Effective chemical management is consciously considering all aspects of safe, responsible and economical chemical handling from the beginning, during work planning and chemical acquisition, through final chemical disposal. It can be broken down into a number of definable elements – acquisition, identification, inventory, storage, distribution and disposal. Each step provides opportunity for misadventure but each step also offers opportunity for economic gain, environmental protection, and to drastically improve workplace safety and reduce workplace accidents and illnesses and minimize the severity of those that might occur.
The following best practices address the basics for each of the above-mentioned chemical management elements. It is applicable to chemical use addressed in both the UA Hazard Communication Program and the UA Laboratory Chemical Safety Manual. An inventory of supporting documents is also provided. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Risk Management & Safety at 621-1790.
Hazardous chemicals must be ordered in the smallest practical quantity for the application and within the storage quantity limitations outlined in Section 4.1.
1.1) When hazardous compressed gases are purchased, they must either be bought in returnable cylinders or the vendor must agree in writing, to take back used non-returnable cylinders.
1.2) When hazardous chemicals are ordered, the shipment address listed on the requisition must be the address of an individual knowledgeable about chemical hazards and not the address of the departmental secretary or other unfamiliar person.
All hazardous chemicals must be properly labeled at all times, from the time they are brought onto the premises, to the time they are removed for disposal.
2.1) No hazardous chemical shall be accepted without an adequate identifying label.
2.2) Except as described below, all hazardous chemicals must be stored in their original labeled containers and dated when received, when opened, and also dated as to when they shall be disposed of. Dating hazardous chemicals is particularly important with peroxidizable compounds (e.g. ether, tetrahydrofuran, potassium metal, dioxane) and other hazardous chemicals that become more hazardous with age (i.e., time-sensitive chemicals).
2.3) For hazardous chemicals transferred to new containers (including reaction flasks), each new container must be labeled with the full chemical name (no abbreviations or structural formulae), a warning describing the material's main hazardous property (e.g. flammable, corrosive, toxic, highly toxic, etc.), and the date of transfer. For good laboratory practice, the manufacturer, catalog number, lot number and person's initials should also be included (the only exception to this practice is listed in Section 2.9).
2.4) Newly synthesized hazardous chemicals for which no understandable name exists shall be identified by their reactants (e.g. Grignard reagent) and possible products (e.g. long-chain ketone) and labeled as to their possible hazardous properties and the date of transfer.
2.5) Non-hazardous substances which could be mistaken for a hazardous chemicals (e.g. distilled water), must be labeled in order to avoid confusion in the workplace over which materials are hazardous and which are not.
2.6) Labels on all containers of hazardous chemicals must be complete and must not be removed or defaced.
2.7) Damaged labels must be promptly replaced.
2.8) All information must be presented in English. If other languages are spoken, the information may be added in that language as long as the information is presented in English as well.
2.9) Portable containers of hazardous chemicals which are intended for immediate use and the user is physically present with it, need not be labeled according to the aforementioned specifications. However, if the user is not present with the hazardous chemical at all times, the rules outlined in Sections 2.1 - 2.8 apply.
2.10) If a hazardous chemical is produced in the laboratory and shipped to another user outside of the laboratory, the producers of that hazardous chemical (now classified as a manufacturer) must comply with the Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200) including the requirements for preparation of material safety data sheets and labeling. Contact RM&S at 621-1790, for more information.
All work areas, including laboratories, must at all times maintain an inventory of the hazardous chemicals according to the following guidelines:
3.1) The inventory which can be kept on the Chemical Inventory Form (Excel format), must include all of the following information:
3.1.1) Full chemical or product name, including any numerical prefixes. Mixtures of hazardous chemicals must be inventoried by listing all the components and their concentrations as well as the matrix solvent;
3.1.2) Container size in measurable units (e.g. cubic feet, liters, grams). English or metric units may be used. Do not use "bottle," "can," "tablet," or other immeasurable units. It is not necessary to estimate the amount of material in a container, just list the size, volume, or capacity of the container;
3.1.3) Manufacturer. You may use existing manufacturer abbreviations or create your own so long as you reference them to footnotes containing full manufacturer names;
3.1.4) Date of acquisition;
3.1.5) Expiration date (if any);
3.1.6) Storage location in the workplace, and
3.1.7) Special requirements or hazards (e.g. light sensitive, peroxidizable, shock sensitive).
