LABSAFETY-L Archive 9805 May 1998

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Date: Fri, 1 May 1998 02:46:12 -0400
Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List <LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU>
Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List <LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU>
From: Mary Ann Solstad <msolstad@MEDIAONE.NET>
Subject: Re: Flammable chemicals in Laboratories
In-Reply-To: <l03130305b16d10acd23a@[128.165.79.132]>
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At 11:16 AM 4/29/98 -0600, you wrote:
>>You can't buy ethyl ether in anything but a metal can.
>Perhaps there is confusion on this due to the use of petroleum ether as a
>mixture of low boiling hydrocarbons used for chromatographic and other
>solvent uses......
You make an excellent point: the frequent confusion of pet. ether and
diethyl ether, the peroxide former. Also confused, when translating from
common to chemical names are benzene and benzin, otherwise called petrol or
naptha; and dioxane, a useful solvent and peroxide former, and dioxin, an
infamous environmental contaminate, otherwise known as TCDD. Both are
toxic and carcinogenic (the former only suspect c.), the later much more so.
But you probably knew all this--didn't you, everyone.
Mary Ann
>******************************
>Richard J. Willis
>CST-9 TA-50 MS E 518
>Los Alamos National Laboratory
>Los Alamos, NM 87545
>505.996.1850 (Voice Mail/Digital Pager)
>505.667.3484 (Office)
>505.665.6561 (Fax)
>Sabbatical Leave until 8/30/98
>Kennebunk (ME) High School
>"What is the path?
>There is no path...."
> - Niels Bohr
>******************************
>
Mary Ann Solstad, CIH 4 A's of Safety
SOLSTAD Health & Safety Evaluations Attitude
16 Pequot Rd, Marblehead, MA 01945 Awareness
781-631-4748 tel, 781-631-1832 FAX Automatic Application
Authority
DivCHAS Chair, ACS
msolstad@mediaone.net
==============================================================
Date: Fri, 1 May 1998 07:59:55 -0600
Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List <LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU>
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From: "Richard J. Willis" <rw@WM0.LANL.GOV>
Subject: Re: Labsafety Listserv
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>A friend of mine in New Jersey sent me this email on a clean up of
>stockroom at her high school (which she is leaving in June for another
>teaching position). I have responded generically....perhaps some others
>may have
>comments to assist or, if in New Jersey, could perhaps assist with
>contacts or a consult.
>She really does apparently need help and I do not want to see her get hurt
>physically in the disposal due to accident or administratively when her
>supervisors start saying.....We never told you to do that.......
>Thanks.....
>Dick Willis
>>Date: Tue, 28 Apr 1998 23:32:45 -0400
>>From: Ted Economou/Maryann Lippin <tmfit@erols.com>
>>To: rwillis@lamere.net
>>Subject: bad boy chemicals in the lab
>>
>>Dick - I shared a concern about
>>some of the nasty chemicals in the school that I've been at for the
>>second year. While in the midst of a massive clean-up from a retiring
>>supervisor after decades ( completely voluntary on my part), I
>>discovered a near empty 5 lb can of diethyl ether - no one will touch
>>it. When the business administrator contacter the former supervisor, he
>>said to just open it up outside on a sunny day. The County Health
>>officials and State Police bomb squad won't touch it.
>>
>>Other hot items - uranium oxide - left in a bottle on an open shelf,
>>which I placed in a cardboard box for removal; also some sodium azide,
>>and uranyl nitrate. My concerns - uranium oxide is a gamma emitter,
>>while the uranyl nitrate is a beta emitter; I believe that the Right To
>>Know Law has been violated - since I had never been informed that I
>>would be exposed to these and many other items, even though I was
>>required to attend many hours of Right To Know.
>>
>>If you've the time available, could you possibly direct me on how to
>>proceed. I want to insure that my health and safety is at an optimum.
>>Hope that all is well with you and your sabbatical is going great !
>>
>>Peace- Maryann Lippin
>*****************************
>
******************************
Richard J. Willis
CST-9 TA-50 MS E 518
Los Alamos National Laboratory
Los Alamos, NM 87545
505.996.1850 (Voice Mail/Digital Pager)
505.667.3484 (Office)
505.665.6561 (Fax)
Sabbatical Leave until 8/30/98
Kennebunk (ME) High School
"What is the path?
There is no path...."
- Niels Bohr
******************************
==============================================================
Date: Fri, 1 May 1998 10:18:09 -0400
Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List <LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU>
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From: Howard Spencer <SpencerH@ABSECON.GSTPA.COM>
Subject: Re: Flammable chemicals in Laboratories - storage classes (reply)
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I came late to this discussion but: There is an NFPA (704) labeling
diamond with numbers 0-4. Primarily things with a 3 or 4 rating by this
system are highly flammable. However if the inspector is talking about
CLASS 1 then he is talking abour materials with a Flash Point of less
that 100 F and they should be in a cabinet. Especially 1A materials with
a flash of < 73 F. Look in OSHA 29 CFR1910.106 for limits for storage.
> ----------
> From: Teresa
> Robertson[SMTP:Teresa_Robertson@FIRSTCLASS1.CSUBAK.EDU]
> Reply To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List
> Sent: Wednesday, April 29, 1998 3:47 PM
> To: LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU
> Subject: Re: Flammable chemicals in Laboratories
> LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU,.internet writes:
> >You can tell you've got a Class I because
> >it comes in a metal can.
> Not true
> >On Wed, 29 Apr 1998 09:00:07 -0400 Jacqueline Sheldon
> ><jsheldon@ACCESS.K12.WV.US> wrote:
>
> > When it came to my stock room, he said EVERYTHING with a flammable
> >rating of 1 or higher must be place into the flammable storage
> >cabinet. Does this seem a little paranoid? With
> >> this "notion", consumbles like cereal would also have to be place
> >into the
> >> flammable cabinet. The fire marshall also suggested to just fill
> the
> >> entire room with flammable storage cabinet and put everything in
> >there.
> >> Huh??
> >>
> >> Jacqueline Sheldon
> >> Keyser High School
> >> Rt 4 Box 110
> >> Keyser, WV 26726
> >----------------------
> >Madelyn Miller
> >Chemical Safety Specialist,CCHO
> >Environmental Health & Safety
> >Carnegie Mellon University
> >mmiller@andrew.cmu.edu
> >X-SMTP-From: owner-labsafety-l@SIU.EDU
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> >Date: Wed, 29 Apr 1998 09:41:56 -0400
> >Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List <LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU>
> >Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List <LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU>
> >From: Madelyn Miller <mmiller@ANDREW.CMU.EDU>
> >Subject: Flammable chemicals in Laboratories
> >To: LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU
>
==============================================================
Date: Fri, 1 May 1998 09:01:18 -0500
Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List <LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU>
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From: Kate Kendall <kate-kendall@UIOWA.EDU>
Subject: micro/kid
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At 10:41 AM 4/23/98 -0000, you wrote:
>I love your web site. Thanks. By the way, I have been at Central Michigan
University for 20 years and in addition to managing the chemistry stockroom
I also manage the disposal of hazardous waste from the entire university
and medical waste from the science departments.
>I have been saving all of the aqueous silver waste from our quantitative
analysis lab course.
>After 20 years I accumulated approximately 35 pounds of reasonably pure
Silver Chloride.
>I sent it to a Silver reprocessing facility in Illinois and they just
finished purifying the Silver and they will be sending me a check for
$1,480. Wow! Now that's waste minimization!
>Another of my greatest accomplishments here at CMU has been the
substitution of non-toxic chemicals in lab experiments to completely
eliminate any waste generation. I published a new Spectrophotometry
experiment in the Journal of Chemical Education, Volume 72, Number 10,
October 1995, in the safety tips section on page 926.
>The Use of Erythrosin B in Undergraduate Spectrophotometry Experiments
>by L. James Stock III
>Central Michigan University
>Mt. Pleasant, MI. 48859
> Beginning in 1970 with the passage of both the Clean Air
>Act and the Occupational Safety and Health Act the U.S. began
>enacting major environmental and worker safety legislation.
>The Clean Water Act was passed in 1972. The Safe Drinking
>Water Act was passed in 1974. In 1976 the Resource
>Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) was passed by Congress.
>This act established a cradle to grave control of hazardous
>wastes to ensure safe disposal and prevent environmental
>contamination.
> In 1979 CMU's disposal costs for hazardous wastes were
>85=A2/liter for any liquids. Now, costs range from $4.15/liter
>for nonhalogenated high Btu solvents up to $8.75/liter for
>heavy metal solutions.
> In response to these increasing regulations and disposal
>costs the CMU chemistry department has made several changes
>such as using microscale experiments and redesigning
>experiments so that chemicals used are less toxic.
> One success story has been the substitution of a non-
>toxic food color for an originally used toxic chromium(VI)
>salt in a general chemistry experiment.
> In 1978 sodium dichromate solutions in dilute sulfuric
>acid were used to teach solution preparation and the
>principles of spectrophotometric analysis. Students began by
>weighing approximately 0.4 grams of sodium dichromate and
>preparing a concentrated solution in dilute sulfuric acid.
>>From this, several dilutions were made to give final solutions
>in the range of approximately 0.0005 mole/liter to 0.0015
>mole/liter. These final solutions were then placed in a single
>beam spectrophotometer (Spec 20) with a range of 340-600 nm
>and the % transmission (%T) recorded. From this, a Beer's Law
>plot was generated. Finally, unknowns of varying
>concentrations were assigned,their transmissions recorded, and
>students attempted to determine their concentrations from
>Beer's Law plots.
> Students were able to accurately determine unknown
>concentrations from their plots but the experiment had several
>serious drawbacks. Sodium dichromate is a confirmed carcinogen
>with experimental tumorigenic data. It is a poison by
>ingestion and skin contact (1). Also, the dilute sulfuric acid
>used as the solvent is corrosive. Undergraduate general
>chemistry students rarely have efficient skills to handle
>these materials safely and in a quantitative manner. The solid
>is often spilled when weighing and transferring into the
>volumetric flask. The dilute sulfuric acid is spilled when
>filling the flask. The spectrophotometer tubes are very
>difficult to fill without spilling. Even more diasterous,
>solutions are sometimes spilled in the sample compartment of
>the instrument. Even though gloves can be provided to protect
>the students' hands, unnoticed contamination on the floor and
>bench tops still is of great concern.
> An additional problem arises from the great volume of
>poisonous and corrosive waste generated from the experiment.
>Volume reductions can be made by neutralization of the
>sulfuric acid, reduction of the chromium(VI) to chromium(III),
>and final precipitation as a hydroxide (2, 3 ). These
>operations are time consuming, potentially dangerous, and
>still result in the production of a hazardous waste.
> To modify this experiment so that it teaches the same
>principles yet is more hazard-free, substituting a dye for the
>chromium(VI) salt was considered. There were several
>requirements of paramount importance: low toxicity, single
>large absorbance in the range of the instrument, a solid with
>a high molecular weight and a molar absorptivity (e') similar
>to the previously used chromium(VI) salt.
> After much experimentation, Erythrosin B (Acid Red 51)
>was found to be a suitable alternative. This is the FDA
>certified red food dye used to color maraschino cherries. It
>has a large absorbance maximum at 525 nm and a molecular
>weight of 879.87 grams/mole(4).
> Our students begin the revised experiment by calculating
>and weighing out a mass that is required to prepare 500 mL of
>a solution that is between 0.00082 M and 0.00084 M of
>Erythrosin B. This corresponds to approximately 0.365 grams
>and is weighed on a milligram top loading balance. Once this
>initial solution is prepared the student uses a 10 mL
>volumetric pipet and transfers exactly 10 mL of the solution
>to a 250 mL volumetric flask. The flask is filled to the mark
>with distilled water and is labeled as the "stock solution".
