FDN(wh)Y Me? 2015

During a regular weekly inspection of Columbia University laboratories, the FDNY fire inspector issued a violation to a lab for improper labeling of chemicals. The inspector observed several bottles on a lab bench without clear, identifying information for their contents. New York City Fire Code mandates that containers used to store chemicals must be clearly labeled. The label must indicate the container’s contents for easy identification.

The labeling requirements also apply to hazardous waste chemical storage containers. In addition to the names of chemicals within and constituent percentages, hazardous waste storage containers must be labeled with the words “hazardous waste.” University-issued waste labels are pre-printed with the correct headings, simply contact [email protected] for labels.

Other special cases include chemicals which are sensitive to light that are wrapped in aluminum foil or other protective opaque covering. These must have proper labeling attached on the outer wrapping. Innocuous materials, such as water stored in containers should not be overlooked. Unlabeled containers – is that water, or ethanol? – may pose a hazard to lab occupants.

Finally, it is also important that labels remain legible while there is content within a container. They should be checked periodically and replaced if a label becomes faded, smeared or otherwise illegible. This is important especially during emergency response.

Remember that safety begins with you. Environmental Health & Safety has developed a label printing system to easily print and label containers. The system can be accessed through the ChemWatch program.

Please note, the FDNY Laboratory Safety Unit is on-site at the Morningside and Medical Center campuses on a weekly basis. 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 a regular weekly inspection of Columbia University laboratories the FDNY fire inspector issued a violation to a lab for observing an open bottle of tetrahydrofuran (THF), a peroxideforming chemical, which had been open for greater than six months. The container was not labeled with an FDNY-required test date to verify no peroxide formation. Current FDNY regulations require that THF and all other peroxide-forming chemicals be tested within six months of opening and used or disposed of within 12 months after opening. THF is a timesensitive chemical that, over time, can form explosive peroxides when exposed to oxygen, heat, or ultraviolet light.

Columbia University EH&S maintains a list of the most commonly-found peroxide-formin chemicals on campus. The most commonly used, and cited, chemicals, including THF, are displayed in bold font.
Here are four ways* to stay safe, and prevent this FDNY violation in your lab:

  1. Routinely inspect all areas of your lab for THF and other peroxide-forming chemicals, and ensure these products are properly dated when opened, tested for safety and used or discarded within applicable time limits.
  2. Order smaller quantities of time sensitive chemicals. This will not only reduce the likelihood of being cited for a bottle past its expiration date, but will also keep chemical stocks fresh and clear of dangerous peroxides.
  3. Keep peroxide-forming chemicals in a cool, dark storage location such as a flammable materials storage cabinet. This will reduce the rate of peroxide formation.
  4. Purchase time sensitive chemicals that are prepared with an inhibitor, a chemical that will preferentially bind with oxygen and capture it before it becomes a peroxide. Like any chemical in a reaction, inhibitors can be saturated, so this is not a permanent fix.

*Not all of these options will work in every lab, but finding the management strategies that work for you is important for safety in your lab, and compliance with FDNY.

Time sensitive chemicals have a complex chemistry and safety profile as the rate of peroxide formation varies among them. For more information on safely managing peroxide-forming chemicals, consider the following resources:

  • Columbia University has a license for ChemWatch, a program for obtaining reliable SDS. Section 7 of the SDS, for Safe Handling and Storage, will often contain the relevant expiration and disposal information for individual time sensitive chemicals.
  • Chemical suppliers, such as Sigma Aldrich, may also offer peroxide-forming chemical safety information.
  • Review the scientific literature on the subject. Two relevant papers are available here and here.

Please note, the FDNY Laboratory Safety Unit is on-site at the Morningside and Medical Center campuses on 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.
 

