- The Chemical Hygiene Officer, Catherine L. Fiore, will oversee the preparation of the Chemical Hygiene Plan for the Plasma Science and Fusion Center. She is responsible for seeing that the plan meets requirements set forth in 29 CFR 1910.1450. Assistance in creating the Chemical Hygiene Plan is provided by the MIT EH&S Team.
- The Chemical Hygiene Officer, in concert with the Industrial Hygiene Program (IHP), is responsible for seeing that the Chemical Hygiene Plan is reviewed on an annual basis and updated to accommodate changes in 29 CFR 1910.1450, departmental procedures, personnel, MIT policy and other pertinent materials. The Chemical Hygiene Officer and IHP will also see that the Chemical Hygiene Plan is updated to include procedures regarding new hazards and processes as they are introduced.
- The Chemical Hygiene Officer will see that the Chemical Hygiene Plan and updates are distributed to or made available to those who are affected by it.
- The Chemical Hygiene Plan and Safety Plan updates will be reviewed by the directors of the MIT EH&S Team for final approval. Updates are due annually on or before January 15
- One copy of the Chemical Hygiene Plan and all updates will be provided to MIT EH&S for reference use in the Industrial Hygiene Program.
See also PSFC Lab Hazards Inventory (Appendix C)
-
Identification of Hazardous and Particularly Hazardous Chemicals
The PSFC Safety Committee conducts an annual inventory (every summer) of the hazardous chemicals located throughout the PSFC due September 1. This information is provided to the PSFC ES&H Office, where the complete inventory for the PSFC is maintained. These chemicals include organic solvents, halogenated solvents, caustics (acids, hydroxides, and alkali cleaners), resins and hardeners, reactive metals, peroxides, toxic and flammable gases, and synthetic and petroleum-based oils. The hazards of such substances depend on their toxicity and physical characteristics such as flammability and reactivity.
Flammability or Combustibility is the readiness with which the vapors of a liquid, or with which a gas ignite and burn.
Toxicity may be acute or chronic, depending on the substance as well as the level and duration of exposure associated with the use of that substance.
Acute toxic effects occur shortly after exposure and include, but are not limited to, symptoms such as chemical burns and irritation.
Chronic toxic effects appear after repeated exposure over a long period of time and include symptoms such as chronic disease of the organ systems (e.g., liver, kidneys, lungs) including cancer.
Reactivity is the tendency of a chemical to chemically change or breakdown, with the release of heat, energy, and possibly chemical contaminants.
MIT EH&S has compiled a partial list of what it considers "particularly hazardous substances". This list was derived from a number of sources, including the International Agency for Review of Carcinogens (IARC), the National Toxicology Program (NTP), and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Any item on the PSFC chemical inventory which is also on the list of particularly hazardous substances must nearly always be designated as a particularly hazardous substance with the following exceptions:
- The CHO may petition EH&S to change the designation of the particularly hazardous substance to a "hazardous" chemical under certain conditions. For example: a very small amount of the chemical is being used, i.e., isopropanol. Isopropyl alcohol is listed as a carcinogen by IARC and NTP. This is because manufacturing processes are thought to present a risk of cancer to workers engaged in the manufacture of isopropyl alcohol. Isopropyl alcohol may be designated as a hazardous chemical for the purposes of the PSFC without petitioning EH&S.
- The IARC has designated mildly hydrotreated or mildly solvent-refined oils as potential carcinogens. Mild hydrotreatment is defined as hydrotreatment processes conducted using pressures of 800 pounds per square inch or less, and temperatures of 800 degrees Fahrenheit or less, independent of other process parameters. Heavily or severely hydrotreated or solvent refined oils are not designated as potential carcinogens by the IARC. The MSDS for the oil should indicate whether mild or light hydrotreatment or solvent refining methods were used to produce the oil. Thus, MSDS's for all vacuum pump and other oils used at the PSFC must be reviewed to determine whether the oil is designated as a potential carcinogen.
- Consumer products, such as household cleaners used for the purpose for which they were intended and in small quantities, will not be included under this plan.
