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Chemical and Biological Safety in Laboratories

Table of Contents

1.0 INTRODUCTION

2.0 RESPONSIBILITIES

2.1 Vice President for Research

2.2 Associate Vice President for Research Operations

2.3 Office for Research Safety

2.4 Chemical and Biological Safety Committee

2.5 Recombinant DNA Safety Committee

2.6 Department Heads, Center Directors, and Other Facility Directors

2.7 Principal Investigators and Supervisors

2.8 The Individual

2.9 Laws and Regulations

2.10 Students

3.0 THE CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL SAFETY PROGRAM

3.1 Basis for the Chemical and Biological Safety Program

3.2 Safety Desk Book

3.3 Laboratory Safety Profile

3.3.1 Initial Submission

3.3.2 Annual Review

3.3.3 Change of Facility

3.3.4 Addition of or Change to a Specific Project

3.4 Laboratory Annual Reviews

4.0 GENERAL UNIVERSITY EMERGENCY INFORMATION

4.1 Where to Find Specific Information

4.2 University Emergency Response Plan

4.3 Building Emergency and Evacuation Plans

4.4 Power Failure

4.5 Incident (Accident) Reporting

4.6 ORS Assistance

4.7 Personal Injury

4.7.1 Burn

4.7.2 Inhalation

4.7.3 Shock

4.7.4 Ingestion

4.7.5 Puncture or Cut

4.7.6 Needlestick

4.7.7 Dermal Contact

4.7.8 Eye Contact

Medical Emergency Procedures, Chicago Campus Employees

Medical Emergency Procedures, Evanston Campus Employees

Medical Emergency Procedures, Students

5.0 GENERAL LABORATORY SAFETY

5.1 Personal Hygiene

5.2 Personal Protective Clothing and Equipment

5.2.1 Clothing

5.2.2 Eye Protection

5.2.3 Gloves

5.2.4 Respirators

5.3 General Laboratory Protocol

5.3.1 Housekeeping

5.3.2 Cleaning Glassware

5.3.3 Laboratory Animals

5.3.4 Relocating or Closing a Laboratory

5.3.5 Transportation of Hazardous Materials

5.3.6 Laboratory Doors

5.3.7 Visitors to Laboratories

5.4 General Laboratory Techniques

5.4.1 Laboratory Ventilation

5.4.2 Chemical Fume Hoods

5.4.3 Safety Showers

5.4.4 Eyewash Fountain
5.4.5 First Aid Kits
5.4.6 Laboratory Sinks and Drain Traps

5.4.7 Electrical Equipment

5.4.8 Static Electricity

5.4.9 Centrifuges

5.4.10 Vacuum Pumps

5.4.11 Drying Ovens and Furnaces

5.4.12 Syringes and Scalpel Blades

5.4.13 Facility Cleaning and Maintenance

5.4.14 Glassware

5.4.15 Assembling Apparatus
5.4.16 Eliminating Mercury Thermometers

5.4.17 Fire Extinguisher Policy

5.4.18 Special Precautions Against Ultraviolet Light

5.5 Signs and Labels for Laboratories

5.6 Training

6.0 CHEMICAL HAZARDS

6.1 Exposure to Chemicals

6.1.1 Exposure Routes

6.1.2 Acute and Chronic Toxicity

6.1.3 Carcinogenicity

6.1.4 Reproductive Toxins

6.1.5 Designated Area

6.1.6 Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs)
6.1.7 Monitoring Airborne Concentrations of Contaminants