>It is from this stock solution that 4 final dilutions are made
>to give solutions that will be measured in the
>spectrophotometer. From the stock solution are taken 5, 10,
>15, and 20 mL aliquots using separate volumetric pipets and
>all diluted up to 100 mL in separate volumetric flasks to
>produce concentrations of 1.66 x 10-6 M, 3.32 x 10-6 M, 4.98 x
>10-6 M, and 6.64 x 10-6 M, respectively. The %T at lmax of
>these four solutions is measured and a Beer's Law plot
>constructed. As a final exercise, several unknowns are given
>for concentration determination using the %T and the Beer's
>Law plot. These unknowns are conveniently prepared at 2 x 10-6
>M (0.0018 g Erythrosin B/ liter), 3 x 10-6 M (0.0026 g
>Erythrosin B/ liter), and 4 x 10-6 M (0.0035 g Erythrosin B/
>liter).
> This revised experiment teaches solution preparation and
>spectrophotometry. It is safe and generates no hazardous
>waste. The idea of quantitative transfer is emphasized because
>even a tiny speck of dye generates a red color when water is
>added due to the large molar absorptivity of the dye.
>Literature Cited
>1. Lewis, R.J. Hazardous Chemicals Desk Reference, ; Van
Nostrand Reinhold: New York, 1991; second edition, p 1052
>2. Walton, W. A. J. Chem. Educ. 1987, 64, A69.
>3. Armour, M. J. Chem. Educ. 1988, 65, A65
>4. Available from Aldrich Chemical Co., catalog # 19,826-9
>
>In addition, we are using microscale in our organic labs and even in our
non major freshman labs using an ARMCHAIR approach. We have several
sections of 140 STUDENTS IN A LARGE LECTURE-LAB ROOM. The students are
given a lecture and perform a lab experiment without leaving their seats.
One instructor and two lab aides. Now that's efficient!
>Attachment Converted: "c:\eudora\attach\Erythrosin B.doc"
==============================================================
Date: Fri, 1 May 1998 10:49:24 -0400
Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List <LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU>
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From: Madelyn Miller <mmiller@ANDREW.CMU.EDU>
Subject: bad boy chemicals in the lab
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Greetings,
Our hazardous waste haulers told me recently that an empty diethyl
ether can is not a problem. Even if peroxides are present and there is
a reaction , when it is opened it is only a small "pop". They danger,
they say, is when there is ether left in the can and the "pop" ignites
the flammable ether. I have no direct knowledge on this one but it
seems to make sense. Not that I'd open one myself.
> I discovered a near empty 5 lb can of diethyl ether - no one will
touch it.
Sodium azide, of course, is a acutely toxic chemical and "P"
listed chemical is one is going to dispose of it. It is not a hazard
to anyone inside a closed bottle.
Can't address the concerns over uranyl nitrate and uranium oxide.
--------------------
Madelyn Miller
Chemical Safety Specialist, CCHO
Environmental Health & Safety
Carnegie Mellon University
mmiller@andrew.cmu.edu
==============================================================
Date: Fri, 1 May 1998 11:12:39 -0500
Reply-To: deputyn@emu.edu
Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List <LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU>
Comments: Authenticated sender is <deputyn@inserv1.emu.edu>
From: Nancy Deputy <deputyn@EMU.EDU>
Organization: Eastern Mennonite University
Subject: sign off
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sign off the list.
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Date: Fri, 1 May 1998 11:19:25 -0400
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From: Wesley Kolar <wkolar@PS.UGA.EDU>
Subject: Ether (references)
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Diethyl ether comes from the manufactures
with a peroxide inhibitor already present. Most
if not all manufacturers add BHT (butylated
hydroxy toluene) as the inhibitor. I have also
been told that the iron in the metal containers
acts as an additional inhibitor.
With diethyl ether, peroxides only reach
explosive levels upon concentration. This means
that much of the ether must be allowed to evaporate
after the peroxides have already formed for a
problem to exist. For example, I recently came
across a 4 liter glass bottle of diethyl ether
that was manufactured in 1972. Little of the
original material had been used, so the bottle
had probably only been opened a few times since
1972. The bottle was soaked under water for a
week by our hazardous materials group
to dissolve any possible peroxides hiding
under the cap. Once the bottle was finally opened,
no peroxides were found to be present. This does
not mean that I recommend that just anyone open bottles
of old ether. Only trained experts should be trusted
with such dangerous procedures. Two excellent references
are given below.
1) Wray, T.; "Danger: Peroxidizable Chemicals";
Hazmat World; November 1992; pp.48-49.
2) Kelly, R. J.; "Review of Safety Guidelines for
Peroxidizable Organic Chemicals"; Chemical Health &
Safety; Sep./Oct. 1996; pp. 28-36.
Wes Kolar
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Date: Fri, 1 May 1998 12:57:53 -0500
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From: Janeen LaPierre <JLaPierre@MAILBOX.UNE.EDU>
Subject: FIRST EDITION OF NACHO Chips!!!
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NACHO Chips
The National Association of Chemical Hygiege Officers Newsletter =
=20
May 1998, vol. 1 issue 1 =
=20
Let me be the first to welcome you to the first edition of the NACHO Chips =
newsletter. The name was suggested by one of our members. Each issue =
will contain Chips of information gleaned from the list server and =
submissions from our members.
This said, we hope that NACHO Chips will become a valued resource for =
NACHO members. It is a forum for the exchange of information to assist =
CHOs in their daily activities. In this issue, you will find an opening =
article about NACHO and how to join, the latest information on contact use =
in the labs, training presentation tips, how CHOs are compensated and the =
variations on how the job duties are assigned, as well as a sketch of the =
different work places CHOs find themselves serving.
It is my hope that you will continue to share ideas and send items of =
interest to me for publication in future issues. NACHO Chips is here for =
you=21 Make it the resource you can look to for assistance with the =
varied responsibilities you find yourself faced with on a daily basis. =
Think of the possibilities=21=20
Again, welcome=21 Janeen Lapierre, fellow CHO.
______________________________________________________
The founding of NACHO.
The National Association of Chemical Hygiene Officers (NACHO)
was created in Jan =2798 as a virtual association. NACHO is the
professional organization of CHOs. =20
NACHO was created to support, promote, and advance the chemical=20
hygiene officer and laboratory safety. It brings together CHOs and=20
other people interested in lab safety/chp/cho issues. =20
Today, nearly 500 people are sharing ideas, information, and resources
on an internet discussion list, LABSAFETY*L. Together, they are the
beginning of an association which adds strength to the CHO and those
who would encourage and promote health and safety in laboratories=20
throughout the world.
Tomorrow, the National Association of Chemical Hygiene Officer will
become what its members make it. The first public meeting will be
held in Raleigh*Durham, North Carolina on Wednesday evening June
24th from 6*9 p.m. in conjunction with LS&EM =2798. Join us.
For more information about NACHO, contact Jim Kaufman, President of
the Laboratory Safety Workshop, 192 Worcester Road, Natick, MA
01760*2252 508*647*1900 fax 508*647*0062 email labsafe=40aol.com
How do I join NACHO?
Affiliate membership is open to anyone interested in CHO/CHP/Lab safety =
issues. Membership is free.
Members interested in the discussion of lab safety, CHO/CHP, and=20
organizational issues will be able to share ideas and information on=20
the LABSAFETY*L list. =20
=20
To become a member or affiliate member, subscribe to LABSAFETY*L.
=20
Send a message to LISTSERV=40SIU.EDU. In the body of the message=20
say... SUB LABSAFETY*L Your Name
_____________________________________________________
ACS Ok*s Contact Lenses
Jim Kaufman reports the American Chemical Society Joint Board/Council
Committee on Chemical Safety voted this morning at
the national meeting in Dallas to remove it=27s prohibition
against the wearing of contact lenses in labs.
The next issue of =22Safety in Academic Chemistry
Laboratories=22 will have a new statement which endorses
the use of contact lenses when all other appropriate forms
of eye protection are used.=20
The question was raised on the list as to why the ACS changed its policy =
and what evidence was used to support the policy change.
Dr. Kaufman responded with the following:
Members of the ACS Joint/Board Council Committee on
Chemical Safety have been investigating the issue for the past
five years (not a group to take precipitous action=21). The efforts
were coordinated by Eileen Segal (EBSEGAL=40AOL.COM).
Eileen published her finding in 1995 and 1997 (may/june issue)
of Chemical Health and Safety. The evidence and reasons were
laid out fairly concisely in those two articles. In short, most of
the arguments raised in the past were found to be unsubstantiated
rumors and conjecture.
_____________________________________________________
SURVEY OF THE MONTH
Health and Safety Pledge
This modest proposal is somewhere between Jonathan Swift and
Mark Twain who said.... =22Humor is the lighter side of truth.=22
I think it=27s time to build an honor roll of college and university =
Presidents
who are willing to sign the =22Health and Safety Pledge=22....
=22At our institution, you will not have a job and not be a student unless
you are willing to follow recognized good practice and obey the laws of
health, safety, and environmental protection.=22
Could an academic institution achieve a significant strategic advantage
or simply shoot itself in the foot?
Would something of this nature assist you as CHOs for colleges and =
universities in your attempts to build compliance? Do you have something =
like this already in place? If so, has it helped?
Please respond to Janeen Lapierre directly at JLaPierre=40MAILBOX.une.edu
Results will appear in the next issue of the NACHO Chips.
Original question posed on the list by Dr. Kaufman.
=20
______________________________________________________
TRAINING TIP OF THE MONTH
Using the Darwin Awards in Laboratory Safety Training
=20
I spend quite a bit of time presenting laboratory safety training to our =
new scientific staff, and I am always looking for ways to make it more =
interesting and memorable. Discussion of the Darwin Awards has been a =
successful way to capture the researchers=27 attention and to help focus =
on the practical importance of safety awareness. It also introduces a bit =
of humor into safety training =21
Here=27s the a definition of the Darwin Awards concept, followed by their =
website address: =22Following the ideas of Charles Darwin, the Darwin =
Awards are given, usually posthumously, to the individual(s) who remove =
themselves from the gene pool in the most spectacular fashion. However =
there is an exception to the requirement to die. If said individual does =
not die, however does render him/her self incapable of producing any =
children * they may be eligible for the dubious honor of receiving the =
award while still alive.=22=20
Darwin Awards Website (http://www.officialdarwinawards.com)
At the end of each Laboratory Safety training session, I ask if my =
audience has heard of the Darwin Awards, then get one of the scientists to =
recount their favorite one; if they haven=27t heard of the awards, I tell =
them a few of my favorites.
We start off with a simple one, like the man who tipped a Coke machine
in order to get a free coke, it fell over on him and crushed him to =
death...he had several =24 and change in his pocket at the time of his =
demise... Most folks think, THAT will never happen to me, it is too =
stupid...
=20
So, next we discuss one about a fellow who was a little more intelligent...=
...This guy was clever enough to figure out how to steal a jet assisted =
takeoff rocket from the facility where he worked. He was intelligent =
enough to figure out how to attach it to his car and wire an ignition =
switch to his dashboard. He took his car out onto a long stretch of =
highway in the desert, a safe place to enjoy the ride and away he went. =
The wreckage from his vehicle was found smashed into the side of a cliff a =
few miles away.......
=20
I like to ask questions like these after introducing the Darwin Awards...
What safety awareness was lacking in these incidents? What did these folks =
forget to consider?? Would a different attitude towards safety/risk have =
changed these scenarios??
Then...How can you incorporate safety awareness into your research? =
Connecting this concept directly to their day to day experiences, I ask =
them to think about the Darwin Award concept before they do their next new =
experiment.....What is the worst possible thing that could happen if =
everything in your experiment went wrong????? and are you prepared??? What =
could happen that could make you look really ignorant, or that could =
injure you or those in your lab???
Using the Darwin Awards as a tool to introduce safety awareness has
helped increase participation by our scientists in the Laboratory Safety =
training program. While this segment takes only 5*10 minutes out of our =
three hour laboratory safety training session; it has been a useful way =
to make connections between the safety staff and our researchers. After =
almost every lab safety training session, I have a person or two who =
lingers to tell me a story of some fire, incident, etc..that they observed =
or heard of from a friend while they were in graduate school or at another =
industrial position. I use these stories to liven up subsequent safety =
training sessions., in addition to the Darwin Awards.
Kathy Benedict, MS, ASP, CCHO
______________________________________________________
CHO SALARY SURVEY RESULTS
Last month Dr. Kaufman posted a question to the list in regard to CHO =
compensation. Below is a summary of the few response he received. If you =
would like to have your stats included in this survey, send them to me =
directly for tally and tabulation.
