Laboratory & Research Safety

Russell Vernon, Ph.D.

Laboratory / Research Safety & Integrated Waste Manager University of California, Riverside
951-827-5119, russell.vernon@ucr.edu

Agenda
Research & Teaching Synergy (Whole greater than sum of parts)
Involves chemicals, infectious agents, animals, plants, people, radioactive hazards, machines, lasers, etc and People

Labs are different

Hazard Communication & Laboratory Standard Employees vs. volunteers & students

Field Work & Safety

Teaching Research

ISEM core functions

Five Steps

Synergy

RESEARCH & TEACHING

Synergy Research & Teaching

90 % communication
Why do students go to college?
What motivates graduate students?

Why are Faculty here?

What motivates faculty & staff?

10 % information
Ah the hazards:
Health & physicals hazards Chemical, Physical, Biological, Radioactive

University Mission

Teaching Research, Research Grants & Publications Public Service

Teaching
Public Service

Lab/Research Community Safety

Involves & relies on

Teaching Laboratories

Laboratory Research

Field Research

Chemical Hygiene Officer

6/25/2013

Fire Prevention, Building Design & Maintenance, Industrial Hygienists etc.

Radiation & Bio Safety Officers

7

Departments Involved
(UCR Example)

Air Pollution Research Center R Anthropology TRF Biochemistry TR Bioengineering TR Biology TRF Biomedical Sciences TR Botany & Plant Sciences TRF Cell Biology T Chemical Engineering T Chemistry TR CE-CERT RF Center for Conservation Biology RF Cell Biology & Neurosciences TR Earth & Planetary Sciences TRF Electrical Engineering TR Entomology TRF
6/25/2013

T = Teaching Labs R = Research Labs F = Field Work

Environmental Engineering T Chemical & Environmental Engineering TRF Environmental Science TRF Environmental Toxicology T Inst Geophysics Planetary Physics R MS&E TR Mechanical Engineering TR Nematology TRF Neuroscience T Plant Pathology & Microbiology TRF Physics and Astronomy TRF Psychology RF Soil and Water Science TRF Education Abroad F Sociology F
8

Community Metrics

Fieldwork
The normally the most hazardous activity

Throughout US and several foreign countries

Thousands of trips UC-wide Unknown number field trips annually

(at least > 200 at UCR alone)
6/25/2013 9

Grants $/Assignable Square Foot

Statistics Agricultural Operations College of Natural and Agricultural Science Mathematics Cell Biology and Neuroscience Institute of Genomics Plant Pathology & Microbiology Botany and Plant Sciences Environmental Sciences Chemistry Nematology Earth Sciences Entomology Air Pollution Research Center Physics Biology Biochemistry
$601.07 $1.58 $4.16 $8.88 $22.34 $27.96 $38.44 $39.84 $40.83 $42.16 $52.72 $54.87 $62.33 $64.65 $71.75 $78.11 $82.43 $95.34

Water Resources Board $0.00

6/25/2013

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Specialization
Programs
Chemical & Laboratory Safety Laboratory Safety Inspections

Craig Maxwell

Radiation Safety

Brenda Wong

Laboratory & Research Safety

Laboratory Design Safety Agricultural, Field, Marine Safety

Biological Safety

Specialized area
Chemical & Laboratory Safety
Chemical Hygiene Plan Exposure Assessment Standard Operating Procedures Nanomaterial safety High hazard materials safety Laboratory ergonomics Departmental Contacts Campus Policymakers Chemical safety & fire code segregation
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Synergy hazards are just tools

Researchers select to use chemicals based upon project needs, familiarization & level of effort required Chemical Hazard Types
Health & physical hazards (OSHA)
Laboratory Standard only applies to health hazards

Chemicals, biohazards, radioactives

Obvious overlap exists

Health Hazards - Chemicals

statistically significant evidence that acute or chronic health effects may occur in exposed employees
carcinogens toxic or highly toxic agents reproductive toxins irritants corrosives sensitizers hepatotoxins nephrotoxins neurotoxins hematopoietic damaging agents anything that damages
lungs, skin, eyes or mucous membranes

Physical Hazards - Chemicals

scientifically valid evidence it is
combustible liquid compressed gas explosive flammable organic peroxide oxidizer pyrophoric unstable (reactive) water-reactive

Chemical Hazard Classes

Corrosives Flammables Oxidizers Toxins Reactive Chemicals

LABS ARE DIFFERENT

Labs are Different

Cal/OSHA Lab Standard
OSHA & Cal/OSHA Lab Standard are essentially identical www.dir.ca.gov/Title8/5191.html

EPA Academic Lab Rule

Not yet adopted by California Flexibility afforded academic laboratories:
delay in making waste determinations, longer accumulation times, labeling simplified, encourages lab cleanouts useful for small quantity generators
www.epa.gov/epawaste/hazard/generation/labwaste