Whenever a new chemical is purchased, it is the responsibility of the supervisor to confirm through the CHO that it has been added to the chemical inventory. The supervisor shall fill out a "Chemical Purchase Information Form" (see appendix G) and return it to PSFC HQ. before bringing a new chemical into the PSFC environs. The CHO shall assign the proper classification to the chemical at that time.
-
Inventory of Hazardous and Particularly Hazardous Chemicals by Room.
(The PSFC Lab Hazards (chemicals) Inventory is presented in Appendix C.)
-
Classification of PSFC Chemicals
Chemicals presently used at the PSFC may be classified under one or more of the following categories:
- Flammable liquid: flash point < 100 degrees Fahrenheit .
- Combustible liquid: flash point > 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Caustic liquids and solvents:capable of producing chemical burns and tissue damage
- Halogenated solvents
- Reactive chemicals and metals
- Toxic chemicals
- Non-reactive toxic metals
- Photo processing chemicals
- Electroplating chemicals
- Epoxy resins and hardeners
- Synthetic and petroleum based oils
- Hazardous gases (flammable or toxic)
A wide range of potential toxic effects may be indicated for chemicals within each of the categories listed above. Standard Operating Procedures (SOP's) have been developed for common usage of chemicals. In some cases, an SOP for use of a single chemical or single procedure has been developed because of unique hazards associated with that chemical or specific use of that chemical.
The chemical inventory is periodically reviewed by the PSFC Office of Environment, Safety, and Health to determine whether there are chemicals on the MIT EH&S Particularly Hazardous Substances list. For a list of PHSs, see http://ehs.mit.edu/site/content/particularly-hazardous-substance-review-160-mit-chemicals.
As described under item II.E., the use of hazardous chemical substances shall be eliminated or minimized whenever possible.
Standard operating procedures (SOP's) must be developed to outline the procedures and precautions to be followed whenever a new chemical is introduced if that chemical is not covered by an existing SOP. New users of a chemical already covered by an SOP may be required to develop a new SOP as well, at the direction of their supervisor or the CHO. Thus, when considering the purchase of a new chemical, the supervisor must initiate the development of an appropriate SOP.
The Fiscal Office staff will refer any purchase order involving the purchase of chemicals to the CHO or the CHO's designated representative. All purchase orders, interdepartmental requisitions and EREQ's for hazardous chemicals must be approved by the CHO or her designate. Chemicals should not be purchased with MIT credit cards without the express written prior approval of the CHO.
This provides a mechanism for maintaining and updating the chemical inventory. The CHO shall maintain contact with the supervisor to ensure that an appropriate SOP is developed.
If the use of a hazardous chemical cannot be eliminated or avoided, engineering controls will be used whenever feasible to minimize or prevent any uncontrolled release of hazardous chemicals. This includes:
- All solvents used in quantities greater than 500 milliliters AND which are dispensed from containers other than plastic squeeze bottles may only be used inside a laboratory fume hood or designated canopy vent. Whenever it is feasible, work involving the use of chemicals shall be conducted inside a laboratory fume hood.
- Dispense chemicals inside laboratory fume hoods whenever possible. If large quantities of chemicals must be dispensed outside of a laboratory fume hood, an appropriate transfer device or self-closing gravity valve shall be used.
- Locate spill control materials prior to any work involving the use or transfer of chemicals.
- Use local exhaust ventilation on equipment utilizing large quantities of hazardous chemicals.
- Use portable exhaust ventilation equipment on specific operations such as confined space work.
- As a last resort, respiratory protective equipment may be used. As noted under item II.E., the respirator must be obtained from the Industrial Hygiene Program.
Special Precautions for
Work with Nanomaterials
This article also lists good reference
sources for researchers to consult to keep up with toxicity
information on their materials as it develops.
Currently, nanoparticles and solutions containing
them are being disposed of as hazardous waste.
Please call the EHS Office at 617-253-0344 for
exposure evaluation of experimental setups and additional
information.
The first step in evaluating
a new experiment, process or operation is to investigate the
possibility of eliminating the use of hazardous materials or
substituting a less hazardous material. The Industrial Hygiene
Program (3-2596) should be contacted for advice. Consult
http://web.mit.edu/environment/academic/wizard/greenChemWiz5.html.
