SUNY STONY BROOK CHEMISTRY DEPARTMENT
SAFETY INFORMATION SUPPLEMENT
2005 REVISION

INTRODUCTION TO OUR SAFETY PROGRAM

As a member of the Chemistry Department, you are covered by the Department Chemical Hygiene Plan (webposted and in the Chemistry Library). You should become familiar with the aspects of the plan that apply to your situation.

You will also receive a copy of Safety in Academic Chemistry Laboratories, published by the American Chemical Society. Read this manual and retain it as a reference. It clearly summarizes much useful commonsense information. However, there are of course facts you will need to know that are specifically pertinent to operations at Stony Brook. Such material is presented here.

At the beginning of your relationship with our Department, you will be required to pass a safety quiz based on the ACS manual and this supplement. You will also be given a voucher to sign, indicating your agreement to abide by the provisions of the Chemical Hygiene Plan and to observe accepted standards of laboratory safety.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR EDUCATION IN SAFETY

Orientation and Other Training

Towards the beginning of each academic year, our Department offers a safety orientation program in cooperation with the Department of Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S). Topics include chemical safety, first aid, the Right-to-Know Law, waste management, and fire safety. In addition to attending lectures and discussions, participants practice using a fire extinguisher. The Department Chemical Hygiene Plan requires attendance for all new faculty, staff, post-docs, and students.

Upon request, EH&S will conduct an orientation for individuals who join the Department at a time other than the beginning of the Fall semester. Attendees at one of these specially-scheduled orientations must also attend the fire safety portion of the next earliest Department Fall orientation.

In addition to the above, all personnel who handle hazardous waste must receive specialized training for this purpose as approved by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This training must be obtained once while at Stony Brook, either by attending one of the frequent Hazardous Waste Management Courses or by completing the Hazardous Waste Management Training Program at the EH&S website (http://www.stonybrook.edu/ehs/).

The Chemistry Library

The Chemistry Library has safety references shelved in a central location.

PERSONNEL WITH SAFETY INTERESTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The Departmental Safety Committee

The membership of the Safety Committee rotates and includes faculty and staff. The Committee serves to provide information and assistance. You are welcome to share your concerns with any Committee member. The Committee does not have any unique safety responsibilities. Safety is the responsibility of all Department members.

The Director of Laboratories and Building Manager

Al Silverstein and Mike Teta are often consulted when safety problems arise. Routine matters are best handled by a call to Joan Conforte, Al’s secretary (phone 2-7900).

Environmental Health and Safety

This department has broad responsibilities for safety on campus, including formulating policies and procedures in accordance with state and federal laws. EH&S is useful as a source of information (phone 2-6410).

University Police

This is the campus security unit (dial 911 from a campus phone or 631-632-3333 from a non-campus phone. The University Police can also be reached from all “blue light” campus phones).

EMERGENCIES, ACCIDENTS, INJURIES:
PREVENTION OF, PREPARATION FOR, AND DEALING WITH THEM

Reference Phone Numbers

Numbers you might need in an emergency are found at the end of this supplement. The list is intended for posting by a lab telephone or exit.

Hood Alarm Bells

When the hood alarm bell rings and the red light is on, the hood is not operating. The bell may be silenced by flipping the switch, but the hood remains off while the light is on. Please take appropriate precautions for a non-operational hood.
When the bell rings again and the light goes off, the hood has resumed operation. The bell may again be silenced by flipping the switch.

Summary of Procedures for Dealing with a Fire

  1. First, activate the fire alarm in the nearest stairwell.
  2. From a safe place, call 911 to report the location and nature of the fire.
  3. If you know the correct way to deal with your fire, and if you feel confident you can handle it, return to the scene and put your plan into action.
  4. If you cannot handle the fire yourself or quickly find someone who can do so, then you should evacuate the building along with everyone else. See the instructions in the next section.

Fire Drills and Evacuation of the Building

Our procedure for evacuating the building is the same for a fire drill as a genuine emergency:

  1. When the alarm bell begins intermittent ringing, plan to leave the building immediately. Instructional staff are responsible for evacuating their students in an orderly fashion.
  2. All hoods in the building shut down when a fire alarm is activated. For this reason, if at all feasible, stabilize your reactions before leaving the area. That is, unplug heating/stirring devices, cover open containers, and close hood doors.
  3. If you are the last one to leave the lab and you can do so quickly, close all connecting doors; place a fire extinguisher outside the lab door; and close your exit door behind you.
  4. If a Fire Warden is managing traffic, follow his or her directions.
  5. Exit at the nearest stairway. Do not use the elevator.
  6. Stand at least 100 feet from the building. Do not re-enter the building until the “all clear” signal has been given.