3.2) When new hazardous chemicals are acquired, they must promptly be added to the inventory.
3.3) When hazardous chemicals are expended or disposed of, they must be removed from the inventory or a single line shall be drawn through them.
3.4) This inventory must be examined and updated periodically (at least annually). During the inventory, those hazardous chemicals that have been kept beyond their appropriate shelf life; have deteriorated; have questionable labels, or are leaking, have corroded caps, or have developed any other problem, must be disposed of in a proper manner (see Section 6, for disposal procedures):
The storage of hazardous chemicals shall be accomplished in a manner that minimizes safety and health hazards to personnel, equipment, buildings, and the environment.
4.1) Quantity: The International Fire Code (IFC) which has been adopted as law by the State of Arizona lists chemical storage quantity limitations for various hazardous chemical classes. However, these limitations vary considerably depending on the type of building space and its construction, and the conditions of storage. Instead of listing all of the IFC rules which cannot easily be summarized, general hazardous chemical quantity limitations have been developed. Hazardous chemical users can be relatively assured that they will be complying with IFC codes if the following guidelines are observed:
4.1.1) Hazardous chemicals must be purchased in the smallest practical amount necessary to accomplish planned work and dispensed only in the minimum amount necessary for immediate use.
4.1.2) Quantities of explosives, organic peroxides, pyrophoric solids or liquids, unstable (reactive) chemicals, carcinogens, reproductive toxins, and highly toxic solids or liquids (as defined in CHEMICAL SAFETY INFORMATION, Chemical Hazards Overview) must be kept to a bare minimum;
4.1.3) Pyrophoric gases highly toxic gases, and gases which are known carcinogens or reproductive toxins and toxic gases with poor warning properties (as defined in CHEMICAL SAFETY INFORMATION, Chemical Hazards Overview) must not be stored or used in any quantity without prior approval.
4.1.4) Only ten gallons of flammable liquids may be stored indoors outside of a flammable liquid storage cabinet or safety can.
4.1.5) For information on the IFC hazardous chemical storage quantity limitations, call RM&S at 621-1790.
4.2) Segregation: Hazardous chemicals must be stored segregated or separated according to compatibility so that they cannot accidentally come into contact with each other to cause a reaction such as a fire, explosion, or release of toxic or flammable gases or vapors (see Chemical Compatibility Chart for details regarding the determination of chemical compatibility).
4.2.1) Hazardous chemicals must be segregated by physical distance or secondary containment.
4.2.2) Secondary containment must be capable of holding any spilled material until it can be cleaned up. It must be constructed of a compatible material so that it is not degraded by the spilled material.
4.3) Location and Container Requirements: Every hazardous chemical must have a definite storage place and must be returned to that location after each use.
4.3.1) Flammable chemicals must not be stored near ignition sources or with combustible material (e.g. open flames, sparking electrical equipment);
4.3.2) Oxidizing agents must not be stored on or with combustible materials;
4.3.3) Pyrophoric chemicals must be stored in such a manner that they do not come in contact with air;
4.3.4) Water-reactive chemicals must be stored in such a manner that they do not come in contact with water, including moisture in air.
4.3.5) All hazardous chemicals must be stored in easily accessible areas.
4.3.6) Hazardous chemicals (including compressed gases) must not be stored on the floor where they can be kicked or in corridors or stairwells under any circumstances.
4.3.7) Hazardous chemicals must not be stored in locations where they may impact the environment if they should accidentally spill or leak (e.g. in a sink or near a drain), unless secondary containment is provided.
