CHEMICAL SAFETY

CHEMISTRY FOR ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGIST

RON KELVIN T. MIRANDA
CHEMICALS

• Is a substance that is produced or

used in a process (reaction)
involving changes to atoms or
molecules.
 TYPES OF CHEMICALS

• NON-HAZARDOUS

• HAZARDOUS
 NON-HAZARDOUS
• Substances that are considered non-
threatening and can be disposed of
without the assistance of a
hazardous waste disposal company.
• Examples of non hazardous
chemicals are sugars (glucose),
dextrose, vitamins, lysine, taurine,
amino acids.
 HAZARDOUS
• Are substances that can cause adverse
health effects such as poisoning,
breathing problems, skin rashes, allergic
reactions, allergic sensitization, cancer,
and other health problems from
exposure.
• Many hazardous chemicals are also
classified as dangerous goods. These can
cause fires, explosions, corrosion, and
hazardous reactions if not handled safely.
 HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS AT HOME
• Paints • Petrol
• Drugs • Liquefied Petroleum Gas
• Cosmetics • Welding Fumes
• Cleaning chemicals • Asbestos
• Degreasers • Flammable Liquids
• Detergents • Gases
• Gas cylinders • Corrosives
• Refrigerant gases • Chemically Reactive Or Acutely
• Pesticides (Highly) Toxic Substances.
• Herbicides
• Diesel Fuel
 CATEGORIES OF HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS

• Corrosive
• Flammable
• Toxic
• Reactive
• Biological (infectious)
• Carcinogen (cancer-causing)
• Radioactive
 PHYSICAL STATES OF
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS

• Liquid

• Solid

• Gas

• Vapor
 CHARACTERISTICS OF HAZARDOUS
CHEMICALS

• EXPLOSIVE CHEMICALS

• OXIDIZING CHEMICALS

• REACTIVE CHEMICALS

• FLAMMABLE CHEMICALS
EXPLOSIVE CHEMICALS
• Explosive chemicals are chemicals that cause a
sudden, almost instantaneous release of pressure,
gas, and heat when subjected to shock, pressure, or
high temperature.
• ammonium nitrate
• ammonium perchlorate
• barium azide
• diazodinitrophenol
• diethylene glycol dinitrate
• nitrocellulose
• sodium picramate
• tetranitroanaline and
• trinitrophenol (dry picric acid)
 FLAMMABLE CHEMICALS
• Liquids with a flashpoint less than
60°C.
• The flashpoint of a chemical is the
temperature at which the vapor of
the chemical is capable of being
ignited momentarily.
 OXIDIZING CHEMICALS
• An oxidizing chemical will cause a
substantial increase in the
burning rate of a combustible
material with which it comes in
contact; undergo vigorous self-
sustained decomposition when
catalyzed or exposed to heat; or
cause spontaneous ignition of a
combustible or flammable
chemical with which it comes in
contact.
 REACTIVE CHEMICALS
• Reactive chemicals react violently with water, air, or other
chemicals to produce toxic gases, heat, fire, or
explosion. Examples include metal hydrides, pyrophoric,
water reactive chemicals, borohydrides, borane
complexes, anhydrides, calcium, sodium, and metal
powders.
AIR AND WATER REACTIVE CHEMICALS

• Air reactive chemicals (also called

pyrophoric chemicals) ignite
spontaneously in air at temperatures
below 54.4°C. Examples: Silanes, fine
metal powders and white phosphorus.
• Water reactive chemicals combine with
water or moisture in the air to produce
heat, ignite, or form explosive or toxic
gases. Examples: Sodium, Lithium and
Calcium.
 PEROXIDE FORMING CHEMICALS

• Compounds such as ethyl ether and

tetrahydrofuran, can form unstable
peroxides if managed or stored
improperly.
• The formation of explosive peroxides
can be accelerated by the introduction
of contaminants, particularly metal
oxides and oxygen.
TEMPERATURE SENSITIVE CHEMICALS
• Improper storage of temperature
sensitive chemicals can result in a
boiling liquid expanding vapor
explosion (BLEVE) that can violently
rupture the container.
• Temperature sensitive chemicals
should never be allowed to remain
outside of a temperature
controlled environment for any
period of time longer than necessary
to dispense or transport the
chemical.
 MULTI-NITRATED CHEMICALS
• Some multi-nitrated chemicals decompose violently when
subjected to shock, heat, or other chemicals.
• Most multi-nitrated chemicals become more sensitive to
shock and temperature when they become dry.
• Picric acid (phenol trinitrate or trinitrophenol) and 2,4-
dinitrophenylhydrazine, are examples.
 Beirut Ammonium Nitrate Blast

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Hazard classification
SYMBOLS
MATERIAL SAFETY DATA
SHEET (MSDS)
 MSDS