The Institute has a program administered by the Environmental Programs Office to reduce the purchase of large quantities of chemicals. A "large quantity" is an amount which will not be consumed and therefore must be stored for a period of 6 months or longer. A sample form is included. See Appendix H.
All particularly hazardous substances shall only be used in designated areas.
The Chemical Hygiene Officer (CHO) in conjunction with the supervisor shall provide information and training concerning handling of hazardous chemicals in the laboratory.
The Industrial Hygiene and Safety Programs are available to assist the CHO in developing and implementing training procedures and policies. The Industrial Hygiene Program conducts training sessions for the CHO's at the Institute.
Employees shall be informed of the presence of hazardous chemicals when assigned to a work area and prior to new exposure situations. This information must include contents of the OSHA Lab Standard, the applicable details and location of the Chemical Hygiene Plan; physical and chemical properties of hazards used in the workplace; proper handling procedures to minimize exposure; signs and symptoms of exposure associated with specific chemicals; the location and availability of reference material; emergency and personal protective equipment training. Employees shall also receive training about the information provided on Material Data safety sheets (MSDS's). The training should be provided immediately for new employees in affected work areas and annually for other personnel.
Training shall be directed by the Chemical
Hygiene Officer in conjunction with the laboratory supervisor
and Industrial Hygiene and Safety Programs' representative. A
training outline shall be prepared by the Industrial Hygiene
Program and used as the basis for lectures and demonstrations.
Training is provided by Andrew Kalil, Dan Kallin or a
designated representative of IHP for the PSFC and is also
available as web training at http://ehs.mit.edu/site/training. Training records are maintained in a central
database by MIT EHS for each PSFC employee.
The following SOP's are included in Appendix M:
- PSFC-CH-91001 Use of Caustics and Acids Other Than Hydrofluoric
- PSFC-CH-91002 Confined Space Procedure for the NW20-Alternator
- PSFC-CH-91003 Cryogenic Liquid Handling and Use
- PSFC-CH-91004 Epoxy Resin Systems
- PSFC-CH-91005 Flammable Solvents and Products Containing Flammable Solvents
- PSFC-CH-91006 Halogenated Solvents Transfer From 55 Gallon Drums
- PSFC-CH-91007 Halogenated Solvents and Products Containing Halog. Solvents
- PSFC-CH-91008 Hydrofluoric Acid Etching
- PSFC-CH-91009 Lube Oil Reservoir Confined Space Entry
- PSFC-CH-91010 Photographic Chemicals*
- PSFC-CH-91011 Rapid Electroplating
- PSFC-CH-91012 Target Fabrication*
- PFC-CH-92001 Vapor Degreasing Inside the Alcator C-MOD Vacuum Vessel*
- PSFC-CH-92002 Handling and Use of Compressed Gases
- PSFC-CH-92003 Handling and Use of Welding Equipment
- PFC-CH-92004 Use of Carbon Tetrachloride in E-Beam Experiment*
- PSFC-CH-92005 Electropolishing Stainless Steel
- PFC-CH-92006 Vacuum Pump Oils
- PSFC-CH-93001 Confined Space Operations on Alcator C-MOD
- PFC-CH-93002 Confined Space Operations on the Mark II Furnace*
- PSFC-CS-93003 Confined Space Operations on VTF
- PSFC-CS-93004 Procedure for Issuance of Confined Space Permits
- PSFC-CS-94001 Confined Space Operation on the Alcator C-Mod Cylinder
(*) These procedures are no longer relevant and have been retired; either the processes are no longer used or the experiment has been removed from the PSFC.
The use of personal protective equipment is subject to specific lab requirements and shall be indicated in the SOP's. The type and level of equipment can be determined with the aid of MIT EH&S. Any use of personal protective equipment should only be implemented after the options of reducing the hazards have been considered.
Respirators
The use of respirators shall be determined by the Employee, Laboratory Supervisor and the Industrial Hygiene Program. The MIT respirator policy must be followed. The complete MIT written Respirator Program appears in Appendix D. The following elements must be adhered to:
- Less hazardous materials should be substituted for more hazardous materials.
