SAFETY IN LABORATORYAccording to Lgs.D. 81/08

The chemical laboratory can be a safe workplace if some precautions are taken in order to avoid unforeseen events and accidents.

The experiences planned for a didactic laboratory of the first year are usually simple and at low risk. Nevertheless, you can burn yourself with acids, damage your dresses or receive splash goggles of irritating substances in your eyes.

Normative References• Legislative Decree 9th April 2008, n.81: implementation

of article 1, law n.3 August 2007, n.123, in matter of protection of health and emergency in workplaces.

• Regulation dealing with norms helping to identify particular requirements of universities and institutes of university education according to the norms conveyed in D.l. 19.09.94, n. 626, and further modifications and integrations, published in the Gazzetta Ufficiale n. 246 of 21/10/98. • Guide to the safety in the chemical laboratories. Document for internal use only, DISMIC

• Guide to the use of bottles of compressed, dissolved and liquefied gases

Responsabilities• University: provide students with a safe

workplace, education and information about dangers, adequate procedures.

• Workers: follow the specific formation training courses and study the supplied supporting materials

• Respect the safety guidelines and information given

• Compulsory test of your knowledge in matter of safety

Have knowledge of the enviroment

• It is of fundamental importance to get knowledge of everything concerning with your work:

• Rooms

• Instruments

• Substances

• Procedures

• Hazards

• Risks

First entry in the lab

• Signals

• Safety devices eye washers, fire

extinguishers, ect.

• Guidelines/operative instruction

Examples of Signals

Signals

Signals

- Prohibition signals are round-shaped with red edge and red cross bar, while the pictogram is black over a white background.

- Warning signals are triangular-shaped with black pictogram over a yellow background.

- Limitation signals are round-shaped with white pictogram over a blue background.

Signals

- Life or aid signals are square-shaped or rectangular-shaped with white pictogram over a green background.

- Fire estinguisher signals are square-shaped or rectangular-shaped with white pictogram over a red background.

- Information signals are square-shaped or rectangular-shaped with white pictogram over a blue background.

Signals - Pipes

Rosso Fire control

Verde Water

Grigio o Argento 

Steam or overheated water

Marrone Mineral, vegetable and animal oils, liquid fuels

Giallo ocra Gas o liquified fluids (except air)

Arancione Acids

Giallo Dangerous fluids

Azzurro chiaro Air

Nero Other liquids

Signals

The cordless telephone is enabled for internal and emergency calls.

Localize the internal means of communication of the lab.

In case of emergency, you are

welcome to use your mobile phone.

Emergency exits

Emergency exits are no-panic doors.

It is also possible to use the common exits of the lab, if accessible.

Exodus from the lab

It is required to have already in mind the evacuation paths.

A. Product name and descriptionB. Product codeC. Descriptive informationD. Recommendations for manipulations and conservation E. RisksF. Stock analysisG. Shape of the packagingH. Number of the stockI. Risk Pictogram (Useful to know immediately the risk related to the use of the product) J. Other information about the risk. K. CAS (Chemical Abstract Service) number, labeled if available. CAS numbers can vary with the available details of

the substance. L. Minimum formula and molecular mass. M. Code bar and equivalent serial numbers. N. MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) available.

Behavior norms

• Do not run• Leave always free way around the work tables and near the exits. Leave your baggage only where you are allowed to.• Do not eat or taste ANY chemicals• Do not smoke•Avoid breathing and smelling vapours using the extractor fan when required. • Keep clean and ordered your working table• Use the adequate individual protection equipment supplied (overall, gloves and glasses) •Under the protection equipment, wear comfortable dresses and low anti-slide shoes. The use of long dresses is not recommended. For long haired people, tie your hair in order to avoid the contact with reagents and possible flames.

Precautions and general norms for the employment of instruments:

•Before using any instrument, consult the instructions you will find near them. Instructions have to be always available for any user.

•If you find the following symbol

It points out the presence of a hot surface. Be careful not to touch it.• Do not use free electrical cables, extension cables or adaptors.• Never touch an instrument connected to the electric current with wet hands; never touch two electrical instruments at the same time or an electrical instrument together with a metallic superstructure (heaters, pipes, railings, etc.). •Check the integrity of the supply cable of an electrical apparatus before you switch it on.•In the case that a short circuit occurs, inform immediately the person responsible for the laboratory. In any case, do not try to reconnect the instrument to the electrical net. • To disconnect an electrical instrument from the net, pull the plug and not the cable.• It is also necessary to foresee possible power cuts and the consequences due to the restore of the operative conditions.• Report immediately to the person responsible for the laboratory any breakdowns or malfunctioning of instruments, apparatuses, collective or individual protective devices etc. You are also kindly invited to inform about any deficiencies or other observations that can be useful to the overall safety of the laboratory.

Waste disposal in the lab:

•Throw plastic materials, glasses and paper in the appropriate containers. Everything that is not differentiable must be thrown in the containers you will find under your working table

• Do not replace the products that have not been used in the origin containers

•Get rid of the solutions in the washbasin, letting much water flow, but only if you are allowed to.

Before using a reagent:

•Read carefully the label•Do not touch and take solids with free hands: use spoons or spatula.• Do not open more than a container at a time and not mistake the tops of the containers. Do not ever use your mouth to inhale liquids with pipettes: use instead a dropper or pipettes equipped with an aspirator.• Never add water to an acid, but add slowly the acid to water.• Do not to use concentrated acids and bases, but only the supplied solutions already diluted.• Do not smell neither taste the substances you have handled.

