A well-organized chemical purchase plan is the first step in developing a safe lab experience.
- Establish a chemical procurement plan.
- Consider using a centralized purchasing program in which one person, who is knowledgeable of all the chemicals on hand, does all the purchasing, or links purchasing requests into an inventory tracking system so that excess chemicals in stock can be used before buying more.
- Train receiving room, storeroom, and stockroom personnel in the proper methods of receiving and handling of hazardous substances.
- Assess all the hazards and physical properties of the chemical using the MSDS; evaluate both short and long term risks.
- Consider the worst case scenario(s) in the event that the substance is mismanaged, spilled, or causes personal injury.
- Make sure the hazardous properties of the chemical do not exceed the educational utility of the experiment (refer to our article, Substances with Greater Hazardous Nature than Educational Utility).
- Determine whether a safer, less hazardous chemical can be used (refer to our article, Strategies for Reducing the Amount and/or Toxicity of Chemical Waste Generated in the Laboratory).
- Determine whether the appropriate facilities are available for the proper storage of the chemical and the ventilation is sufficient.
- Determine whether the proper personal protective equipment and safety equipment is on hand for using the chemical.
- Establish whether the chemical or its end product will require disposal as a hazardous waste. Ensure that the budget will allow for the appropriate and legal disposal of the chemical and/or its end product.
- Have a mechanism in place to dispose of the chemical and its end product legally and safely.
- Determine whether lesser amounts of a chemical can be used to conduct the experiment.
- Order minimum quantities that are consistent with the rate of use.
- Order only what will be used within a year or less.
- If possible, order reagents in polyethylene bottles or plastic coated glass bottles to minimize breakage, corrosion, and rust.
NOTE: Some States also require (1) National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) code (refer to APPENDIX B) and/or (2) CAS number to be listed on the label. Consult the State regulations.
This information is from the
School Chemistry Laboratory Safety Guide created by the U.S. Consumer Safety Product Commission (CPSC), Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).
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