Time allotment / Salary * Industry
30%
80%/22k starting * 33.5k after 5 years
Time allotment / Salary * Academic
10%/3K
3 credit hours release time
As you can see we have a very broad range of time allocations and =
compensation structures. Granted our survey is a small sample set but it =
reflects the variation in facilities who employee CHOs. NACHO represents =
members from industrial settings, research facilities, educational =
institutions from K*12 to graduate level universities. Each area has its =
own set of caveats that makes it a unique challenge to the safety =
professional. Many of us have inherited the title of CHO while others are =
employed for that duty alone. Facilities range in age and equipment, =
size, employees, resources and commitment to safety. These differences =
make us an organization very rich in expertise, points of view, and =
connections.
Janeen Lapierre
=20
***********************
Janeen Lapierre, Lab Coordinator*CHO
University of New England*College of Osteopathic Medicine
11 Hills Beach Road
Biddeford, ME 04005
207*283*0170
JLaPierre=40mailbox.une.edu
*********************
All opinions expressed are mine and not those of UNE.
==============================================================
Date: Sat, 2 May 1998 06:55:35 -0400
Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List <LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU>
Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List <LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU>
From: Guy Innocente <innocent@ICI.NET>
Subject: Does anyone know of an HF substitute
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
I work in a hospital with a Dental suite. Dental service uses HF on
occasion for disolving porcelain.
I'd like to find an alternative for them, if there is one out there.
Thanks in advance for your help.
Guy
==============================================================
Date: Sat, 2 May 1998 21:47:42 -0500
Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List <LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU>
Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List <LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU>
From: Harry Elston <helston@FGI.NET>
Subject: P-V-T relationships
In-Reply-To: <A1BDB36E58BDD111860200A0C9AB25C103B95E@s002.cehs.siu.edu>
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I know that we're always looking for anecdotes for safety training. This
one just happened to me on Friday at work:

I was oxidizing organic material dissolved in water to carbon dioxide and
collecting the gas in a tertiary amine liquid scintillation cocktail for C-14
concentration determination. The apparatus is a standard flask, with
condensing arm, addition funnel, and a cold trap between the flask and
liquid scintillation cocktail to prevent any water carry over into the
cocktail. The entire apparatus is pressurized in order to get a steady
flow of the CO2 produced in the reaction to the LSC. The cold trap is an
ice/ethanol bath, about -10 C. My oxidant for the water is "Van-Slyke
Folsch" solution, essentially chromic acid. (Chromium trioxide dissolved
in 20% sulfuric acid/phosphoric acid mixture. Works REAL good!) This
oxidant is boiled with the sample (water) to make the reaction work a
little faster.
Apparently an ice crystal formed in the cold trap thus creating the
ubiquitous "closed system." About 16 mintues into a 25 minute experiment,
the tygon tube carring the pressurized carrier gas (10 psig/100 ml/min)
ruptured, thus bathing the entire fume hood which enclosed the experiment
in a beautiful orange liquid. The lovely fountain of chromic acid which
spewed forth easily reached the top of the fume hood and then dripped down.
I checked for ice crystal formation 2 experiments prior to the event, and
there were none in the system.
Lessons learned:
(1) Engineered safeguards can and do work. (I consider hoods an engineered
safeguard, even though the operator has to turn them on.) The sash was
pulled down on the hood to about my chest level, (I'm 6 foot tall) and not
a single drop of the chromic acid was sprayed outside the hood. Everything
was set at least 6" into the hood, which I am sure helped prevent spraying
the room, since most of the top portion of the sash was sprayed.
(2) Ice can form quickly between experiments. Historically, I usually
check every three or four experiments because the condenser is very
efficient for drying the gas produced. Check more often.
(3) PV=nRT is for real. I've personally tested it Friday. Heating closed
systems will can be problems!
No one was in the room at the time. I was about 15 feet away when I heard
the "swoooosh" of the rapid depressurization. Clean-up took most of the
morning with the usual jeers from my collegues about Boyle's and Charles' Law.
There ya go! One more for the books!
Harry
Harry J. Elston, Ph.D., NRCC-CHO
Chemical Hygiene Officer
Illinois Department of Nuclear Safety
My opinions only, not my employers, blah, blah, blah
"One more anal-probing, gyro-pyro, levatating
eco-plasm, alien anti-matter story and I'm gonna
take my gun out and shoot somebody."
-Fox Mulder
==============================================================
Date: Mon, 4 May 1998 08:01:46 -0700
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Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List <LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU>
From: "Mueller, Jeff" <jmueller@AMGEN.COM>
Subject: Lab Hoods
Comments: To: "SAFETY@LIST.UVM.EDU" <SAFETY@LIST.UVM.EDU>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain
We are in the process of re-evaluating our fume hood certification SOP.
Two questions:
1) I have seen several recommendations regarding the appropriate sash
height at which to certify the face velocity of VAV hoods. Would anyone
be generous enough to share their recommendations and the associated
justification(s).
2) Also, can anyone provide a rule of thumb or a reference a method to
find the HVAC cost of conditioning a cubic foot of air?
Thanks for your help,
Jeff
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Jeffrey S. Mueller, CHP
Laboratory Safety Manager
AMGEN, INC.
One Amgen Center Drive, M/S 16-1-A
Thousand Oaks, CA 91320-1789
Voice: 805/447-1992
Fax: 805/498-8887
Pager: 805/493-6022
E-mail: jmueller@amgen.com
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
==============================================================
Date: Mon, 4 May 1998 10:42:17 -0500
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Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List <LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU>
From: "Dr. Linda A. Swihart" <swihart@PURDUE.EDU>
Subject: Re: Lab Hoods
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>1) I have seen several recommendations regarding the appropriate sash
>height at which to certify the face velocity of VAV hoods. Would anyone
>be generous enough to share their recommendations and the associated
>justification(s).
We test them at a couple of opening heights to determine if there are
oddities, and we sticker them at the side of the sash with a label that
points to the sash height at which the reported average face velocity
(written on the sticker) was measured. We educate VAV hood users on the
matter of "this is the height at which the reported AFV was measured and
when you move the sash around it may change some..." I believe that at the
request of users we have put a couple of stickers on, reporting the
measured AFV at two sash heights. It seems that most of our VAV hoods are
stickered somewhere around 14 - 18 inches.
>2) Also, can anyone provide a rule of thumb or a reference a method to
>find the HVAC cost of conditioning a cubic foot of air?
I asked one of our planners a similar question several years ago, and at
that time he answered with some confidence that his nearest reckoning for
the expense of throwing away gobs of conditioned/tempered air was
$1/cfm/year. (E.g. a 4-foot hood pulling 100 linear fpm through an 18 inch
opening is sucking out about 600 cfms; run it that way all year and it
costs $600.) We are in rural "mid-north" Indiana, if that helps compare
energy costs. I don't have data handy.
L. Swihart
swihart@purdue.edu
==============================================================
Date: Mon, 4 May 1998 11:50:41 -0400
Reply-To: rburns@bigfoot.com
Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List <LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU>
From: Bob Burns <rburns@BIGFOOT.COM>
Organization: Ruetgers-Nease Corporation
Subject: Re: Lab Hoods
MIME-Version: 1.0
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On page 181 of "Prudent Practices" it says 80-100 fpm if the system is
properly designed. The implication is that this is at the sash height used
for normal operations.
Mueller, Jeff wrote:
> We are in the process of re-evaluating our fume hood certification SOP.
> Two questions:
> 1) I have seen several recommendations regarding the appropriate sash
> height at which to certify the face velocity of VAV hoods. Would anyone
> be generous enough to share their recommendations and the associated
> justification(s).
> 2) Also, can anyone provide a rule of thumb or a reference a method to
> find the HVAC cost of conditioning a cubic foot of air?
> Thanks for your help,
> Jeff
> -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
> Jeffrey S. Mueller, CHP
> Laboratory Safety Manager
> AMGEN, INC.
> One Amgen Center Drive, M/S 16-1-A
> Thousand Oaks, CA 91320-1789
> Voice: 805/447-1992
> Fax: 805/498-8887
> Pager: 805/493-6022
> E-mail: jmueller@amgen.com
> -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
--
Robert L. Burns
Group Leader, R&D
Ruetgers-Nease Corporation
201 Struble Road
State College, PA 16801
phone 814-231-9214
fax 814-238-1567
email rburns@bigfoot.com
==============================================================
Date: Mon, 4 May 1998 13:28:52 -0400
Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List <LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU>
Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List <LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU>
From: Madelyn Miller <mmiller@ANDREW.CMU.EDU>
Subject: Re: Lab Hoods
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; CHARSET=US-ASCII
>We educate VAV hood users on the
>matter of "this is the height at which the reported AFV was measured
>and when you move the sash around it may change some..."
Greetings:
Please educate me. I thought that Variable Air Volume (VAV) was a
dynamic system that adjusted the face velocity to ~100 fmp at any
height the sash is at. Some systems responded faster like the Phenix
system reacts within seconds. What is going on? I'm confused.
----------------------
Madelyn Miller
Chemical Safety Specialist,CCHO
Environmental Health & Safety
Carnegie Mellon University
mmiller@andrew.cmu.edu
==============================================================
Date: Mon, 4 May 1998 11:45:41 -0600
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Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List <LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU>
From: Debi Sharpe <sharpdc@MAIL.AUBURN.EDU>
Subject: Re: Lab Hoods
In-Reply-To: <3.0.32.19980504104212.006df880@postoffice.purdue.edu>
Mime-Version: 1.0
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>>1) I have seen several recommendations regarding the appropriate sash
>>height at which to certify the face velocity of VAV hoods. Would anyone
>>be generous enough to share their recommendations and the associated
>>justification(s).
>We test them at a couple of opening heights to determine if there are
>oddities, and we sticker them at the side of the sash with a label that
>points to the sash height at which the reported average face velocity
>(written on the sticker) was measured. We educate VAV hood users on the
>matter of "this is the height at which the reported AFV was measured and
>when you move the sash around it may change some..." I believe that at the
>request of users we have put a couple of stickers on, reporting the
>measured AFV at two sash heights. It seems that most of our VAV hoods are
>stickered somewhere around 14 - 18 inches.
>
>>2) Also, can anyone provide a rule of thumb or a reference a method to
>>find the HVAC cost of conditioning a cubic foot of air?
>I asked one of our planners a similar question several years ago, and at
>that time he answered with some confidence that his nearest reckoning for
>the expense of throwing away gobs of conditioned/tempered air was
>$1/cfm/year. (E.g. a 4-foot hood pulling 100 linear fpm through an 18 inch
>opening is sucking out about 600 cfms; run it that way all year and it
>costs $600.) We are in rural "mid-north" Indiana, if that helps compare
>energy costs. I don't have data handy.
>L. Swihart
>swihart@purdue.edu
The numbers I have seen are more like $6/cfm.
Debra Sharpe
University Safety Officer
Auburn University
fax (334) 844-4640
Ph (334) 844-4870
==============================================================
Date: Mon, 4 May 1998 12:50:51 -0500
Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List <LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU>
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From: "Dr. Linda A. Swihart" <swihart@PURDUE.EDU>
Subject: Re: Lab Hoods
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
There are some VAV hoods that do a very good job of keeping the face
velocity fairly constant over most heights of the sash, but our experience
is that they are not at all perfect. Many VAV units, especially older
ones, do not have face velocity sensors and rely entirely on a cable
attached to the sash to close and open a damper. The volume of exhausted
air is decreased, for example, when the sash is pulled down, but we do not
count on it being in *exact* proportion to the height decrease.
At 01:28 PM 5/4/98 -0400, you wrote:
>>We educate VAV hood users on the
>>matter of "this is the height at which the reported AFV was measured
>>and when you move the sash around it may change some..."
>Greetings:
>Please educate me. I thought that Variable Air Volume (VAV) was a
>dynamic system that adjusted the face velocity to ~100 fmp at any
>height the sash is at. Some systems responded faster like the Phenix
>system reacts within seconds. What is going on? I'm confused.
