Going Beyond Borders: Lab Safety Around the Globe Thanks for joining, we ll be getting started soon!

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1 American Chemical Society The ACS International Center and ACS Division of Chemical Health & Safety presents: Going Beyond Borders: Lab Safety Around the Globe Thanks for joining, we ll be getting started soon! June 28, :00-3:00 p.m. EST 1

2 Welcome Christopher LaPrade ACS International Activities ACS International Center American Chemical Society 2

3 About ACS ACS Vision: Improving people s lives through the transforming power of chemistry ACS Mission: Advance the broader chemistry enterprise and its practitioners for the benefit of Earth and its people. 157,000+ members 187 Local Sections 32 Technical Divisions 19 International Chapters 87% of members have degrees in chemistry, 13% in other fields >55% of members in business & industry Over 25,000 members living outside the U.S. 2 locations Ohio and Washington, D.C. American Chemical Society 3

4 ACS International Activities ACS Committee on International Activities (IAC) The Committee on International Activities assists scientists and engineers worldwide to communicate and collaborate for the good of the chemical and chemically related sciences, chemical engineering, and their practitioners. Website: ernational.html ACS International Activities (OIA) Members, partnerships, exchanges ( ACS International Center (IC) ( Global Chemistry Newsletter (to subscribe American Chemical Society 4

5 The ACS International Center is the essential guide for scientists and engineers looking to study, work, and conduct research overseas. Vetted, curated Information: on over 600 international STEM scholarships, internships, and travel awards, and collaboration opportunities. Insider tips: on upcoming calls for proposals, eligibility updates, and deadline extensions Interact with Funders: with representatives from embassies and international organizations Get Questions Answered: Learn about the latest information related to scientific mobility

6 Two ways to browse & enhanced search. Browse by location Browse by level of experience

7 Going Beyond Borders: Lab Safety Around the Globe Samuella Sigmann, CCHO Appalachian State University, Boone, NC Ralph Stuart, CIH, CCHO Chemical Hygiene Officer, Keene State College, Keene, NH June 28 th, 2017

8 Who We Are Sammye: Chemical Hygiene Officer (CHO) at Appalachian State Chemistry Department; incoming chair-elect of DCHAS; foreign experience in Kurdistan Ralph: CHO at Keene State; former CHO at Cornell University, where I was involved in lab safety training for the global audience visiting Cornell; chair of the ACS Safety Advisory Panel

9 Safety Within the ACS Vision

10 An International Lab Safety Question Reader comments: Please, please, please wear safety glasses in the lab! This should be a minimum requirement for all photos in C&EN. No glasses no photo. [T]here is no excuse for conducting laboratory work, or even being in a lab, without proper PPE. I m actually surprised to see such photos in C&E News without a suitable editorial comment. Cuban chemistry students, who have limited access to safety gear, work on an educational lab at the University of Havana.

11 C&EN s Editorial Response C&EN generally does require that people must wear eye protection at a minimum in photos and video. We probably refuse a few photos a month for that reason alone. We made exceptions for the Cuba story photos for several reasons. One was a sheer lack of resources at the high school and university levels. It wasn t that people were choosing not to wear eye protection, they simply didn t have it. Consequently, C&EN decided to show the labs as they were, noting the lack of safety gear explicitly in the body of the story and in a photo caption.

12 Other Observations about the Article Pipetter is a safety measure

13 The Added Complexity of International Lab Work Safe laboratory practices in international collaborations will be impacted by: Cultural Differences Language Operating Costs Infrastructure Security Concerns This is a two way street

14 Impact of Cultural Differences Perception of level of risk and resistance to changes in existing practices Response to authority For example, responses may indicate agreement without understanding Personal interactions: for example, men and women working together may lead to unexpected challenges Dress in lab Attire may need to be accommodated when addressing safety concerns

