Chemical Safety Resources and Services
A secondary container (sometimes called a split) is a new container that a chemical has been transferred into from the original manufacturer's container. If you pour some acetone from a 4L bottle into a wash bottle, and some into a 500mL jar, the wash bottle and jar are secondary containers. At LBNL, all secondary containers must be labeled with the name of the chemical (using the chemical's trade name as printed on the original bottle is fine) and the hazards of that chemical. These labels make it quick and easy to label your secondary containers of common chemicals with the name and hazards. Please note that these labels are not water or solvent-proof. If they will be exposed to liquids or solvent vapors, you may wish to wrap over the label with a clear tape to help protect it. See the Chemical Hygiene and Safety Plan, Work Process Y for more information on container labeling.
If you manage time-sensitive chemicals you will need to label the containers with an appropriate warning label. These chemicals can develop additional hazards over time, even if they are stored appropriately. The older a time-sensitive chemical becomes, the more likely it is to pose an imminent safety hazard. These chemicals must be carefully tracked so that they are not forgotten and can be properly used or disposed before they pose a danger. If you think you work with time-sensitive chemicals but are not sure, please contact your supervisor or PI for more information. The Chemical Hygiene and Safety Plan, Work Process P and Work Process P.1 contain more information about LBNL's requirements for time-sensitive chemicals.
Peroxide forming organic solvents must be tested for the presence of peroxides. Some peroxide-forming solvents may only require testing prior to disposal, while others may require testing as frequently as every 3 months. Only personnel who are trained in the use and management of peroxide formers should perform these tests. Not only are there concerns with handling containers of peroxide formers that may have developed dangerous levels of peroxides, but the test strips must be used and read in a very specific manner to obtain accurate results. If you are unsure whether or not you should be testing peroxide forming organic solvents, please ask your supervisor or PI.
For a quick video tutorial of how to use these test strips, click here!
Some gas cylinders can't be returned directly to the vendor through routine cylinder pickup and dropoff. In these cases, you will need to arrange for a non-routine gas cylinder return. Use the non-routine gas cylinder return request form to initiate the process.
When requisitioning peroxide-forming chemicals, the Waste Management Group may ask you to complete a Peroxidizable and Polymerizable Compound Evaluation Form to certify that it is safe for Waste Management and our hazardous waste subcontractor to handle.
Laboratory and Chemical Safety slides to share at your next group meeting as part of your safety moment. If you have suggestions for additional topics or slides, please send them to labsafety@lbl.gov.
Chemical Inventory Reconciliation Support
EHS can provide loaner equipment for performing CMS reconciliations including barcode scanners and iPads. We also provide guidance, training, and support. Email cms@lbl.gov for assistance.
Lab Survey Request Form, Checklists
EHS performs ongoing lab surveys in all LBNL laboratory and technical spaces. If you have any questions or concerns about lab surveys email labsafety@lbl.gov.
Exposure Assessment Program
Hazard assessments are conducted to identify hazards of chemicals that are used in work activities for establishing engineering, work practice, administrative and training controls. These are conducted by Activity Leads and safety professionals for developing WPC Activities and for providing consultation to the Laboratory community.
Hazard assessments may precede exposure assessments, which are conducted by EHS professionals to ensure that protective measures are implemented and to ensure worker health compliance with applicable regulations or other requirements. Exposure assessments may be either qualitative or quantitative assessments of risk. Qualitative exposure assessments result from observation and the use of professional judgment. Quantitative assessments involve conducting measurements (i.e., exposure monitoring) using techniques including personal air sampling, area air sampling, and wipe sampling, or by estimating or modeling of exposures.
You can request an exposure assessment directly in your applicable WPC activity using the EA button, or contact your Division's Health & Safety Rep.