>----------------------
>Madelyn Miller
>Chemical Safety Specialist,CCHO
>Environmental Health & Safety
>Carnegie Mellon University
>mmiller@andrew.cmu.edu
>
==============================================================
Date: Mon, 4 May 1998 14:03:20 EDT
Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List <LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU>
Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List <LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU>
From: Jennifer Reader <jennifer@EHS.UOGUELPH.CA>
Organization: Environmental Health and Safety
Subject: Re: Lab Hoods cost of operation
MIME-Version: 1.0
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About 12 or 15 years ago, an energy=conservation technician
labelled all the fume hoods on campus with a fluorescent sticker
that said something to the effect "This hood consumes $700 in
energy per year. Please turn off when not being used". Most of
these stickers are still on the hoods, believe it or not.
So factor in inflation and you can see that a hood eats a lot of
warm/cold air. None of our hoods use cold make-up air; they all
exhaust the conditioned room air.
P.S. The stickers work - people DO turn off hoods now.
Jennifer Reader, B.S., M.S.P.H.
Hazardous Materials Safety Officer
Environmental Health and Safety
University of Guelph
Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1 Canada
519-824-4120 X3190 Fax 519-824-0364
e-Mail jennifer@ehs.uoguelph.ca
==============================================================
Date: Mon, 4 May 1998 05:00:00 GMT
Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List <LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU>
Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List <LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU>
From: Desi Justis <JUSTIS@HOBBS1.LYNCHBURG.EDU>
Organization: Lynchburg College
Subject: HazComStan
Is the CHO responsible for the development and implementation of
the Hazard Communications Standard?
Desi Justis
Lab Manager Biology-Chemistry
Lynchburg College
Lynchburg, VA 24501
==============================================================
Date: Mon, 4 May 1998 13:48:55 -0500
Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List <LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU>
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From: Harry Elston <helston@FGI.NET>
Subject: Re: HazComStan
Mime-Version: 1.0
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At 05:00 AM 5/4/98 GMT, you wrote:
>Is the CHO responsible for the development and implementation of
>the Hazard Communications Standard?
>Desi Justis
>Lab Manager Biology-Chemistry
>Lynchburg College
>Lynchburg, VA 24501
>
That depends on your job description and your employer's vision of what
you're suppose to do. By the regulation, the CHO is reponsible for the
implementation and "maintenance" of the Chemical Hygiene Plan. Your
employer may require you to develop and maintain the Hazard Communication
Plan for your facility as well.
Harry
Harry J. Elston, Ph.D., NRCC-CHO
Chemical Hygiene Officer
Illinois Department of Nuclear Safety
Opinions are mine, not my employer's, blah, blah, blah
"You won't find this on 'Beakman's World.'"
-Special Agent Fox Mulder
==============================================================
Date: Mon, 4 May 1998 13:54:24 -0500
Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List <LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU>
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From: Janeen LaPierre <JLaPierre@MAILBOX.UNE.EDU>
Subject: HazComStan -Reply
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Hello Desi.
I enjoyed our chat the other day. =20
As far as haz com is concerned, it is a standard in and of itself. As CHO =
you may be asked to do job hazard assessments which will in turn let you =
know who will require this training. Folks in your facilities department =
are likely candidates. Until you have a chemical hygiene plan then the =
lab personnel will fall under this standard too.=20
The CHO is responsible for putting together Chemical Hygiene plans for =
labs and implementing the training associated with the CHP. The Lab =
Standard is very specific as to what it expects from a CHO. This said, =
your institution probably has a much broader view of what they want from =
you. =20
As you are in the discussion phase of CHO at your school, be sure to ask =
what they expect from you. I have never been required to do haz com for =
facilities unless they were working in one of my areas. Then I would give =
them lab safety training and haz com for the stuff in the direct area they =
would be working in. This is very different from going into the shop area =
and determining what hazards are there and training for that stuff.
Hope this is helpful, Janeen
***********************
Janeen Lapierre, Lab Coordinator*CHO
University of New England*College of Osteopathic Medicine
11 Hills Beach Road
Biddeford, ME 04005
207*283*0170
JLaPierre=40mailbox.une.edu
*********************
All opinions expressed are not those of UNE.
==============================================================
Date: Mon, 4 May 1998 14:45:00 -0400
Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List <LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU>
Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List <LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU>
From: Robert Alaimo <alaimo.rj@PG.COM>
Subject: Re: HazComStan
Message authorized by:
: /S=justis@hobbs1.lynchburg.edu/OU=SMTP/O=1.UCN.GO.31/P=PROCTERGAMBLE/A=MCI
Only if you get roped into doing it. The CHO is only obligated under the Lab
Standard to be involved in the development and implementation of chemical
hygiene plan. The Haz Com plan was in effect for more than 5 years before the
CHO was even identified.
Bob Alaimo
P&G Pharmaceuticals
______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: HazComStan
Author: (INTERNET)labsafety-l@siu.edu at external
Date: 5/4/98 10:01 AM
Is the CHO responsible for the development and implementation of
the Hazard Communications Standard?
Desi Justis
Lab Manager Biology-Chemistry
Lynchburg College
Lynchburg, VA 24501
==============================================================
Date: Mon, 4 May 1998 15:36:41 -0400
Reply-To: hboyter@cstone.net
Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List <LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU>
From: "Henry Boyter Jr." <hboyter@CSTONE.NET>
Subject: Re: HazComStan
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No officially, the employer is. He may designate the CHO.
Dr. Henry Boyter, Jr. Ph.D. Chemist
The opinions of Dr. Boyter are provided for informational purposes only and
should not be used as advice. No warranty or expression of professionalism
is implied.
----------
From: Desi Justis <JUSTIS@HOBBS1.LYNCHBURG.EDU>
To: LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU
Subject: HazComStan
Date: Monday, May 04, 1998 1:00 AM
Is the CHO responsible for the development and implementation of
the Hazard Communications Standard?
Desi Justis
Lab Manager Biology-Chemistry
Lynchburg College
Lynchburg, VA 24501
==============================================================
Date: Tue, 5 May 1998 08:55:34 -0400
Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List <LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU>
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From: Linda Morin <morin@CBL.UMCES.EDU>
Subject: Re: Lab Hoods cost of operation
MIME-Version: 1.0
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Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
Jeff,
I'll deal with question 2 as we only have constant volume bypass
hoods at our facility.
Last June, Landis & Staefa provided several _excellent_ laboratory
ventillation seminars in Maryland. According to Greg DeLuga P.E. (Landis
and Staefa) annual fume hood operational costs is between $3 - $5 per
CFM per Year. We found the $4 figure to pretty much account for our
fume hood costs based on the average CFMs determined during our annual
hood surveys.
You may be best off contacting the individual hood manufacturers to
see what the current cost/cfm/year they are using to sell their hoods in
your area. Their figures may better reflect your local electric service
rates.
Hope this helps!
Linda
-----------------
We are in the process of re-evaluating our fume hood certification SOP.
[SNIP]
2) Also, can anyone provide a rule of thumb or a reference a method to
find the HVAC cost of conditioning a cubic foot of air?
Thanks for your help,
Jeff
--
***********************************************************
* Linda Grant Morin *
* UMCES-CBL email: morin@cbl.umces.edu *
* P.O. Box 38 Voice:(410)-326-7253 *
* Solomons, MD 20688-0038 Fax: (410)-326-7349 *
***********************************************************
==============================================================
Date: Tue, 5 May 1998 09:17:00 -0400
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From: "Tayman, Tammy" <ttayman@MC.CC.MD.US>
Subject: peroxides
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain
I guess this may sound like a silly question, but how much peroxide is
acceptable in a "pure" chemical? We have been testing our organics for
peroxides for a while now, and the turnover seems rather high. In fact, one
bottle of 2-pentanone tested contaminated when we opened it upon receipt
from the manufacturer! I contacted Aldrich, the manufacturer, and they said
that they don't have a standard for peroxide levels, so they didn't see a
problem. These chemicals are used an unknowns in our organic labs, so they
are used in a lot of "wet testing" (iodoform, schiffs test, sodium test,
solubility testing), physical properties tests (bp, refractive index,
density) and spectroscopy (IR, FTIR, NMR). Some of the instructors have the
students distill the unknown as a way of finding the boiling point. I have
tried to get them to stop this, as microscale distillations (frequently)
accidentally go to dry. Also, they tend to oxidize some of the aldehydes we
use. Suggestions?
Tammy Tayman
Instruction Lab Coordinator
Dept of Chemistry
Montgomery College
Rockville, Maryland
==============================================================
Date: Tue, 5 May 1998 21:59:38 +0800
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From: Martin Lindsay <clarke@WEB.NET.AU>
Subject: HF dispensing systems
In-Reply-To: <199805051320.IAA31952@saluki-mail.siu.edu>
Mime-Version: 1.0
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We use large volumes of Hydrofluoric acid in digestion of geochemical
samples for mineral analysis. We cannot substitute HF for another reagent.
We carry calcium Gluconate gell in our first aid kits and we train our
staff in the dangers and safety requirements for handling HF.
Our current volume is 2 to 5 litres per day
At present we are using an Optifix teflon dispenser from 2.5 litre bottles.
The dispenser is held in a sink inside the fume hood (to prevent syphoning)
and operators are required to wear full protective clothing including PVC
apron, PVC sleeves, rubber gloves, face shield and safety glasses.
We believe this is the best method available.
There have been instances where the dispenser leaks (weeps) around the
seals, and changing from one empty bottle to a new one poses the risk of
droplet splash or drip.
Does anyone else know of a better system of dispensing HF?
Martin
==============================================================
Date: Tue, 5 May 1998 11:57:30 -0400
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From: "Thomas J. Shelley" <tjs1@CORNELL.EDU>
Subject: Re: Lab Hoods
In-Reply-To: <SIMEON.9805041352.C@miller-pc.PC.CC.CMU.EDU>
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On 5/5/98 Madelyn Miller wrote:
>>We educate VAV hood users on the
>>matter of "this is the height at which the reported AFV was measured
>>and when you move the sash around it may change some..."
>
>Greetings:
>Please educate me. I thought that Variable Air Volume (VAV) was a
>dynamic system that adjusted the face velocity to ~100 fmp at any
>height the sash is at. Some systems responded faster like the
Phenix
>system reacts within seconds. What is going on? I'm confused.
Dear Colleagues--Yes, they are <italic>supposed </italic>to adjust the
face velocity
to the set point (usually 100 l.f.p.m.). This doesn't always happen.
As with all electronic devices there is some drift over time in the
setpoints of various parameters for the operation of the boxes, valves
fans and other components under the integrated control of the VAV
control device. Many VAV systems are rather sophisticated (read as
many different components) and keeping all of the hardware in control
is easier said than done in some cases. It is important that the VAV
functions of each hood are checked on at lease an annual basis. We
determine face velocity at 6" (three points), raise the sash to full
open
and do a 2nd face velocity. The 6" and full open readings should be
within
20 % of the set point, although, realistically, the 6" readings are
often too high (c. 150-200 l.f.p.m.) to be within the 20% range.
We have a criteria that when the sash is raised up that the face
velocity
should return to the set point criteria in a minute or less.
I hope this is useful information. Tom
P.S.: Face velocity is not indicative of capture. We use the dry ice
protocol along with face velocity to determine the functionalily of
a fume hood.
**********************************************************
Tom Shelley, Chemical Hygiene Officer, Cornell University,
Department of Environmental Health and Safety, 125 Humphreys Service
Building,
Ithaca, NY 14853. (607) 255-4288 tjs1@cornell.edu
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ DISCLAIMER @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
The comments and views expressed in this communication are strictly my
own and
are not to be construed to officially represent those of my peers,
supervisors or
Cornell University.
==============================================================
Date: Tue, 5 May 1998 12:45:14 -0400
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From: Mary Ann Solstad <msolstad@MEDIAONE.NET>
Subject: Re: HF dispensing systems
In-Reply-To: <3.0.5.32.19980505215938.0079e300@mail.web.net.au>
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At 09:59 PM 5/5/98 +0800, you wrote:
>We use large volumes of Hydrofluoric acid in digestion of geochemical
>samples for mineral analysis. We cannot substitute HF for another reagent.
