills Beach Road Biddeford, ME 04005 E-Mail: JLaPierre@MAILBOX.UNE.EDU Phone: (207) 283-0170 ext 2446 Opinions are mine and not those of UNE. >>> Gillian Gardner - 2/25/99 8:28 PM >>> In a discussion about renovating our building and stockroom today, the facilities planner asked about the possibility of using movable shelving in the chemistry stockroom. What he had in mind was the type of shelving used in some libraries where you can push the shelves all closed together and then move them apart to access the chemicals. Obviously, this would work only for solids (at least in my opinion). I'm also concerned about air circulation or increased difficulties in fighting a fire. Any ideas, comments? My inclination is to say bad idea. Gillian Gardner Lewis & Clark College ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 26 Feb 1999 10:05:01 -0500 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: "Dr. Linda A. Swihart" Subject: Re: flash points In-Reply-To: <01BE6098.30E593C0@ppp31-56.dllstx.onramp.net> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" The flash point info that was sent by a list reader back in Jan or Dec has been permanently enshrined as a table in the FAQ section of the LSW web site. I believe it matches the NFPA info exactly but it is always wise to double/triple/quadruple check. Go to http://www.labsafety.org/ and choose the Services/Products button. At the top right of the Services/Products frame is a FAQ link. The ethanol/water flash point info is about the fourth FAQ down. Linda PS would appreciate any more of this type info! ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 26 Feb 1999 07:37:14 -0800 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Roberta Black Subject: Re: Movable shelving in stockrooms? Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit How long will it be before "movable" parts become corroded? Also, tracks, etc., could make spill cleanup the pits. (Of course, we never have spills in the stockroom.) ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 26 Feb 1999 11:06:51 EST Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Labsafe@AOL.COM Subject: Re: Ethanol/water Flammability Comments: To: hs-canada@kate.ccohs.ca, Safety Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-transfer-encoding: 7bit In a message dated 2/25/99 10:16:06 PM Eastern Standard Time, RWL1@PGE.COM writes: << There was a reference made several weeks ago about a Web site which listed Flash Points vs. ethanol/water concentrations. I knew I would need that information someday, but I did not bookmark it. Does anyone recall where I can get this information? >> Hi NACHO's This information is now available at the www.labsafety.org web site in the FAQ section. ... jim ***************************************************** James A. Kaufman, Director The Laboratory Safety Workshop Safety in Science Education 192 Worcester Road, Natick, MA 01760 508-647-1900 Fax: 508-647-0062 labsafe@aol.com http://www.labsafety.org/ LSW is a national non-profit educational organization dedicated to making health and safety an integral and important part of science education. Free copies of our Laboratory Safety Guidelines, seminar schedule, Publications List, AV-Lending Library List, and membership information are available on request. The LABSAFETY-L discussion list is a public service of LSW. ***************************************************** ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 26 Feb 1999 08:31:36 -0800 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Terri Hellman Subject: Re: Movable shelving in stockrooms? MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit There are a couple of problms that I see but it is possible that they could be worked out. The one is ventilation. You would want to make sure the cabinets are ventilated in a way that a person getting a container would not have their BZ contaiminated. Segregation of chemicals would be extremely important. The shelves would need doors on them and the rollers would have to be well maintained to prevent cross interaction. For firefighting it may require a halon type system. Talk with the planner about these specifics. You may also with to talk to your local fire fights to get their feel on it. Gillian Gardner wrote: > In a discussion about renovating our building and stockroom today, the > facilities planner asked about the possibility of using movable shelving > in the chemistry stockroom. What he had in mind was the type of shelving > used in some libraries where you can push the shelves all closed together > and then move them apart to access the chemicals. Obviously, this would > work only for solids (at least in my opinion). I'm also concerned about > air circulation or increased difficulties in fighting a fire. Any ideas, > comments? My inclination is to say bad idea. > > Gillian Gardner > Lewis & Clark College ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 26 Feb 1999 12:12:49 -0400 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Don Abramowitz Subject: Re: Movable shelving in stockrooms? Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" the possibility of using movable shelving >in the chemistry stockroom. I agree about the bad idea part, especially with respect to fire fighting. We have recently installed a fair bit of it in our libraries, where it does a fine job (the ride on the electric models is probably slow, smooth and gentle enough for liquids) , but a couple of additional concerns occur to me for the stockroom application: The motorized units may present an ignition source - the motors and fairly sophisticated controls. Manually-driven mechanical units are subject to overzealous cranking, which could bang shelving units together, upsetting containers. The units run on tracks recessed into the floor, which makes spill clean-up more of a hassle. The units are rather expensive, and are probably not designed for service in harsh environments (e.g., shelf finishes; corrosion of