Personal Emergencies

  1. For emergencies requiring medical attention, call 911 and get the ambulance; or send the injured on foot to the infirmary with a trustworthy escort.
  2. Initiate evacuation of the area if necessary, according to routine procedures.
  3. If the incident takes place in an instructional lab, the faculty member assigned to that section is responsible for decisions in an emergency. The faculty member, or coordinator if there is one, is responsible for having the report filed.
  4. For all serious accidents, the injured should fill out an SUSB form 3019 R3 as soon as is practical. If the injured is unable to do so, or if there is no injury involved (an accident such as a fire or spill), the form should be completed by an individual who is well-informed of the circumstances. The form is obtainable from the office of the Director of Labs and after completion should be returned to that office.

Noxious Chemicals in the Building

Our procedure for reporting potential problems follows:

  1. If you will be working with a chemical that is particularly hazardous or noxious, please inform Mike Teta (2-7956) or the Director of Labs’ office (2-7900) in advance. The information will facilitate a prompt response if a problem should arise.
  2. If you have a spill of or another problem with a volatile offending substance, call Dave or the Director’s office; staff will inform Environmental Health and Safety personnel if appropriate
  3. If you have a problem and there is no answer at 2-7900, you should call EH&S through the University Police at 911.
  4. If the situation seems to warrant it, the building will have to be evacuated. If the chemical is not identified, or if its odor is bothering you, it is up to you to decide whether or not to leave the area. If you are in doubt, consult others who are more informed.

WASTE HANDLING

The Environmental Protection Agency sets regulations for waste storage and disposal. A summary of their requirements follows. More complete information is contained in the Chemical Hygiene Plan.

Waste Storage

  1. Follow prudent practice to segregate waste according to hazard class, disposal requirements, etc. Have separate containers for halogenated and non-halogenated materials and for corrosives.
  2. Label each waste container. The specific wording HAZARDOUS WASTE must be used unless the contents are non-hazardous by EPA standards.
  3. Remove or completely efface a previous label – that is, do not double-label.
  4. On each label, give the hazard class (for example, corrosive). List the contents, as described in the next section.
  5. EH&S requires that contents greater than 1% be specifically listed on the label or the manifest. Use compound names, not formulas.
  6. Keep waste containers tightly closed with screwcaps other than at times when material is being transferred to them.
  7. Provide secondary containment that holds the volume of the largest container or at least 10% of the volume of all containers in the accumulation area.
  8. Do not transfer waste to a larger container for the purpose of extending the storage period.
  9. Do not transfer waste from the room in which it was generated, other than for final disposal. For an exception to this rule, you may establish a 90-day storage area. You must contact EH&S to inform them of this storage area and obtain the additional information required for maintenance.

Waste Disposal

  1. 1. Do not pour any chemical waste down the drain.
  2. Do not attempt to process waste so as to make it less hazardous, but rather dispose of it according to EPA regulations. The only exception is simple neutralization of acids or bases.
  3. Dispose of waste within three days of a container’s being filled. EH&S has a convenient pickup every Wednesday from 10:00 to 10:30 at the Chemistry Building loading dock.
  4. At pickup, waste containers must bear the EH&S label, with hazard boxes checked. Manifests must accompany all waste for disposal. Labels and manifests may be obtained from Joan Conforte.
  5. There are certain situations in which a container should not be emptied for bulking because of a specific hazardous component. In addition to checking the applicable boxes on the EH&S label, clearly and prominently write the name of the specific compound and its hazard, and the words “not for bulking.”
  6. Only containers that are acceptable for disposal will be taken. Flasks, beakers, etc, are not acceptable containers. Acceptable containers must be tightly closed and in good condition. EH&S staff have the final decision on what an acceptable container is.

Glass

The container should be a sturdy cardboard box labelled GLASS. In addition to broken glass, the box may be used for clean empty bottles (rinsed, uncapped, labels removed or crossed out). Do not overfill. Seal it for disposal.

