Survey of Chemical Hazard Assessments by Universities Dennis Nolan, UT Austin Andrea McNair, UT System November 1, 2012
Drivers to Develop Tool UCLA Incident (2008) CSB Texas Tech Report (2011) Ensure research-specific hazards are evaluated Develop specific written protocols and training Expand laboratory safety plans to address physical hazards UT EHSAC (2012) BCSAG develop chemical risk assessment
Survey Method for Finding Risk Assessments Web-search EHS websites difficult to find Risk assessments not always posted on web Emailed institutions Google
UT Institutions (15)
Texas Universities Texas A&M Texas Tech Texas State University of North Texas Texas Christian University Baylor University of Houston
National Search UCLA Ohio State UC Berkeley Michigan State UNC Chapel Hill Boston University Indiana University University of Arizona University of Minnesota Carnegie Mellon University University of Michigan (Ann Arbor) University Washington (Seattle) University of Wisconsin (Madison) University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
International Search University of Cambridge (UK) Imperial College, London University of Limerick University of Melbourne (AU)
Conference Attendee Search Princeton University of New Mexico New Mexico State Southern Illinois University Emory University UC Denver
Prudent Practices Risk Assessment (Ch. 4) Identify chemicals and their use Consult information sources Evaluate hazards posed by chemical Evaluate hazards posed by chemical changes Consider routes of exposure Evaluate physical hazards posed by equipment Select procedures to minimize risk/exposure Prepare for contingencies
Survey Findings 40+ institutions reviewed Less than 40% of institutions had a chemical risk assessment process Application/Form/Worksheet/Tool Wide range of questions (6 pages) Completed by the PI
Common Elements Engineering controls Administrative controls Personal protective equipment Emergency response Waste Uncommon Elements Hazard elimination Chemical substitution
High Hazard Materials Carcinogens Antineoplastic Agents Toxic Substances Acutely toxic Highly toxic Organ specific toxicants Toxic gases Biological Toxins Select toxins Pesticides/Herbicides Corrosives Flammables Controlled Substances Energetic or Explosive Materials Unstable Oxidizers Water Reactives Pyrophorics Flammable Solids Nanomaterials
Scope When is a Risk Assessment Needed? Define what is a high hazard chemical Provide a list of high hazard chemicals Consider Hazardous Equipment/Procedures Gloveboxes Stills Schlenke lines High/low pressure/temperature reactions Sealed tubes Hydrogenation
Application The Who: Who is applying verses who is completing the form? Who is the user and where will it be used? Who will be working with or around the material? Are these people competent to work with this materials?
Personnel Information Date Prepared Prepared By Approved By Principal Investigator Lab Location Email Phone Number(s) Emergency Contact(s) Project Personnel Authorized Personnel Employee ID Incidental Personnel Competency requirements Experience (years) Training requirements Training History Site-Specific Hazard Communication Lab Safety PPE Emergency Procedures
Chemical Information Chemicals CAS Molecular Formula Common Name/Synonyms Source of Chemical (Vendor) Physical State(s) Color Boiling Point Hazard Classification Physical Properties Health Hazards Potential routes of exposure during experiment? Toxicity type Exposure Limits (OSHA, ACGIH, NIOSH) Metabolites Hazard(s) Controlled Substance Physical Hazard(s) Flammability Self-heating Explosive Pyrophoric Stability Conditions to avoid Decomposition Products Environmental Hazard(s) Incompatibility Quantity (Typical and Maximum) Limit quantity to reduce risk Concentration (Typical and Maximum) Manner of Labeling Chemicals Location of SDS (Electronic/Paper)
Project & Procedure Information Project Information: Use in just one procedure For how long Limit the scope of use with this application? Include experiment by-products? Procedure Information: Outline of procedure Handling, storage, transportation, security, and waste practices Limited scope? New hazards created? Risk analysis begins here
Project Specifics Experimental Procedure Title Activity Dates Start and End Date chemical on site Start and end Frequency of Use Funding Source (Grant) Teaching or Research Brief Project Description Scope of Work/Activity Experimental Objective How Will Chemicals Be Used Lab Procedures Involving Chemical of Interest Last lab inspection