Cal/OSHA Laboratory Standard

Occupational regulations for labs that uses chemicals is the Laboratory Standard Requires:
Employer limit exposure
www.dir.ca.gov/Title8/5155table_ac1.html

Initial and periodic exposure monitoring Written Chemical Hygiene Plan

Capable of protecting employees from health hazards Capable of keeping exposures below the limits Readily available to employees
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Lab Standard Requires

Standard operating procedures Criteria determine & implement controls Fume hoods shall function properly Employees shall be trained Circumstances requiring prior approval Medical consultation and examinations Chemical Hygiene officer & Committee
6/25/2013 20

Particularly Hazardous Materials

Special provisions required for:
Select carcinogens Reproductive toxins Highly acute toxic substances
1.
2.

3. 4.

Establishment of a designated area Use of containment devices such as fume hoods or glove boxes Procedures for safe removal of contaminated waste Decontamination procedures

6/25/2013

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Issues with Compliance

Who is responsible?
Who is the Employer?
Who is doing the work? Who is the supervisor? Is there a supervisor?

Whos going to pay?

Fines Controls & protection (engineering through PPE) Exposure monitoring (initial & periodic) Written documents Signs Equipment

Hazard Controls

OSHA hierarchy of controls

Engineering controls Work practices Administrative controls Personal protective equipment (PPE)

Laboratory Safety Orientation, 2009

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Engineering Controls

Local Exhaust Ventilation

Fume hoods Snorkels Down-draft tables Glove boxes Biosafety cabinets
Laboratory Safety Orientation, 2009 26

Fume Hoods
Sash .
Bypass Grill.

..Exhaust

Fresh Air..
Airfoil..
Laboratory Safety Orientation, 2009

..Baffles

27

Fume Hood Function & Failure

Function
Draw air contaminants away from operator Sweep breathing zone with clean air

Impediments to proper operation

Do not use front 6 inches Do not block air flow - slots
Laboratory Safety Orientation, 2009 28

On-line Training from UCB

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4AHxLnByts

Laboratory Safety Orientation, 2009

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Biological Safety Cabinets

BSCs are designed to provide both a clean work environment and protection for the user BSCs use airflow to create a barrier to airborne particles, such as microorganisms BSCs use High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters to clean air going into the work area and out to the environment
Laboratory Safety Orientation, 2009 30

http://oregonstate.edu/ehs/LVSG-BSC-type

BioSafety Cabinet (Class IIB2)

Clean Benches
(a.k.a. Tissue culture hoods)

Laminar Flow toward Contamination Source (operator) NO operator protection Protects sample & work DO NOT USE for hazardous material
Laboratory Safety Orientation, 2009 33

Work Practices
Education
Hazard recognition and control methods.

Training
Proper techniques; emergency response & drills

Supervision - good safety performance Housekeeping Personal hygiene

Laboratory Safety Orientation, 2009 34

Administrative Controls
Worker exposure
Initial placement, worker rotation for some hazards.

Medical
Surveillance and immunization.

Hazard Identification
Signs - notifications, etc.

Laboratory Safety Orientation, 2009

35

Personal Protective Equipment

The Strategy of Last Resort Respiratory Protection Eye, Face, Hand, Foot Protective Clothing Hearing Head Protection Barrier creams
Laboratory Safety Orientation, 2009 36

The Failure of a Glove

Karen Wetterhan at Dartmouth

www.dartmouth.edu/~toxmetal/home/tribute/karen.html www.dartmouth.edu/~ehs/hazard_wetterhahn.html

Laboratory Safety Orientation, 2009

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Glove Selection
Chemical Compatibility
http://www.ehs.okstate.edu/hazmat/gloves.htm

www.northsafety.com
http://www.showabestglove.com/site/chemrest/
www.ansell-edmont.com/download/Ansell_7thEditionChemicalResistanceGuide.pdf

Laboratory Safety Orientation, 2009

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Example

Safety Audits& Inspections

Labs inspected for compliance with
California Fire Code Cal/OSHA Lab Standard
Chemical Hygiene Plan

Regulatory Scope

Hazardous, Medical and Radioactive Waste

Labeling, Storage & Segregation

Radioactive isotope use Biohazardous materials use Electrical Code

Audit Process Options

Contact department and/or lab representative
Schedule audits for that dept/lab

Occupants present
Yes can ask more takes longer better result No limited to physical conditions only

Paper or paperless process

Time to inspect, time to create reports Consistency between auditors & inspections Automating report creations, summary reports
$, FTE, expertise, priorities, accountability
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Specialized area
Biological Safety
Human pathogens
BSC Certification Oversight Biosafety Risk Assessments Biosafety Audits Bloodborne Pathogen Exposure Control Plan IBC (BUAs, Select Agents, rDNA) Biosafety Level 3 Facilities