>We carry calcium Gluconate gell in our first aid kits and we train our
>staff in the dangers and safety requirements for handling HF.
>Our current volume is 2 to 5 litres per day
>At present we are using an Optifix teflon dispenser from 2.5 litre bottles.
>The dispenser is held in a sink inside the fume hood (to prevent syphoning)
>and operators are required to wear full protective clothing including PVC
>apron, PVC sleeves, rubber gloves, face shield and safety glasses.
>We believe this is the best method available.
>There have been instances where the dispenser leaks (weeps) around the
>seals, and changing from one empty bottle to a new one poses the risk of
>droplet splash or drip.
>Does anyone else know of a better system of dispensing HF?
>
>Martin
It looks like you did a lot of things right. For additional safety
awareness, see if you can persuade the network to make available a copy of
last week's episode which includes a patient brought to ER after an HF
spill. Not too far off the mark for a "drama".
Did anyone else out there watch that episode? Pretty well done, I thought,
although I would have given him another half day to expire, but then
another nurse would have been on duty.
Mary Ann
Mary Ann Solstad, CIH 4 A's of Safety
SOLSTAD Health & Safety Evaluations Attitude
16 Pequot Rd, Marblehead, MA 01945 Awareness
781-631-4748 tel, 781-631-1832 FAX Automatic Application
Authority
DivCHAS Chair, ACS
msolstad@mediaone.net
==============================================================
Date: Tue, 5 May 1998 13:38:01 PST8PDT
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From: Debbie Decker <deckerd@FACMGMTSERVER.FM.CSUS.EDU>
Subject: Re: HF & ER episode
In-Reply-To: <3.0.3.32.19980505124514.007eeaf0@pop.ne.mediaone.net>
Hi there:
Martin: It sounds like you're doing alot right - 2 to 5 liters a day
of HF - that's a pretty scary amount. Having an outside expert or
someone else in your organization, not involved with the process,
review the procedure on a regular basis may be a good way to root out
complacency and familiarity. Familiarity, of course, breeds contempt
and spawns accidents.
Mary Ann said:
<a patient brought to ER after an HF spill. Not too far off
the mark for a "drama".
Did anyone else out there watch that episode? Pretty well done, I thought,
although I would have given him another half day to expire, but then
another nurse would have been on duty.>
I was pretty impressed that it was so accurate. I watched it with my
hubby who was fairly wide-eyed when I started telling him some of the
more horrible HF stories in my repetoire. I would've given him a few
more days to expire too but the rest was close to the mark.
Cheers,
Deb.
wishing she could send this humid, thunderstormy weather to
Minnesota, where it belongs!
*****************
Debbie Decker
Chemical Hygiene Officer
CSU, Sacramento
(916)278-5165
==============================================================
Date: Tue, 5 May 1998 17:04:16 -0400
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From: Madelyn Miller <mmiller@ANDREW.CMU.EDU>
Subject: Methanol & Nitric Acid (chemists)
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Greetings all,
I have two sources that, I think are saying different things. Any
opinions? Bretherick's Handbook of Reactive Chemical Hazards says:
(p1150) " Nitric acid methanol in concentrations >10% is not
recommended. At best it is completely unpredictable approximation to
a nitric acid-alcohol rocket propulsion system."..."It also form the
explosive ester, methyl nitrate. Hawley's Condensed Chemical
Dictionary, says, "Methyl nitrate Deviation: By reaction of nitric
acid and methanol in the presence or urea."
My problem. Students use a solution they call 'Nital' formula 5%
nitric 95% methanol but some bright grad students decided more is
better. Are these darlings making rocket fuel?
I was first told of this when they were concerned that the solution was
boiling on it's own. Our waste hauler dressed up in their bomb outfits
to dilute it before they would take it. I have been asked to write a
safety protocol for it's continued use. I've got a protocol JUST WANT
TO KNOW ABOUT THE CHEMISTRY. Thanks in advance.
----------------------
Madelyn Miller
Chemical Safety Specialist, CCHO
Environmental Health & Safety
Carnegie Mellon University
mmiller@andrew.cmu.edu
==============================================================
Date: Tue, 5 May 1998 17:05:01 -0400
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From: Dewey Williams <williams@EMAIL.UNCC.EDU>
Subject: Re: HF dispensing systems
In-Reply-To: <3.0.3.32.19980505124514.007eeaf0@pop.ne.mediaone.net>
Mime-Version: 1.0
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>It looks like you did a lot of things right. For additional safety
>awareness, see if you can persuade the network to make available a copy of
>last week's episode which includes a patient brought to ER after an HF
>spill. Not too far off the mark for a "drama".
>Did anyone else out there watch that episode? Pretty well done, I thought,
>although I would have given him another half day to expire, but then
>another nurse would have been on duty.
>
I saw it and was looking for technical/psuedotechnical information on the
treatment. When the man was brought in, Dr. Green mentioned treatment with
Calcium ?, but I missed it. Was it Calcium gluconate?...something else?
I also missed the the part about how the man was exposed and how much/type
of exposure there was. I figure it must have been a large container
explosion.
As for how much time the man lived, if exposure was more than dermal, such
as inhalation of vapor, the time they gave him was probably reasonable.
Dewey Williams - Lab Manager
mailto:williams@email.uncc.edu
UNC-Charlotte Chemistry Dept. http://www.chem.uncc.edu
"These are my ideas and no one else will claim them."
"If you are not part of the solution, you are part of the precipitate"
==============================================================
Date: Tue, 5 May 1998 17:27:05 -0500
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From: Jeff Rubin <jrubin@MAIL.UTEXAS.EDU>
Subject: Re: HF (ALL)
In-Reply-To: <D5003827C5@facmgmtserver.fm.csus.edu>
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I think I mentioned that Dr. Miguel Trevi=F1o, HF expert, will be giving a
free seminar on medical management of HF exposure, this Fri, in Austin
(anyone who's nearby is welcome - we even have a few coming from St.
Louis). Dr. Trevi=F1o said that the ER episode has made him somewhat of a
celebrity.
There'll be a fair-sized (i.e., too big to fax, and it probably wouldn't
come out too well anyway) handout to go along with his presentation. If
anyone would like a copy of the handout, which I haven't seen yet, please
contact me off-line - be sure to include a mailing address.
Cheers,
JNR
Jeff Rubin
Asst. Dean for Environmental Health & Safety
College of Natural Sciences, Office of the Dean
W.C. Hogg Bldg.
University of Texas at Austin
Austin, TX 78712-1199
jrubin@mail.utexas.edu
(512) 471-6176
(512) 471-4998 (FAX)
The opinions of Dr. Rubin do not necessarily represent those of the
government of Canada, with which he has no affiliation.
==============================================================
Date: Tue, 5 May 1998 17:35:35 -0700
Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List <LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU>
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From: Neal Langerman <chemsaf@IX.NETCOM.COM>
Subject: Re: HF & ER episode
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Martin:
I did a lot of safety consulting for the palenology group at a major oil
company. They used large amounts of HF for dissolving minerals. Contact me
privately to discuss this issue. We can sumarrize to the list later.
Neal
At 01:38 PM 5/5/98 PST8PDT, you wrote:
>Hi there:
>Martin: It sounds like you're doing alot right - 2 to 5 liters a day
>of HF - that's a pretty scary amount. Having an outside expert or
>someone else in your organization, not involved with the process,
>review the procedure on a regular basis may be a good way to root out
>complacency and familiarity. Familiarity, of course, breeds contempt
>and spawns accidents.
>Mary Ann said:
><a patient brought to ER after an HF spill. Not too far off
>the mark for a "drama".
>Did anyone else out there watch that episode? Pretty well done, I thought,
>although I would have given him another half day to expire, but then
>another nurse would have been on duty.>
>I was pretty impressed that it was so accurate. I watched it with my
>hubby who was fairly wide-eyed when I started telling him some of the
>more horrible HF stories in my repetoire. I would've given him a few
>more days to expire too but the rest was close to the mark.
>Cheers,
>Deb.
>wishing she could send this humid, thunderstormy weather to
>Minnesota, where it belongs!
>
>*****************
>Debbie Decker
>Chemical Hygiene Officer
>CSU, Sacramento
>(916)278-5165
>
*************************************************************
NEAL LANGERMAN chemsaf@ix.netcom.com
ADVANCED CHEMICAL SAFETY
8909 Complex Drive
San Diego CA 92123-1418
619 874 5577 (phone) 619 874 8239 (FAX)
619 990 4908 (cellular)
visit our homepage: http://www.chemical-safety.com
*************************************************************
==============================================================
Date: Tue, 5 May 1998 21:01:53 -0400
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From: "Julie J. O'Brien" <afn35210@AFN.ORG>
Subject: Re: HF dispensing system
In-Reply-To: <199805052107.RAA26487@mail.uncc.edu>
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On Tue, 5 May 1998, Dewey Williams wrote:
> >Did anyone else out there watch that episode? Pretty well done, I thought,
> >although I would have given him another half day to expire, but then
> >another nurse would have been on duty.
> I saw it and was looking for technical/psuedotechnical information on the
> treatment. When the man was brought in, Dr. Green mentioned treatment with
> Calcium ?, but I missed it. Was it Calcium gluconate?...something else?
They did not use Calcium gluconate in the ER episode. I believe they said
Calcium chloride.
> I also missed the the part about how the man was exposed and how much/type
> of exposure there was. I figure it must have been a large container
> explosion.
He was a security guard at a manufacturing plant. He saw an open, leaking
valve and decided he should close it.
Julie O'Brien
PCR, Inc.
PO Box 1466
Gainesville, FL 32602
==============================================================
Date: Wed, 6 May 1998 07:25:30 -0500
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From: Robert Murphy <murphy@BGNET.BGSU.EDU>
Subject: Vapor Pressure, Vapor Density, and Evaporation Rate
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Hello everyone. I am putting some training material together for employees
regrading useful information on a MSDS. I would like you to review the
following section of it and tell me what you think. Is it accurate?
"Vapor Pressure, Vapor Density, and Evaporation Rate. Chemicals with high
vapor pressures (greater than 1 atmosphere) evaporate quickly. Low vapor
pressure compounds do not. Chemical vapors will rise when the vapor
density is less than 1 and will go to the floor when greater than 1. High
vapor pressure chemicals with a vapor density less than 1 present an
inhalation hazard. Heavier chemicals concentrate in low places, creating
fire, explosion, or health hazards."
If you see a problem with it please let me know directly. Thanks for your
help.
Bob
==============================================================
Date: Wed, 6 May 1998 08:01:25 -0500
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From: Charlie Fox <foxc@ADAF.ADMIN.UNT.EDU>
Subject: Re: HF (ALL)
Comments: To: jrubin@MAIL.UTEXAS.EDU
Mime-Version: 1.0
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Dear Jeff,
I would like a copy of the handout. Please mail to:
Charles E. Fox, M.S.
c/o University of North Texas
P.O.Box 311040
Denton, Tx 76203
Thanks=21
Charlie
Charles E. Fox, M.S.
Chemical Hygiene Officer
Risk Management & Env. Services
940-565-2109 (voice)
940-565-4919 (fax)
foxc=40adaf.admin.unt.edu
>>> Jeff Rubin <jrubin=40MAIL.UTEXAS.EDU> 5/5/98 >>>
I think I mentioned that Dr. Miguel Trevi=F1o, HF expert, will be giving
a
free seminar on medical management of HF exposure, this Fri, in Austin
(anyone who=27s nearby is welcome - we even have a few coming from St.
Louis). Dr. Trevi=F1o said that the ER episode has made him somewhat of
a
celebrity.
There=27ll be a fair-sized (i.e., too big to fax, and it probably
wouldn=27t
come out too well anyway) handout to go along with his presentation.=20
If
anyone would like a copy of the handout, which I haven=27t seen yet,
please
contact me off-line - be sure to include a mailing address.
Cheers,
JNR
Jeff Rubin
Asst. Dean for Environmental Health & Safety
College of Natural Sciences, Office of the Dean
W.C. Hogg Bldg.
University of Texas at Austin
Austin, TX 78712-1199
jrubin=40mail.utexas.edu=20
(512) 471-6176
(512) 471-4998 (FAX)
The opinions of Dr. Rubin do not necessarily represent those of the
government of Canada, with which he has no affiliation.