Committee Review/Approval Animals Used? IACUC Protocol # Administration Shedding/Excretion Metabolites Carcass Disposal Biological Materials Used? IBC Protocol # Human Subjects? IRB Protocol # Radioactive Materials Non-Ionizing Radiation Lasers, UV sources, microwaves
Risk Assessment Risks associated with the procedure Do hazards change over the course or in different steps of experiment? Describe part of research with highest risk of personnel exposure Describe a catastrophic failure scenario Describe procedures or controls to minimize risk Provide a process flow diagram Chemical References Literature Review (procedure reference) SDS, NIOSH, etc
Risk Assessment Elimination of Chemical Possible Substitute physical process for chemical process (e.g. ultrasonic instead of chemical for cleaning equipment) Chemical Substitution of Less Hazardous Chemicals List alternates considered Engineering Controls Fume Hood, Glove Box, Biosafety Cabinet, Other Ventilation such as snorkels (list all used) Special Equipment Requirements (examples: enclosures, inert gas blanket/environment, pressure vessel, etc)
Administrative Controls Special precautions or restrictions Security Hygiene measures Procedures to minimize exposure Occupational Health Requirements Designated Area Location and description how area will be designated
Energetics/Explosives Physical Locations of material: laboratory, storage room and pathway of transport Identify Distances of at risk populations: Both inside and outside building - in the event of a catastrophic failure Room Facilities - proximity: Ceiling/wall plenum and/or lab bench for facility s supply lines Building Facilities proximity: Security panels, fire control panels, emergency generators, fire pumps, elevators, fire risers, chemical storage (including cryogens, compressed gas), select agents/biological agents, research animals, air handlers, building electrical distribution, etc.
Personal Protective Equipment List of all types required Example: glove type and glove thickness What PPE required for use in each step of procedure Removal of PPE Disposal for contaminated PPE
The University of Melbourne (page 2)
Handling and Storage Lab Specific Handling Practices Storage Location: how will it be stored consider incompatibles Quantity in storage Security Signage to be placed on storage room door and laboratory door
Transportation of Material On campus Transfer from: Receiving to the storage location and to/from the laboratory Pathway the materials must take Off Campus Shipping
Occupational Health Contact duration with chemical Personnel who may be exposed Any workers pregnant or likely to become pregnant Sensitivities to specific chemicals Methods of detection or release (monitoring requirements with frequency) Physical Effects Health Important Signs and Symptoms of Overexposure By Route of Exposure (Eyes, Skin, Inhalation) Acute Chronic First Aid Neutralizing Agents Special Medical Treatment
Contingency Location of Emergency Equipment travel distance from storage location and laboratory Shutdown procedures Spill Response: Materials required PPE required Cleanup procedure Disposal of waste Disaster Preparedness Tornado, Flooding, Electrical Loss, Broken Windows, Evacuation Emergency procedures posted
Waste and Decontamination Waste Disposal Procedures: Neutralization Waste Collection Procedures: Location of waste storage Description of container used for disposal Labeling of waste container Other compound(s) that it may be mixed with in the collection container Mixed Waste Minimization Decontamination Procedures Equipment
Review and Approval EHS Department Chemical Safety Committee Approval process by other committees Biological Toxins (IBC) Radioactive Materials (Radiation Safety) Animals (IACUC)
Good Practices Observed Guide/instructions on how to complete risk assessment Definitions Who to contact with questions Web-based or pdf forms vs. paper
Recommendations Do not waste researcher s time Ask only what is necessary Explain why you are asking for this (guideline) Tiered application (researcher only sees questions that are applicable) Avoid asking for information available in an (M)SDS (when available) Ask researcher to provide (M)SDS instead Integrate risk assessment with SOP Avoids requesting multiple documents
Conclusion Develop a chemical risk assessment tool that meets needs of your institution Implement a review process Make it user-friendly to the researcher
Survey Question #2: (Briefly) What can you do to reduce the administrative burden of the chemical risk assessment process on the researcher?