Procedure for purchase, storage and use of chemicals

Responsibility

Leaders are responsible for:

• that the units chemical inventory is updated
• that all employees have got adequate training
• that safety equipment is available and is being used

ECOonline-administrators are responsible for:

• maintaining the chemical inventory

Laboratory responsible should ensure that:

• assessment of chemical health hazards in the laboratory are based on information from ECOonline, in addition to SOPs in use in the lab.
• that all use of chemicals at IBV is risk assessed in the form of an SOP. This means requesting new SOPs when purchasing new chemicals, in cooperation with HMS-i.

Course responsible should ensure that:

• msds' for all chemicals used are available in ECOonline
• all students know the reader user log-in information to ECOonline

Users should:

• clarify storage, use and disposal of chemical before purchasing
• inform HMS-i when purchasing new chemicals
• use chemical according to published SOP
• if SOP is not available - the user has to provide an SOP
• know how to log-in to ECOonline with the IBV reader user
• know how to access the msds for chemical in use

Method

Purchasing

• All purchases should be performed by the purchasing office.
• HMS-engineers (HMS-i) must be cc'ed on the order. All fields in the purchasing form must be filled in. Failure to do so, will result in returned form - no purchase.
• All chemicals must be registered on the right location in ECOonline.
• All used chemicals should have as low risk as possible for health and environment. All work with chemicals should be performed with safety measures according to published SOP.

Storage

• Chemicals should only be stored in laboratories.
• Chemicals should mainly be stored in ventilated chemical cupboards.
• Chemical with fire and explosion risk should be stored in a designated fridge designed for chemicals.
• Chemicals to be disposed should be in correctly labelled containers. Disposal of chemicals should follow IBV procedure.

Use and transport of chemicals

• Transport of chemicals should be performed safely. Chemicals should be transported using the elevator (not the stairs).
• Chemicals should only be used in laboratories.
• All use should be performed according to published SOPs or according to risk assessment based on information in an MSDS.
• Absorption material should be available in event of chemical spills.

Use and transport of gas and liquid nitrogen

• Gas should only be handled by trained personell. See HSE-training and HMS-course for gas.
• Gas flasks should be fasten to ensure that the flasks do not tilt.
• Doors to labs with gas flasks should be labelled.
• Transport of gas flasks with regulators are prohibited.
• To prevent suffocation accidents, large liquid nitrogen containers should be sent in the elevator unsupervised. Read separate procedure: Transport of dangerous goods in elevators.

Special considerations when working with chemicals.

• All use of chemicals should be risk assessed
• All powder chemicals labelled with GHS08 and GHS06 should always be weighed and dissolved inside a fume hood. Similarly, liquid chemicals with such labelling should be handled inside a fume hood. Always consider if it is possible to replace carcinogenic, mutagenic, or toxic for reproduction (CMR)-chemicals. Preparation of solutions should be described in an S-SOP which should also include labelling/risk assessment of end product.
• Ensure that all chemical spills are removed.
• Pregnant women should not be exposed to CMR substances.
• If you are accidently exposed to chemicals you are obliged to report it as an adverse event. Using chemicals labelled GHS08 or GHS06 outside a fume hood is adverse event. Report adverse event.

Health hazards related to GHS08 and GHS06 chemicals (H-phrases):

• May cause cancer, genetic defects and/or reproductive toxicity (CMR): H340, H350, H360, H360FD, H360Fd, H360Df)
• Suspected of causing cancer, genetic defects and/or reproductive toxicity (CMR): H341, H351, H361, H361f, H361d, H361fd)
• May cause allergy, asthma symptoms or breathing difficulties when inhaled: (H334).
• Fatal/Toxic if inhaled: (H330, H331)
• Fatal/Toxic if Giftig/Dødelig if swallowed/in contact with skin: (H310/H311, H300/H331)
• Spesific organ toxicity: Causes/May cause damage to organs – through single exposure; (H370/H371), through prolonged or repeated exposure (H372/H373) or May cause respiratory irritation/drowsiness or dizziness: (H335/H336)

In addition

• A substance that is an active substance in biocidal or plant protection products need work permit fra Matilsynet.
• All users of lead and solutions containing lead must have regular health checks (coordinated by BHT)

Tools

• Instituttledervedtak about implementing " Classification Labelling and Packaging Regulation (CLP) EC1272/2008" at IBV.
• Purchase ordering form (xlsx)
• Published risk assessed protocols (SOP's)
• More about chemical inventory

References

• Regelverk og andre rammevilkår
• UiO's Procedure for chemical Inventory
• UiO's Risk assessment procedure