Guidelines for a Complete Safety Audit of the Academic Chemistry

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~ o f e t yin the chemicol loboratory

edited by

MALCOLM M. RENFREW University of ldaho MOSCOW, ldaho 83843

Guidelines for a Complete Safety Audit of the Academic Chemistry Laboratory The Safety Committee of the New York Section of the American Chemical S o ~ i e t y ' . ~ The Occupational Safety and Health A d of1970 (USC 29 86511. . . afederallaw, assures the rich; to a safe and healthy cnvi;unmrnt in the workplace for all urcking individunls. Under rhr lnw d l wurkylacrs, inrluding chemical laboratories, must meet minimum safety and health standards as prescribed by the law's regulatory agencies, OSHA, (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) and NIOSH, (National Institute for Oceuoational Safetv and Health). The efforts of &HA and NIOSH have heen cmrentrntrd in the industrial awn whereproblcms me mure pressing ti!. Edtaatic,nal institutions have been temporarily exempt from OSHA and NIOSH regulations, and i t may he in part for this reason that industrial laboratories are far more advanced in safety oractices than their academic counterparts

Many colleges and universities have undertaken the responsibility for development and maintenance of safety programs in their own laboratories, (3,4). Still, safety training for students in colleges and universities, in general, receives a low priority status; and na required, universal safety curriculum has yet been developed. Generally, neither faculty nor staff has been trained formally in aeeident prevention. Seeing a need for the upgrading of safety in the academic laboratories, a safety committee was formed within the New York Section of the American Chemical Soeiety. The committee consisted of nine professional chemists who me experienced both in the academic and industrial areas. Out of its concern, the committee determined that more than just the dissemination of information on safety, which is already available in countless articles and books. is needed. The committee concluded that aoroeram .. of safety inrprctions lending to specif~creronimmdations for impn,vemenrs was required. The committee then developed a procedure for its inspections using the American Chemical Society's own published standards as a guide (5). ~~~

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The Inspection Procedure

Malcolm M. Renfrew draws on varied industrial and academic experiences in his approach to good safety practices. After graduate study at the University of Minne-

University of ldaho, his Alma Mater. He is active in the American Chemical Society. including service with the Cornminee an Safety and the new division of Chemical Health and Safety. He now is professor emeritus of chernistty and is patent director 01 his University's ldaho Research Foundation. Inc.

The laboratory inspection procedure begins with the preparation of a list of colleges and universities in the Metropolitan New York-New Jersey-Long Island area. (There are approximately 50 institutions offering programs in chemistry in this region.) Each institution is contacted and invited t o participate in the inspection program. If they respond positively, they are sent the Preliminary Safety Inspection Report (Form A) which is to he completed and returned to the eommittee. This form provides primarily information about the school and its safety program that the eommittee cannot ohtain from physical inspection of the premises. Included in the Preliminary Report is OSHA's tentative list of Category 1carciuogens (6). I t is suggested that the institutions familiarize themselves with this list and note the quantity and Location of each substance in their laboratories.3 After receiving the Preliminary Report, two or three members of the Safety Committee are assigned to inspect that school. The inspectors first meet with the dean andlor department chairman, the safety officer and staff. At this time questions relevant t o the safety program of the institution are discussed. Form B provides a guideline for the discussion and is completed by the inVolume 58

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spectors a t this time. When these discussions are completed the laboratory areas are then visually inspected. Form C is filled out for each mam inspected. The form is divided into four categories: I. Safety Equipment; 11. Chemicals; 111. Apparatus; IV. Laboratory. A category for radiation safety was originally considered but was not included since it is rare t o find radioactive materials in undergraduate labs and since the use and control of these materials is well regulated by the Nuclear Repulatory Commission. Each of the four categories consists of items of impartance and questions about each that the inspectors must answer. A brief sketch of the layout of the room showing the location of major items of safety equipment (e.g., eyewash, fire extinguishers), chemicals and benches is made. This enables the inspectors to refer to the diagramlater and pinpoint an area of observed deficiency. The inspection process usually takes one full afternoon (approximately four hours) to complete. The committee has found that physical inspection by outside critical observers is the most vital element of the entire process. I t gives both the inspector and the school a perspective that cannot be obtained from the preliminary report or the interviews. A362

Journal of Chemical Education

The final step in the inspection procedure is to compile the data accumulated on Foms A, B and C into a constructive report, the Safety Inspection Summary, Form D, which is presented to the dean and department chairman. I t is on this form that observed deficiencies are enumerated and problem areas, as well as possible solutions and alternative procedures, are discussed.

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In 1980 the committee insoected eleven article

Recommendations The committee hopes that the inspection

process outlined in this report will gain wide usage. The committee also feels that the process produces the best results when inspections are performed by an outside group. In addition to avoiding the difficulty of seeing one's own errors, recommendations by an outside group tend to carry more weight with the people responsible for making needed changes. I t is our recommendation therefore that the inspection forms he used by a qualified group formed from among safety officers from various schools and universities throughout an area ar by an American Chemical Society safety committee in the local subsection,

How to Order Forms Upon the receipt of the name and address of any institution4 the committee will send a full-size copy of each of the forms (A, B, C and D)suitable for reproduction and use in inspections. Please include $1.50 to coverthe cost of postage and handling. Make check payable to the American Chemical Society, New York Section.

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' P01816. R F (Cha rmanj. Beom, rl , 0 A"08O. G Sndplk A J .and e a ~ a n. . D ..Raxlan.P A . Sn1na.R Uriarte. R. 2( a ) ~ s p a n d e n c e ~ n g ~ i ~ C m O t ~ S a l e n , Commmeeshauld b e m t bDr. R. F. Po-. 75 Ewb La., ~auppauge.N.Y. 11787 (b) Carespondence regarding content of mis anicle should be sent to Dr. A. J. ShurpL. ,Depanmant of Mam and Science. U S . Merchant Marine Academy. K i n a Point. N.Y. 11024 3 mi. preliminary list (6) is composd d nmbsmceamat either have been confirmed carcinogens based on human

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a "final" cancer standard, and substances whlch will be included in Category Iao can;inogens will have t o fit very different requirements than mose now provided. m i s new list will be added to periodically as funher testing pr*

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Literature Cited (11 Roese. K. M., "Heslth and Safety Gvldelin~sfor Chemistry Teachers," American Chemical Society, Washington, D.C.. 1979. (2) Shreeve, J. M. and Ronfrew, M.M.,J. CHBMMEDUCC,57,

435 (1980) (31 Pierce, J. T., Coleman, R. L.,J. CHEM EDUC.. 51, A9 (1980l (4) Rolch, A. R.,Hmria, L. E., J. CHEM EDUC.. 56.A371

(6) "Clement's Lists of Carcinogenic Chemicals Found i n American Workplaces," Clement A8soeiats.l. In&. Washington. D.C., July 1978. Available from the US. D.parfment of Commerce, National Technical Information Sewice PB-295.978 (See C. and E N . . P. July

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Journal of Chemical Education