==============================================================
Date: Wed, 6 May 1998 09:46:12 -0500
Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List <LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU>
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From: Janeen LaPierre <JLaPierre@MAILBOX.UNE.EDU>
Subject: Vapor Pressure, Vapor Density, and Evaporation Rate -Reply
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We are currently having a ventilation problem related to vapor density =
issues. You are correct in high density materials posing fire hazards but =
they too can be inhalation problems if your ventilation is set up such =
that air is only exhausted from the ceiling. The material is dragged up =
through the breathing zone on its way out of the room. We are having =
problems in our anatomy lab were the vapor density is 2 and the exhaust is =
in the ceiling. We are in the process of having this design flaw =
corrected, but the expense is considerable, especially when it could have =
been avoided.
For what its worth, Janeen
***********************
Janeen Lapierre, Lab Coordinator*CHO
University of New England*College of Osteopathic Medicine
11 Hills Beach Road
Biddeford, ME 04005
207*283*0170
JLaPierre=40mailbox.une.edu
*********************
All opinions expressed are not those of UNE.
==============================================================
Date: Wed, 6 May 1998 15:29:23 EDT
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From: RPostley <RPostley@AOL.COM>
Subject: Re: Vapor Pressure, Vapor Density, and Evaporation Rate -Reply #2
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I agree with Janeen's reply, but at the same time, air currents (open door,
open window, ceiling exhaust, etc.) could easily mix dense, potentially
flammable, chemical fumes to create a potentially explosive mixture. Density
alone does not determine whether a gas/vapor mixes with the ambient
atmosphere. Physical conditions within the room may actually be more
important!
-Roger Postley
Chem-Safe, Inc.
(also a H.S. chem. teacher)
==============================================================
Date: Wed, 6 May 1998 13:44:03 -0600
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From: "Sonja G. Ringen" <Ringen@UWYO.EDU>
Subject: Contact lens anecdote
Comments: To: "safety@list.uvm.edu" <safety@list.uvm.edu>
Comments: cc: "Ebsegal@aol.com" <Ebsegal@aol.com>
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As I visited with my ophthamologist yesterday (during an exam--my aging
eyes need bifocals), we discussed contact lens use when working with
chemicals. I related the new stance that ACS is taking on the use of
contact lenses. He told me that just two months ago, he treated a
fellow who had lime blown into his face and eyes. The eyes swelled,
creating the need for the ophthamologist to remove the contact lenses.
Dr. Pheneger told me that when he removed the contact lens, it took a
layer of tissue off the eye. But, he also said that the layer of tissue
was a much more minor issue than an alkali burn to the eye. Thus, he
felt that the contact had actually helped protect the eye (relatively
speaking). He didn't feel it was worth publishing, but thought it was a
related anecdote.
Just one more story to help support ACS's new stand.
Sonja Ringen, Manager
Environmental Health and Safety
University of Wyoming
Laramie, WY 82071-3413
ringen@uwyo.edu
>
==============================================================
Date: Wed, 6 May 1998 05:00:00 GMT
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Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List <LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU>
From: Desi Justis <JUSTIS@HOBBS1.LYNCHBURG.EDU>
Organization: Lynchburg College
Subject: CHO QUESTIONS AGAIN!
The discussion here about the duties and qualifications of CHO is
becoming a little heated. I have been asked to find out if you have
horror stories of situations that may have occured when a CHO was
appointed who did not have the appropriate training and background
for the job. My department chair is trying to stress to
adminstration that this person should be one with a science
background not physcial education.
I feel like I am beating a dead horse by bringing this up but these
are desperate times!
Desi Justis
Lab Manager Biology-Chemistry
Lynchburg College
Lynchburg, VA 24501
==============================================================
Date: Wed, 6 May 1998 16:01:44 -0400
Reply-To: rburns@bigfoot.com
Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List <LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU>
From: Bob Burns <rburns@BIGFOOT.COM>
Organization: Ruetgers-Nease Corporation
Subject: Re: CHO QUESTIONS AGAIN!
MIME-Version: 1.0
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--------------315385843FB68D932860359B
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Get your hands on the Lab Standard, 21 CFR part 1910.1450. IN the
definitions, it says:" " Chemical Hygiene Officer" means an employee who
is designated by the employeer, and who is qualified by training or
experience, to provide technical guidance iin the development and
implementation of the provisions of the Chemical Hygiene Plan." (bold my
addition) "Training or experience" seems pretty clear.
I think Jim said you can download a copy from the OSHA.org site.
Desi Justis wrote:
> The discussion here about the duties and qualifications of CHO is
> becoming a little heated. I have been asked to find out if you have
> horror stories of situations that may have occured when a CHO was
> appointed who did not have the appropriate training and background
> for the job. My department chair is trying to stress to
> adminstration that this person should be one with a science
> background not physcial education.
> I feel like I am beating a dead horse by bringing this up but these
> are desperate times!
> Desi Justis
> Lab Manager Biology-Chemistry
> Lynchburg College
> Lynchburg, VA 24501
--
Robert L. Burns
Group Leader, R&D
Ruetgers-Nease Corporation
201 Struble Road
State College, PA 16801
phone 814-231-9214
fax 814-238-1567
email rburns@bigfoot.com
--------------315385843FB68D932860359B
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<HTML>
Get your hands on the Lab Standard, 21 CFR part 1910.1450.&nbsp; IN the
definitions, it says:" " Chemical Hygiene Officer"&nbsp; means an employee
who is designated by the employeer, and who is qualified by <B>training
or experience</B>, to provide technical guidance iin the development and
implementation of the provisions of the Chemical Hygiene Plan."&nbsp; (bold
my addition)&nbsp; "Training or experience" seems pretty clear.
<P>I think Jim said you can download a copy from the OSHA.org site.
<P>Desi Justis wrote:
<BLOCKQUOTE TYPE=CITE>The discussion here about the duties and qualifications
of CHO is
<BR>becoming a little heated.&nbsp;&nbsp; I have been asked to find out
if you have
<BR>horror stories of situations that may have occured when a CHO was
<BR>appointed who did not have the appropriate training and background
<BR>for the job.&nbsp;&nbsp; My department chair is trying to stress to
<BR>adminstration that this person should be one with a science
<BR>background not physcial education.
<P>I feel like I am beating a dead horse by bringing this up but these
<BR>are desperate times!
<BR>Desi Justis
<BR>Lab Manager Biology-Chemistry
<BR>Lynchburg College
<BR>Lynchburg, VA&nbsp; 24501</BLOCKQUOTE>
&nbsp;
<P>--
<BR>Robert L. Burns
<BR>Group Leader, R&amp;D
<BR>Ruetgers-Nease Corporation
<BR>201 Struble Road
<BR>State College, PA 16801
<BR>phone 814-231-9214
<BR>fax 814-238-1567
<BR>email rburns@bigfoot.com
<BR>&nbsp;</HTML>
--------------315385843FB68D932860359B--
==============================================================
Date: Wed, 6 May 1998 14:25:08 -0600
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From: "Graham K. Munsell" <gmunsell@NMSU.EDU>
Subject: HF exposure
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
A third party account by me;
My brother was part of a day's pay maintenance team at a petro-chemical
refinery. As they were cutting through a plugged line with a hacksaw the
line eventually ruptured (suprise!). Fortunately he had stopped a few
moments earlier and all three of them moved their face shields from the
elevated position to the protective position. None of the three had their
safety glasses on.
His accounts of the treatment with calcium (gluconate I presume) indicate a
significant of pain is involved. These three were quite fortunate the line
did not rupture earlier. Ironically, they had just repaired another section
of the same line downstream. Needless to say the supervisor was extremely
embarassed by his letting the safety of PPE slide.
This was a particularly embarassing story for my brother as I had finished
my graduate work in Industrial Hygiene a few months prior. Needless to say,
the safety person and his brother have had any discussion about safety is
more important than production. Think I'm one up on him at least! There
are other incidents but that's another ...
Graham Munsell
Life Safety Officer
New Mexico State University
Las Cruces, NM 88003
==============================================================
Date: Wed, 6 May 1998 19:02:22 -0500
Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List <LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU>
Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List <LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU>
From: Jeff Rubin <jrubin@MAIL.UTEXAS.EDU>
Subject: HF handouts (ALL)
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Response to the offer of HF handouts has been a bit more than I expected (>
20 and counting). Not a problem, but it would make things much easier if
you could provide your address in a format that I can readily copy and
paste into a mailing-label format. Please include your name, and you might
want to leave off the alphabet soup. This may seem minor, but multiply it
by 20-30 and you get the idea.
I should be able to send out the copies next week.
Cheers,
JNR
Jeff Rubin
Asst. Dean for Environmental Health & Safety
College of Natural Sciences, Office of the Dean
W.C. Hogg Bldg.
University of Texas at Austin
Austin, TX 78712-1199
jrubin@mail.utexas.edu
(512) 471-6176
(512) 471-4998 (FAX)
The opinions of Dr. Rubin do not necessarily represent those of the
government of Canada, with which he has no affiliation.
==============================================================
Date: Wed, 6 May 1998 19:28:45 -0500
Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List <LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU>
Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List <LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU>
From: Jeff Rubin <jrubin@MAIL.UTEXAS.EDU>
Subject: HF clarification
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
HF-ers,
My previous message was directed to those who have not yet requested a copy
of the handout but plan to do so; if you've already sent your request, no
need to reformat. Sorry if I was unclear.
By the way, his name is "Trevino", with a tilde over the "n" - I guess the
tilde doesn't readily translate.
Cheers,
JNR
==============================================================
Date: Thu, 7 May 1998 08:20:03 -0500
Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List <LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU>
Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List <LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU>
From: Robert Murphy <murphy@BGNET.BGSU.EDU>
Subject: Vapor Pressure - Thanks
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Thank you all who responded to my e-mail regarding Vapor Pressure, Vapor
Density, and Evaporation Rate. I will review them all and will let you
know how it all turned out.
Bob
****************************************
Robert Murphy, Industrial Hygienist
Environmental Health and Safety
Bowling Green State Universtiy
Phone : (419) 372-2171
****************************************
==============================================================
Date: Thu, 7 May 1998 09:00:04 -0700
Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List <LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU>
Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List <LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU>
From: "JANE A. BARTH" <jbarth@ACAD.URSINUS.EDU>
Organization: Ursinus College
Subject: Re: HF handouts (ALL)
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
Jeff Rubin wrote:
> Response to the offer of HF handouts has been a bit more than I expected (>
> 20 and counting). Not a problem, but it would make things much easier if
> you could provide your address in a format that I can readily copy and
> paste into a mailing-label format. Please include your name, and you might
> want to leave off the alphabet soup. This may seem minor, but multiply it
> by 20-30 and you get the idea.
> I should be able to send out the copies next week.
> Cheers,
> JNR
> Jeff Rubin
> Asst. Dean for Environmental Health & Safety
> College of Natural Sciences, Office of the Dean
> W.C. Hogg Bldg.
> University of Texas at Austin
> Austin, TX 78712-1199
> jrubin@mail.utexas.edu
> (512) 471-6176
> (512) 471-4998 (FAX)
> The opinions of Dr. Rubin do not necessarily represent those of the
> government of Canada, with which he has no affiliation.
For HF handout:
Jane A. Barth
FH&S Coordinator
Ursinus College
601 Main St
Collegeville, PA 19426
Thank You,
==============================================================
Date: Thu, 7 May 1998 09:18:12 -0500
Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List <LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU>
Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List <LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU>
From: Janeen LaPierre <JLaPierre@MAILBOX.UNE.EDU>
Subject: CHO QUESTIONS AGAIN! -Reply
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
The Lab Standard may be your greatest tool in this discussion. The =
Standard specifies the qualifications for the CHO. Qualified individuals =
have specific training or educational background which enables them to =
provide technical guidance in the development and implementation of the =
CHP. Someone who has extensive background in a lab working with chemicals =
and formal training in the sciences, should be able to fulfill this =
requirement. I have found my years as an analytical chemist invaluable in =
preparing me for my CHO duties. My education in biology(premed) has given =
me the tools to understand better how chemical will effect people. This =
is just an example of how combinations of experience and training can =
qualify a person for the job of CHO.