mechanisms, motors, and controls if you encounter some HCl vapor in the air). Personally, I'd rather spend the money on ventilation and fire protection systems. Don ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 26 Feb 1999 09:19:20 -0800 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Christophe YOUNGHANS-HAUG Subject: Columbia U. citation--what were the lab activities involved? MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Can anyone report for the list what lab activities/operations was Columbia University performing that OSHA felt created airborne formaldehyde concentrations above the OSHA action levels, which I assume is a prerequisite for applying the Formaldehyde Standard. **************************** Chris Younghans-Haug, MPA, REHS EH&S Programs Coordinator for the College of Medicine University of California Irvine 92697-3950 (949) 824-4660 (949) 824-1121 fax chrisyh@uci.edu **************************** ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 26 Feb 1999 12:33:40 -0500 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Sharon Reed Subject: Re: Welcome to NACHO Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Hello, I'm Sharon Reed, Safety Officer for a research division of Pall Corporation, and I've just joined your group. I am the CHO and general safety officer for 6 lab groups (10 physical labs with 75 employees), three design groups (with 40 employees, designing high technology filters and the equipment to produce those filters), and about 15 support personnel. Some of my general concerns include lab safety as applied to industrial research labs; much, if not most, of my literature and the company's safety history is geared to industrial safety, which often is not a good fit in a lab atmosphere. Gearing up from a small lab version of a process to an industrial-strength version can be tricky! As is keeping that small research lab mindset in the midst of a manufacturing atmosphere. For instance, our respiratory program used to state that all applications requiring use of a respirator had to be listed in appendix A of the program. Well, in research, we could come up with something new every week; getting it approved and published each time would significantly lengthen the product development process. We finally had it reworded so that all new and temporary uses would be reviewed by me, and only permanent uses had to be listed. Are there other CHOs in this group who find themselves part of a lab group fighting the manufacturing mindset? ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 26 Feb 1999 13:12:38 -0500 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: "Dr. Linda A. Swihart" Subject: Re: Columbia U. citation--what were the lab activities involved? In-Reply-To: Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" At 09:19 AM 2/26/99 -0800, Chris wrote: >Can anyone report for the list what lab activities/operations was Columbia >University performing that OSHA felt created airborne formaldehyde >concentrations above the OSHA action levels, which I assume is a >prerequisite for applying the Formaldehyde Standard. They may not have been "lab activities" at all. I have no insider information but these thoughts: It was Columbia's College of Physicians and Surgeons ( http://cpmcnet.columbia.edu/dept/ps/ ), Health Sciences Division, which was cited, according to the Region 2 news release at http://www.osha.gov/media/oshnews/jan99/reg2ny111.html (although I cannot find a "division of Health Sciences in the CCPS list of departments and divisions....) This is a medical school unless I'm not mistaken. Teaching hospital? Is the County Morgue there? I don't get out much, obviously. It is probably these and much much more. The areas cited for Formaldehyde Standard were probably not considered as "Lab Standard superceded," and may have been subject to the full provisions of the Formaldehyde Standard. The way the news release is written makes it sound like this. They may have been diagnostic labs, or a morgue, or simply teaching laboratories, and considered to be HazCom areas. There is still massive confusion in most places about what's HazCom and what's Lab Standard, and whether or not there aren't there some places where BOTH apply.... And it's just possible that an OSHA inspector is citing a clear-cut "lab use" location for violations of a standard with which it is not actually required to comply. It happens that even the OSHA inspectors slip up once in a while. Probably at least partially due to the confusing answers they get from nervous interrogation subjects! That's when the University's lawyers get to earn their keep. Linda "Chaos, panic, & disorder..... my work here is done." ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 26 Feb 1999 12:57:00 -0500 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: "Norman, Randy" Subject: Re: Columbia U. citation--what were the lab activities involved? MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" The Formaldehyde standard has a number of provisions which apply irrespective of whether exposures are routinely near or above the Action Level. Described broadly, they are; - Initial monitoring, and monitoring after any changes which may lead to new or additional exposures, except when you can document, using objective data, that air concentrations cannot exceed the PEL (short-or-long-term) under any foreseeable conditions of use (I would add this includes under worst-case spill conditions. So if you have documentation based on objective data that proves that air concentrations cannot exceed the PEL under any foreseeable conditions, you're off the hook, otherwise at least some monitoring is required). - Annual training, except when you can show, using objective data, that employees are not exposed to formaldehyde at or above 0.1 ppm. - Hazard Communication for any material that is capable of releasing formaldehyde at levels of at least 0.1 ppm. - Appropriate emergency procedures must be adopted for