• A Material Safety Data Sheet

(MSDS) is a document that
contains information on the
potential hazards (health, fire,
reactivity and environmental)
and how to work safely with the
chemical product.
 What information is on the MSDS?
There are nine (9) categories of information that must be present on an MSDS
in Canada. These categories are specified in the Controlled Products
Regulations and include:
• Product Information: product • Toxicological Properties: health
identifier (name), manufacturer effects
and suppliers names, addresses,
and emergency phone numbers • Preventive Measures
• Hazardous Ingredients • First Aid Measures
• Physical Data
• Preparation Information: who is
• Fire or Explosion Hazard Data
responsible for preparation and
• Reactivity Data: information on date of preparation of MSDS
the chemical instability of a
product and the substances it
may react with
CHEMICAL HANDLING
CHEMISTRY FOR ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGIST
RON KELVIN T. MIRANDA
HANDLING
 HOW TO HANDLE CHEMICALS PROPERLY?

• Use cautions
• Always follow procedures
• Read all labels
• Keep yourself and the work area clean
• Plan ahead
 LAB ATTIRE AND SAFETY IN LABS
• The basic required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for
working in the lab:
• Lab Coat
• Full length pants
• Closed toe shoes
• Safety eyewear
• Gloves appropriate for the work being conducted
• Ensure long hair is tied up and back in such a way as to avoid
it falling into your experiment..
• Review the chemical SDS to get more information about
additional PPE that may be required.
 ROUTES OF EXPOSURE

• Inhalation

• Ingestion

• Absorption

• Injection
 Symptoms of
Possible Overexposure
• Eye discomfort
• Breathing difficulty
• Dizziness
• Headache
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Skin irritation
STORAGE
 SAFE CHEMICAL STORAGE

Reduces risk of:

• Accidents
• Spills
• Fire
• Explosions

Proper Way to Store Chemicals

Do Not Store Chemicals like this
 SAFE CHEMICAL STORAGE
• General Considerations:

Ø Dry Chemicals and Liquids

Ø Storage Groups vs Alphabetical
Ø Storage Locations

• Flammable Liquids
• Corrosive Materials
• Reactive Chemicals (Oxidizers and Reducers)
• Cryogenics
• Compressed Gases
 INCOMPATIBLE CHEMICALS
• Flammables and oxidizers
• Flammables and any ignition source
• Acids and cyanides
• Strong acids and strong alkalines
• Concentrated acids and water
• Organic solvents and corrosives
• Corrosives and other reactive materials
 AGENCIES THAT REGULATE
HAZARDOUS CHEMICAL STORAGE

• Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

• National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
• Department of Transportation (DOT)
• Philippine National Police (PNP)
HANDLING FLAMMABLE CHEMICALS
• Keep containers closed when not in
use
• Keep away from ignition sources
• Avoid contact with incompatible
materials
• Only transfer to approved containers
• Bond all receiving containers
• Clean up spills and dispose of waste
properly
 Proper Storage of
Flammable Chemicals

• Ensure that storage areas meet

regulatory requirements
• Replace all bung caps with drum
vents after receiving containers
• Ground all drums properly
• Store quantities in approved
storage rooms and cabinets
• Store only in small quantities
 CORROSIVE MATERIALS
• Store corrosive liquids in corrosive (ULC)
cabinets only (do not store under a sink or
over-head).
• Store incompatible liquids using time and
distance in secondary spill containment.
• Always add the corrosive material to water
(acid to water rule) while stirring as heat is
usually generated.
• Wear your PPE as needed. Did you read the
SDS?
 Corrosive Materials:
Special Consideration
• Glacial Acetic Acid
• If storing Glacial Acetic Acid, it must
be kept in a ULC approved flammable
cabinet.
• It must be kept segregated from
xylene and its isomers (incompatible).

Care must be used when stored in metal cabinets (flammable cabinets)

due to corrosive vapors – It can eventually degrade the metal shelves.

Glacial Acetic Acid will solidify if stored in a fridge below 16°C.

 Reactives: Oxidizers & Reducers
• Oxidizers are chemicals that react with other
substances leaving them electron-deficient;
can result in fire or explosion (rapid
oxidation).
• Oxidizers supply oxygen to a fire. This is why
they should never be stored with flammables.
• Reducers are elements or compounds in an
oxidation-reduction (redox) reaction that
donate an electron to another species.
• Because the reducing agent is losing
electrons, we say it has been oxidized.
 Storage of Reactives

• Segregate (store separately):

• Oxidizing agents from reducing agents and all organic compounds;
• Reducing agents from readily reducible substances;
• Pyrophoric compounds from flammables;
• Perchloric acid from reducing agents and organics;
 Storage of Reactives
• Segregate (store separately):

• Water from water-reactive chemicals;

• Segregate Sodium/Phosphorus & aqueous material [fire danger];
• Segregate Acid with Cyanide compounds [toxic gas release]; and

• Segregate Chlorine & Ammonia [toxic chloramines release].