15 Language Vocabulary and syntax affect our ability to communicate hazard and understand risk Regulatory differences between host and native country may require new terminology and practices Nonverbal communication can create confusion, especially in emergency conditions

16 Language Challenges In some cases, however, staff members may lack fluency in the local language and may require translations into their own native tongues. SDSs need to be provided in a language useful for the reader

17 Operating Costs & Infrastructure Insecure power grid Affects access to information Can affect ability of host countries to procure necessary safety equipment Inadequate ventilation Old or poorly engineered homemade equipment Old chemicals Consideration of the stability of the grid. If your reaction is dependent on cooling based on a power source this could be a safety issue The variance in voltage both different from US and variation from poor grid Stability affecting safe use Some become hazardous over time due to this factor Function some may deteriorate and result in unpredictable or unexpected reactions Missing GHS label information most countries have adopted this system

18 Facility and Equipment Challenges Equipment vented directly outside Older equipment Latex Gloves

19 Legacy Conditions Aged facilities, equipment and chemicals Dust on equipment

20 Security Concerns In the U.S., there are widely varying security requirements for international visitors to labs. Protection of research information and samples will need to be carefully negotiated within the host institution Security concerns related to dual use (i.e. both scientific and weaponizable) materials must be addressed in the context of local authorities Many countries exert more stringent controls over chemicals of high hazard Chained cart

21 Downloadable National Academy Publications Prudent Practices in the Laboratory (2011) Promoting Chemical Laboratory Safety and Security in Developing Countries (2010) Chemical Laboratory Safety and Security (2016): A Guide to Developing Standard Operating Procedures

22 Key Skills Identified by a Colleague at the University of Sonora, Mexico What 3 things you would rank as highest priority for an incoming international student to your research lab. What would you want them to make sure that they understood about laboratory safety? 1. Understanding the difference between hazard and risk 2. Identifying the different hazards during laboratory work 3. Recognizing how necessary risks can be controlled 4. The responsibility of the student to be part of the safety team in the laboratory

23 Moving Lab Safety into the 21 st Century Lab Safety involves both Technical and Cultural Skills 20 th Century in the U.S.: Selecting Controls Based on Rules, guided by Chemical Intuition 21 st Century in the U.S.: a Safety System based on documented Risk Assessment Culture Change through Safety Education Manage Hazards OSHA Controls

24 Lab Safety requires a System, not a Solution Managing chemical hazards in the lab involves coordinating 5 strategies organized into a resilient system: 1. Hazard Analysis and Reduction 2. Engineering Controls 3. Training and Oversight 4. Personal Protective Equipment 5. Emergency Planning and Environmental Protection

25 Educational Expectations for Chemistry Safety Knowledge: Chemical Sciences; ACS Safety Education Guidelines Technical Knowledge KSAs Research Chemist Graduate Student Undergraduate High School Lab Skills Safety Culture Skills: Math and Plumbing; SACL and Prudent Practices E D U C A T I O N Culture: Community safety awareness; Leadership and empowerment

26 Building a Risk-Based System Five questions that everyone in the lab should be able to answer: 1. What are the most important chemical (GHS) and process (physical) hazards associated with this work? 2. What ventilation is required for this work and why? 3. What Personal Protective Equipment is required for this work and why? 4. What emergencies should we be ready for? 5. What wastes will be generated and where will they go?

27 Question 1: What are the Chemical and Process Hazards? The GHS Pictograms, Signal Words and Hazard Statements identify chemical hazards associated with your work. Look especially for the DANGER signal word to identify high hazard chemicals these are chemicals that require special planning.