each workplace where there is a possibility of an emergency involving formaldehyde. (Note only if such an emergency is NOT POSSIBLE can you avoid this) - Personal protective clothing and equipment must be selected, used and maintained per the Formaldehyde standard and other applicable OSHA regs. - AND, the Medical Removal and Multiple Physician review procedures apply whenever an employee reports significant irritation of the mucosa of the eyes or upper airway, respiratory sensitization, dermal irritation, or dermal sensitization attributed to workplace formaldehyde exposure. EXCEPT for dermal irritation or dermal sensitization when the product suspected of causing the dermal condition contains less than 0.05% formaldehyde. (Note: no mention of, applies regardless of, airborne concentrations.) That's almost completely a direct quote from the standard itself. You caught me preparing to do our annual round of training. :-) Randy Norman Safety Specialist Sr. BioReliance Corporation Rockville, MD 20850 Rnorman@bioreliance.com "Success is a journey, not a destination" - Ben Sweetland ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 26 Feb 1999 13:13:27 -0600 Reply-To: olebama@worldnet.att.net Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Reuben Watkins Subject: welcome MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Hello, I am Reuben Watkins, Health and Safety Administrator for Southern Research Institute in Birmingham, AL. I am the CHO (and assistant rad officer, and assistant biosafety officer,......). The Institute employees about 600 that covers almost all fields of research (chemical, biological, engineering, environmental engineering, etc.) We have 4 separate sites. We also have support staff (office/clerical, maintenance staff, janitorial, etc.) As you can see, I have a wide and varied set of issues that I have to deal with. I also have problems with the respiratory program. As a research facility, we could be working with something without even a method of analysis (we might be trying to develop one) let alone a PEL. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 26 Feb 1999 17:01:12 -0330 Reply-To: Geraldine Kennedy Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Geraldine Kennedy Subject: Re: Movable shelving in stockrooms? In-Reply-To: MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII Greetings from up north, I'm a newbie to this list (I'll add an intro below) and like many others spent a little time just observing. I have found the questions and answers on the list very informative. With respect to the use of movable shelves in stockrooms, we use them in both the student lab and main chemistry department stockroom but only for non-chemical items (glassware, equipment, apparatus, etc.). I have found them quite useful for this purpose, although as another list member suggested, lips on the shelves are recommended. Or store items in trays. We tend to store chemicals on fixed shelves or in appropriate cabinets. As way of an introduction, my name is Geraldine Kennedy and I am the Environmental Officer at Memorial University of Newfoundland (Canada). At peak times our university population in around 15,000. Included in my many hats are: hazardous materials control officer, radiation safety technician, safety trainer and recycling coordinator. If we used the CHO designation, I guess that would be included too. Thanks to everyone for all the great information. This list is a fantastic resource. ******************************************************************************* Geraldine Kennedy Safety and Environmental Services Environmental Officer Department of Facitilies Management Tel: (709)737-4320 Memorial University of Newfoundland ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 26 Feb 1999 15:42:59 -0500 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Naomi Kelly Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Can anyone give me a quick answer to the precautions and ventilation requirements (should this be in a vented cabinet, under local exhaust or neither?) for the use of silane in a laboratory. The only information I have found about the ventilation of this product is that it should be stored in a well-ventilated area and at positive pressures. There will only be one cylinder of silane. The other gases used in the laboratory are O2, N2, He, Ar, H2. Thanks Naomi Kelly Environmental Health and Safety Clemson University nkelly@clemson.edu (864)656-7554 Fax (864)656-7630 ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 26 Feb 1999 15:14:20 -0600 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Mark Smith Subject: Formaldehyde and contacts In-Reply-To: Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" I was asked by a bilogist staff member if there are well documented hazards associated with formaldehyde vapors and contact lenses. Does this flow into the fact vs. fiction general debate we have seen on contacts in general? ms *************************************** MARK SMITH HENDRIX COLLEGE CHEMISTRY LABORATORY COORDINATOR CHEMICAL HYGIENE OFFICER NRCC-CHO *************************************** 1600 Washington Ave Conway, AR 72032 501-450-3812 Fax : 501-450-3829 *************************************** ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 26 Feb 1999 16:26:35 -0500 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: "Stoll, Ilse (Ilse)" MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain We do not store any silane inside any building. The fire hazard is too great (it self ignites in air) especially since the flame is essentially invisible. ONLY 1 CYLINDER is a lot of potential problems. Ilse Stoll Lucent Technologies 555 Union Blvd. Allentown, PA 18103 610.712.5505 ilsestoll@lucent.com > ---------- > From: Naomi Kelly[SMTP:nkelly@CLEMSON.EDU] > Reply To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List > Sent: Friday, February 26, 1999 3:42 PM > To: LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU > > Can