CHEMICAL SAFETY

PURPOSE – This SOP explain how to protect from chemical hazards.

RESPONSIBILITY - All the technical staff

MATERIALS:  All chemicals, which are used in the laboratory.   

GENERALS DESCRIPTION:

STORAGE OF CHEMICALS

·       Only minimum amounts of the chemicals should be stored in the laboratory for daily use.

·       Flammable substances must be kept away from any other chemicals.e.g. Spirit is stored in cupboard of virology which is locked.

·       All bottles containing chemicals like strong acid and alkalis should be at floor level.

·       Incompatible chemicals should not be stored together.

·       Many common laboratory chemicals react in a dangerous manner if they come into contact with one another. The following chemicals are kept at a distance from each other

·       Acetic acid: With Chromic acid, Nitric acid, Hydroxyl compounds, Ethylene Glycol, Perchloric acid and permanganates.

·       Chlorine: With Ammonium, Acetylene, Butadiene, Benzene and other

·       Petroleum fraction, Hydrogen, sodium carbide, turpentine and finely divided metals.

·       Chromic acid: With Acetic acid, naphthalene, camphor, alcohol, glycerol, turpentine and other flammable liquids.

·       Flammable liquids: With Ammonium titrate, chromic acid, hydrogen peroxide, nitric acid, sodium peroxide and halogens.

·       Potassium permanganate: With Glycerol, Ethylene, Glycol, Benazaldehyde and sulfuric acid.

·       Sulfuric Acid: With chlorates, per chlorates, permanganate and water.

·       Sodium Azide: Carcinogenic

TOXIC EFFECT OF CHEMICALS

It is now well-known that some chemicals adversely affect the health of those hoop handle them or in hale their vapours. Apart, from overt poison s, a number of chemicals are known to have various toxic effects. All the chemicals and reagent should be carefully handled. While handling chemical care to be taken so that they do not come in contact with skin, eyes, nose etc. 

Chemical	Reported effects
	Acute	Chronic
Formaldehyde (Formalin)	Respiratory, Skin and mucus membrane irritation.	Pulmonary edema
Methanol	Necrosis, Mucus membrane irritation	Damage to retina and optic nerve
Acetone	Eye, nose and throat irritation necrosis.

SAFETY CONDITIONS:

The following actions should be taken in the event of a spillage of dangerous chemicals.

• Notify the safety officer and evacuate non-essential personnel from the area.
• Attend to persons who may have been contaminated.
• If the spilled material is flammable, extinguish all naked flames, turn of gas regulator to the room and adjacent areas and switch off electrical that may spark.
• Avoid breathing vapor from spilled material.
• Establish exhaust ventilation if it is sate to do so.
• Secure the necessary the items to clean up the spillage.

• In the event of a large chemical spillage the room should be evacuated and windows opened if possible. If the material spilled is flammable, all naked flames in the room concerned and those adjacent should be extinguished and all electrical equipment that spark, switched off.
• Spare cylinders should be stored in another building t some distance from the lab. This store should be locked and identify by notice.
• Compressed gas cylinders should be securely fixed (e.g. chained) t the wall or solid bench so that are not dislogged by natural disasters.

Note: Material safety data sheet (MSDS) is available in the laboratory for the following reagents that are used in ELISA lab:

• Na Hypochlorite
• PBS
• TMB
•  Chromic acid 10%
• Potassium dichromate
• Gluteraldehyde
• Buffer AW1
• Buffer AVL
• Buffer AW2-No MSDS
• Carrier RNA-No MSDS
• Sulphuric acid

• Ethanol
• Avidine HRP
• Sodium azide
• Lysol
• Tween 20

Every person working in the lab has to study the MSDS for all the reagents.