Hazard Materials used in Biotechnology:

Handling & Disposal

Machiavelli
Hazardous Material in BIOTECH

 Hazard: Poses a danger/ threat/ high risk

 Safety in the workplace:
 Safety (R&D, Process, Purify, Pack & Use)
 Accidents
 Emergencies
 Hazards and Risk Assessment
 Physical, Chemical & Biological agent
 Toxic, corrosive, irritant :
 Allergen / Mutagenic
Laboratory Safety Management:
Regulatory Agencies
 Standards: operating principals or
requirements related to many areas in addition
to safety. Many safety regulations are
voluntary.
 Regulations: operating principals required by
law.
 Areas that have standards and regulations:
 Worker safety
 Environmental Protection
 Use and Handling of Animals
 Regulation of Radioisotopes
 Regulatory Agencies
 OSHA
 EPA
 USDA
 FDA
 NIH
 DBT
 GEAC
 OECD
Chemical waste in BT Labs
 Unchlorinated organic waste (Neutralise)
 Chlorinated organic waste ( ---)
 Unused laboratory chemicals (Donate with MSDS)
 Hazardous waste – known (SOP)
 Hazardous waste – unknown (Check Label)
 Dilute aqueous non-toxic waste (Proper drainage)

 Disposal of container with waste (SOP)

 Disposal of empty container (Reuse/Dispose)
Institutional Responsibility
 Provide resource to maintain
 Risk assessment
 Review
 Establish SOP/ System
 Employee info/ training
 Health surveillance
 Safer workplace
 Restricted assess
 Emergency exits / evacuation
 First aid
Chemical Hygiene Plan
 Items that must be addressed in the CHP:
 General chemical safety rules and procedures
 Purchase, distribution, and storage of chemicals
 Environmental monitoring
 Availability of medical programs
 Maintenance, housekeeping, and inspection procedures
 Availability of protective devices and clothing
 Record keeping policies
 Training and employee information programs
 Chemical labeling requirement
 Accident and spill policies
 Waste disposal programs
 Emergency response plans
 Designation of safety officer
Environmental Protection

 Environmental Protection
 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has
primary responsibility for enforcement of
laws to prevent environmental contamination
with hazardous chemicals.
 Clean Water Act
 Safe Drinking Water Act
 Clean Air Act
Environmental Protection
 Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)
 Provides a system for tracking hazardous waste,
including poisonous or reactive chemicals from
creation to disposal (cradle to grave)

 Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA): designed

to regulate chemicals that pose health or
environmental risks.

 Establishes chemical inventory and record

keeping requirements. Allows EPA to ban or
control hazardous chemicals in commerce.
Laboratory Responsibility

 Laboratory Responsibility
 Institutions have policies, but these
policies need to be implemented at the
individual laboratory level.

 Commitment to risk reduction should be

a clear and constant goal for all
members of the laboratory group.
Laboratory Responsibility
 Designation of a safety officer (committee)
 safety advisor to laboratory
 ensure that safety procedures are documented
 act as a liaison with the institutions safety officers
 communicate policy changes to co-workers
 coordinate internal safety inspections
 ensure that equipment is properly maintained
 keep records of hazards and problems within the
laboratory
Laboratory Responsibility

 Labeling and Documentation

 Lack of proper labeling is one of the most
common OSHA citations against
laboratories.
 Labeling should provide identification to new
workers and emergency personnel
MSDS
 Material Safety Data Sheets
(MSDS):
 A legally required technical document
provided by chemical suppliers that
describes the specific properties of a
chemical.
 Online sources: Product homepage
 www.sigma-aldrich.com
MSDS
 No specific format.
 Types of information typically provided:
 Chemical name
 Chemical supplier
 Composition and ingredients information
 Potential health effects
 Exposure levels, with specific concentrations and
times
 First Aid Procedures
 Fire fighting procedures
 Accidental release procedures
 Handling and storage procedures
 Recommended personnel protection
 Physical and chemical properties
 Stability and reactivity
 Toxicological information
 Environmental impact
 Disposal Recommendations
 Transportation information
 Regulatory information
Laboratory Responsibility
Job Safety Analysis: a detailed step by step
analysis of each step in a procedure
identifying hazards and outlining accident
prevention strategies.

 Housekeeping
 Clean Up after yourself!
 Balances, Centrifuges, other common
equipment.
 Freezers and Refrigerators
Laboratory Responsibility
 Emergency Response
 All Personnel should be familiar with basic emergency
responses.
 At least one person trained in CPR and basic first aid
 First aid kit must be readily accessible and fully
stocked
 All required protective devices such as fire
extinguishers, fire blankets, and eyewash stations
must be well marked and easily accessible.
 Emergency telephone numbers and instructions
should be prominently displayed b y each phone
 Evacuation routes should be kept well clear of boxes
and clutter.
Laboratory Responsibility
 Laboratory Rooms should be labeled
 Hazard Diamond System: rates chemicals
according to their fire, reactivity, and general
health hazards
 Scale of 0-4; 0 being non-hazardous, 4 being
very hazardous

