High Hazard Materials and Equipment

Depending on the work being performed by your group, your work area may contain high hazard materials and/or equipment. Some of these materials/equipment will be described below along with precautions to take while working with, or storing, these items.

Hazardous Chemicals

Hazardous chemicals, including flammables, corrosives, and toxics, may be present in your work area. Understanding the properties of these materials and how to handle them will keep you, and those around you, safe from potential harm. When working with hazardous chemicals, you will be required to:

• Make sure all containers are labeled with the chemical name and hazard(s)
• Have Safety Data Sheets (SDSs) available in an accessible location
• Wear the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), including gloves, goggles, and lab coats
• When not in use, store chemicals in the proper location
• Work with chemicals in a chemical fume hood or a location with sufficient ventilation
• Understand how to respond to emergency situations, such as exposures, fires, or spills.

Before purchasing or receiving any new hazardous chemicals, you must perform a hazard analysis (explained later in this page) regarding its storage and use.

Compressed Gases

Compressed gas cylinders are widely found in research labs and possibly in student group spaces. If your work does require the use of compressed gases, observe the following:

• Health hazards will vary from gas to gas. Consult the Safety Data Sheet (SDS), cylinder labels, and other sources.
• Cylinders must ALWAYS be secured in an upright position using methods which provide adequate physical strength and integrity.
• A sudden, large release of gas can displace oxygen from an area, creating an asphyxiation hazard.
• Gases are under EXTREME pressure. Cylinders must be protected against damage and collision.
• Gases may be incompatible with other gases and must be physically segregated. For example, flammable gases must be stored at least 25 feet from oxygen (or other oxidizers) or separated by a 5 foot fire wall.
• Valve protection caps must be used when possible.
• Never drag cylinders or roll them on edge. Always use a cart and secure the cylinder to it.

Cryogens and Other Low-Temperature Materials

Cryogens are materials that are kept well below 0 °C. Examples of cryogens include liquid nitrogen, helium, and oxygen. While not a cryogenic material, dry ice is very cold and can quickly cause physical harm. Health and physical hazards associated with cryogens include:

• Thermal burns (frostbite)
• Asphyxiation
• Explosion from over-pressurization
• Liquid oxygen, an oxidizer, may condense out of the air

When working with cryogens, remember the following:

• Only work with cryogens in well-ventilated rooms.
• Avoid direct contact with cryogenic liquids and uninsulated cryogenic piping systems and reservoirs.
• Use loose-fitting cryogenic gloves and personal attire so that they do not collect cryogenics liquids and can be readily removed if a cryogen does not splash into them.
• Do not tuck pants into shoes/socks.
• Do not overfill containers, leave a large head space to account for expansion.
• Examine container condition before filling (check for cracks, suitability for material, functional pressure relief, etc.).

Lasers

Lasers emit light (visible and invisible) through optical amplification, and are used for many purposes, including medical, cutting, measurements, and communication. However, certain classes of lasers, Class 3B and Class 4, present many potential physical hazards.

• Eye damage: – When a laser beam strikes the eye, damage to the cornea, lens, or retina can occur, depending on the output wavelength.
• Skin burns and fire: Lasers can burn skin, some severe enough to leave permanent scars. High-power lasers may also be able to ignite combustible materials.
• Other Physical Hazards: Many lasers use high voltage power sources, presenting the hazard of electrical shock. Other systems use high-pressure arc lamps, which can cause  explosions.
  • Lasers often have many cords, which can create a tripping hazard 

When working with lasers, observe the following precautions:

• Always check your eye protection is the correct optical density for the laser wavelength you are using
• Move carefully when adjusting any part of the laser setup during work to avoid misalignment.
• Remove combustible materials, like paper and cardboard, that could be ignited by the laser.
• Check that all controls are working properly. This includes any safety interlocks, beam enclosures/covers, beam stops, and other safety mechanisms.

Accepting Donations of Hazardous Materials or Equipment

Larger student groups may receive funding from companies in industries associated with the work being performed. These companies may donate some of their products, including tools, commercial chemicals, or powered machinery. Before accepting any item from a commercial sponsor, be aware of the storage requirements (for chemicals) or facility requirements, such as additional ventilation for a welding apparatus. Contact your HSRM safety partner to discuss storage and use requirements.

If your group is expecting a large shipment of equipment or material (hazardous or not), you are to inform building administration so they are aware of the shipment and to reassure them that the shipment will be moved to an acceptable location in a timely manner. You are also responsible to store any materials in accordance with building codes or HSRM regulations.

Hazard and Risk Assessments

Before obtaining a new hazardous material or piece of equipment, a hazard analysis should be performed. This analysis will help to identify any risks associated with the material and determine if its use is appropriate in the proposed location. The analysis will also specify control measures to implement that will control or eliminate risks. Contact HSRM for a consultation prior to obtaining any hazardous material.

Components of a Hazard or Risk Assessment

1. Hazard Identification
   1. What could go wrong?
   2. Examples: chemical spill, fire, electrical shock
2. Risk Evaluation
   1. What is the likelihood of something going wrong
   2. If something goes wrong, what are any potential consequences (injury, property damage, etc.)?
   3. If something goes wrong, what would its severity be? Low, Medium, High
      1. If the severity and likelihood are both high, you will need to re-evaluate how you will complete your task.

3. Control Measures 

   
   1. What can be done to reduce or eliminate the risk?
      1. Engineering controls – guarding, interlocks, fume hoods, ventilation
      2. Administrative controls – training, documentation, standard operating procedures (SOPs) housekeeping, warning signs and labels
      3. PPE – Safety glasses, lab coats, hearing protection
   2. Note: Always implement engineering controls, then administrative, and finally PPE. PPE alone is not sufficient and is considered a last line of defense.
4. Documentation
   1. Document any analysis performed
   2. Review these documents annually, when procedures change, or after an incident

Safety Inspections

Depending on the activities being performed in your work area, periodic safety inspections by HSRM staff may be required. The frequency of these inspections will be based on the hazards in your area, as described earlier. During a safety inspection, several items will be reviewed:

• Training documentation
• Proper chemical storage
• Guarding of mechanical and electrical systems
• Condition of the general work area, along with storage locations.
• Sufficient and proper PPE for all group members