All Ryerson wet lab personnel
handling hazardous chemicals are
required to do so in a safe manner. In
this video, people working in a
laboratory, studio, or workshop are shown
how they can safely handle chemicals.
All hazardous chemicals are identifiable
using the WHMIS 2015 system. All
chemicals found in the laboratory must
be equipped with either a supplier label,
which contains more detailed information;
or a workplace label, which should
contain the minimum safety information
for a chemical's specific use within the
workplace.
Both of these labels inform the chemical
user about hazards and/or risks
associated with the chemical, and provide
instructions on how to safely handle and
store the chemical.
All lab chemicals must also be equipped
with the safety data sheet or SDS which
is an information sheet that provides
even further information about the
chemical. SDS' are usually shipped with
the package when you order your
chemicals. You can also obtain SDS online
via the HECHMET system - higher education
cooperative for hazardous materials
tracking. You may access HECHMET using
either VERTERE or CHEMWATCH. To access
the VERTERE online inventory use your
lab's account login information.
In VERTERE you can view SDS, as well as
barcode information,
CAS numbers, location, and quantity of
each of the chemicals found in your
space.
To obtain a VERTERE user account
please contact the Environmental
Health and Safety Office. The other
method of obtaining and viewing SDS is
by viewing the CHEMWATCH website.
CHEMWATCH is an international chemical
management software affiliated to HECHMET.
This site will enable you to print out
SDS labels of different sizes.
All Ryerson labs, studios, and
workshops have these signs posted
outside the entrance to indicate the
type of laboratory that one is about to
enter. Please be familiar with the
signage and ensure that you're aware of
the types of hazards found inside, what
WHMIS hazard classes are present, and
the minimal personal protective
equipment or PPE that is required to
work or enter the laboratory. The signage
will also describe any special
precautions for entry or exit that need
to be followed. Under the required training
you'll see a list of training that you
must complete if you're planning to work
in the lab. An emergency contact will
also be posted and it's usually either
the PI or a technical officers contact
information. Before handling hazardous
chemicals ensure the appropriate
personal protective equipment is worn.
Given the various hazard levels
associated with chemicals at Ryerson the
following PPEs should be utilized at all
times when in the lab: a lab coat which
covers the entire body, and all clothes.
You're lab coat should be worn at all
times when in the laboratory. After lab work
each coat should be stored in an easily
accessible location in the lab, if you're
working in a research lab.
The coat should never be hung with
street clothes, or other non lab related
objects or items. The lab coat must not
be worn outside of the lab. Proper
footwear should be worn at all times
when in the lab. Flats or flip-flops must
never be worn. The shoes you wear must
have full foot coverage with good
gripping, solid, black soles; or reasonably
sized heels.
Safety glasses are used
because they're made of unbreakable
lenses of plastic or tempered glass,
designed for light to moderate work.
Goggles are used when the work involves
significant risk of splash of chemicals
or projectiles, and can be worn over
prescription glasses. Regular
prescription glasses should never be
used as the only protection for your
eyes. Instead wear safety glasses or
goggles over the prescription glasses.
The purpose of these glasses is to
protect against risk of flying objects,
dust particles, splashes of hazardous
materials, or from harmful rays. Face
shields are used when the work involves
significant risk of splash on face, or
possible explosions; and protects the
face adequately - however not the eyes.
Gloves protect against risk of cuts, abrasions,
burns, or exposure to hazardous materials.
Ensure the use of the appropriate
chemical-resistant gloves when handling
lab chemicals.
Before putting on gloves, remove all
dangling jewelry. Ensure you do not use
gloves and have a hole, or tear. Do not
reuse or reapply disposable gloves.
Change gloves frequently throughout the
course of the workday. Gloves may tear or
develop a hole through normal wear and
usage. Strict attention must be paid when
removing gloves, so the outer surface of
the glove does not come into contact
with exposed skin. Remove gloves by
slowly pulling them down, one at a time,
and turning them inside out. Dispose of
gloves in a designated biohazard
container, or receptacle if required.
For lab personnel with long hair, ensure
it is restrained by having it tied up.
Also, when handling hazardous lab
chemicals - ensure no dangling jewelry is
worn. The ultimate purpose of wearing the
appropriate personal protective
equipment is to minimize lab workers
possible exposure to chemical hazards
and risks, as much as possible.
To avoid the occurrence of accidents, all
chemicals must be properly stored in
appropriate locations. Cabinets are used
for flammables, acids, and bases. Always
keep the heavy chemicals on bottom
shelves, and the lighter chemicals on
upper shelves. For easy-reaching purposes
do not store the chemicals too high up
on the shelf. Avoid storing too many
chemicals on one shelf. For best practice,
please ensure that the shelves have a
lip to prevent items from sliding off.
Fireproof refrigerators may be used to
store chemicals depending on their
properties. Ensure that all chemicals are
stored according to their hazard classes,
such as flammables being stored with
flammables, acid with acids, and bases
with bases. Use Ryerson's chemicals
incompatibility table to identify which
of your chemicals can be stored together.
Always be careful to segregate the
chemicals in their storage areas
according to their compatibility. Avoid
storing chemicals on the floor to
prevent the occurrence of spills if
chemicals are accidentally knocked over
or kicked. Also minimize storing
chemicals on lab benches which should
only be used for storage when chemicals
are ready to be handled or utilized.
Refrain from using the fume hood as a
storage area. For specific storage
instructions, please always refer to the
information provided in safety data
sheets.
