Hazardous Chemical Activities or Devices Rules

The following rules apply to research using hazardous chemicals, devices and activities. These include substances and devices that are regulated by state, country, or international law, most often with restrictions of their use by minors such as PDRM-controlled substances, prescription drugs, alcohol, tobacco, firearms and explosives. Hazardous activities are those that involve a level of risk above and beyond that encountered in the student’s everyday life.

These rules are intended to protect the student researcher by ensuring proper supervision and the consideration of all potential risks so that the appropriate safety precautions are taken. Students are required to meet all standards imposed by their school and the Science Fair Leadership Committee (SFLC).

Rules for ALL Projects Involving Hazardous Chemicals, Activities and Devices

1. The student researcher must conduct a risk assessment in collaboration with a Designated Supervisor or Qualified Scientist prior to experimentation. This risk assessment should be documented in the research plan to include the risk assessment process, supervision, safety precautions and appropriate methods of disposal. The SFLC must approve all research before experimentation begins. The initial risk assessment determined by the student researcher and adults supervising the project must be confirmed by the SFLC.

2. The use of hazardous chemicals, devices and involvement in hazardous activities require direct supervision by a Designated Supervisor, except those involving PDRM-controlled substances, which are not allowed.

3. Student researchers must acquire and use regulated substances in accordance with all state and country laws. For further information or classification for these laws and regulations, contact the appropriate regulatory agencies.

4. For all chemicals, devices or activities requiring a national or state permit, the student/supervisor must obtain the permit prior to the onset of experimentation. A copy of the permit must be available for review by adults supervising the project and the SFLC in their review prior to competition.

5. The student researcher must minimise the impact of an experiment on the environment. Examples include using minimal quantities of chemicals that will require subsequent disposal; ensuring that all disposal is done in an environmentally safe manner and in accordance with good laboratory practices. (Proper chemical, sharps and other hazardous materials disposal must follow state, and national guidelines.)

Additional Rules for Specific Regulated Substances

There are additional rules for the following regulated substances:

A. PDRM-controlled Substances

B. Prescription Drugs

C. Alcohol & Tobacco

D. Firearms and Explosives

E. Regulated Drones

F. Radiation

A. PDRM-Controlled Substances

The Polis Diraja Malaysia (PDRM) regulates chemicals that can be diverted from their intended use to make illegal drugs. PDRM-controlled substances can be found online. It is the responsibility of the student to investigate if there is a possibility that substances used in experimentation could be regulated. All studies using PDRM-controlled substances are not allowed.

B. Prescription Drugs

All applicable federal, state and country laws must be followed.

1. Students are prohibited from the use of prescription drugs in their study outside of the authority of a practitioner or researcher that has obtained the controlled substance with appropriate approvals and is using the substance for the purpose for which it was prescribed.

a. Such studies must be conducted with a Qualified Scientist and must include a risk assessment.

b. Students are further prohibited from providing prescription drugs to human participants.

2. In the case of prescription drugs administered to vertebrate animals, this may only be done under a veterinarian’s supervision and with prescriptions provided for this specific purpose.

C. Alcohol and Tobacco

Alcohol and tobacco products are restricted by age for purchase, possession and consumption.

1. Fermentation studies in which minute quantities of ethyl alcohol are produced are permitted.

2. The Designated Supervisor is responsible for the acquisition, usage and appropriate disposal of the alcohol or tobacco used in the study.

3. Production of wine or beer by adults is allowable in the home and must meet home production regulations. Students are allowed to design and conduct a research project, under direct parental supervision, involving the legal production of the wine or beer.

4. Students are prohibited from conducting experiments where consumable ethyl alcohol is produced by distillation. However, students are allowed to distil alcohol for fuel or other non-consumable products. To do so, the work must be conducted at school and follow all local and country laws.

D. Firearms and Explosives

A firearm is defined as a small arms weapon from which a projectile is fired by gunpowder. An explosive is any chemical compound, mixture or device, the primary purpose of which is to function by explosion. Explosives include, but are not limited to, dynamite, black powder, pellet powder, detonators, and igniters. Both firearms and explosives are not permitted as part of an experiment. If in doubt, the SFLC must be consulted.