Do you have a copy of the Lab Standard? It can be of some help in this =
area. Good Luck, Janeen.
P.S. This all sounds so familiar=21
***********************
Janeen Lapierre, Lab Coordinator*CHO
University of New England*College of Osteopathic Medicine
11 Hills Beach Road
Biddeford, ME 04005
207*283*0170
JLaPierre=40mailbox.une.edu
*********************
All opinions expressed are not those of UNE.
==============================================================
Date: Thu, 7 May 1998 08:33:26 -0400
Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List <LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU>
Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List <LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU>
From: Melody Voith <mmv96@ACS.ORG>
Subject: CHO Questions...
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Desi,
Did you say Physical Education? Yipes.
It would be pretty unlikely that too many folks will go on record with
CHO-horror stories. Since the whole thing is an invention (a good one) of
regulators, to admit them might cause problems.
However, there is information out there to help you prove your point. One
of our articles in Chemical Health & Safety, (May/June 1997, page 10) is
entitled "What every CHO must know." Too be honest, just about anything
published in the magazine falls under that category. There is a new CHO
certification process thru the National Registry in Clinical Chemistry and
you'd better believe those exams cover chemistry- lots of chemistry.
Contact Gilbert Smith 202-393-7140 or NRCC6@aol.com and have him send you
info regarding what the test covers. Lastly, you can download the standard
itself from www.osha-slc.gov under standards, go to 29 CFR 1910.1450. If
you want more info, contact me directly-
good luck!
Melody
==============================================================
Date: Thu, 7 May 1998 14:21:49 -0400
Reply-To: rburns@bigfoot.com
Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List <LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU>
From: Bob Burns <rburns@BIGFOOT.COM>
Organization: Ruetgers-Nease Corporation
Subject: Data Base
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
I have agreed to set up a data base for NACHO which would include any
forms and other documents people are willing to share with other CHOs.
The object is to reduce the work each of has to do.
So, please send me a brief note if you have a document to share. Do NOT
send the document!
Please send it to me at rburns@bigfoot.com, not the discussion group, or
the network police will get you!
Those of you who are really observent will note a change in my sig
file. Yes- they changed the name of our company to be the same as our
sister company in Germany.
Bob
--
Robert L. Burns
Group Leader, R&D
RUETGERS Organics Corporation
201 Struble Road
State College, PA 16801
phone 814-231-9214
fax 814-238-1567
email rburns@bigfoot.com
==============================================================
Date: Thu, 7 May 1998 20:31:04 EDT
Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List <LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU>
Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List <LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU>
From: Labsafe <Labsafe@AOL.COM>
Subject: CLEAPSS
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
Content-transfer-encoding: 7bit
Dear Jim and others,
I subscribe to a British School Science
Service called CLEAPSS which advises on
lab safety, puts out a bulletin (the current
one: fume cupboard testing, alkaline
rechargeable cells only sold to schools,
working safely with wood dust, etc.), tests
equipment and publishes results in guides
(April 1998: Ammeters and Voltmeters for
class use, Microorganisms for investigations in
schools and colleges, Eye and face protection).
Their major publication is a Laboratory Handbook
(all school science, not just Chemistry)
with periodic updates (two thick volumes).
There are also Hazard cards with user info on
popular chemicals.
The subscription is 33 pounds per year payable
in sterling by international bankdraft or
cheque drawn on a British bank and the services are:
informal information and advice
Guides as issued (such as the one on Ammeters/Voltmeters)
Laboratory Handbooks + periodic updates
Hazard cards
Recipe cards
CLEAPS Bulletin (3 per year)
The address is:
CLEAPSS
School Science Service
Brunel University
Uxbridge UB8 3PH
Fax: 01895 - 814372
I am a subscriber who only receives the products
in the mail and finds them useful. British colleagues
should be able to tell us more.
Greetings, Ed van den Berg
********************************
Ed van den Berg, University of San Carlos
Talamban Campus, Cebu City 6000
Philippines
E-mail: edberg@durian.usc.edu.ph
Fax: 63 (=country code)- 32 - 346 4614
Telephone: 63 - 32 - 346 0844 (home)
63 - 32 - 419 7245 (work)
*****************************************************
James A. Kaufman, President
The Laboratory Safety Workshop
192 Worcester Road, Natick, MA 01760
508-647-1900 Fax: 508-647-0062 LabSafe@aol.com
Safety in Science Education
The Laboratory Safety Workshop is a national non-profit educational
organization dedicated to making health and safety an integral and
important part of science education. Free copies of our Laboratory
Safety Guidelines, Publications List, AV-Lending Library List, seminar
schedule, and membership information are available on request.
LABSAFETY-L is a public service of The Laboratory Safety Workshop.
**********************************************************************
==============================================================
Date: Fri, 8 May 1998 09:29:21 +0100
Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List <LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU>
Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List <LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU>
From: James Cheney <J.E.Cheney@UKC.AC.UK>
Subject: Re: HF & ER episode
In-Reply-To: <D5003827C5@facmgmtserver.fm.csus.edu>
MIME-Version: 1.0
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Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
Being in the UK I thought we would be a very long time waiting to see the HF
episode, so I was quite amazed when it was shown last night (Thursday 8th).
I don't regularly watch it too closely, so my wife was very surprised at my
accurate predictions of what was going to happen - she did not know I have
the advantage of all the collective wisdom out there!
Cheers
Jim Cheney
Safety Office
University of Kent
Canterbury, UK
-----Original Message-----
Mary Ann said:
<a patient brought to ER after an HF spill. Not too far off
the mark for a "drama".
Did anyone else out there watch that episode? Pretty well done, I thought,
although I would have given him another half day to expire, but then
another nurse would have been on duty.>
==============================================================
Date: Fri, 8 May 1998 18:14:48 -0400
Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List <LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU>
Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List <LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU>
From: "Ralph Stuart, University of Vermont" <rstuart@ESF.UVM.EDU>
Subject: Regs: RCRA Lab Inspection Histories
Comments: To: LAB-XL mailing list <lab-xl@list.uvm.edu>,
SAFETY list <SAFETY@list.uvm.edu>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
As many of you know, I am involved in an effort to develop a Project XL in
cooperation with the EPA around the issue of the application of RCRA to
laboratories (details are available at http://esf.uvm.edu/labxl). One of
the challenges we have faced in this effort is that the EPA is a very
diverse audience of people, who have a wide variety of perspectives
relative to regulatory issues. For example, some are strictly concerned
about enforcement issues and legal concerns around how regulations are
implemented, while are others are more hands-on and concerned with how
particular regulations might be implemented in practice in order to
encourage pollution prevention.
As a result of this, we have developed a number of lines of argument about
the need for RCRA reform as is it applies to laboratories. So far, we have
developed physically-based, socially-based and regulatorily-based
arguments. These have made a significant impression on the EPA, but there
are still some people who question the need for a new regulatory scheme,
given the expense this implies for re-writing regulations and re-training
inspectors and other enforcement officials with regard to the new scheme.
We would like to develop another argument, based on the need for parity in
the way the regulations are applied to laboratories. We are aware of
various instances where very different inspection results have occured
depending on which inspector or agency was conducting the RCRA inspection.
We are trying to compile a list of these instances to help the agency
understand the degree of variability we perceive in the way RCRA is applied
to labs and thus the need for a clearer standard for application to
laboratories.
So, if your institution has a history of RCRA inspections of laboratories,
we would be interested in a brief listing of:
the date of inspection,
the number of labs covered,
the agency inspecting and
the outcome, in terms of the number of violations found and the amount of
any fine.
While this information is publiclly available, we are in a bit of a hurry
for it and gathering and organizing it into a form suitable for our
purposes is likely to be time-consuming. Sending the information directly
to me is preferred; I will compile the results and make them available on
the Lab-XL web page.
Thanks for any help with this.
- Ralph
Ralph Stuart
Environmental Safety Manager
University of Vermont
655 Spear St., PO Box 50570
Burlington, VT 05405
rstuart@esf.uvm.edu
fax: (802)656-5407
Owner: SAFETY list (general discussion of environmental health and safety)
LEPC list (planning for hazardous materials emergencies)
LAB-XL list (performance oriented enviromental regulation of
laboratories)
==============================================================
Date: Mon, 11 May 1998 10:40:38 -0600
Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List <LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU>
Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List <LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU>
From: Mark Smith <smithme@ALPHA.HENDRIX.EDU>
Subject: Re: MSDS compliance for Art departments
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>Latch on to the 2 or 3rd issue of Chemical HEalth & Safety, pub. by ACS.
>In that article 3 or 4 sad tales of artists friends to my grown children.
>Two deaths from poor ventilation, one serious maiming from poorly labeled
>material (quicklime used instead of Plaster of Paris).
>Mary Ann
>
I got this several weeks ago and was wodering if you knew more specifically
where those stories are? Volume#/Issue# or Months/Year? I do subscribe
to CH&S but have only received it since the beginning of 1997.
Thanks!
***************************************
MARK SMITH
HENDRIX COLLEGE CHEMISTRY
LABORATORY COORDINATOR
CHEMCIAL HYGIENE OFFICER
***************************************
1600 Washington Ave
Conway, AR 72032
501-450-3812
Fax : 501-450-3829
***************************************
==============================================================
Date: Mon, 11 May 1998 09:50:58 -0700
Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List <LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU>
Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List <LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU>
From: Michael Ahler
<Ahler_Michael_D/cpslo_employee1@POLYMAIL.CPUNIX.CALPOLY.EDU>
Subject: Methanol & Nitric Acid (chemists)
Comments: To: mmiller@ANDREW.CMU.EDU
Comments: cc: dragsdal@calpoly.edu
In-Reply-To: <SIMEON.9805051716.E@miller-pc.PC.CC.CMU.EDU>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; name="Methanol"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
> Greetings all,
> I have two sources that, I think are saying different things. Any
> opinions? Bretherick's Handbook of Reactive Chemical Hazards says:
> (p1150) " Nitric acid methanol in concentrations >10% is not
> recommended. At best it is completely unpredictable approximation to
> a nitric acid-alcohol rocket propulsion system."..."It also form the
> explosive ester, methyl nitrate. Hawley's Condensed Chemical
> Dictionary, says, "Methyl nitrate Deviation: By reaction of nitric
> acid and methanol in the presence or urea."
> My problem. Students use a solution they call 'Nital' formula 5%
> nitric 95% methanol but some bright grad students decided more is
> better. Are these darlings making rocket fuel?
> I was first told of this when they were concerned that the solution
was
> boiling on it's own. Our waste hauler dressed up in their bomb
outfits
> to dilute it before they would take it. I have been asked to write a
> safety protocol for it's continued use. I've got a protocol JUST WANT
> TO KNOW ABOUT THE CHEMISTRY. Thanks in advance.
> ----------------------
> Madelyn Miller
> Chemical Safety Specialist, CCHO
> Environmental Health & Safety
> Carnegie Mellon University
> mmiller@andrew.cmu.edu
>
I, too, have had experience with nitration mixtures. Several years ago
the chemistry department here made p-chloronitrobenzene from
chlorobenzene. Here are a couple of appropriate anecdotes:
1. The purification step involved recrystallizing from reagent alcohol.
The occasional student would vacuum filter the recrystallized product
(in ethanol) using the same buchner funnel and flask still containing
the nitration mixture filtered after the synthesis step. Forgetting to
empty and clean the filter flask between uses usually caused the
apparatus to erupt, sending the buchner funnel and most of the flask
contents ( 50/50 nitric and sulfuric acids previously diluted to ca. 20%
strength with ice water PLUS the recently added ethanol) a couple of
feet into the air. Miraculously, no major catastrophes resulted. The
procedure was changed when the pattern became obvious after a few of
these.
2. During the time the original procedure was being used, waste bottles
of the nitration mixture were routinely seen to be bubbling
spontaneously. It is my unconfirmed suspicion that an amount of
alcohol found its way into the waste bottle intended for the nitration
mixture. This, too, was abated when the procedure was changed.
(I make no claim of truth or fantasy to the rumor that this is related
to the fact that the bulk of the students in this survey organic course
were majoring in disciplines other than Science or Engineering.)