• Finally, store thermally unstable materials in an approved

refrigerator.
 PRIMARY CONTAINER LABELS

• Identity of the hazardous

chemical
• Appropriate hazard warnings
• Name and address of the
manufacturer
or importer
• Target organ effects
 SECONDARY CONTAINER LABELS

• Identity of the hazardous

chemical
• Hazard warning information
 Safe Chemical Storage: General
Considerations

• Liquid and solid chemicals must NEVER be stored

together.

• Organic and inorganic chemicals must NEVER be stored

together.

• Know your Chemical Incompatibilities.

• Store dry chemicals together (separating the organic and

 Safe Chemical Storage: General
Considerations
• Chemicals that are liquid or highly toxic
must be stored no higher than the chest
height of the shortest person in the lab.

• Every high-risk chemical and agent in the

laboratory needs to have its own training
program and documentation. This
includes dates and signatures of who
provided the training, who the training
was provided to, and when (date).
 Safe Chemical Storage: General
Considerations

• If other chemicals do need to be stored on higher

shelves, ensure a proper stool is used to access and
return the chemical container.

• A proper stool is one that has 4 feet and rubber

shoes, and also has a handle to grab onto when you
are on the steps.

• Ensure containers are capped, and are fully on the

shelves (not hanging over the edge of the shelf).
If you are unsure of where to
find a stool, ask your supervisor
or senior lab tech!
TREATMENT
 TREATMENT

• Hazardous waste can be

treated by chemical,
thermal, biological, and
physical methods.
CHEMICAL METHODS
• Chemical methods include ion-
exchange, precipitation, oxidation
and reduction and neutralization.
Among thermal methods is high-
temperature incineration, which
not only can detoxify certain
organic wastes but also can
destroy them.
PHYSICAL PROCESSES
• Physical processes include evaporation,
sedimentation, flotation, and filtration. Yet another process
is solidification, which is achieved by encapsulating the
waste in concrete, asphalt, or plastic. Encapsulation
produces a solid mass of material that is resistant to
leaching.
DISPOSAL
Hazardous Waste
Management
 Hazardous Waste Management

• Waste disposal is very costly.

• Reduce waste by:

• i. Buying as little of a chemical as you need;

• ii. Make up only as much working solutions as you need;

• iii. Keep all wastes correctly segregated (i.e.: mixing halogenated solvents
in with regular solvents increases the disposal cost);

• iv. Completely empty reagent bottles; and

• v. Keep biological waste separate from chemical.

 Reducing the Waste

• Recycle where possible.

• Share with other labs (before you
buy chemicals).
• Use all the chemicals in a container
before new ones are opened. Opened May 1,
2020.
• Write the date on the Supplier Label Dispose of no later
than Nov. 1, 2020.
of chemicals with known shelf life.
Chemical Waste Management
• Correctly label your waste (unknowns will be rejected from
the disposal company).
• Use workplace labels on the waste container.
• Dispose of waste often from the lab (don’t hold it).
• Most non-WHMIS-controlled salts (sodium chloride, sodium
sulphate, sodium carbonate) can be disposed of in regular
garbage providing they are not contaminated (read the SDS).
• Follow correct waste disposal methods
(paperwork/inventory/tracking/labelling).
 Empty Reagent Bottles
• Non-toxic volatile organic bottles (ex.
acetone, alcohol) can be dried in a fume hood
with the lid removed. Once the liquid has
completely evaporated, it can be placed in
the garbage.
• Empty containers from toxic, reactive,
corrosive or flammable chemicals must be
sent out as waste.
• If reusing reagent bottles, only use acid
bottles for waste acid, flammable bottles for
flammable waste, on so on. Failure can result
in a violent reaction. Ensure waste
containers are labelled accordingly.

•
 Mercury containing items

• Mercury containing items such as thermometers,

thermostat switches and manometers must be collected for
proper disposal and not placed in the regular trash
CHEMICAL WASTE
LABELS
Why is labeling so important?

• EHRS staff members need this

information to decide how to safely
manage the material
• Environmental laws require the
generator to label chemical waste
materials o
• Chemical constituents must be known
to allow us to dispose of chemicals
with minimal cost and impact to the
environment
Satellite Accumulation Area
 CHEMICAL HAZARDS IN THE
CIVIL ENGINEERING INDUSTRY
CHEMICAL HAZARDS
• In addition to all of the traditional hazards related to chemical
exposure, such as asbestos and lead, today’s construction workers
face a variety of other challenges, including:
• Chemical solvents
• Paints
• Solvents and acids
• Pesticides
• Flammable materials
• Carbon monoxide
• Industrial cleaners
• Gasoline
• Hot tar
 PROTECTING CONSTRUCTION
EMPLOYEES
Some examples of what must be done to keep
construction workers and others safe while they are at a
construction site include:
• Providing respiratory masks, helmets, and other safety
equipment as needed
• Educating employees about hazardous chemicals
• Helping workers avoid exposure to dangerous chemicals
unnecessarily