anyone give me a quick answer to the precautions and ventilation > requirements (should this be in a vented cabinet, under local exhaust or > neither?) for the use of silane in a laboratory. The only information I > have found about the ventilation of this product is that it should be > stored in a well-ventilated area and at positive pressures. There will > only > be one cylinder of silane. The other gases used in the laboratory are O2, > N2, He, Ar, H2. > > Thanks > Naomi Kelly > Environmental Health and Safety > Clemson University > nkelly@clemson.edu > (864)656-7554 > Fax (864)656-7630 > ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 26 Feb 1999 17:15:54 -0500 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: "Julie J. O'Brien" Subject: Re: Welcome to NACHO Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" >Are there other CHOs in this group who find themselves part of a lab group >fighting the manufacturing mindset? Our company definitely fits your description. Our written procedures normally apply only to handling of chemicals in a manufacturing setting. It's difficult to work in such a situation. I've had the problem that people don't take laboratory accidents and hazards seriously just because the consequences (financial, community relations, # or severity of injuries, environmental) are not as great as a major manufacturing accident or hazard. But, I keep trying. I think our employees are starting to learn that our labs are not just miniature production areas & that we have different hazards that we must be concerned with just as much as we would be if it were production. Keep trying!! Julie O'Brien Julie O'Brien EXPO The Children's Museum of Gainesville Education and Exhibits Committee PO Box 5951 Gainesville, FL 32627 PCR, Inc. Chemist, Research & Development PO Box 1466 Gainesville, FL 32602 352-376-8246 ext. 232 ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 26 Feb 1999 14:52:20 -0800 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Debbie Decker Subject: Re: Formaldehyde and contacts In-Reply-To: Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" At 03:14 PM 2/26/99 -0600, you wrote: >I was asked by a bilogist staff member if there are well documented hazards >associated with formaldehyde vapors and contact lenses. > >Does this flow into the fact vs. fiction general debate we have seen on >contacts in general? > Not that I've come across in my review of the literature. E. B. Segall is the contact lens guru but in the articles I've read by her, no mention of any "well-documented hazards" with formaldehyde and contact lenses. In fact, there are very few "well-documented hazards" associated with chemical use and contact lenses. We did have an interesting incident happen here recently. A technician was working in a fume hood, cover-slipping some slides. This procedure involves xylene (how - I'm not entirely sure). She's not wearing any eye protection . Anyway, she dropped something into the xylene bath and got xylene splashed into her eye. Much arm-waving, thrashing about, general shrieking as she's a contact lens wearer. Off to the eye doc where, upon removal of the contact lens, a pit was discovered where the xylene splashed onto the contact lens. No eye damage and the eye doc kept the contact to demonstrate how important eye protection is! You can imagine that these guys are now wearers of eye protection - about bloody time. Happy Friday, deb. Debbie Decker EH&S UCDavis (530)754-7964 dmdecker@ucdavis.edu ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 26 Feb 1999 18:33:18 -0400 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Don Abramowitz Subject: Re: Columbia U. citation--what were the lab activities involved? Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" >Can anyone report for the list what lab activities/operations was Columbia >University performing that OSHA felt created airborne formaldehyde >concentrations above the OSHA action levels. As long as we're hoping for more information on particulars, I'd be very interested in hearing more about the basis for the "Willful" citation issued. From the press release, one violation of the Laboratory standard was judged "Willful" as opposed to "Serious", and there was reference made to them violating their own Chemical Hygiene Plan. The distinction between willful and serious citations is based on the degree to which the employer knowingly violated the standard. A "willful" can involve tenfold increase in penalties (more or less is also possible), and the determination of "willfulness" ain't exactly a science. I worry that each written compliance program we create sets us up as "willful" violators if our written plans call for something that winds up not being implemented when the inspectors are here. The institution's authorship of a decent compliance plan clearly documents knowledge of the requirements of a standard; if we distribute the plan to all hands, and said hands fail to implement something, I suppose the argument can be made that the institution (the collective "we") knew the requirements and chose not to comply. I'd appreciate any info anyone can share as to the reasons/circumstances behind this particular willful violation. I'd also like to hear thoughts about the implications of written plans in this regard, and any advice anyone has on preventing your own documents from being used against you. Don ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 26 Feb 1999 15:35:20 -0800 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Roberta Black Subject: Re: Formaldehyde and contacts Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit Debbie--Xylene is used in histology to remove the embedding compound (usually wax) after the specimen is embedded and sliced with a microtome --berta Pax et bonum ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 26 Feb 1999 18:41:52 -0600 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Jeff Rubin Subject: Re: Formaldehyde and contacts