Improving Safety In The Chemical Laboratory

The work of accident prevention in the lab begins with foresight. Discerning "close calls"—near accidents—early enough prevents them from turning into full-fledged mishaps, mishaps that cost time and money, and which could result in injury. Improving Safety in the Chemical Laboratory is an accident prevention handbook for the professional in the lab that shows how to detect and eliminate the causes of dangerous mishaps—and virtually "hazard proof" any lab environment. In unequivocally clear and practical terms, Improving Safety in the Chemical Laboratory, Second Edition offers detailed procedures—from precautionary labeling to simulated drills, safety inspections,and the preparation of a chemical hygiene plan—for the development of a safety-enhanced workplace. Reflecting, in part, the upgraded procedures now mandated by the OSHA Laboratory Standard in the USA, as well as the WHMIS regulations in Canada and the COSHH regulations in the United Kingdom, this newest edition offers unparalleled and up-to-date guidance on the fine points of hazard control, with new added material on managing and handling especially hazardous substances and personal protective equipment: The 95 percent solution: the list of causes of laboratory accidents Hazard categories: unsafe acts; unsafe conditions Selecting and maintaining personal protective conditions Accident handling Classes of fuels and fires Preventing and extinguishing fires Toxic effects of chemicals Recognition of and treatment for exposure Chemical specific safety protocol Storage of lab chemicals Safe disposal of hazardous waste Personal protective equipment in the laboratory Improving hood performance Designing safety into new or renovated laboratories A comprehensive, one-volume safety seminar, Improving Safety in the Chemical Laboratory will provide indispensable guidance to lab supervisors and workers, teachers and students, and anyone involved in the investigation of chemical accidents and injury. In clear language that quickly details the full range of hidden—and avoidable—laboratory hazards, Improving Safety in the Chemical Laboratory, Second Edition offers the most up-to-date, practical, and easy-to-implement lab safety regimen yet available.

Recent serious and sometimes fatal accidents in chemical research laboratories at United States universities have driven government agencies, professional societies, industries, and universities themselves to examine the culture of safety in research laboratories. These incidents have triggered a broader discussion of how serious incidents can be prevented in the future and how best to train researchers and emergency personnel to respond appropriately when incidents do occur. As the priority placed on safety increases, many institutions have expressed a desire to go beyond simple compliance with regulations to work toward fostering a strong, positive safety culture: affirming a constant commitment to safety throughout their institutions, while integrating safety as an essential element in the daily work of laboratory researchers. Safe Science takes on this challenge. This report examines the culture of safety in research institutions and makes recommendations for university leadership, laboratory researchers, and environmental health and safety professionals to support safety as a core value of their institutions. The report discusses ways to fulfill that commitment through prioritizing funding for safety equipment and training, as well as making safety an ongoing operational priority. A strong, positive safety culture arises not because of a set of rules but because of a constant commitment to safety throughout an organization. Such a culture supports the free exchange of safety information, emphasizes learning and improvement, and assigns greater importance to solving problems than to placing blame. High importance is assigned to safety at all times, not just when it is convenient or does not threaten personal or institutional productivity goals. Safe Science will be a guide to make the changes needed at all levels to protect students, researchers, and staff.

There is growing concern about the possible use of toxic industrial chemicals or other hazardous chemicals by those seeking to perpetrate acts of terrorism. The U.S. Chemical Security Engagement Program (CSP), funded by the U.S. Department of State and run by Sandia National Laboratories, seeks to develop and facilitate cooperative international activities that promote best practices in chemical security and safe management of toxic chemicals, including: Partnering with host governments, chemical professionals, and industry to assess and fill gaps in chemical security abroad. Providing technical expertise and training to improve best practices in security and safety among chemical professionals and industry. Increasing transparency and accountability for dangerous chemical materials, expertise, and technologies. Providing opportunities for collaboration with the international professional chemical community. The Department of State called on the National Academies to assist in the CSP's efforts to promote chemical safety and security in developing countries.