A fully assembled rocket motor, reload kit or propellant modules may be permitted. Approval from the SFLC must be obtained before experimentation begins.

Potato guns and paintball guns are not firearms unless they are intended to be used as weapons. However, they must be treated as hazardous devices.

E. Regulated Drones

Projects involving unmanned aircraft systems (UAS)/drones must follow all state, Federal, and country laws. See the Malaysian Aviation Commission (MAVCOM) for more details (https://www.mavcom.my/en/home/).

F. Radiation

Projects involving radionuclides (radioisotopes) and X-rays must involve a careful examination of the risks associated with the study and appropriate safety precautions must be taken. Depending upon the level of exposure, radiation released from these sources can be a health hazard.

1. All studies may not exceed the dose limits set by the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission of 0.5 mrem/hr or 100 mrem/year of exposure. Any study involving any risk of exposure must receive SFLC approval before experimentation begins.

2. If the voltage needed in the study is <10 kvolts, a risk assessment must be conducted. The study may be done at home or school, and SFLC pre approval is required.

3. A study using 10-25 kvolts must have a risk assessment conducted and must be pre approved by the SFLC to assess safety. Such a study must be conducted in a metal chamber using a camera only, not direct view through glass. A dosimeter or radiation survey metre is required to measure radiation exposure.

4. All studies using > 25 kvolts must be conducted at an institution with a Licensed Radiation Program and must be pre approved by the Institution’s Radiation Safety Officer or the Committee which oversees the use of ionising radiation to ensure compliance with state and federal regulations. The SFLC must also approve the study before experimentation begins.

Guidance for Risk Assessment

WHEN USING THE FOLLOWING: HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS, HAZARDOUS DEVICES, RADIATION

1. Hazardous Chemicals

A proper risk assessment of chemicals must include review of the following factors:

Toxicity – the tendency of a chemical to be hazardous to health when inhaled, swallowed, injected or in contact with the skin.

Reactivity — the tendency of a chemical to undergo chemical change.

Flammability — the tendency of a chemical to give off vapours which readily ignite when used under normal working conditions.

Corrosiveness — the tendency of a chemical, upon physical contact, to harm or destroy living tissues or physical equipment.

When assessing risk, the type and amount of exposure to a chemical must be considered. For example, an individual’s allergic and genetic disposition may have an influence on the overall effect of the chemical. The student researcher must refer to Safety Data Sheets provided by the vendor (SDS) to ensure that proper safety precautions are taken. Some SDS sheets (e.g., Flinn) rank the degree of hazard associated with a chemical. This rating may assist students and adult sponsors in determining risk associated with the use of a chemical.

A risk assessment must include proper disposal methods for the chemicals used in an experiment. The Flinn Catalogue provides information for the proper disposal of chemicals. If applicable, the student researcher must incorporate in the research plan disposal procedure required by federal and state guidelines.

2. Hazardous Devices

The documentation of risk assessment is required when a student researcher works with potentially hazardous/dangerous equipment and/or other devices, in or outside a laboratory setting that require a moderate to high level of expertise to ensure their safe usage. Some commonly used devices (Bunsen burners, hot plates, saws, drills, etc.) may not require a documented risk assessment, assuming that the student researcher has experience working with the device. Use of other potentially dangerous devices such as high vacuum equipment, heated oil baths, NMR equipment, and high-temperature ovens must have documentation of a risk assessment. All student designed inventions must also have documentation of a risk assessment.

3. Radiation

A risk assessment must be conducted when a student’s project involves radiation beyond that normally encountered in everyday life. Non- ionising radiation includes the spectrum of ultraviolet (UV), visible light, infrared (IR), microwave (NW), radio-frequency (RF) and extremely low frequency (ELF).

Environmentally Responsible Chemistry

The mission of environmentally responsible (green) chemistry is to avoid the use or production of hazardous substances during chemical processes. The principles of green chemistry are described on the EPA website in the Sources of Information section. Whenever possible the following principles should be incorporated into the research plan.

• Waste prevention

• Use of the safest possible chemicals and products

• Design of the least possible hazardous chemical syntheses

• Use renewable materials

• Use catalysts in order to minimise chemical usage

• Use of solvents and reaction conditions that are safe as possible

• Maximisation of energy efficiency

• Minimization of accident potential