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Safety in the Laboratory

See also the Keene State College Environmental Health and Safety Office

Practice Safe Science

The CEB Laboratories are not a particularly dangerous place, but there are a few hazards. Please be aware of them and exercise common sense while working in the lab. Read the Warning Labels on the materials and equipment used in the lab, as well as the Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS). Wear Eye Protection (e.g., to protect against flying shards of glass), be careful with things that are very cold (Liquid Nitrogen and Dry Ice) or very hot (Gas-Oxy torch, hot glass), and Always check that the gas is off and all cylinders are closed when you leave the lab!

Know How to Practice Safe Science

Keene State College Laboratory Safety Program and Chemical Hygience Plan

Fragile, Handle with Care

Much of the equipment in the lab is fragile and could easily be broken if mis-handled. Please handle the equipment with care. Don't torque things attached to the line, don't overtighten the valves, don't drop a dewar flask, etc... If you are unsure about anything, seek advice from Dr. Allen or Dr. Gebauer.

50 Ways to Ruin your Analysis

To ensure that you get good results, you need to think about what you are doing at every step in processing your samples. There are numerous opportunities for contaminating your sample, pumping your sample gas away, or fractionating your sample (ruining the isotopic information that you are after), simply by turning the wrong valve at the wrong time or making some other mis-step. Take your time and think about what you are doing!

Specific Hazards

Radiation Safety

Ionizing X-Ray radiation is produced within the XRF spectrometer and over-exposure to such radiation could potentially be very harmful or even lethal, both to those exposed and/ or to their potential future offspring.

The XRF spectrometer is classified as an analytical X-ray machine, whose use is regulated by the State of New Hampshire (NH), Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Bureau of Radiological Health (BRH), Radiation Machines Section (http:// www.dhhs.nh.gov/DHHS/RADHEALTH/radiation-mach.htm). The NH DHHS/BRH has issued the New Hampshire Rules for the Control of Radiation (the Rules), as authorized by state law, which includes requirements for registrants to develop a Radiation Protection Program.

As required by these regulations, we maintain a Radiation Protection Program (PDF) (revised January 21, 2009), which you should read.

Two other resources of interest are:

National Bureau of Standards Handbook 111: Radiation Safety for X-Ray Diffraction and Fluorescence Analysis Equipment (PDF)
and the article:
R. Jenkins and D. J. Haas, 1973, "Hazards in the Use of X-Ray Analytical Instrumentation," X-Ray Spectrometry, Vol. 2, No. 3., p. 14.1.1-14.1.8 (PDF).

Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)

Keene State College Chemical Emergency Management System (CEMS) (only available from an on-campus computer)

Warning Labels from materials and equipment in the lab:

Dewars:

WARNING! Vacuum Flask--Can shatter unexpectedly. May cause injury. Wear safety glasses and, for best protection, gloves, long sleeves, and apron.

LD4 Dewar:

WARNING! Protect yourself and others. Read and Understand this label and the operating instructions for this unit before use. EXTREMELY COLD LIQUID and GAS CAN CAUSE SEVERE FROSTBITE INJURY. Do not touch spilled liquid or frosted parts. Wear protective gloves and face shield when handling liquid or stored product. Do no overfill unit--fill only to bottom of necktube. Prevent liquid spills--Do not tilt or lay it on its side.

FIRST AID: In case of frostbite, obtain medical treatment immediately.

POOR VENTILATION CAN CAUSE SUFFOCATION. Store, use, and transport this unit only in well ventilated areas. This unit continuously releases gas.

FIRST AID: If inhaled, remove to fresh air. If not breathing, give artificial respiration, preferably mouth-to-mouth. If breathing is difficult, give oxygen. Call a physician.

USE of LIQUID OXYGEN or LIQUID AIR in this unit MAY CAUSE EXPLOSION OR FIRE. Use only liquid nitrogen or argon.

IMPROPER HANDLING or OPERATION MAY CAUSE PERSONAL INJURY. Use only the proper necktube cores or accessories--substitutes may cause dangerous pressure buildup. Use a handcart or dolly to move heavier units. Do not tilt or lay it on its side.

IMPROPER CARE & MAINTENANCE can cause damage and loss of product. Maintain proper liquid nitrogen refrigerant levels--check regularly. Do not drop, drag or abuse unit. Do not use harsh cleaners that may corrode this unit. Keep the unit clean and dry.

For additional safety information read the Handle With Care booklet provided with this unit. Additional copies are available from your supplier.

Compressed Oxygen (O2) gas:

WARNING! High pressure oxidizing gas. Vigorously accelerates combustion. Keep oil and grease away. Open valve slowly. Use only with equipment cleaned for oxygen service and rated for cylinder pressure. Close valve after each use and when empty.Use in accordance with Material Saftey Data Sheet (MSDS) (from AirGas).