In-Reply-To: <3.0.3.32.19990226145220.007d9100@scarlet.ucdavis.edu> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" We've had two phenol exposures recently. The first was a student doing some decanting under a fume hood. She dropped the bottle (it didn't break) and in the process some phenol spilled onto her arm. Guess what? She was wearing eye protection, gloves, AND a lab coat! She yanked off the coat and tossed it into the hood, then dashed to a big sink (there was a shower in the corridor but she decided the sink would do for an isolated exposure), rinsed for 15 min, then had someone take her to a hospital for eval. A little early blistering, which went away. Most of the spilled phenol, of course, stayed on her lab coat. Amazing! The second was a splash while opening a vial of just-centrifuged sequencing gel. This student was also wearing gloves and a lab coat. In fact, after removing her gloves and washing her hands, she assumed everything was OK, not realizing that some had splashed onto her coat. After a minute or so she started to feel a little burning sensation on her arm, which was followed by a hasty trip to a sink for 20 minutes of soap and water. Not even a blister for this one. Better yet, almost everyone in the lab group was present to witness the value of PPE - this was quickly reinforced by the prof, who had issued a strong reminder to the occupants about use of PPE 2-3 beforehand. Every now and then, there's evidence of movement in the right direction... I know - I'll never be able to top Deb's stories, but I can dream... JNR Jeff Rubin, Asst. Dean for EHS College of Natural Sciences G2500 W.C. Hogg Building University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX 78712-1199 (512) 471-6176 (O) (512) 471-4998 (F) jrubin@mail.utexas.edu http://www.utexas.edu/cons/safety/ "The opinions of Dr. Rubin are not meant to offend anyone unless otherwise specified." ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 26 Feb 1999 16:55:15 -0800 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Debbie Decker Subject: Re: Formaldehyde and contacts In-Reply-To: Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" At 06:41 PM 2/26/99 -0600, JNR wrote: >We've had two phenol exposures recently. who had issued a strong reminder to the occupants about use of >PPE 2-3 beforehand. > >Every now and then, there's evidence of movement in the right direction... Thanks for posting these! I'll use them next month in my lab safety training. I get kinda grossed out using the gorey stories about the consequences of not using ppe all the time. Better to talk about the positives. Cheers, Deb. Debbie Decker EH&S UCDavis (530)754-7964 dmdecker@ucdavis.edu ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 27 Feb 2000 14:51:04 +1300 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Tony Haggerty Subject: Re: flash points MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/mixed; boundary="----=_NextPart_000_0007_01BF8132.12F72D40" This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_0007_01BF8132.12F72D40 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit A copy in Word 6 for those without Internet access ------=_NextPart_000_0007_01BF8132.12F72D40 Content-Type: application/msword; name="Ethyl Alcohol Conc.doc" Content-Transfer-Encoding: base64 Content-Disposition: attachment; filename="Ethyl Alcohol Conc.doc" ------=_NextPart_000_0007_01BF8132.12F72D40-- ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 27 Feb 2000 15:09:32 +1300 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Tony Haggerty Subject: Re: M E K Question MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Mark No one seems to have ventured an answer to your query so I'll put my 2 cents in and say that I do not believe that MEK spontaneously forms Peroxides. There is of course a Peroxide, MEKP, commonly used as a resin catalyst but this is manufactured. Tony H ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 26 Feb 1999 22:16:06 EST Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Labsafe@AOL.COM Subject: Re: Columbia U. citation--what were the lab activities involved? Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-transfer-encoding: 7bit In a message dated 2/26/99 3:49:36 PM Eastern Standard Time, swihart@PURDUE.EDU writes: << There is still massive confusion in most places about what's HazCom and what's Lab Standard, and whether or not there aren't there some places where BOTH apply.... >> Hi NACHO's, I hope the OSHA people in NY are doing a better job than some NY PESH enforcement officers. I has a very discouraging discussion with one about HazCom vs Lab Std. They were totally confused and simply did not understand the law. In particular, they failed to understand how the Lab Standard replaced the HazCom Std and the rest of Subpat Z in almost all respects. In fact, they thought that Subpart Z consisted of only 29CFR1910.1000!!! Regards, ... Jim ***************************************************** James A. Kaufman, Director The Laboratory Safety Workshop Safety in Science Education 192 Worcester Road, Natick, MA 01760 508-647-1900 Fax: 508-647-0062 labsafe@aol.com http://www.labsafety.org/ LSW is a national non-profit educational organization dedicated to making health and safety an integral and important part of science education. Free copies of our Laboratory Safety Guidelines, seminar schedule, Publications List, AV-Lending Library List, and membership information are available on request. The LABSAFETY-L discussion list is a public service of LSW. ****************************************************** ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 26 Feb 1999 22:22:03 EST Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Marshall Huckaby Subject: Re: Movable shelving in stockrooms? Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-transfer-encoding: 7bit I agree that for chemicals it is a bad idea mainly because the sprinkler system would be prevented from doing its job. Sounds like the makings of a good fire. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 26 Feb 1999 22:23:03 EST Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Labsafe@AOL.COM Subject: Re: Columbia U. citation--what were the lab activities involved? Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-transfer-encoding: 7bit In a message dated 2/26/99 3:52:58 PM Eastern Standard Time, RNorman@BIORELIANCE.COM writes: << The Formaldehyde standard has a number of provisions which apply irrespective of whether exposures are routinely near or above the Action Level. >> Hi NACHOs, It is my understanding that the above statement would not be true with respect to laboratories. And, I am not suggesting that it is not the author's understanding as well (since the statement does not preclude that). ... Jim ***************************************************** James A. Kaufman, Director The Laboratory Safety Workshop Safety in Science Education 192 Worcester Road, Natick, MA 01760 508-647-1900 Fax: 508-647-0062 labsafe@aol.com http://www.labsafety.org/ LSW is a national non-profit educational organization dedicated to making health and safety an integral and important part of science education. Free copies of our Laboratory Safety Guidelines, seminar schedule, Publications List, AV-Lending Library List, and membership information are available on request. The LABSAFETY-L discussion list is a public service of LSW. ****************************************************** ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 26 Feb 1999 22:31:51 EST Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Labsafe@AOL.COM Subject: Re: This List and Getting More Members Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-transfer-encoding: 7bit In a message dated 2/26/99 6:46:08 PM Eastern Standard Time, gkennedy@morgan.ucs.mun.ca writes: << Thanks to everyone for all the great information. This list is a fantastic resource. >> Hi NACHOs, I agree! And, I'd like all of you to help make it greater. The power comes from the people and their willingness to share ideas and information. So, please help make it better. Please find one or two new members for NACHO. Tell you friends, colleagues, and students about this fantastic resource and invite them to join. It's so easy. They send a message to: Listserv@siu.edu In the body of the message, all they have to say is "sub labsafety-l their name" Thanks. .... jim ***************************************************** James A. Kaufman, Director The Laboratory Safety Workshop Safety in Science Education 192 Worcester Road, Natick, MA 01760 508-647-1900 Fax: 508-647-0062 labsafe@aol.com http://www.labsafety.org/ LSW is a national non-profit educational organization dedicated to making health and safety an integral and important part of science education. Free copies of our Laboratory Safety Guidelines, seminar schedule, Publications List, AV-Lending Library List, and membership information are available on request. The LABSAFETY-L discussion list is a public service of LSW. ****************************************************** ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 26 Feb 1999 23:17:29 -0500 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Mary Ann Solstad Subject: Re: Formaldehyde and contacts In-Reply-To: Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" At 03:14 PM 2/26/99 -0600, you wrote: >I was asked by a bilogist staff member if there are well documented hazards >associated with formaldehyde vapors and contact lenses. > >Does this flow into the fact vs. fiction general debate we have seen on >contacts in general? > >ms > >*************************************** > MARK SMITH > HENDRIX COLLEGE CHEMISTRY > LABORATORY COORDINATOR > CHEMICAL HYGIENE OFFICER NRCC-CHO >*************************************** > 1600 Washington Ave > Conway, AR 72032 > 501-450-3812 > Fax : 501-450-3829 >*************************************** > The occupational ophthalmologist for the Navy (ret), (Dr Blais) that spoke to our Division last year, on investigating many reported instances in many countries, of chemical accidents and contacts, found no horrible adverse effects that did not fall into the category of urban legend. I don't recall formaldehyde in particular. Contacts, in fact, were sometimes protective). In all case it is assumed appropriate PPE will be worn. From a chemist's point of view, many biologists and medical people do not wear appropriate PPE when they are around chemicals. Yes, they do have chemicals in a bio lab. Mary Ann Mary Ann Solstad, CIH 4 A's of Safety SOLSTAD Health & Safety Evaluations Attitude 16 Pequot Rd, Marblehead, MA 01945 Awareness 781-631-4748 tel, 781-631-1832 FAX Automatic Application Authority Past Chair, DivCHAS, ACS msolstad@mediaone.net ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 26 Feb 1999 23:29:59 EST Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Labsafe@AOL.COM Subject: Re: Columbia U. citation--what were the lab activities involved? Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-transfer-encoding: 7bit In a message dated 2/26/99 11:05:22 PM Eastern Standard Time, dabramo1@SWARTHMORE.EDU writes: << I'd appreciate any info anyone can share as to the reasons/circumstances behind this particular willful violation. I'd also like to hear thoughts about the implications of written plans in this regard, and any advice anyone has on preventing your own documents from being used against you. >> Hi NACHOs, Is it possible under the Freedom of Information Act to obtain a copy of the citation? ... Jim ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 27 Feb 1999 00:28:35 -0500 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: "Dr. Linda A. Swihart" Subject: Re: M E K Question In-Reply-To: <435ACBA4E161D1118AC7006008A057A02B3B31@ehs-nts1.ehs.ufl.ed u> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" On the list included in our CHP I notice that 2-pentanone and 3-pentanone are on the the "18-month (peroxide formation