As to the dependability of your two references: I put my money on
Bretherick. This reference is highly empirical, very extensive, and
thoroughly documented. Hawleys is also a very fine reference; it just
has a different sort of pedegree. Hawleys works well if you are
merely wondering what "methyl nitrate deviation" means. Bretherick
will give you a list of those who have blown up a laboratory doing it.
I think your "darlings" may indeed be making rocket fuel (or close to it
much of the time). Their report of the boiling mixture is a wake-up
call. I applaud the caution of your waste hauler. I think your
students need to find another way to their desired end rather than
contining toward their undesired end.
Good Luck.
Michael Ahler
Chemical Hygiene Officer
Risk Management
Cal Poly State University
San Luis Obispo, CA 93407
==============================================================
Date: Mon, 11 May 1998 21:40:20 -0400
Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List <LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU>
Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List <LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU>
From: Mary Ann Solstad <msolstad@MEDIAONE.NET>
Subject: Re: MSDS compliance for Art departments
Comments: cc: m_voith@acs.org
In-Reply-To: <v01540b09b17cd9f17a84@[150.208.201.212]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
At 10:40 AM 5/11/98 -0600, you wrote:
>>Latch on to the 2 or 3rd issue of Chemical HEalth & Safety, pub. by ACS.
>>In that article 3 or 4 sad tales of artists friends to my grown children.
>>Two deaths from poor ventilation, one serious maiming from poorly labeled
>>material (quicklime used instead of Plaster of Paris).
>>
>>Mary Ann
>>
>
>I got this several weeks ago and was wodering if you knew more specifically
>where those stories are? Volume#/Issue# or Months/Year? I do subscribe
>to CH&S but have only received it since the beginning of 1997.
>
Off the top, I think Vol 1, #2 or 3, probably Oct. 9?
If you'll hang on a bit, I'll try to FAX it, or better yet, get Managing
Ed. to send it.
Are you there, Melody??
Give me a bit of time, as I'm just on line again after my son and friend
redid my system from Win95 to WinNT. About 3 wk worth of mail flew off
into the ether in the process, causing said son to tear his hair a lot.
Mary Ann
>***************************************
> MARK SMITH
> HENDRIX COLLEGE CHEMISTRY
> LABORATORY COORDINATOR
> CHEMCIAL HYGIENE OFFICER
>***************************************
> 1600 Washington Ave
> Conway, AR 72032
> 501-450-3812
> Fax : 501-450-3829
>***************************************
>
==============================================================
Date: Tue, 12 May 1998 08:29:20 -0400
Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List <LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU>
Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List <LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU>
From: Donald Conner <dcon@VT.EDU>
Subject: Biosafety cabinet information
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Hello all,
I've recently been asked a question that requires some research. It's just
past graduation, and my inspection schedule just shot through the roof, so I
hope the great minds of the labsafety listserve can help.
Q: When installing a new biosafety cabinet, are there any ceiling clearance
requirements (Head room for the filters)? Any such information would be
helpful...
Donald E. Conner, Jr.
University Chemical Hygiene Officer
Virginia Tech Environmental Health and Safety Services
Mail stop # 0423
Blacksburg, VA 24061
Phone (540)231-7611 Fax: (540)231-3944
Email: dcon@vt.edu
==============================================================
Date: Tue, 12 May 1998 08:11:15 -0500
Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List <LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU>
Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List <LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU>
From: Janeen LaPierre <JLaPierre@MAILBOX.UNE.EDU>
Subject: Biosafety cabinet information -Reply
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
Hello Donald,
We had a problem with not enough clearance over a bio safety cab. Get a =
spec sheet from the manufacturer prior to making a decision on purchase to =
make sure it fits. There are kits to retro fit cabinets for venting if =
clearance is an issue. =20
Hope this helps, Janeen
***********************
Janeen Lapierre, Lab Coordinator*CHO
University of New England*College of Osteopathic Medicine
11 Hills Beach Road
Biddeford, ME 04005
207*283*0170
JLaPierre=40mailbox.une.edu
*********************
All opinions expressed are not those of UNE.
==============================================================
Date: Tue, 12 May 1998 17:03:00 EST
Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List <LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU>
Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List <LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU>
From: Steve Mabley <MABLEY.STEPHEN_M@WASHINGTON.VA.GOV>
Subject: MSDS Management Software
I am working for the VA Med Center in Washington, DC, and we need an
automated, easy-to-use MSDS management system. I am interested in your
recommendations, warnings, thoughts, endorsements, and condemnations.
We are currently running two networks:
1)VMS on an alpha Dec Server with terminals, and
2)PC network running Windows NT
The MSDS system will in all likelihood run on the PC Network.
We are thinking that Scanning images of MSDSs with a limited #
of text fields (identifying and ingredient info only).
All thoughts will be appreciated.
Stephen M. Mabley, Industrial Hygienist
VAMC, Washington, DC
mabley.stephen_m@washington.va.gov
==============================================================
Date: Wed, 13 May 1998 08:43:08 -1000
Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List <LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU>
Sender: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List <LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU>
From: Peter Batsakis <batsakis@HAWAII.EDU>
Subject: Latex gloves and allergies.
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII
Dear Colleagues,
The following information has come to me regarding allergies to latex
gloves, and I thought it might be of some interest to the group. Apologies
for any cross postings.
>The following article was in The Washington Post. Since this article is
long I
>just listed the begining of the article. Go to
>"<http://www.washingtonpost.com/>www.washingtonpost.com/" for the full
>article.
>Allergies Lead to Wave of Lawsuits Against Latex Glove Makers
>By Avram Goldstein
>Washington Post Staff Writer
>Saturday, May 9, 1998; Page A12
>Buoyed by a $1 million jury award to a Milwaukee hospital technician who
>developed a severe allergy to natural rubber latex gloves, hundreds of U.S.
>health care workers are suing glove manufacturers, alleging they knew
>prolonged exposure could cause reactions from mild skin irritations to
>deadly ailments.
>In the last year, a steady stream of new claims against latex glove
>manufacturers has been filed in federal court in Philadelphia, where about
>150 cases from across the country have been consolidated for pretrial
>purposes. About 50 more plaintiffs are suing in other courts, raising the
>specter of millions of dollars' worth of judgments against manufacturers.
>The Food and Drug Administration is considering a ban on certain latex
>gloves that are more apt to cause allergies in users. The agency also will
>require manufacturers to place allergy warnings on packages of gloves and
>prohibit them from describing gloves as "hypoallergenic."
>Industry leaders acknowledge that some natural rubber latex gloves can
>cause health problems, but they say that until researchers determine how
>much latex exposure is a health problem, they have no plans to change
>their processes or products.
>"If the FDA says these gloves cause more harm than good, we would be in
>agreement with them," said Donna Gaidamak, spokeswoman for
>Allegiance Healthcare Corp., the largest distributor of latex and synthetic
>gloves.
>Scientists and government officials estimate that about 950,000 U.S. health
>care workers who wear gloves because they come into contact with
>patients or blood have developed an allergic sensitivity to latex. Some have
>experienced skin rashes, respiratory ailments or potentially fatal shock.
>
**********************************************
Peter Batsakis
Chemical Hygiene Officer
University of Hawaii at Manoa
Environmental Health and Safety Office
2040 East-West Road, Honolulu, Hawaii 96822
Phone: (808) 956-3201 FAX: (808) 956-3205
E-mail: batsakis@hawaii.edu
**********************************************
==============================================================
Date: Wed, 13 May 1998 14:37:00 -0500
Reply-To: LABSAFETY-L Discussion List <LABSAFETY-L@SIU.EDU>
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From: Dave Peterson <dave_peterson@QMGATE.ANL.GOV>
Subject: Re: MSDS Management Software
Reply to: RE>MSDS Management Software
Hello Stephen,
At our location we use scanned images that are indexed in an Oracle database and linked to our chemical inventory. We communicate with the server using a telnet connection on a distributed network. Scanned images can be faxed to any fax machine. In the near future we will upgrade (?) to graphical user interface developed using Powerbuilder and run in Windows 95 or NT. We have over 65,000 chemicals so this creates a full time job for someone to scan and enter these into the database. Overall it is an expensive solution but has the advantage of getting MSDSs from the manufacturer for the specific chemical/mixture. I can put you in contact with the developers from Argonne National Laboratory if you would like more details. Another solution might be to try a commercial MSDS application like the package Envirowin Software, Inc. advertises. You can reach them at (800) 454-0404 or www.envirowin.com - I don't know the quality of their database but they advertise it contains ove!
!
r 220,000 MSDS sheets on a 3 CD set ($995 for network license).
David P. Peterson
Environment, Safety & Health Coordinator
Environmental Research Division
Argonne National Laboratory
9700 S. Cass Avenue
Argonne, IL 60439
dppeterson@anl.gov
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Date: Tue, 12 May 1998 17:03:00 EST
From: Steve Mabley <MABLEY.STEPHEN_M@WASHINGTON.VA.GOV>
Subject: MSDS Management Software
I am working for the VA Med Center in Washington, DC, and we need an
automated, easy-to-use MSDS management system. I am interested in your recommendations, warnings, thoughts, endorsements, and condemnations.
We are currently running two networks:
1)VMS on an alpha Dec Server with terminals, and
2)PC network running Windows NT
The MSDS system will in all likelihood run on the PC Network.
We are thinking that Scanning images of MSDSs with a limited #
of text fields (identifying and ingredient info only).
All thoughts will be appreciated.
Stephen M. Mabley, Industrial Hygienist
VAMC, Washington, DC
mabley.stephen_m@washington.va.gov
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End of LABSAFETY-L Digest - 11 May 1998 to 12 May 1998
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Date: Wed, 13 May 1998 14:46:35 -0500
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From: Jeff Rubin <jrubin@MAIL.UTEXAS.EDU>
Subject: Re: Latex gloves and allergies.
In-Reply-To: <Pine.GSO.3.95q.980513084015.15660B-100000@uhunix3>
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This has been a big issue in health care for several years. Many of the
latex allergies begin as sensitivities to the powder (commonly corn starch
plus or minus other ingredients) in the gloves. As the wearer's hands
became irritated, the latex worsened the irritation, leading to latex
sensitivity (in a miinority of cases, but there're lots of users). It's
the employers responsibility to provide non-allergenic PPE , but it's the
employee's responsibility to demonstrate sensitivity to standard PPE. Some
employers (hospitals in particular seem to specialize in this) make this a
very difficult process.
Two tidbits:
1) If you're allergic to tropical oils and fruits (e.g., palm oil,
bananas), odds are fairly high that you will develop a latex allergy fairly
easily (remember, latex comes from tropical plants).
2) People with spina bifida commonly have allergies to tropical oils and
fruits, and latex. This can lead to anaphylactic (i.e., life-threatening)
reactions when touched by health-care providers wearing latex gloves, or
just by using IV tubing with latex injection ports. Extreme cases react to
powder generated by someone donning latex gloves in the same room.
Nitrile is nice!
JNR
Jeff Rubin
Asst. Dean for Environmental Health & Safety
College of Natural Sciences, Office of the Dean
W.C. Hogg Bldg.
University of Texas at Austin
Austin, TX 78712-1199
jrubin@mail.utexas.edu
(512) 471-6176
(512) 471-4998 (FAX)
The opinions of Dr. Rubin do not necessarily represent those of the
government of Canada, with which he has no affiliation.
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Date: Wed, 13 May 1998 16:19:23 -0700
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From: John Hyde <JHyde@MAILER.SCU.EDU>
Subject: Re: Latex gloves and allergies. -Reply
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Nitrile Gloves (4 mil ) type (N-Dex Best co.)have there good points but =
they do poorly with organic solvents. They also often have small =
perforations that become obvious when working with silver nitrate. We are =
currently debating the merits of non sensitizing gloves that allow =
exposure to solvents verses sensitizing gloves that protect skin from =
solvents (and some corrosive organics such as crotenaldehyde). Public =
opinion in the department is divided.
My opinion is that students who are in lab once a week are more at =
risk being exposed to reagents then rubber proteins.
More Thoughts?=20
John Hyde
Laboratory Technician
Depa