6.2 Guidelines for Handling Chemicals

6.2.1 General Guidelines

6.2.2 Guidelines for Working with Chemicals of Acute Toxicity

6.2.3 Guidelines for Chemicals with High Chronic Toxicity, Carcinogens, and Reproductive Toxins

6.3 Chemical Emergency Procedures

6.4 Medical Surveillance

6.4.1 When is Medical Surveillance Required?

6.4.2 Medical Consultation and Evaluation

6.4.3 Medical Surveillance for Chemicals of High Chronic Toxicity

6.5 Chemical Storage

6.5.1 Chemical Labels

6.5.1.1 NFPA 704 System

6.5.1.2 HMIS System

6.5.1.3 Chemical Dating

6.5.2 Chemical Compatibility

6.5.3 Storage Facilities

6.5.4 Inspection of Stored Chemicals

6.5.5 Refrigerator Storage

6.6 Safety for Specific Chemical Operations

6.6.1 Unattended/Overnight Operations

6.6.2 Extractions and Distillations

6.6.3 Temperature Control

6.6.3.1 Oil and Sand Baths

6.6.3.2 Cooling Baths

6.6.4 Reduced Pressure Operations

6.6.5 Cold Traps

6.6.6 Transporting Chemicals In-House

6.7 Hazards of Chemical Groups

6.7.1 Corrosives: Acids and Bases

6.7.2 Flammable and Combustible Liquids

6.7.3 Compressed Gases

6.7.3.1 Acetylene

6.7.3.2 Lecture Bottles

6.7.4 Cryogenic Liquids and Liquified Gases

6.7.5 Highly Reactive Chemicals

6.7.5.1 Organic Peroxides

6.7.5.2 Peroxide-Forming Chemicals

6.7.5.3 Polynitro Compounds

6.7.5.4 Catalysts

6.7.5.5 Calorimeters (Commonly Known as Parr Bombs)

6.7.5.6 Sodium Azide

6.7.5.7 Organometallics

6.7.5.8 Hydrides

6.8 Chemical Waste Management

6.8.1 Pickups

6.8.2 Sanitary Sewer Disposal

6.8.3 Treatment

6.8.4 Storage

6.8.5 Containers

6.8.6 Collection of Sharps

6.8.7 Mixed Waste

6.8.8 Waste Minimization

7.0 BIOLOGICAL AGENTS

7.1 General

7.2 Responsibilities

7.2.1 General

7.2.2 Laboratory Safety Profile

7.3 Containment Methods

7.3.1 Laboratory Practice

7.3.2 Safety Equipment (Primary Barriers)

7.3.2.1 Biological Safety Cabinets

7.3.2.2 Other Safety Equipment

7.3.3 Secondary Barriers

7.4 Biosafety Levels

7.4.1 Biosafety Level 1

7.4.1.1 Standard Microbiological Practices for BL1

7.4.1.2 Safety Equipment for BL1

7.4.1.3 Laboratory Facilities for BL1

7.4.2 Biosafety Level 2

7.4.2.1 Standard Microbiological Practices for BL2

7.4.2.2 Special Practices for BL2

7.4.2.3 Safety Equipment for BL2

7.4.2.4 Laboratory Facilities (Secondary Barriers) for BL2

7.4.3 Biosafety Level 3

7.4.4 Biosafety Level 4

7.5 Biological Spills

7.5.1 Sterilization, Disinfection, and Decontamination

7.5.2 Decontamination of Spills

7.5.3 Biological Spill in the Open Laboratory

7.5.4 Biological Spill Within a Biological Safety Cabinet

7.5.5 Biological Spill in a Centrifuge or Other Equipment

7.5.6 Biological Spill on a Person

7.6 Human Blood, Blood Products, and Other Potentially Infectious Materials

7.7 Recombinant DNA Activities
7.8 Animal Studies
7.9 Handling of Sheep Cells
7.10 Importation or Transport Permits
7.11 Transfer of Select Agents
7.12 Infectious Waste Management

7.12.1 Separation and Packaging of Infectious Waste

7.12.2 Storage and Transport of Infectious Waste

7.12.3 Infectious Waste Treatment

7.12.3.1 Steam Sterilization

7.12.3.2 Incineration

7.12.3.3 Chemical Disinfection

LIST OF TABLES

Table 5.1 Properties of Protective Clothing Materials

Table 6.1 Quick Reference for Spill Cleanups

Table 6.2 Incompatible Materials: General Categories

Table 6.3 Incompatible Materials Chart

Table 6.4 Procedures for Inorganic Acid Neutralization (Does Not Apply to Chromic Acid)

Table 6.5 Flammable Liquid Classification

Table 6.6 Maximum Allowable Size of Flammable and Combustible Liquid Containers in Laboratories

Table 6.7 Maximum Size and Quantity Limitations for Compressed or Liquified Gas Cylinders in Laboratories

Table 6.8 List of Peroxidizable Compounds

Table 7.1 Select Infectious Agents

Table 7.2 Exemptions for Certain Select Agents

Table 7.3A Summary of Practical Disinfectants

Table 7.3B Decontaminants and Their Use in Infectious Waste Management

Table 7.4 Agent Summary Statements Available

Table 7.5 Arboviruses and Arenaviruses Assigned to Biosafety Level 2

Table 7.6 Vaccine Strains of BSL-3/4 Viruses Which May be Handled at BSL-2

Table 7.7 Arboviruses and Certain Other Viruses Assigned to BSL-3 (On the basis of insufficient experience)

Table 7.8 Arboviruses and Certain Other Viruses Assigned to BSL-3

APPENDICES

Appendix A: Regulated or Listed Carcinogens

Appendix B: Known or Suspected Reproductive Toxins