FDN(wh)Y Me? 2013
During a regular weekly inspection of Columbia University laboratories, the FDNY fire inspector issued a violation to a lab after examining the contents of a chemical storage cabinet and observing that nitric acid and diethyl ether were not segregated from one another.
It is imperative that laboratory staff members understand the importance of properly segregating chemicals. Not only may your lab be in violation of FDNY regulations, but improper segregation can put you and your co-workers at risk of harm.
Flammables and acids should not be stored in close proximity unless in separate secondary containment, as strong reactions can occur. Further, incompatible materials of any hazard class must at all times be separated by physical distances or secondary containment.
Finally, it is a FDNY requirement that nitric acid be stored independent of all other chemicals including other inorganic acids. Please ensure that your lab’s chemical storage areas are properly managed to minimize the risk of dangerous co-mingling of incompatible materials.
For more information about proper chemical segregation, please refer to EH&S’s chemical segregation chart and RASCAL training module TC2100 “Chemical Storage and Segregation, 101” or the NOAA (National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration) Chemical Reactivity Worksheet.
For a consultation before the FDNY inspector gets around to your lab, or for any question, concern, or help, please contact your Laboratory Safety Officer.
During weekly laboratory inspection rounds, the FDNY Fire Inspector issued a violation to a laboratory for storing chemical bottles in a fume hood that was not properly functioning. The fume hood had a sign issued by EH&S cautioning laboratory members not to use the fume hood.
Whether operating properly or not, fume hoods are not to be used as a permanent storage location for chemicals; containers must be removed and returned to secure storage upon completion of an experiment. Your fume hood should have a face velocity ranging from 80-120 linear feet/minute, and a minimally obstructed surface to allow smooth directional airflow. Excessive storage of bottles and other items can interfere with this flow.
Engineering controls are the first line of defense against workplace hazards, removing the hazard from the worker’s environment. This includes local exhaust ventilation to prevent exposure to gases, chemical vapors and aerosols. If your fume hood is not working appropriately, vapors and gases from chemical containers may disperse into the laboratory, causing a potential exposure.
Please visit our website to review our fume hood safety policy.
Submit a work order with Facilities for fume hood repairs.
During weekly laboratory inspection rounds, the FDNY Fire Inspector observed a bottle of diethyl ether, a chemical that can degrade dangerously over time and which must periodically be tested for safety, in a laboratory storage cabinet. The Inspector issued a violation to the laboratory for possession of a time-sensitive chemical without proper documentation of the chemical’s shelf life.
Certain chemicals, many of which can form potentially explosive peroxides after exposure to oxygen and prolonged storage, garner special attention from the FDNY. The FDNY requires that these chemicals be dated at the time of opening, and then tested for safety within 6 months of the opening date.
Chemical manufacturers, such as Sigma-Aldrich, are good resources <http://www.sigmaaldrich.com/chemistry/solvents/learning-center/peroxide-formation.html> for chemical testing information.
After testing, if a laboratory deems the chemical safe for continued use, the lab may write the test date on the chemical container and retain the chemical for an additional 6 month period, but never to exceed 12 months from the original opening date. If a lab determines that a chemical is no longer safe for continued use, or the chemical reaches its expiration date, it must be disposed of as a hazardous waste by submitting the online Chemical Waste Pickup Request <http://vesta.cumc.columbia.edu/ehs/wastepickup> form.
View the online summary of chemicals that require special attention, and additional information about safely managing these chemicals in New York City.
Saturday Fire Safety inspections have arrived! Effective immediately, FDNY inspections may take place at any time, including Saturdays, in Columbia University labs at both the Morningside and Medical Center campuses. In order for a lab to be in operation at any time, a person with a Certificate of Fitness card must be present. Training classes for the Certificate of Fitness for Supervision of Chemical Laboratories (also known as a CoF or C-14 card) are offered at both the Morningside and Medical Center campuses at no charge to the individual. In order to qualify to sit for the class, one must possess either:
- A Bachelor’s degree in a science-related field plus two (2) years of post-graduate laboratory experience, or
- A Master’s or Doctoral degree in a science-related field
Individuals without a Bachelor’s degree are still eligible to obtain the Certificate, but must go to FDNY headquarters, located in Brooklyn, to sit for the exam.
The Certificate of Fitness class is held during the following dates and times:
- Morningside Campus: Tuesdays, 2pm, Havemeyer Building, Room 320 thru August 27, 2013.
- Medical Center Campus: Wednesdays, 12pm, Hammer Health Sciences Center (see schedule available on the EHS website for specific classroom locations)
Visit us online for more information about the Certificate of Fitness card and what paperwork should be filled out prior to the class.
During a regular weekly inspection of Columbia University laboratories, the FDNY fire inspector issued a violation to a lab for improper use of an electrical extension cord, after observing a laboratory refrigerator connected to an extension cord, rather than directly into a wall outlet. When working in a laboratory in New York City, the use of extension cords and power strips is limited to portable devices and equipment only. Examples of portable devices include computers, bench top lab equipment such as microcentrifuges, and other small appliances. All stationary equipment, including refrigerators and incubators, must be plugged directly into a wall outlet, and never connected via an extension cord or power strip.
In addition, if your laboratory does use extension cords for approved equipment, the fire code states that extension cords and flexible cords shall not be affixed to buildings or structures, extended through walls, ceilings or floors, or under doors or floor coverings, nor shall such cords be subject to environmental damage or physical impact. Remember, power cords can present slip, trip and fall hazards in addition to electrical hazards, if used improperly.
During a recent visit to a Columbia University laboratory, the FDNY Inspector issued a violation upon observing that a lab’s fire extinguisher had been discharged, but not replaced. During follow-up, the EH&S Research Safety Specialist and Fire Safety Officer were told by the lab staff that a fire occurred previously in the space, and that the extinguisher was used to put the fire out.
Fire extinguishers are designed for single-use only, and must be replaced immediately following discharge. If you use a fire extinguisher to fight a fire in your lab or work area, please contact EH&S Fire Safety at (212) 854-8749 for the Morningside campus and at (212) 305-6780 for the Medical Center for an immediate replacement. Remember – “Pull the Pin, Call It In”
When requesting a new extinguisher, please provide the following information: building, laboratory or room number, and extinguisher class, or type. There are two types of extinguishers commonly found on campus that can be replaced after use, ABC or BC. These designations may appear on the extinguisher in the form of letters or pictograms; each class of extinguisher is designed to fight a specific type or types, of fire. Class A extinguishers are for fires involving combustible wood and paper, Class B extinguishers are for chemical fires involving flammable liquids, and Class C extinguishers are for electrical fires; the combinations ABC and BC mean that the extinguishers are suitable for any of the corresponding types.
For additional fire safety related information please visit EH&S Fire Safety or contact a Fire Safety Officer directly at [email protected]
Please note, the FDNY Laboratory Safety Inspection Unit is on-site at the Morningside and Medical Center campuses each week, on Mondays and Wednesdays, respectively. For a consultation before the FDNY inspector gets around to your lab, or for any question, concern, or help, please contact your Research Safety Specialist listed above.