 Biohazard Warning signs

 Biosafety Levels
Personnel Responsibility

 Personnel Responsibility

 Ultimately it is up to you the individual

laboratory worker who is responsible for
his/her safety and the safety of their
coworkers-after all it is you who has the
most to lose, your health, eyesight, or
life.
Personnel Safety Practices
 Be sure that you are informed about the hazards
that you encounter in the laboratory.
 Be aware of emergency protocols.
 When in doubt about a hazardous material or
procedure, ask.
 Use personnel protective wear such as lab coats
and safety glasses
 Do not eat, drink, smoke, or chew gum in the
laboratory.
 Avoid practical jokes and/or horse play
 Use gloves when in doubt
 Wash your hands regularly
Personnel Safety Practices
 Always wash your hands thourougly before leaving the
laboratory
 Disinfect your workspace before starting work and
when finishing
 Read the labels of chemicals carefully
 Read procedures before performing them and
visualize hazardous steps
 Minimize use of sharp objects (needles, broken glass)
and know how to dispose of them
 Clean up spills and pick up any dropped items
immediately
 Label everything clearly
 Use a fume hood for chemicals and solvents that you
can smell, has known toxic properties, or is unfamiliar
to you.
 Record everything in your lab notebook
 Always report accidents, however minor.
Hazardous Symbols
 Toxic
 Dangerous to environment
 Harmful
 Highly flammable
 Oxidizing
 Explosive
 Corrosive
 Radio Active
Physical Hazards
 Fire
 Bunsen Burners
 Autoclaves
 Compressed Gas Cylinders
 Broken Glassware
 Razorblades and needles
 Electrical Equipment
 Ultraviolet light
Chemical Hazards

 Flammable Chemicals
 Reactive Chemicals
 Corrosive Chemicals
 Toxic Chemicals
Controlling the Exposure
 Can you replace the substance

 Use appropriate work process

 Control exposure at source (Min People)

 Provide PPE (Visor/ Gloves/ Coat)

 Cryogenic liquids (Fully trained)

 Cover physical hazards

 Proper storage (Liquid Nitrogen/ Dry CO2)

 Safe transfer / transport / handling

Controlling the Exposure
 Pharma & Controlled Medications

 Ethers & Peroxide-Forming materials

 Dilute solutions of Nontoxic aqueous chemicals

 Animal carcasses
RISK PHRASES
 R45 – CARCINOGENIC
 R46 – HERITABLE GENETIC DAMAGE
 R20/21/22 – HARMFUL IN CONTACT/ INHALE
 R25 – HARMFUL IF SWALLOWED
 R35/36 – IRRITATE EYE/SKIN
 R43 – SKIN SENSITIZATION
 R48/23/24 – TOXIC IN INHALE/CONTACT
 R62 – IMPAIRED INFERTILITY

 State the amount of time spent working with this

agent under controlled conditions: Actual time
working with chemical or exposure
 State occupational exposure limit value (OELV)
SAFETY PHRASES

 S53 – AVOID EXPOSURE READ INSTRUCTION

 S26 – IF CONTACT, RINSE SEEK MEDICO

 S36/37 – WEAR PPE

 S45 – IN ACCIDENT, MEDICO ADV & SHOW

LABEL
Risk assessment
 Risk Assessment for Biological Agents

 Is this a known human or primate pathogen?

 What is the history of laboratory use of this organism or
agent and what are the recognized risks?
 Has this agent been associated with a laboratory
acquired infection and if so what were the health effects
of that infection?
 Is there an effective treatment or preventative vaccine?
Biological Risk Assessment
 Does this agent frequently induce
sensitivity or allergies in workers?
 What is my potential susceptibility as a
function of age, sex, or medical
condition?
 How can I limit my exposure to the
agent?
 What are the recommended safety
precautions for this agent and are they
being practiced in this laboratory?
 Is the estimated risk acceptable to
me?
Std. Microbiological Practices
 Standard Microbiological Practices (Table 30.3)
 Access to the laboratory should be limited to trained personnel
 Lab coats and Eye protection should be worn at all times
 Workers should wash their hands after any work with
microorganisms and whenever they leave the lab
 Eating, drinking and smoking in the laboratory are prohibited
 Hand to mouth, or hand to eye contact should be avoided
 Mouth-pipetting of any substance in the laboratory is prohibited
 Steps should be taken to minimize aerosol production
 Work should be performed on a clean impervious bench surface
with an appropriate disinfectant available
 Work surfaces should be decontaminated after any spill and at the
end of every work session
 All biological materials should be properly decontaminated before
disposal
Lab Assignment
 Draw a floor plan of the laboratory showing lab benches, and
lecture desks. Include in your drawing the following:
Exit(s)
 Fire Extinguishers
 Eye Wash Stations
 Safety Shower
 Fire Extinguisher
 Fire Blanket
 Hand-washing sink
 Master gas shutoff
 Master electricity shut off
 First-aid kit
 Biohazardous waste container
 Sharps containers
 Broken glass containers
 Routine garbage containers
 Chemical disposal containers
 MSDS File
 After observing and/or discharging a
dry chemical fire extinguisher answer
the following questions.
 What class of fire extinguisher did you
discharge or observe being discharged?
 Could you use this type of fire
extinguisher on an electrical fire? A
solvent (chemical) fire? A combustible
metal fire?
 Outline the steps you took to operate the
fire extinguisher.
 Reduction and Disposal of Waste
 Minimization (Autoclave in Bags)
 Categorise (Solid, Liquid, Sharps,
Carcasses, Mixed & pathogens)
 Label
 Store in labelled containers
 Report Biohazard spills
 IMMUNIZATION & FIRST AID
 Fire fighting equipments
 What items are found in the laboratory
first aid kit?
Hazard Analysis:
 Conduct a safety audit of the laboratory
listing any observed safety violations
 Discuss these safety violations with your
laboratory partners.
 What steps would you suggest to remove
or reduce these violations.
 1.-10