- Exposure should be controlled by the use of laboratory fume hoods or other engineering controls.
- Respirator type shall be selected on the basis of type of chemical exposure, level of exposure, and medical examination of the user.
- Selection of a respirator type must be performed in consultation with the Industrial Hygiene Program.
- A medical opinion is required for each employee before a respirator is used routinely.
- Respirators shall only be purchased through the IHP.
- Fit testing and training shall be performed by the IHP for all negative pressure respirators before use.
- The respirator user shall regularly maintain and clean the respirator.
- The respirator user shall perform a negative and positive pressure check before each use.
Eye Protection
The Committee on
Toxic Chemicals established a policy in 2009 to assure special
emphasis is placed on the use of appropriate eye protection
for work with hazardous chemicals in laboratories. The policy states:
Eye protection is also required when there is the potential for eye injury due to other hazards besides hazardous chemicals. Examples of this include working with tools, power tools, and/or shop equipment when the work emits debris or flying particles, or when working with molten metal. Work with unsealed radioactive sources, lasers and certain biological agents also require eye protection by regulation.
It is strongly recommended that safety glasses be worn at all times in laboratories and other areas with chemical hazards. Safety glasses must be worn while working with or near any procedure, chemical, or equipment that has the potential to cause eye damage. It is mandatory that safety glasses be worn whenever PSFC SOPs call for eye protection or when directed by the Principal Investigator (PI) of the laboratory.
Hazard assessments are performed to identify eye protection requirements. The EHS Coordinator and EHS representative conduct hazaerd assessments to determine the eye protection required fore each lab area and document the assessment. This reviewed and signed by the PI, and the assessment is posted in the lab area. When new experiments or procedures are introduced to the lab, a new assessment is made and the lab personnel are informed of any changes.
Minimum protection from chemical handling is safety glasses. Goggles, shields, and other protective eyewear shall be used when specified by the SOP.
Protective Clothing
The MIT Committee on Toxic Chemicals has established the following policy with respect to laboratory coats: “A laboratory coat is required for work with particularly hazardous substances (PHS’s), unsealed radioactive materials, and biological agents at BL2 or greater. It is strongly advised that researchers wear a laboratory coat when working with hazardous substances. In some cases laboratory supervisors may identify situations where the use of lab coats or more protective apparel is mandatory.†The Guidance Document “Laboratory Coat Selection, Use, and Care†at http://ehs.mit.edu/site/content/personal-protective-equipment-ppe provides additional details to aid in the process of performing a hazard assessment to select an appropriate lab coat based on the hazards in the lab area, and provides information on the use and care of lab coats, including laundry service options.
The use of protective clothing, including
gloves, shall be determined by the employee, lab supervisor,
and the Industrial Hygiene Program.
Protective clothing shall be chosen, with the aid of the Industrial Hygiene Program, on the basis of the chemical exposure and medical condition of the user.
Contaminated protective clothing shall be disposed of properly.
Open-toed shoes, sandals, or open-toed sneakers shall not be worn in laboratories.
Wear clothing that fully covers your legs
and arms when handling hazardous chemicals.
Contaminated lab coats shall not be worn.
Other Personal Protective Equipment
Other personal protective equipment shall be used, if needed. Its use shall be included in the SOP.
Return to Table of Contents of the PSFC Chemical Hygiene PlanLocal exhaust ventilation is the primary method used to control inhalation exposures to hazardous substances. The laboratory fume hood is the most common local exhaust method used in laboratories. Other types of local exhaust include vented enclosures for large pieces of equipment or chemical storage, and snorkel types of exhaust for capturing contaminants near the point of release. Local exhaust systems consist of some type of hood, duct work, and a fan located on the roof. Some systems are equipped with air cleaning devices (HEPA filters or carbon adsorbers). In most cases individual fans service each hood.
A laboratory fume hood (see Figure J-1 ) should be used when working with hazardous substances as described in section III.C. A properly operating and correctly used fume hood will control the vapors released from volatile liquids as well as dust and mists.
Do not make any modifications to hoods or duct work without calling the Industrial Hygiene Program first (3-2596). It is Institute policy that any changes made to local exhaust systems must be approved by the Industrial Hygiene Program.