Recent weekly inspections of Columbia University laboratories have resulted in FDNY violations for the storage of hazardous waste containers and chemicals inside of chemical fume hoods, noting that the containers interfered with the performance of the hood’s exhaust system. The FDNY cites the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 45 Standard on Fire Protection in Laboratories Using Chemicals, which states that the hood shall “…provide protection to personnel at all times while chemicals are present in the hood.” (Section 8.4.7). Additionally, this standard prohibits the storage of chemicals in fume hoods (Section 9.2.3.7). In other words, only chemicals necessary for a running experiment should be present in the hood; storage of chemicals is prohibited.

Chemical fume hoods are designed to function as active work stations, where storage of chemicals or equipment should be kept to a minimum. The reasoning is twofold – (1) the accumulation of materials inside of the fume hood may impede airflow, making the hood unable to adequately protect the worker, and (2) chemicals inside of a fume hood pose the potential to react with any running experiments. If chemical containers are kept closed, in most instances, there is no need to store them inside of a chemical fume hood. The primary exception to these prohibitions are the storage of particularly hazardous or odorous chemicals; a fume hood is often the safest place for these materials. The key is moderation. Most common laboratory chemicals and wastes do not need to be stored in the hood, and an excess of storage does more harm than good. Columbia University’s fume hood policy is consistent with the NFPA standard, advising against storage of chemicals inside of fume hoods.

Please note, the FDNY Laboratory Safety Unit is on-site at the Morningside and Medical Center campuses each week, typically 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.

During a regular weekly inspection of Columbia University laboratories, the FDNY fire inspector issued a violation to a lab for having compressed gas cylinders that were not strapped or secured to a wall or benchtop. One of the three unsecured cylinders was also uncapped while not in use. Had the cylinder fallen over and the valve been damaged, a significant release of pressure could have occurred, causing potential for devastating injury to people, and damage to property.

Compressed gas cylinders should always be upright and chained or strapped to either a wall or bench bracket. To have a bracket installed, please reach out to Facilities at 212-854-2222 (Morningside) or 212-305-4357 (CUIMC). Labs will be required to provide the bracket for installation. Alternatively, cylinders may be stored in base stands or racks to ensure they remain upright. When not in use, remember to re-cap the cylinder.
EH&S’s Fire Safety Team is now using a new posting format for items related to fire safety, and if your laboratory receives a Violation Order (VO) or Notice of Violation (NOV) from the FDNY, you may find a posting at the location of the violation to help communicate the safety reminder/corrective action. A sample posting appears below:

Image of compressed gas cylinders.

Please note, the FDNY Laboratory Safety Unit is on-site at the Morningside and Medical Center campuses each week. 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.

Has your laboratory experienced some personnel turnover? Have new researchers joined the team recently? This is a reminder that when the lab is occupied a person with a valid C-14 Certificate of Fitness card issued by the FDNY must be present. The FDNY laboratory inspectors visit Columbia University laboratories on a weekly basis and consistently enforce C-14 requirements. Training classes for the C-14 Certificate of Fitness for Supervision of Chemical Laboratories (also known as the C-14) are offered at both the Morningside and Medical Center campuses at no charge. 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.
    The C-14 class and exam are held during the following dates and times:
  • Morningside Campus: 2nd and 4th Friday of every month from 12PM-130PM in Havemeyer 320.
  • Medical Center Campus: 1st and 3rd Wednesday of every month from 12PM-130PM in Hammer Health Sciences Center 306.

View our online information about the C-14 and what paperwork should be filled out prior to the class. Individuals without a Bachelor’s degree or the required post-Bachelor’s experience may still be eligible to obtain the C-14 directly through the FDNY. For example, personnel with at least 60 college credits of which 21 are in science or engineering may take the exam at FDNY headquarters in Brooklyn. For more details, please visit: http://www.nyc.gov/html/fdny/html/c_of_f/coff.shtml All personnel, regardless of their eligibility for testing, are welcome to attend the EH&S C-14 preparatory classes.

Please note, the FDNY Laboratory Safety Unit is on-site weekly at the Morningside and Medical Center campuses. 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.