To ensure the chemical products are
moved from place to place within the
facility in a safe manner and to reduce
the risk of spills or other incidents
the following procedures should be
followed. Transportation of hazardous
bottles should always be done using a
secondary container, or equipment such as
a cart, bucket, or tray. Do not carry
chemicals using only your hands. Only
freight elevator should be used when
transporting hazardous materials from
one floor to another. When transporting
compressed gas cylinders please use the
appropriate cylinder cart. You can find the
cylinder cart in the Ryerson University
Analytical Center if you don't have one
in your lab. Ensure that you have taken
the e-learning training on compressed
gas cylinders, as this will provide you
with further transportation details of
compressed gas cylinders.
Chemical lab work always generates waste
most of which is generally hazardous and
must be handled safely. Ensure your
chemical waste is collected in the
appropriate waste containers.
However keep in mind not to put
incompatible chemicals in the same
container. Use another container if
necessary.
Please ensure that you label your waste
as you fill containers. Every time you
put waste in the container fill out the
label with the list of chemicals inside
the container. The container must be kept
closed at all times to minimize exposure.
For the filled waste container be picked
up by the hazardous waste company, a
request for waste pickup must be made
by filling out the online submission
form. The form can be found on the
Environmental Health and Safety website under
'chemical waste'.
Also if your bottles containing a
chemical had a Ryerson barcode remember
to remove, or write down the barcode
number; and fill out the barcode return
form found on the Environmental Health
and Safety website.
Every other
week, the waste pickup company will visit
each lab that filled out the online form,
in order to pick up their chemical waste.
To ensure that you're chemical waste will
be picked up
make sure you have requested a pick up
online by the deadline, and have fully
labeled the waste container with all the
required information. The broken glass
waste container located in each
laboratory should be utilized to dispose
of glass. Never pick up chemical broken
glass containers with your bare hands.
Have gloves on and use a tongue or dust
pan to pick them up for disposal.
There are two types of chemical spills
that can happen in any lab.
The first is a major spill, which is
characterized as being high in quantity,
and/or very hazardous in nature; or the
size and/or type of material make these
spills and immediate threat to health
and safety of lab staff, other personnel,
or the environment.
The second is minor spills, which can
be characterized as small in quantity,
and/or not too hazardous in nature; or
the size and/or type of material are not
an immediate threat to the health and
safety of lab staff, other personnel, or
the environment. If you're faced with a
minor spill, the expectation at Ryerson
is that you're qualified to clean it up.
However, never assume the nature of the
spill unless you were involved. Each lab
that has chemical hazards is equipped
with a universal spill kit. This kit is
mounted to the wall in a visible area.
Each spill kit contains a minimum of
five universal pads, two polyethylene bags,
one pair of goggles, one pair of gloves,
one scrub pad, one hazardous waste label,
one pair of tongues, one scoop and brush,
one marker or pen, and five incident report
papers. Staff must ensure this kit is
fully stocked, and easily accessible.
Before cleaning up any spills ensure
you've received the proper training. You
may contact the Environmental
Health and Safety Office for training
on how to use the kit and its materials.
Always review safety data sheets of the
spilled material, if it is known, prior to
entering the spill area.
If the spill is minor, then you should be able to clean it
up yourself. Wear personal protective
equipment, including safety goggles,
gloves, and a long sleeve lab coat during
cleanup. Confine the spill to a small
area by using the absorbent pad from
your spill kit to absorb spilled
materials. When all liquid is absorbed,
pick up the materials with a broom and
dustpan. For any larger pieces of glass
use a pair of tongs. Place the saturated
absorbent, and broken glass in the solid
waste container, or in the polyethylene
bag. Label the container or bag with the
hazardous waste info, and include it in the
next hazardous waste collection. Clean
the spill area with soap and water.
Always clean from the outside towards
the center of a spill. For the spill kit
to be ready when it's needed next,
replenish the supplies as soon as
possible by using the contact
information provided in the spill kit.
Fill out an incident report form in the
spill kit, and submit a copy to the
Environmental Health and Safety, and to your
supervisor.
If the spill is large, or if you're
unsure how to classify it. Immediately
call Ryerson security by dialing 80. In
the event of a major spill, avoid
breathing vapors. Quickly identify the
build material if you can do so safely,
based on knowledge of chemicals and lab
conditions at the time of the spill.
Block drains by throwing some
absorbent material on this spill from
your spill kit. If the spill involves a
flammable liquid, turn off all ignition
sources if you can do so safely. Make
sure all fume hoods are on. Alert people
in the area, and evacuate closing all
doors. Lock doors and post warning
signs.
Eyewash stations and safety showers are
safety devices that are utilized in
emergency situations that involve
chemical splashing on lab personnel. They
should be located in the clearly visible
area of the laboratory. If a chemical
splash occurs on someone's face or eyes,
make sure they remove safety glasses and
locate the emergency eyewash station.
Immediately turn on the eyewash station
by pushing the lever beside it. Flush the eyes
and your face for 15 to 20 minutes.
During the flushing hold your eyes open,
gently rotate the eyeballs from left to
right, and up and down, to remove
contamination from all areas of your
eyes. If you have contacts, take them out
during the flushing as you don't want to
delay the flushing. If the spill occurred
on the body,
make sure to remove the lab coat and
locate the safety shower. Immediately
flush the affected body area with water
for 15 to 20 minutes using an available
clean lab coat to cover yourself
afterwards. In both cases, consult with a
medical practitioner to check if
anything else needs to be done to avoid
any potential adverse effects