User:Maskewmo/Chemical safety

Chemical safety is the practice of minimizing risk of exposure to chemicals to persons handling the chemicals, and to the surrounding environment, as well as the communities and ecosystems of animals within that environment.

Many chemicals are hazardous when mixed with other chemicals, heated up or simply poured to fast. Chemical safety is practiced so users are able to take appropriate actions in case of accidents. Without practicing chemical safety accidents can occur causing fatalities.

Common Safety Practices
PPE

Basic chemical safety practice includes wearing protective personal equipment such as safety googles. Personal protective equipment is combination of safe work practices but alone does not provide sufficient control of hazardous chemicals. it is an effective approach to minimize the risk of accidents. Safety googles are required when handling chemicals to prevent chemicals from getting into eyes. Wearing standard gloves, closed toed shoes, long pants/socks, and shirts/lab coats to protect the stomach, back and forearm is usually required in the lab/workplace. Regulation is tricky and it varies by  country. Some states have extra regulations to protect laboratory workers from potential danger.

NFPA
The NFPA diamond is used to identify chemical hazards such as flammability, corrosivity, toxicity, and reactivity. This label is made up of four color-coded fields: red, blue, yellow, and white. The numbering ranges from 0 to 4, and 0 means that there is no potential hazard. Whereas 4 indicates the chemical is extremely hazardous.

Transportation
In workspace or during transporting chemicals are classified with preparation and distribution of safety data sheets. Safety Data Sheets (SDS), are standardized document that includes workplace health, restrictions/uses, emergency numbers, and other safety data.


 * Transporting flammable liquids into another container can be very dangerous, because friction between the the two can generate static electricity. Also trying to wipe up spills or leakages can generate static electricity.

Physical and health hazards

Physical hazards of a chemical consist of its flammability and reactivity. Flammability is the propensity of a chemical to burn or catch fire. Reactivity is the capability of the chemical to blow up or react viciously with air, water or other materials that it comes in contact with. Chemicals that effect health depends on its toxicity and hazard. Toxicity is the potential of a chemical to do harm, and hazard is the possibility that the chemical will cause harm under certain conditions.

Tips:


 * Watch safety training video's before handling chemicals.


 * Keep workspace clean to minimize clutter and accumulated waste.


 * Label test tubs, flask, beakers, and/or other containers.


 * Review and practice experimental methods.


 * Read Safety data sheets to recognize its hazardous properties.


 * Have a partner. It’s safer to work with someone than alone.


 * Absolutely no horseplay, eating smoking or drinking when handling chemicals.
 * Work in well-ventilated areas


 * Do not use broken glassware


 * Dilute acids/bases by slowly adding H2O.
 * Operate under local exhaust ventilation to vent away the hazardous aerosol as far  as practicable.
 * Chemicals are usually Classified by their IUPAC name.

Lab Techniques & Safety Video

Accidents

 * The number of chemical incidents and injuries gradually increase each year due to poor safety reviews. Accidents occur whether it be something minor such as forgetting to apply gloves or something as major as forgetting to check the temperatures of nuclear rods in a nuclear reactor. Practicing chemical safety will help minimize the risk of incidents and injuries. Accidents can occur at anytime in the work place. Identify chemicals hazardous properties, and how it is stored and potential use. Preparing for accidents is key to chemical safety. Checking if first aid kits, fire extinguishers,  disposal waste containers, chemical spill kits,  and eye wash stations are in the correct areas in case of emergencies minimizes wait time. Before disposing acids or bases use sodium carbonate or bicarbonate to neutralize acids and citric acid or ascorbic acid when neutralizing a base.

Thiokol-Woodbine Explosion
Aluminum Nitrate Explosion

Chemical spills
Never attempt to clean spills with chemicals that are toxic, corrosive, reactive or cause eye or respiratory irritations. Isolate the area and cover the spill with appropriate material that will absorb the spill and use dustpan to sweep it up. Is spill does not meet that criteria, immediately isolate the area and exit. Call 911 or IUPD and pull fire alarm to alert other in proximity.

undefined        West Virginia chemical spill
Entry routes

The easiest way for chemicals to come into the body via direct contact with skin or eyes. When chemicals encounter skin a local reaction can occur such as a burn, hives, rash, or chemicals can absorbed into the bloodstream causing toxic effects organs or other parts of the body. Chemicals that produce vapors, gases, and particles can be inhaled through the lungs.