Medical Research
Medical Waste Management Plan Medical Waste Treatment Permit Autoclave validation Containment & labeling

Animal (vertebrates)
IACUC Animal Use Authorizations Vivarium (Consultation, Inspection, AAALAC) Insects, arthropod

Public Health
Biological Spill Response Communicable diseases

Invertebrate research
Nematodes, Insects, arthropods

Plant & animal pathogens

6/25/2013

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Specialized area
Radiation Safety
Radioactive Use Authorizations
Inspection Delivery

Non-ionizing
Laser Safety Registration 3b & 4 Microwaves UV Strong Magnetic Fields

Radiation exposure monitoring

Surveys Dosimetry

Training
Initial Refresher

Radiation Producing Machines

Irradiator Security Equipment Clearance
6/25/2013

Radiation Safety Committee

Broad scope license Enforcement

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Laser use
Class 3B & 4 Lasers are hazardous Pulsed beam concentrates greater amounts of energy than continuous wave of the same average wattage. Nothing Leaves the Table

Curtain that burned Laser

Synergy hazards are just tools

Check out the BioBrick Contest
MIT & UCSF Using BioBrick standard biological parts, a synthetic biologist or biological engineer can, to some extent, program living organisms like a computer scientist can program a computer

http://bbf.openwetware.org

Registry of Standard Biological Parts

Biosynthesis: Parts involved in the production or degradation of

chemicals and metabolites are listed here

Cell-cell signaling and quorum sensing: Parts involved in intercellular signaling and quorum sensing between bacteria Cell death: Parts involved in killing cells Coliroid: Parts involved in taking a bacterial photograph Conjugation: Parts involved in DNA conjugation between bacteria Motility and chemotaxis: Parts involved in motility or chemotaxis of cells Odor production and sensing: Parts the produce or sense odorants DNA recombination: Parts involved in DNA recombination

FIELD WORK & SAFETY

Travel Safety Plus

https://www.uctrips-insurance.org

Field Safety Plans

Transportation
People; Samples, Materials, Supplies, Equipment; and Hazardous Materials

Medical Considerations Security Communications

Activities:
Before, while there, when you get back

Pierce's Disease
Bacterial infection (Xylella fastidiosa)
spread by bugs that feed on grapevines
glassy winged sharpshooter

Infected grapevines die

http://www.ehs.ucr.edu/forms/laboratorysafetydesign.pdf

SAFE LABORATORY DESIGN

UC Laboratory Safety Design Guide

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.

9.
10. 11.

General Requirements for Laboratories Electrical Safety Laboratory Ventilation and Fume Hoods Emergency Eyewash and Safety Shower Equipment Pressure Vessel Components and Systems and Compressed Gas Cylinders Hazardous Materials Storage Cabinets Biosafety Laboratories Additional Requirements for Radioactive Material Laboratories Additional Requirements for Laboratories with Irradiators and/or Radiation-Producing Machines Additional Requirements for Laboratories Using Non-Ionizing Radiation Sources, Including Lasers Ergonomics Design and Laboratory Spaces

Timely Issues
U.S. Green Building Council
www.usgbc.org Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Green Building Rating System (LEED)

Labs 21
www.labs21century.gov

International Institute for Sustainable Laboratories

www.i2sl.org

Sustainable design
Heated and cooled air flowing takes energy
Laboratories have single pass, non-recirculated air to minimize
personnel exposure and concentration of flammable vapors

Standard Practice a decade ago was 6 to 12 air changes per hour

American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers changed guidelines International Building Codes are being adopted

The Challenge
Safe Labs
What is safe? Who decides? How to inform occupants? How to manage change?

Save Energy
Important but not primary function Fair comparison of alternatives Who pays the energy bill?

Integrated Safety & Environmental Management

ISEM

Management of Health, Safety and the Environment

achieving excellence in providing a healthy and safe working environment supporting environmentally sound practices in the conduct of University activities comply with all applicable health, safety, and environmental protection laws, regulations and requirements
www.ucop.edu/riskmgt/bsas/presidentialpol.pdf

Guiding Principles
1.

2.

3. 4.

5.

Management Commitments and Involvement of Faculty, Staff, and Students Management Responsibility for Safety and the Environment Establishing Clear Roles and Responsibilities Ensuring Competence Commensurate with Responsibilities Balanced Priorities

Guiding Principles (continued)

6.

7. 8.

9.

Identification of Safety and Environmental Standards and Requirements Encouraging Stakeholder Participation Adapting Hazard and Operational Controls to Specific University Activities Obtaining Authorization Prior to Conducting an Activity

5 Steps of ISEM (Core Functions)

1.
2.

3.

4.

5.

Define scope of activity Identify & analyze hazards Develop & implement controls Perform activity within controls Provide feedback & make improvements
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Laboratory Safety Orientation, 2009