on concentration)" list. I suspect this list originally came from (an older edition of) Prudent Practices. Can anyone verify or contradict that? Our copy seems to have taken a little vacation... The absence, therefore, of 2-butanone, aka MEK, perplexed me. The safety card at http://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/msds/mf/cards/files/0179.html does not mention peroxide formation. Neither do the first couple of MSDSs I looked at. (Contrast with diethyl ether MSDSs which say "explosive peroxides can form...") After looking at several I can't find an MSDS for 2-butanone that says anything about peroxide formation. Also can't find one for 2-pentanone that says anything about peroxide formation. Anybody else? I hope our Prudent Practices comes back from wherever it is so I can check this out.... if it's in there, with any luck the references are cited. Mark, what are your three references? (Our Purdue CHP peroxide formers list is at http://www.purdue.edu/REM/HMM/guideln2.htm#table2) At 07:51 AM 2/25/99 -0500, you wrote: >Is Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) a peroxide forming compound? I have 3 >references that cover all possibilities. One says yes, one says no, one >says possibly. > >Thank you in advance!! > >Mark Yanchisin >Coordinator for Clinical and Lab Safety > Programs >University of Florida Env. Health and Safety ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 27 Feb 1999 01:10:33 -0500 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Mary Ann Solstad Subject: Re: M E K Question In-Reply-To: <3.0.5.32.19990227002835.008712d0@postoffice.purdue.edu> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Perhaps Bretherick would have a citation. He's always a good resource. Mary Ann At 12:28 AM 2/27/99 -0500, you wrote: >On the list included in our CHP I notice that 2-pentanone and 3-pentanone >are on the the "18-month (peroxide formation on concentration)" list. I >suspect this list originally came from (an older edition of) Prudent >Practices. Can anyone verify or contradict that? Our copy seems to have >taken a little vacation... > >The absence, therefore, of 2-butanone, aka MEK, perplexed me. The safety >card at http://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/msds/mf/cards/files/0179.html does >not mention peroxide formation. Neither do the first couple of MSDSs I >looked at. (Contrast with diethyl ether MSDSs which say "explosive >peroxides can form...") > >After looking at several I can't find an MSDS for 2-butanone that says >anything about peroxide formation. Also can't find one for 2-pentanone >that says anything about peroxide formation. > >Anybody else? I hope our Prudent Practices comes back from wherever it is >so I can check this out.... if it's in there, with any luck the references >are cited. > >Mark, what are your three references? > >(Our Purdue CHP peroxide formers list is at >http://www.purdue.edu/REM/HMM/guideln2.htm#table2) > > >At 07:51 AM 2/25/99 -0500, you wrote: >>Is Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) a peroxide forming compound? I have 3 >>references that cover all possibilities. One says yes, one says no, one >>says possibly. >> >>Thank you in advance!! >> >>Mark Yanchisin >>Coordinator for Clinical and Lab Safety >> Programs >>University of Florida Env. Health and Safety > Mary Ann Solstad, CIH 4 A's of Safety SOLSTAD Health & Safety Evaluations Attitude 16 Pequot Rd, Marblehead, MA 01945 Awareness 781-631-4748 tel, 781-631-1832 FAX Automatic Application Authority Past Chair, DivCHAS, ACS msolstad@mediaone.net ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 27 Feb 1999 01:24:22 -0500 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: "Dr. Linda A. Swihart" Subject: Willful - my guess In-Reply-To: Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" OK, here's yet another speculation, no particulars known. I hypothesize that they didn't HAVE a written CHP, or at least not a recognizably decent facsimile thereof. That would be willful, definitely. Exact wording -- the news release says they "...willfully violated the laboratory standard by failing to carry out the provisions of a written chemical hygiene plan..." Linda At 06:33 PM 2/26/99 -0400, Don wrote: ---cut --- >As long as we're hoping for more information on particulars, I'd be very >interested in hearing more about the basis for the "Willful" citation >issued. From the press release, one violation of the Laboratory standard >was judged "Willful" as opposed to "Serious", and there was reference made >to them violating their own Chemical Hygiene Plan. --cut --- ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 27 Feb 1999 07:08:42 -0500 Reply-To: Bob Burns Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: Bob Burns Subject: Allentown MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----=_NextPart_000_0038_01BE6220.02498240" This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_0038_01BE6220.02498240 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Hi Group, I've been watching the AP newswire for a follow-up to the Allentown = explosion story. Never did see one. Did anyone see any more = information other than the original story? I'd be particularly = interested in why hydroxylamine exploded, and the conditions under which = it happened in view of the hazard statements in Sax and the Merck Index = and other places. I suppose there will be a story in C&EN about it. Bob "HAPPINESS IS A WARM PUPPY!" Bob & Evelyn Burns Mill Hall, PA ------=_NextPart_000_0038_01BE6220.02498240 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

Hi Group,
 
I've been watching the AP newswire for a follow-up = to the=20 Allentown explosion story.  Never did see one.  Did anyone see = any=20 more information other than the original story?  I'd be = particularly=20 interested in why hydroxylamine exploded, and the conditions under which = it=20 happened in view of the hazard statements in Sax and the Merck Index and = other=20 places.
