School Intranet & OHS

All members of the School of Chemistry should read the Using Chemicals at Monash prior to commencing any laboratory work.

4.1 Training

Monash University has mandated that all staff associated with the School (with the exception of some administrative staff), including Monash academic staff, professional officers, adjunct partners, post graduate students and researchers MUST attend Hazardous Substances and Dangerous Goods Awareness training run by Staff Development Unit. All OHS training is available through the myDevelopment: Browse for learning- OHS training. For staff and postgraduate students, the myDevelopment page can be located from your myMonash  portal through the HR & employment tile. For undergraduate students, including Honour's, you will need to request access to myDevelopment by completing and submitting a myDevelopment Student access request form available from Staff Development Unit. Training links may not appear in myDevelopment for 24-48 Hrs after enrolment.

In addition, each research group/laboratory shall provide induction, instruction and or training on any SWI applicable to a task or process in which a hazardous chemical is used. This training MUST be recorded, dated and signed using the training record proforma (or similar worksheet)  and be available to be viewed by OHS staff.

4.2 ChemWatch

ChemWatch is an online chemical management system and provides safety information including up to date MSDS(SDS), a chemical inventory for each laboratory, and printable labels for decanted chemicals and chemical samples. All university staff have access to the ChemWatch system via the OHS tile in my.Monash or through the link on the Monash University OHS website.

In addition, each research group also has a username and password (note: domain name is monashuni)  for viewing and maintaining chemical stores and inventories. It is essential that all hazardous chemicals are entered into ChemWatch with the maximum  quantity recorded  and the Dangerous Goods classification manually entered if a ChemWatch MSDS(SDS) is not available.Information on the use of ChemWatch can be obtained for the School Safety Officer(s). Users requiring further  training can attend the courses run by Staff Development Unit which can be booked online in myDevelopment (see above)

Hardcopy MSDS's (SDS's) may be used in laboratories if required  or are more convenient but MUST NOT exceed 5 years from the publication date.

4.3 Purchase of Hazardous Chemicals

Prior to purchasing a hazardous chemical, consideration should be given to the possibility of substituting a chemical with less risk. Furthermore,the quantity purchased is to be kept to a minimum to reduce risks (eg of a chemical spill) and to avoid the cost associated with disposal of unwanted chemicals. The Monash Chemical Pre-purchase Checklist MUST be completed  prior to ordering a new chemical that is either a hazardous substance or dangerous goods.

All chemicals purchases must be completed  through Coupa and have and accompanying SDS from the supplier attached to the request. All chemical orders submitted to Coupa services will require approval by the SoC Product Steward prior to being released.

Chemicals cannot be purchased online using a Monash credit card.

4.3.1 Chemicals of Security Concern and Controlled Substances

Some readily available chemicals, including some commonly used in universities, can be used to make homemade  explosive devices. These and other toxic chemicals that can be misused may require further authorisation and/or  documentation (eg end user declaration) prior to receipt of the chemical. The university and staff are empowered by license to possess certain controlled substances, such as drug precursors or scheduled carcinogens (see below). These may require  additional arrangements  such as secure storage, record keeping, and general control in accordance with the relevant  permit  conditions. Please see the School Product Steward (Dr. Boujemaa Moubaraki) for further information.

4.4 Risk Assessments

For any process or experiment using hazardous chemicals, a risk assessment must be undertaken and recorded prior to the commencement of the chemical process. The relevant sections of Risk Management Worksheet must be completed in consultation with Monash Risk Management Chemical document and the Introduction to the GHS.

Risk Management Program

Risk Management Chemical

Depending on the complexity of the chemicals(s) or process, relevant staff, the School Safety Officer(s), or external experts should also be consulted. Finalised risk assessments must be reviewed at least every 3 years.

For chemical syntheses and synthetic chemistry research projects, a generic process risk assessment template and a generic safe work instruction are available (see below) which may be used for “ordinary” synthetic procedures performed on a regular basis. In situations where there is uncertainty about the degree of risk or there is a significant risk to health or of exposure or for more complex procedures, a more detail risk assessment should be completed and may involve additional information about health hazards and further control measures that may be required to minimise the risk.