Compressed and Liquified Carbon Dioxide (CO2) gas:

WARNING! High pressure liquid and gas. Can cause rapid suffocation. Can increase respiration and heart rate. May cause frostbite. Avoid breathing gas. Store and use with adequate ventilation. Do not get liquid in eyes, on skin, or on clothing. Cylinder temperature should not exceed 125°F (52°C). Use equipment rated for cylinder pressure. Suck-back into cylinder may cause rupture. Always use a back flow prevention device in piping. Use in accordance with Material Saftey Data Sheet (MSDS) (from AirGas).

FIRST AID If inhaled, remove to fresh air. If not breathing, give artificial respiration. If breathing is difficult, give oxygen. Call a physician. In case of frostbite, obtain immediate medical attention.

CAUTION! Wear gloves when handling dry ice.

Compressed Nitrogen (N2) gas:

CAUTION High pressure gas. Can cause rapid suffocation. Store and use with adequate ventilation. Use equipment rated for cylinder pressure. Close valve after each use and when empty. Use in accordance with Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) (from AirGas).

FIRST AID If inhaled, remove to fresh air. If not breathing, give artificial respiration. If breathing is difficult, give oxygen. Call a physician.

Liquified Nitrogen (N2) gas:

WARNING! Extremely cold liquid and gas under pressure. Can cause rapid suffocation. Can cause severe frostbite. Store and use with adequate ventilation. Do not get liquid in eyes, on skin, or on clothing. For liquid withdrawal, wear face shield and gloves. Do not drop. Use hand truck for container movement. Close valve after each use and when empty. Use in accordance with Material Saftey Data Sheet (MSDS) (from AirGas).

FIRST AID If inhaled, remove to fresh air. If not breathing, give artificial respiration. If breathing is difficult, give oxygen. Call a physician. In case of frostbite, obtain immediate medical attention.

Propane Gas:

WARNING! Leaking propane gas may cause a fire or explosion if ignited. Contact with propane will cause freeze burns. Propane is heavier than air and can collect at floor level. Always be sensitive to the slightest gas odor. Any sort of gas odor may signal a serious propane gas leak. Odorant in the propane may fade. If you smell propane gas, take immediate action! Put out all smoking materials or open flames. Do not operate electrical switches or use your telephone. Get everyone out of the premises.

Ethanol:

For laboratory use only.

WARNING! Toxic. Flammable liquid. Irritating to the eyes. Keep away from heat, sparks and flame. Wear suitable eye protection and gloves.

FIRST AID In case of contact: flush with water. In case of inhalation: remove to fresh air. In case of ingestion or eye contact: seek medical attention.

Refer to the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) (from VWRSP).

Glassblowing Glasses:

When working with glass, in many cases ultra-violet and infra-red radiation is generated as well as sodium flare. Protect your eyes from this radiation as much as possible by wearing adequate and appropriate filter protection. They may look funny, but we have special glasses the must be worn when working with hot glass.

More Safety Advice

Wear Eye Protection!

Large amounts of gas could freeze in Cold Traps, particularly if the line is open to atmosphere or there is a leak. Rapid expansion of this gas during thawing could cause the line to explode, sending shards of broken glass flying. Likewise, the release of too much pressurized gas (e.g. from the CO2 cylinder) into the line could cause an explosion. Under high vacuum, the line could implode, again sending glass shards flying. Likewise the dewar vacuum flasks could implode. There is also a danger of flying shards of hot glass during glassblowing operations. Wear eye protection!

Also, when glassblowing, in many cases ultra-violet and infra-red radiation is generated as well as sodium flare. Protect your eyes from this radiation as much as possible by wearing adequate and appropriate filter protection.

Don't burn the place down!

The torch flame is extremely hot. Be careful where you aim it. Glass heated with the torch is also extremely hot, even if it looks cold. Watch out for bits of hot glass flying off while sealing tubes. When you are not using the torch, always make sure the Propane shut-off valve is in the closed position and the valve on the top of the Oxygen tank is closed! Always check that the gas is off and all cylinders are closed when you leave the lab!

Also, the ethanol used to make Dry Ice slush is very flammable. Be sure you've moved your slush dewar and any other ethanol away from the area where you will be using the torch.

Keene State College HOT WORK policy

Crystalline Silica and Asbestos

Many of the rocks that we might process contain quartz (crystalline silica). The crushing of these rocks may produce dust, which must be controlled.

Silicosis is a disabling, nonreversible and sometimes fatal lung disease caused by overexposure to respirable crystalline silica dust. For more information, see OSHA's Technical Information regarding Crystalline Silica, NIOSH's Health and Safety Topic on Silica and the book: Health Effects of Mineral Dusts,, edited by George D. Guthrie, Jr., and Brooke T. Mossman, and published in 1993 by the Mineralogical Society of America, Washington, D.C., available in KSC's Mason Library.

If the rocks we're processing contain significant quantities of amphibole or serpentine, asbestos is also of concern. See OSHA's Technical Information regarding Asbestos, and NIOSH's Health and Safety Topic on Asbestos as well as the above referenced book.

KSC Center for Environmental BioGeoChemistry

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January 2009