Getting to Know Emergency Equipment

Chapter 7

Objectives

• List the three things all newly hired lab personnel should know related to lab safety.

• Describe the procedures that should be followed in instances of a fire, chemical splash or spill to body, and chemical spill.

Getting to Know Emergency Equipment

• All emergency procedures should be outlined by a Chemical Hygiene Plan

- Required by OSHA

- Many labs adopt additional recommendations from ANSI

Getting to Know Emergency Equipment

• Prior to starting work in a lab you should know the following:

– how to report a fire, chemical spill, or other emergency

– location of emergency equipment

– location of all exits from lab

Getting to Know Emergency Equipment

• Types of Emergency Equipment

– fire extinguishers

– deluge showers and eye washes

– spill kits

– first aid kits

Getting to Know Emergency Equipment

• What to do when an emergency occurs:– notify the appropriate individuals

• many companies require that you contact your immediate supervisor

• if not explicitly stated contact emergency personnel first

– tend to the injured individual• may require moving them away from the hazard

– confine the spill or fire if limited risk to you

Responding to fires

– Fires have an ignition source, fuel, and oxidizer to start

– Critical that prior to using any chemicals in the lab you refer to sections 3-6 of the MSDS for that chemical.• section 5 outlines how to specifically deal with a fire

Responding to fires

– First action should be to contact fire department and to sound the alarm.• if you are able to put the fire out call the fire department back

– Actions to put fire out• Suffocating

– if small enough cover with a small vessel or use a fire blanket

• If an individual is on fire you should have them stop, drop, and roll.– if close enough to a deluge shower can put them under it

» must know what material caused the fire– no longer recommended use a fire blanket

Responding to fires

– Actions to put fire out by fire extinguisher

– key questions to answer prior to using a fire extinguisher»Do you have any hands-on experience?»Do you know what started the fire?» Is the fire extinguisher the proper size and type?» Is the fire extinguisher in good working order?»Do you have an exit close enough in case the fire

increases?» Is the fire small enough to control with an

extinguisher?

Responding to fires

– Actions to put fire out by fire extinguisher–make sure it is necessary to use the extinguisher or

if fire will burn out on own let it

–Classes of fires»A - routine combustibles»B - flammable liquids and flammable gases»C - electrical equipment»D - flammable metals»multipurpose extinguishers exist, but

remember cannot be used on metal fires

Types of Fire extinguishers

–Water extinguishers»only effective on class A fires

–Carbon dioxide extinguishers» effective on class B & C fires» care must be used in closed quarters

–Monoammonium phosphate (MAP)»dry chemical powder extinguishers» effective class A, B, & C fires» “sticky” residue smothers fire

Questions for 30 points

• Why should Class A extinguishers not be used on Class B, C and D types of fires?

• Why Class B extinguishers cannot be used on class A and D fires?

• Why Class C extinguishers cannot be used on D fires?

• Why are K2CO3 and Na2CO3 extinguishers effective? Why can they be used on class B & C and not on class A or D fires?

Questions

• What are the questions you are supposed to have an answer to prior to using a fire extinguisher?

• What are the steps you are supposed to take if a chemical splashes on your skin and clothes?

• What are the steps you are supposed to take if a chemical spill happens?

Types of Fire extinguishers

–Potassium carbonate or sodium carbonate extinguishers»another type of dry chemical

extinguisher»only effective on class B & C fires

–class D extinguishers»sand, powdered sodium chloride,

graphite, and soda ash

Fire extinguishers

• All extinguishers are only effective at certain ranges and for certain periods of time

• PASS procedure generally used in operation of fire extinguisher

»P – pull»A – aim»S – squeeze»S – sweep

Eye Wash Stations & Deluge Showers

– In instances where a chemical spill or splash event occurs it may be necessary to flush eyes or skin with water.

– Generally agreed that instances where the eyes are involved you have a 10 second window to limit the amount of damage done.

Eye Wash Stations & Deluge Showers

– Treatment procedure• Always refer to the MSDS prior to using a chemical to

know what steps should be taken in case of exposure.

• Splashes or spills where small areas of skin are affected.– Immediately flush the area with water for no less

than 15 mins.– If no burns visible wash affected area with tepid

water and soap.– Seek medical attention.– File out accident report.

Eye Wash Stations & Deluge Showers

– Treatment procedure• Splashes or spills to clothes.–Carefully remove any contaminated

clothing and other personal effects.–Wash head prior to removing goggles.–Wash entire body for no less than 15 mins.–Seek medical attention.–Discard clothing–Fill out accident report

Eye Wash Stations & Deluge Showers

– Treatment procedure• Splash to eyes

– flush with water for minimum of 15 mins.– keep eyelids open

–Maintenance• OSHA Laboratory Std. (29 CFR 1910.1450)

– eyewash stations should be inspected at regular intervals not less than 3 months

– other safety equipment should be inspected regularly, i.e. every 3-6 months

• ANSI recommends weekly inspections

Responding to Spills

– First correctly identify the material spilled.

– Second eliminate any additional hazards.• i.e. ignition source if material is flammable

– Third notify others that a spill has occurred.

– Fourth clean up according to appropriate protocol.

Responding to Spills

– Spill kits• Spill control pillows for absorbing solvents, caustic

alkalis, and acids.• Inert absorbents such as vermiculite, clay, and cat

litter.• Absorbents to control vapors.• Neutralizing agents for acid and alkali spills.• Plastic scoop and dust pan or pail.• Appropriate PPE, warning signs, and barricade tape

Responding to Spills

– OSHA (29 CFR 1910.1200, Hazardous Waste Operation Emergency Response) requires all personnel be trained in how to properly clean up hazardous waste.

– In any instance where you are unsure of how to clean a spill up evacuate and contact the appropriate individuals.

– Check MSDS along with state and federal regulations of how to dispose of the spill clean up waste

• This project is funded by a grant awarded under the President’s Community Based Job Training Grant as implemented by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration (CB-15-162-06-60). NCC is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the following basis:

• against any individual in the United States, on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age disability, political affiliation or belief; and

• against any beneficiary of programs financially assisted under Title I of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (WIA), on the basis of the beneficiary’s citizenship/status as a lawfully admitted immigrant authorized to work in the United States, or his or her participation in any WIA Title I-financially assisted program or activity.

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