4.3.8) Corrosive liquid chemicals must not be stored above eye level.
4.3.9) Hazardous chemicals must not be stored where they are exposed to heat or direct sunlight.
4.3.10) Storage cabinets, shelves, etc. must have adequate structural integrity to support the weight of the stored hazardous chemicals.
4.3.11) Bench tops, fume hoods or other areas in which operations are conducted, must not be used for storage. An exception to this is the fume hood storage of small quantities of carcinogens, reproductive toxins, highly toxic solid and liquid chemicals, and toxic and highly toxic gases (as defined in CHEMICAL SAFETY INFORMATION - Chemical Hazards Overview).
4.3.12) Flammable liquids must not be stored in containers that dispense by gravity-fed valves or stopcocks (e.g. carboys) unless they are specifically manufactured and approved for such storage.
4.3.13) Flammable chemicals that require cold storage must only be stored in a flammable storage or explosion-proof refrigerator or freezer that is labeled for this purpose.
4.3.14) Compressed gas cylinders must be stored away from heat sources and in areas where they are not exposed to corrosive chemical vapors.
4.3.15) Compressed gas cylinders must be secured to prevent them from falling.
4.3.16) Compressed gases, volatile hazardous liquids, liquified gases, and solidified gases must not be stored in unventilated spaces (e.g. cold rooms).
The method of transportation of hazardous chemicals must reflect the potential danger posed by the specific chemical.
5.1) When hazardous chemicals are hand carried in a non-breakable container (e.g. plastic jar) or they must be placed in a protective container or acid-carrying bucket to protect against breakage and spillage.
5.2) Hazardous chemicals must not be transported in private vehicles.
5.3) When they are transported on a wheeled cart, the cart must be stable under the load and have wheels large enough to negotiate the surfaces which will be traversed (e.g. expansion joints, floor drain depression, door thresholds) without tipping or stopping suddenly.
5.4) Carts used for transporting hazardous chemicals must have sides on each shelf, high enough to retain the containers.
5.5) To avoid potential exposure to persons on passenger elevators, if possible, hazardous chemicals should be transported on freight-only elevators. If not possible and if the hazardous chemical being transported presents the potential for exposure to persons on passenger elevators, only those transporting the hazardous chemicals shall be on the passenger elevator.
5.6) Hazardous chemicals must be protected from prolonged exposure to excessive heat, cold, or other adverse conditions during transportation.
5.7) Compressed gas cylinders must not be subjected to rough handling or abuse (e.g. rolled, dragged, dropped) during transportation.
5.8) Compressed gas cylinders must have the main valve cap in place when the cylinder is not in use, especially during transportation.
5.9) When compressed gases are transported outside the work area, they must be strapped to a suitable hand truck.
5.10) Only one compressed gas cylinder shall be manually handled (i.e. without a hand truck) at a time.
5.11) Persons transporting hazardous chemicals must be familiar with the hazards of the chemicals and must know the building in which they are transporting the hazardous chemicals.
5.12) Persons transporting hazardous chemicals must have personal protective equipment consistent with the hazardous chemicals they are transporting.
5.13) Hazardous chemicals must be received by a knowledgeable individual, and must not be left in corridors, departmental offices, or other non-work locations.
6. Hazardous Chemical Disposal
Supervisors are responsible for ensuring that all used and/or unneeded hazardous chemicals (as described in CHEMICAL SAFETY INFORMATION, Chemical Hazards Overview), or articles irreversibly contaminated with these hazardous chemicals, are disposed of according to the rules described in Chemical Waste Disposal.
7. Hazardous Waste Minimization/Pollution/Prevention
The cost of disposing of excess and waste chemicals has become extremely expensive, and frequently exceeds the original cost of purchasing the chemical. Every reasonable effort must be made to reduce the generation of hazardous waste. See Pollution Prevention/Waste Minimization for guidance.
All contents copyright © 2008. Arizona Board of Regents.