In case of accident:

•In case of accident never lose control and inform the person responsible for the laboratory who will be able to help you. • Usually, if you have been in contact with acid, basic or irritating chemical, it is better to wash immediately the hurt zone with abundant water. Then pull off the contaminate clothes.• If you get burns, wash with cold water as soon as possible and inform the person responsible for the laboratory who will be able to help you.• If your eyes are injured, use the proper eye washer for at least 15 minutes and inform the responsible.• If some chemicals pour on your working table, wear a pair of gloves and mop them up.• If a glass bottle breaks off, pick it up wearing gloves with the help of a broom. Do not do it with free hands.•In the case of fire, keep calm, switch off the general plug and reach the emergency exits, as shown in the signals in the lab. The person responsible for the lab will be able to guide you and use fire extinguishers.

A LIST OF SOME RISK STATEMENTS (R)

•R1: Explosive when dry •R2: Risk of explosion by shock, friction, fire or other sources of ignition •R3: Extreme risk of explosion by shock, friction, fire or other sources of ignition •R4: Forms very sensitive explosive metallic compounds •R5: Heating may cause an explosion •R6: Explosive with or without contact with air •R7: May cause fire •R8: Contact with combustible material may cause fire •R10: Flammable •R11: Highly flammable •R12: Extremely flammable•R14: Reacts violently with water •R15: Contact with water liberates extremely flammable gases•R18: In use, may form flammable/explosive vapour-air mixture•R20: Harmful by inhalation •R21: Harmful in contact with skin •R22: Harmful if swallowed •R23: Toxic by inhalation •R24: Toxic in contact with skin •R25: Toxic if swallowed •R26: Very toxic by inhalation

•R31: Contact with acids liberates toxic gas •R32: Contact with acids liberates very toxic gas•R34: Causes burns•R35: Causes severe burns •R36: Irritating to eyes •R37: Irritating to respiratory system •R38: Irritating to skin

A LIST OF SOME SAFETY STATEMENTS (S) •S1: Keep locked up •S2: Keep out of the reach of children •S3: Keep in a cool place •S4: Keep away from living quarters•S7: Keep container tightly closed •S8: Keep container dry •S9: Keep container in a well-ventilated place•S12: Do not keep the container sealed •S13: Keep away from food, drink and animal feedingstuffs•S15: Keep away from heat •S16: Keep away from sources of ignition - No smoking•S17: Keep away from combustible material •S18: Handle and open container with care •S20: When using do not eat or drink •S21: When using do not smoke•S24: Avoid contact with skin •S25: Avoid contact with eyes •S26: In case of contact with eyes, rinse immediately with plenty of water and seek medical advice•S29: Do not empty into drains •S30: Never add water to this product •S33: Take precautionary measures against static discharges •S35: This material and its container must be disposed of in a safe way •S36: Wear suitable protective clothing •S37: Wear suitable gloves •S38: In case of insufficient ventilation wear suitable respiratory equipment •S39: Wear eye/face protection

S41: In case of fire and/or explosion do not breathe fumesS47: Keep at temperature not exceeding ... °C (to be specified by the manufacturer)S48: Keep wet with ... (appropriate material to be specified by the manufacturer) S49: Keep only in the original container S50: Do not mix with ... (to be specified by the manufacturer)S56: Dispose of this material and its container at hazardous or special waste collection point S57: Use appropriate containment to avoid environmental contamination S59: Refer to manufacturer/supplier for information on recovery/recycling S60: This material and its container must be disposed of as hazardous waste S61: Avoid release to the environment. Refer to special instructions/safety data sheet S62: If swallowed, do not induce vomiting: seek medical advice immediately and show this container or label S63: In case of accident by inhalation: remove casualty to fresh air and keep at rest

A LIST OF SOME DANGER SYMBOLS

Explosive (E)Danger: This symbol indicates those chemicals that can

explode under certain conditions. Precautions: Avoid crashes,

frictions, sparks and heat.

Oxidizing(O) Danger: Oxidizing substances that can ignite combustible

substances or fan already existing fires letting the fire

extinction more difficult. Precautions: Keep away from

combustible materials.

Extremeley Flammable (F+) Danger: Liquids with flash points lower than 0°C and boiling

points not higher than 35°C. Precautions: Keep away from

ignition sources. 

Danger: Gaseous flammable substances in contact with air at

room temperature and pressure. Precautions: Avoid the

formation of flammable air-gas mixtures and keep away from

ignition sources. 

Toxic (T) Danger: Chemicals very dangerous for health if inhaled, swallowed or

come in contact with skin. They can cause death. Possible irreversible

effects due to occasional, repeated and extended exposures.

Precautions: Avoid getting in touch with skin and also do not inhale the

related vapours. In case of sickness, contact a doctor.

Harmful (Xn) Danger: Harmful for inhalation, ingestion or contact. Possible

irreversible effects due to occasional, repeated and extended

exposures. Precautions: Avoid getting in touch with skin and also do

not inhale the related vapours. In case of sickness, contact a doctor.

Irritant (Xi) Danger: This symbol indicates substances that can irritate skin, eyes

and the breathing apparatus. Precautions: Do not inhale the related

vapours and avoid to getting in touch with skin.

Corrosive (C) Danger: Chemicals that if touched destroy human tissues and

equipments. Precautions: Do not inhale the related vapours and avoid

to getting in touch with skin, eyes and clothes.

Do not smoke and use

free flames

Access denied to not

authorized people

Do not douse

Do not touch Do not smoke Undrinkable water

A LIST OF SOME PROHIBITION SIGNALS

Generic hazard Radioactive

materials

Poisoning

substances

Corrosive

substances

Oxidizing materials Irritant and harmful

materials

A LIST OF SOME WARNING SIGNALS