 
I suppose there will be a story in C&EN about=20 it.
 
Bob
 
   "HAPPINESS IS A = WARM=20 PUPPY!"
 
   Bob & Evelyn=20 Burns
   Mill Hall, PA
------=_NextPart_000_0038_01BE6220.02498240-- ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 27 Feb 1999 09:43:09 -0500 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: "L. James Stock III" <34EMQ6K@CMUVM.CSV.CMICH.EDU> Subject: Re: Formaldehyde and contacts Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" We also recently had a situation with a phenolic compound, p-cresol. One of our graduate students returned a 500g bottle of p-cresol from his research lab refrigerator to my chemistry stockroom. He brought it down to us at 4:50 pm on a Friday and put it on our return chemical shelves. Unfortunately I had left at 4:00 that day so I wasn't there to handle the return. When I returned later Friday night at 7:00 pm to do some computer work I noticed a pungent smell in my stockroom which I mistakenly assumed was a Camphor smell from bottling up some Camphor for an organic chemistry lab experiment. I worked Friday night, Saturday, Sunday and by Monday I had enough and I started cleaning up the sink areas assuming the smell must be from some glassware used by the students. Within 10 minutes of working in the sinks I started getting severe abdominal cramping and had to go home for the day. I had to lay on the couch all day because every time I stood up I would cramp up. By 8:00 that night the symptoms disappeared. At this point I knew it wasn't the flu that had hit me. The next day at work my colleague found the culprit. That bottle of p-cresol had cracked and split open sitting on the chemical return shelf. Because I had a paper poly liner on the shelf the p-cresol was being wicked through the paper and providing a large area for evaporation. p-cresol has a melting point of 32-34 degrees C but enough was vaporizing to cause a serious problem. I have since removed the bottle and packaged it for disposal. I have removed the entire shelf unit and the entire adjacent shelf unit and all the carpet runners in the area. I am now having the entire stockroom floor stripped and scrubbed. It seems as if nothing will completely eradicate the smell from the stockroom. This cracked bottle has wrecked havoc on our lives here. After this incident the research lab found that another bottle of p-cresol in the refrigerator had cracked open. They now have been instructed not to place these compounds in a refrigerator but to store them in a ventilated cabinet. We are unsure whether the bottles cracked in the refrigerator or if they cracked after being removed from the refrigerator. I'm sure the student would have noticed the bottle was spilt open down both sides of when returning it. In either case, a word of caution to provide secondary containment and in a fume hood for any chemical coming out of a refrigerator and warming up to room temp. ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 28 Feb 1999 09:13:59 -0500 Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List From: "Robert N. Nelson" Subject: Re: Silane cylinders In-Reply-To: <4.1.19990226152046.00a8bef0@mail.clemson.edu> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" At 15:42 2/26/99 -0500, you wrote: >Can anyone give me a quick answer to the precautions and ventilation >requirements (should this be in a vented cabinet, under local exhaust or >neither?) for the use of silane in a laboratory. The only information I >have found about the ventilation of this product is that it should be >stored in a well-ventilated area and at positive pressures. There will only >be one cylinder of silane. The other gases used in the laboratory are O2, >N2, He, Ar, H2. > >Thanks >Naomi Kelly >Environmental Health and Safety >Clemson University >nkelly@clemson.edu >(864)656-7554 >Fax (864)656-7630 Naomi, I have used silane in my work at NASA preparing cosmic dust analogs (amorphous silicate smokes). What we have done includes the following: 1. Provide for N2 purge of all the silane lines before and after any run. We pump out and back fill with dry N2 at least 4 times. 2. Make sure that the vacuum system exhaust lines do not have any leaks and try and flush the entire system with N2 or He before and after a run. Before we did this we did have several "backfires" in the exhaust lines. 3. Where feasible purchase silane in He mixtures rather than pure silane. For our purposes this is not always feasible. 4. Because we typically have a mixture of H2, silane, and He reacting with O2, we generally start the H2+He flow into the furnace, then the O2 and make sure we see the temperature rise that signals ignition before starting the silane flow. This generally avoids a situation where unreacted silane reaches the vacuum pump or the outside atmosphere. Give me a call directly if you want more info. Bob Nelson DISCLAIMER: The information given here is based on my personal experience and does not necessarily reflect the policies of either NASA or Georgia Southern University. Robert N. Nelson, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Chemistry, Chem. Dept. Georgia Southern Univ. P.O.B. 8064, Statesboro, GA 30460-8064 912-681-5675 (voice) 912-681-0699 (fax) ********* The opinions expressed here are my personal opinions and do not necessarily reflect the views of my employer.