28 Question 2: What Ventilation Do I Need? How much ventilation you need will depend on the fire and toxicity hazards associated with the demonstration or experiment. Lab ventilation means that there is no air recirculated. The amount of room ventilation can vary: 1. No Lab Ventilation Required (0-3 air changes/hour) 2. General Lab Ventilation with appropriate volatile chemical storage (6 or more air changes/hour) 3. Local Ventilation or Fume Hood (>40 ACH, used for gasses) 4. Outdoor Settings (variable air changes, dependent on wind speed and direction)

29 Question 3: What PPE Do I Need? Selecting Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) requires balancing three factors: 1. The hazards of the chemicals used 2. The scenario of concern (e.g. spill, incidental contact, contamination control) 3. The ergonomics of the PPE for the person using it: fit, dexterity, fatigue

30 Question 4: What Emergencies Should I Plan For? Develop Emergency Plans for: Fires Medical emergencies Hazmat spills To account for cultural challenges All plans should be coordinated with local response agencies.

31 Question 5: What Will I Do With Wastes? It is important to check with the host institution before the work is done to know what waste streams they are prepared to accept Consider These Wastes: Chemicals Biological materials Contaminated lab materials Broken glassware General trash & recycling

32 ACS Resources Cultural Guidelines and Recommendations for the Teaching of High School Chemistry, 2012 High School Technical Guidelines for Chemical Laboratory Safety in Secondary Schools, 2016 Laboratory Safety Guidelines, ACS Committee on Professional Training, 2015 Undergraduate teaching labs Safety in Academic Chemistry Laboratories (SACL), 8 th edition, 2017 A Guide to Implementing a Safety Culture in our Universities from the APLU, 2016 ACS journals policy, 2016 Research lab work Mentored research labs Guidelines for Chemical Laboratory Safety in Academic Institutions, 2016 Identifying and Evaluating Hazards in Research Laboratories, 2016

33 A Chemical Safety Data Resource National Library of Medicine s Pubchem Laboratory Chemical Safety Summaries (2015) Safety information on 103,000 chemicals Includes SDS-style information as well as specific reaction information between chemicals All of this safety data can be downloaded and stored locally

34 A Laboratory Safety Culture Resource Safe Science: Promoting a Culture of Safety in Academic Chemical Research Download for free and have a local copy

35 Chemical Safety References Audience Technical Resources Cultural Resources High school and undergraduate teaching labs Mentored research labs (REU, CURE, similar programs) Supervised research (graduate school) Research leadership Guidelines for Chemical Laboratory Safety in Secondary Schools, ACS 2016 Safety in Academic Chemistry Laboratories (SACL), 8 th edition ACS 2017 Guidelines for Chemical Lab Safety in Academia, ACS 2016 Prudent Practices in the Laboratory National Academies Press 2011 Hazard Assessment in Research Laboratories ACS, 2016 Guidelines and Recommendations for the Teaching of High School Chemistry, ACS 2012 Creating Safety Cultures in Academic Institutions ACS, 2013 A Guide to Implementing a Safety Culture in our Universities APLU, 2016 Safe Science National Academies Press, 2014 Safety Guidelines for the Chemistry Professional ACS DCHAS / CCS, 2017

36 The Take Home Messages Worldwide, laboratories share similar safety challenges. However, cultural considerations mean that it is possible that unfamiliar safety systems are in use when lab workers move between countries. These challenges are recognized in the US as well and new technical and cultural resources are available from the ACS to empower lab workers to address them. Communicating safety expectations must be consciously managed at home and abroad and all workers should participate in safety practices as part of the international lab experience. All lab workers have a responsibility to ask for answers to at least the 5 key lab safety questions regardless of where they work

37 Join the ACS Chemical Health and Safety Division! The division is dedicated to supporting the efforts of chemical manufacturers, industrial and academic researchers, and science teachers at all levels to work for a safe and healthful work environment. Through our technical symposia, the Division s Journal, the Journal of Chemical Health and Safety, our workshops and our DCHAS-L listserv, we provide a forum for scholarly health and safety research, advice and counsel from an experienced group, and support for health and safety efforts in industry and academia. 37

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40 Thank you for tuning in! This has been a production of the ACS International Center and ACS Division on Chemical Health & Safety American Chemical Society 40