Do not use a fume hood for large pieces of equipment unless you intend to dedicate the fume hood for this use since it will change the airflow patterns and render the fume hood unsafe for other uses. It is generally more effective to install a specially designed enclosure for large equipment.
Do not use a fume hood for chemical storage. Store chemicals in a chemical storage cabinet since a hood cluttered with bottles may not contain releases effectively.
The EH&S's Industrial Hygiene Program conducts the fume hood survey program (See Appendix E for a description of this program). Before you begin using a fume hood, check to see that the hood is labeled (See Figure J-2) as appropriate for use with toxic chemicals and has been recertified within the last year. If this is not the case or if you have any doubts about the fume hood operation, contact the Industrial Hygiene Program (3-2596). Also use the proper work practices listed below:
- Set your work up at least six inches behind the plane of the sash.
- Never put your head inside an operating fume hood to check an experiment. The plane of the sash is the barrier between contaminated and uncontaminated air.
- Work with the sash in the lowest position possible.
- Do not clutter your hood with bottles or equipment. Keep it clean and clear. Only materials actively in use should be in the fume hood. This will provide optimal containment and reduce risk of extraneous chemicals being involved in fire or explosions which may occur in the hood.
- Clean the grille along the bottom slot of the hood regularly so it does not become clogged with papers and dirt.
- Do not dismantle or modify the physical structure of your hood or exhaust system in any way without first consulting IHP.
- Report any suspected hood malfunctions to IHP (3-2596) and F-I-X-I-T (3-4948).
Figure J-1
Laboratory Fume Hood
>
Figure J-2
Laboratory Fume Hood Survey Forms
General
- All personnel within the PSFC shall maintain the laboratory work areas in a neat and orderly condition.
- All chemicals shall be stored in clearly labeled containers in designated areas.
- No open containers of chemicals shall be left unattended.
- No unlabeled containers, such as stainless steel pans used for solvent cleaning, shall be left unattended.
- Containers from which chemicals are dispensed shall be immediately recapped and returned to their designated storage location.
- No personal protective equipment, such as protective gloves, and chemical goggles shall be left lying in the laboratory fume hood or outside of a designated storage area.
- Severely contaminated gloves, rags, paper mats or other materials shall be removed and placed in an appropriate container for disposal.
- NO EATING IS ALLOWED IN LABORATORY AREAS.
- Personnel handling chemicals should wash their hands upon leaving the lab.
- Hazardous chemicals shall not be stored on the floor.
Spill Procedures
- Prior to beginning work involving the use of chemicals, the user shall ensure that spill control materials are located in the work area or can be easily obtained.
- Specific procedures to be followed in the event of a chemical spill are given in the SOP's. In general, all spills shall be immediately contained using absorbent spill pillows designated for this purpose. As soon as the spill is contained, the supervisor or person with the authority over that work area shall be contacted. That supervisor, or person with authority over the work area, shall determine whether or not the spill will require the assistance of the Industrial Hygiene Program (IHP) or the Safety Program. The supervisor is ultimately responsible for ensuring that the spill is cleaned up. In some cases, due to the nature of the procedure and specific properties of the spilled chemical, other spill procedures may be indicated. For example, spills of flammable solvents such as acetone, may require shutting off nearby ignition sources and/or rapid evacuation of the room. Also, if very strong odors are evident, or there is any doubt as to the safety of the clean-up, personnel should leave the room and contact the Environmental Management Program (x3-4736), IHP (x3-2596) or dial 100.
- All spill clean-up materials shall be placed into an appropriate container to be picked up by the Environmental Management Program, unless otherwise indicated in the SOP
-
Minor hazardous materials or waste spills that present no
immediate threat to personnel safety, health, or to the
environment can be cleaned up by laboratory personnel that use
the materials or generate the waste. A minor hazardous
material spill is generally defined as a spill of material
that is not highly toxic, is not spilled in large quantity,
does not present a significant fire hazard, can be recovered
before it is released to the environment, and is not in a
public area such as a common hallway. Such a spill can
usually be controlled and cleaned up by one or two personnel.