Flammable Liquids
Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) are intended to provide you with general guidance on how to safely work with a specific class of chemical or hazard. This SOP is generic in nature. It addresses the use and handling of substances by hazard class only. In some instances multiple SOPs may be applicable for a specific chemical (i.e. both the SOPs for flammable liquids and carcinogens would apply to benzene). If you have any questions concerning the applicability of any items listed in this procedure, contact EH&S 1-2356 or the Principal Investigator.
Flammable
liquids are chemicals that have a flash point below 100 degrees F and a vapor
pressure that does not exceed 40 psig at 100 degrees F.
Decontamination
Procedures:
Personnel: Wash hands and arms with soap and water
following any skin contact with flammable liquids.
Eyewash: Where the eyes or body of
any person may be exposed to flammable liquids, suitable facilities for quick
drenching or flushing of the eyes and body shall be provided within the work
area for immediate emergency use. Bottle
type eyewash stations are not acceptable.
Fume hood: When possible experiments
involving greater than 500 mL of flammable liquids should be carried out in a
fume hood.
Gloves: Gloves should be worn when
handling flammable liquids. Disposable
latex or nitrile gloves provide adequate protection against accidental hand
contact with small quantities of most laboratory chemicals. Lab workers should contact EH&S 1-2356
for advice on chemical resistant glove selection when direct or prolonged
contact with hazardous chemicals is anticipated.
Hazard
Assessment: Hazard assessment for work
with flammable liquids should thoroughly address the issues of proper use and
handling, fire safety, chemical toxicity, storage and spill response.
Protective
Apparel: Lab coats, closed toed shoes
and long sleeved clothing should be worn when handling flammable liquids. Additional protective clothing should be worn
if the possibility of skin contact is likely.
Shielding: Safety shielding is required
any time there is a risk of explosion, splash hazard or a highly exothermic
reaction. All manipulations of flammable
liquids that pose this risk should occur in a fume hood with the sash in the
lowest feasible position. Portable
shields, which provide protection to all laboratory occupants, are acceptable.
Shower: A safety or drench shower
should be immediately accessible at all times when working with flammable
liquids.
Labels: Containers: All flammable
liquids must be clearly labeled with the correct chemical name. Handwritten labels are acceptable; chemical
formulas and structural formulas are not acceptable.
Storage: The storage of flammable and
combustible liquids in a laboratory, shop or building area must be kept to the
minimum needed for research and/or operations.
If more than 5 gallons of flammables are present outside of safety cans
per 100 square feet of area, a flammable-liquids storage cabinet is
required. Flammable liquid storage
cabinets are not intended for the storage of highly toxic materials, acids,
bases, compressed gases or pyrolytic chemicals.
Where feasible (if the
quality of the solvent will not be adversely affected) transfer flammable
liquids from glass bottles into metal safety cans.
Protection: Evacuated glassware can
implode and eject flying glass, and splattering chemicals. Vacuum work involving flammable liquids must
be conducted in a fume hood, glove box or isolated in an acceptable manner.
Mechanical vacuum pumps must be protected
using cold traps and, where appropriate, filtered to prevent particulate
release. The exhaust for the pumps must
be vented into an exhaust hood. Vacuum
pumps should be rated for use with flammable liquids.
Waste
Disposal: All waste shall be placed in
closed containers, properly labeled and moved to the Hazardous Waste
Accumulation Structure (south west corner of SGM). Notify Roger Clark of Waste to be picked up
from the Hazardous Waste Accumulation area.