The U.S. Department of State charged the Academies with the task of producing a protocol for development of standard operating procedures (SOPs) that would serve as a complement to the Chemical Laboratory Safety and Security: A Guide to Prudent Chemical Management and be included with the other materials in the 2010 toolkit. To accomplish this task, a committee with experience and knowledge in good chemical safety and security practices in academic and industrial laboratories with awareness of international standards and regulations was formed. The hope is that this toolkit expansion product will enhance the use of the previous reference book and the accompanying toolkit, especially in developing countries where safety resources are scarce and experience of operators and end-users may be limited.

There is growing concern about the possible use of toxic industrial chemicals or other hazardous chemicals by those seeking to perpetrate acts of terrorism. The U.S. Chemical Security Engagement Program (CSP), funded by the U.S. Department of State and run by Sandia National Laboratories, seeks to develop and facilitate cooperative international activities that promote best practices in chemical security and safe management of toxic chemicals, including: Partnering with host governments, chemical professionals, and industry to assess and fill gaps in chemical security abroad. Providing technical expertise and training to improve best practices in security and safety among chemical professionals and industry. Increasing transparency and accountability for dangerous chemical materials, expertise, and technologies. Providing opportunities for collaboration with the international professional chemical community. The Department of State called on the National Academies to assist in the CSP's efforts to promote chemical safety and security in developing countries.

Provides knowledge and models of good practice needed by students to work safely in the laboratory as they progress through four years of undergraduate laboratory work Aligns with the revised safety instruction requirements from the ACS Committee on Professional Training 2015 “Guidelines and Evaluation Procedures for Bachelor’s Degree Programs” Provides a systematic approach to incorporating safety and health into the chemistry curriculum Topics are divided into layers of progressively more advanced and appropriate safety issues so that some topics are covered 2-3 times, at increasing levels of depth Develops a strong safety ethic by continuous reinforcement of safety; to recognize, assess, and manage laboratory hazards; and to plan for response to laboratory emergencies Covers a thorough exposure to chemical health and safety so that students will have the proper education and training when they enter the workforce or graduate school

"...this substantial and engaging text offers a wealth of practical (in every sense of the word) advice...Every undergraduate laboratory, and, ideally, every undergraduate chemist, should have a copy of what is by some distance the best book I have seen on safety in the undergraduate laboratory." Chemistry World, March 2011 Laboratory Safety for Chemistry Students is uniquely designed to accompany students throughout their four-year undergraduate education and beyond, progressively teaching them the skills and knowledge they need to learn their science and stay safe while working in any lab. This new principles-based approach treats lab safety as a distinct, essential discipline of chemistry, enabling you to instill and sustain a culture of safety among students. As students progress through the text, they’ll learn about laboratory and chemical hazards, about routes of exposure, about ways to manage these hazards, and about handling common laboratory emergencies. Most importantly, they’ll learn that it is very possible to safely use hazardous chemicals in the laboratory by applying safety principles that prevent and minimize exposures. Continuously Reinforces and Builds Safety Knowledge and Safety Culture Each of the book’s eight chapters is organized into three tiers of sections, with a variety of topics suited to beginning, intermediate, and advanced course levels. This enables your students to gather relevant safety information as they advance in their lab work. In some cases, individual topics are presented more than once, progressively building knowledge with new information that’s appropriate at different levels. A Better, Easier Way to Teach and Learn Lab Safety We all know that safety is of the utmost importance; however, instructors continue to struggle with finding ways to incorporate safety into their curricula. Laboratory Safety for Chemistry Students is the ideal solution: Each section can be treated as a pre-lab assignment, enabling you to easily incorporate lab safety into all your lab courses without building in additional teaching time. Sections begin with a preview, a quote, and a brief description of a laboratory incident that illustrates the importance of the topic. References at the end of each section guide your students to the latest print and web resources. Students will also find “Chemical Connections” that illustrate how chemical principles apply to laboratory safety and “Special Topics” that amplify certain sections by exploring additional, relevant safety issues. Visit the companion site at http://userpages.wittenberg.edu/dfinster/LSCS/.