Syringes, Needles, Razor Blades

There is an approved red container, labeled SHARPS; it is available from the Chemistry Department stockroom. Note that a disposable syringe (not simply its needle) must be discarded intact in this container.

PERSONAL PROTECTION

Eye Protection

The type of protection – safety glasses or goggles – depends on the hazard level. If there is a splash hazard, goggles should be worn. If there is a radiation hazard, specialized eye protection may be necessary.

Contact Lenses

The American Chemical Society Committee on Chemical Safety has recently revised its contact lens policy. The revision is contained on pp 3-4 of the ACS publication, Safety in Academic Chemistry Laboratories, sixth edition (blue cover version). A portion is quoted in the next paragraph. Please refer to the source if you need further information.

Recent studies and experience have suggested that . . . contact lenses do not increase risks but can actually minimize or prevent injury in many situations. Because of the ever-increasing use of contact lenses and the benefits they provide, the American Chemical Society Committee on Chemical Safety, having studied and reviewed the issue, is of the consensus that contact lenses can be worn in most work environments provided the same approved eye protection is worn as required of other workers in the area.

Gloves

It is appropriate to wear gloves in many laboratory situations. Gloves of different materials from different manufacturers have different degradation and permeability rates. Contact EH&S if you need assistance in glove selection.

Gloves should not be worn outside of the laboratory. Non-lab workers should not be exposed to chemical contact from using, for example, the lavatory facilities or the elevator buttons.

SAFETY REFERENCES 2004 REVISION – POST A COPY BY THE LAB PHONE
EMERGENCY – FIRE, POLICE, AMBULANCE – CALL 911

Emergency on a cell phone - 631-632-3333

For an outside line, key “9,” and for long-distance, also key “1.”

 

You can leave a message for Mike Teta at 2-7956. To reach him more quickly during regular hours, call Joan Conforte at 2-7900. His pager number is 631-349-0221. After the tone, type in the phone number at which you can be reached followed by the pound sign. .In an emergency after hours, if you cannot reach Mike, call Al Silverstein at 516-349-1125.

SAFETY INFORMATION ON THE NET

The Chemistry Department webpage is linked to a variety of safety information sites.

SUMMARY OF PROCEDURES FOR DEALING WITH A FIRE

  1. First, activate the fire alarm in the nearest stairwell.
  2. From a safe place, call 911 to report the location and nature of the fire.
  3. If you know the correct way to deal with your fire, and if you feel confident you can handle it, return to the scene and put your plan into action.
  4. If you cannot handle the fire yourself or quickly find someone who can do so, then you should evacuate the building along with everyone else. See the instructions in the next section.

FIRE EMERGENCIES

  1. When the alarm bell begins intermittent ringing, plan to leave the building immediately. Instructional staff are responsible for evacuating their students in an orderly fashion.
  2. All hoods in the building shut down when a fire alarm is activated. For this reason, if at all feasible, stabilize your reactions before leaving the area. That is, unplug heating/stirring devices, cover open containers, and close hood doors.
  3. If you are the last one to leave the lab and you can do so quickly, close all connecting doors; place a fire extinguisher outside the lab door; and close your exit door behind you.
  4. If a Fire Warden is managing traffic, follow his or her directions.
  5. Exit at the nearest stairway. Do not use the elevator.
  6. Stand at least 100 feet from the building. Do not re-enter the building until the “all clear” signal has been given.

PERSONAL SAFETY EMERGENCIES

  1. For emergencies requiring medical attention, call 911 and get the ambulance; or send the injured on foot to the infirmary with a trustworthy escort.
  2. Initiate evacuation of the area if necessary, according to routine procedures.
  3. If the incident takes place in an instructional lab, the faculty member assigned to that section is responsible for decisions in an emergency. The faculty member, or coordinator if there is one, is responsible for having the report filed.
  4. For all serious accidents, the injured should fill out an SUSB 3019 form as soon as is practical. If the injured is unable to do so, or if there is no injury involved (an accident such as a fire or spill), the form should be completed by an individual who is well-informed of the circumstances. The form is obtainable from the office of the Director of Labs and after completion should be returned to that office.

 

Last Update: 2005-06-07
Bob Schneider (rschneider at notes.cc.sunysb.edu)