Howard University College of Medicine
CHEMICAL HYGIENE PLAN
| B. Chemical Procurement, Distribution and Storage: (See Radiation Safety and Biohazard Regulatory Offices for University regulations for radioisotopes and biohazards. Special procedures do apply in such cases.) |
1. Chemical Procurement:
a. Before a substance is received, information on proper handling, storage and disposal shall be known to those involved. When possible, substitute a hazardous material with one that is less hazardous (ex.: substitute histoclear for xylene):
b. No container shall be accepted from a vendor or transport agent if it lacks an adequate identifying label or if the shipping container is damaged or leaking.
c. Receipt of all other chemicals, to include hazardous chemicals, will continue to be a service provided by the Support Services Coordinator, Room 1211, College of Medicine. Chemicals may still be received directly by the researcher with observation of package inspection guidelines (See Chemical Procurement, 1.b. above).
d. Minimal quantities of hazardous material will be procured at one time in order to reduce stock and amount of hazardous material stored. Requests for procurement of large amounts of hazardous material must be approved on a case by case basis by the Departmental Chairperson..
e. If expiration dates are relevant to chemical stability (ex.: ether), procurement instructions to vendors should include sufficiently long expiration to assure that the chemical is stable and useable for the desired use period.
f. Controlled substances such as ethyl alcohol will be received by Room 1211 in the College of Medicine. in all instances.
2. Chemical Distribution
a. Unpackaged and hand carried chemicals should be placed in an outside container or bucket. Freight only elevators should be used when possible.
b. Personnel shall keep transported containers of chemicals closed.
c. Personnel will always transport quantities of chemical utilizing a cart with a lip or railing to prevent accidental tipping.
3. General Chemical Storage
a. Chemicals may be stored in a centrally controlled restricted access store or stock room or in individual laboratories:
b. All chemicals will be stored by compatibility group. Incompatible chemicals will be separated.
c. All laboratories containing hazardous materials shall place an appropriate label, such as the NFPA (National Fire Prevention Association) 704 diamond, on the entrance to indicate the hazards present within the laboratory (See appendix for schematic on classifying individual laboratory). The label will be placed at eye level (approximately 60") on all entrance doors.
d. Toxic substances shall be segregated in a well identified area with local exhaust ventilation.
e. Highly toxic chemicals which have been opened will be placed in an unbreakable secondary container.
f. Stored chemicals should be examined periodically (annually) for deterioration, expiration, replacement and container integrity.
g. Central stock room or storerooms should be controlled by a designated individual and should be open during regular working hours. Such rooms should not be used for chemical repackaging or preparation.
h. All chemicals will be stored in containers in good repair and remain properly labeled at all times. The label will include the chemical name, hazard classification and the name and address of the manufacturer to include an emergency phone number.
i. It is recommended that chemicals not be stored on shelves higher than eye level (approximately 60").
j. All chemical storage cabinets (including refrigerators used for chemical storage) will be labeled conspicuously; warning of the hazard contained within (e.g. flammable, acids, alkalis, oxidants, etc...).
k. Refrigerators located within laboratories and others used for chemical storage will not be used to store food or drink.
l. Chemical storage within laboratories: Observance of all additional storage requirements
Amounts of chemicals stored in individual laboratories should be as small as practical.
Chemicals storage on bench tops or in fume hoods is inadvisable.
Periodic inventories should be carried out and unwanted chemicals discarded or recycled according to prescribed procedures.
m. Flammable and Combustible Chemical Storage:
The total quantity of flammable or combustible chemicals maintained in the laboratory normally will be a minimal supply.
Flammable or combustible chemicals shall not be stored in cabinets other than a NFPA approved flammable storage cabinet. Such storage cabinets shall not be placed in hallways, stairways, bathrooms, or routes of egress and shall be labeled "FLAMMABLE".
Flammable or combustible chemicals will not be stored in refrigerators other than an Underwriter laboratory approved explosion-proof refrigerator. Explosion-proof refrigerators shall not be placed in hallways, stairways, bathrooms, or routes of egress.
Flammable and combustible chemicals shall be isolated from oxidizers.
Smoking will not be tolerated within 50 feet of an outside flammable or combustible storage area. Smoking within College of Medicine premises is prohibited.
n. Organic Peroxide Storage:
Organic peroxides will be stored in a cabinet separate from corrosives, flammable, and combustible chemicals.
Organic peroxides will not be procured, stored, or utilized unless they are required to perform currently employed procedures Only minimal amounts will be maintained if determined to be essential for current use.
All cabinets containing organic peroxides will be placed in a climate controlled environment and labeled "DANGER, ORGANIC PEROXIDES".
o. Corrosive Chemical Storage:
Corrosive chemicals will be placed in ceramic, glass or polypropylene trays containing a chemical absorbent of sufficient volume to contain all the material if the bottles were to break. Organic acids, mineral acids, and bases will each be placed in separate trays (All acids will be stored separately from bases with a physical barrier between the two).
Corrosive chemicals will be stored separately from flammable, combustible, toxic and reactive chemicals.
Corrosive chemicals must be stored in a metal cabinet or in an approved corrosive storage cabinet and labeled "CAUTION, CORROSIVES".
Organic acids will be stored separately from mineral acids.
Perchloric acid will only be in a secondary glass or plastic container and used only in a fume hood specifically certified by the manufacturer for use of perchloric acid. Storage in a perchloric acid fume hood is best.
p. Toxic Chemicals, Carcinogens and Suspected Carcinogens Storage:
Highly toxic poisons and known or suspected carcinogenic agents will be kept in a locked cabinet and accessed only by authorized personnel. A register of all users will be maintained as a permanent record.
Toxic or carcinogenic agents that require refrigeration will be placed in a desiccating box inside a lockable refrigerator to minimize condensation. Desiccating boxes will only be opened under an operable fume hood.
Some toxic chemicals may be stored under water or other solvents to reduce toxicity.
All opened containers will be resealed using parafilm or tape before storage.
All cabinets and refrigerators containing toxins, poisons, and known or suspected carcinogenic agents will be labeled "DANGER, CHEMICAL CARCINOGEN", "CAUTION, CANCER SUSPECTED AGENT", or "CAUTION, TOXIC AGENTS" as appropriate.
