Chemical Hazards in the work place include flammability, explosion,
poisoning, toxins, cancer, dermatitis, and irritation. Many of these
hazards can result in serious injury to personnel, equipment,
structures and the environment. All of these hazards can be
prevented by proper work planning, training, safe work practices,
and emergency controls. Safe work practices include the proper
storage and handling of chemicals. Proper storage of chemicals often
involves compatibility issues, proper secondary containment, and the
proper chemical storage environment.
- Time sensitive chemicals need to be regularly checked for
stability.
- Acutely hazardous chemicals which could result in death
should be secured appropriately to limit access by unauthorized
personnel.
- Carcinogens are agents that can cause malignant tumors
(cancer). Chemicals, which are a carcinogen hazards require
special posting. If a chemical meets one of the criteria set in
the subject area, or if is regulated as a carcinogen by DOE,
then work must follow the guidelines set in this subject area.
The Working with Chemicals Subject area is an essential component
of the BNL work planning and control requirements for work involving
chemicals. These chemical safety requirements address training,
selection, use and handling, storing, transporting (on-site and
off-site) and disposal in a manner that meets Laboratory
expectations
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Maintain a current chemical inventory
Make the
most of your chemical investment and prevent chemical
degradation over time by keeping track of what you have.
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Chemicals that degrade over time require additional
record-keeping. These include peroxide formers, air and
water reactive chemicals, and other time-sensitive
materials.
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Select an appropriate container when
transferring a chemical from its original container.
Choose sturdy, sealable storage containers made of material
compatible with the chemical they'll hold.
Contact an the Chemical
Safety Subject Matter Expert if you have questions about
chemical and container compatibility.
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Accurately label chemicals that have been
transferred from their original containers.
Chemical
labels are required by law to contain specific information.
Extra information is required on high hazard materials. Follow
these steps for proper labeling:
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Make sure labels include the following required
information, written legibly:
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Chemical name or abbreviation
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Concentration
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Hazard warning
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Include the following additional information required
for chemicals that degrade over time, peroxide formers, and
air and water reactive chemicals:
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Date received
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Date opened
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Date tested
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Prominently post a chemical abbreviation sheet in the
lab when abbreviations are used on labels.
- Print out
this list (PDF) of common substances and
abbreviations. Extend the list as necessary with your
lab-specific abbreviations.
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Label refrigerators used for chemical storage with a "No
Food Storage" sticker. Label refrigerators that are not
approved flammable storage units with a "No Flammable
Storage" sticker.
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Segregate incompatible chemicals.
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Separate and store chemicals according to compatibility
group, not by alphabetical order. Read Chemical
Compatibility Guidelines for more information.
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Store each compatibility group in a separate cabinet, or
separate them from other chemical groups by using
appropriate tubs or secondary containers. Polypropylene
"Nalgene" tubs are commonly used for this purpose.
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Label storage cabinets and tubs by compatibility group.
For example, a tub containing hydrochloric acid, and
phosphoric acid would be labeled "Mineral (Inorganic)
Acids."
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Keep containers capped and closed when not in use.
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Place hazardous materials on lower shelves. Don't store
them overhead.
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Protect drains from chemical spills. Don't use sinks for
chemical storage or secondary containment.
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Follow specific storage guidelines for regulated and
high hazard materials.
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Last Modified: February 1, 2008
Please forward all questions about this site to:
SHSD Admin
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