Creating and following proper laboratory, chemical hygiene, and biological safety procedures is critical in any lab environment. A robust chemical hygiene plan or biosafety plan and standard operating procedures provide the first line of defense for any lab employee. The pregnant employee should start by reviewing the relevant chemical hygiene and/or biosafety plans, standard operating […]
Read MoreTo determine if a chemical meets the criteria requiring registration/review see below. Chemicals Requiring Review Chemicals meeting any of the following criteria require review: Agent is a teratogen or has possesses significant reproductive hazards Agent is a select carcinogen Select carcinogens are any substance that meets one of the following criteria: It is regulated […]
Read MoreHydrofluoric acid (HF) differs from other acids because it readily penetrates the skin and dissociates into fluoride ions, causing destruction of deep tissue layers, including bone. Pain associated with skin exposure to HF may not occur for 1-24 hours. Unless you can rapidly neutralize the HF and bind the fluoride ions, tissue destruction may continue […]
Read MoreRecognize Hazards Alkyllithium compounds, such as tert-butyllithium, sec-butyllithium, and n-butyllithium, represent an important class of reagents, and their strong basic and reactive nature makes them both hazardous and useful in organic and inorganic syntheses.1,2,3 These alkyllithium compounds pose a significant risk of fire. They, along with many organolithium compounds, are pyrophoric, meaning that they […]
Read MoreManufacturer Responsibilities The manufacturer or distributor of a chemical product must provide safety data sheets (SDS) to the purchaser with the initial shipment of a product/hazardous chemical and with each update of the SDS. Safety data sheets will either accompany or precede the shipment or may be available online. The Safety Administrative Management (SAM) […]
Read MoreThe following are examples of materials that can be shock sensitive: Acetylides of heavy metals Heavy metal azides Organic amine nitrates Aluminum ophrite explosive Hexanite Organic nitramines Amatol Ammonal Hexanitrodiphenylamine Organic peroxides Ammonium nitrate Hexanitrostilbene Picramic acid Ammonium perchlorate Hexogen Picramide Ammonium picrate Hydrazinium nitrate Picratol Ammonium salt lattice Hyrazoic acid Picric acid Butyl tetryl […]
Read MoreCombine Bleach with… Could Result In… Acids and Acidic Compounds Release of chlorine gas Ammonium Salts, Amines, Nitriles Release of chloramine and hydrazine vapors Formation of explosive compounds Guanidinium Salts (found in buffers from many commercial kits) Release of toxic gases including chloramines, chlorine and hydrogen cyanide Heat (e.g., from autoclaving) Release of chlorine […]
Read MoreWhat is Waste Anesthetic Gas (WAG)? Anesthetic gases and vapors that leak into the surrounding room during medical procedures are considered waste anesthetic gases. Types of anesthetic gas -Nitrous oxide and halogenated agents (vapors) such as halothane, enflurane, isoflurane, and desflurane. The most commonly used anesthetic at the U of U is isoflurane. […]
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