4.5 Storage of Hazardous Chemicals

Containers or packages of chemicals may be stored in a range of configurations including:

• general laboratory shelves or cupboards
• Dangerous Goods cabinets
• dedicated chemical stores
• storage areas for gas cylinders and cryogenic fluids
• bulk tanks or containers

In considering storage of hazardous chemicals, laboratory users shall refer to the best practice as specified in Australian Standards:

• AS 1940-2004 The storage and handling of flammable and combustible liquids
• AS/NZS 2243.10:2004 Safety in laboratories – Part 10 Storage of Chemicals
• AS 3780-2008 The storage and handling of corrosive substances

Storage arrangements should be designed to minimise the risk of exposure (chemical spill) and reduce the potential fire risk (including the potential formation of toxic gases). See also: the Monash guidelines Storage of Dangerous Goods in Laboratories, Studios and Workshops.

4.5.1 Segregation of chemicals

Incompatible chemicals must be segregated by distance or containment barriers sufficient to eliminate the risk of fire, explosion or accumulation of toxic gases or vapours from mixing of incompatible chemicals resulting from a leak or spillage etc. The principle source of guidance on conditions for safe storage and compatibility is the SDS for the relevant chemicals (see sections 7 and 10).

Examples include (but not limited to):

• concentrated strong acids and alkali
• cyanides and acids
• strong oxidisers and flammable solvents

Chemical storage cabinets for specific Dangerous Goods classes (eg. Class 3, Class 5.1) shall not be used to store any other Dangerous Goods class.

Further information on the segregation of hazardous chemicals can be obtained from the Code of Practice for the Storage and Handling of Dangerous Goods, WorkSafe VIC, 2013 – Appendix 2.

4.5.2 Storage in laboratory cupboards and Dangerous Goods cabinets

Local storage arrangements are to reflect the following principles (in addition to requirements prescribed elsewhere in this manual).

1. Quantities of hazardous chemicals should be kept to a minimum.
2. Group the chemicals by chemical classification e.g. non-hazardous, hazardous substance only, dangerous goods
3. Segregate dangerous goods by class e.g. Class 3 Flammable Liquids, Class 6.1 Toxic Substances, Class 8 Corrosive Substances
4. Large quantities of dangerous goods should be stored in Australian Standard compliant chemical storage cabinets e.g. 25 L of flammable liquids in a small Class 3 flammable liquid cabinet.
5. The sump of a Dangerous Goods chemical storage cabinet shall not be used for storage
6. Store smaller quantities of dangerous goods in laboratory cupboards or on shelving with solids positioned above liquids and the different DG classes segregated using a separate laboratory cupboards for each class or by using separate plastic spill trays or tubs
7. Check the incompatibility of common substances to identify any possible problems within dangerous goods classes (eg. concentrated strong acids and concentrated strong alkalis) and further segregate chemical as required (see above).
8. Non-hazardous chemicals and hazardous substances that are not dangerous goods can generally be stored together and sorted alphabetically.

Please consult the Monash guidelines for Storage of Dangerous Goods in Laboratories, Studios and Workshops for further information.

4.5.3 Refrigeration and Freezing

Solvents such as diethyl ether; pentane and carbon disulfide have flash points below -20 °C, and can form explosive mixtures with air even at freezer temperatures. A spark from a light switch, thermostat or fan may detonate these mixtures. Refrigerators and freezers used for chemical or sample storage should be custom built or modified appropriately so that all electrical connections are external to the unit and there is no possibility of arcing. Signage indicating suitability for solvent storage must be affixed prior to use.

Refrigerators and freezers used for chemical storage, including aqueous solutions, must not be used for storage of food or drink for human consumption. Refrigerators for food storage of food must be labeled as such and must NOT be located in a laboratory.

Chemicals stored in refrigerators or freezers should be segregated according to their DG class. Containers of liquids should be placed in secondary spill containment.

4.5.4 Volatile chemical storage

Fume cupboards are not to be used for chemical storage. Malodorous volatile compounds (eg amines, sulphur compounds, phosphines etc) should be stored in a ventilated cabinet. Compounds should be segregated according to their DG class and liquids placed in secondary spill containment. Please consult the relevant SDS for further information.

4.5.5 Transport of Chemicals

Safety baskets are available for carrying solvents and other chemicals from one location to another. They should be used at all times.

The following items must NOT be transported in the lifts in Building 86:

1. Gas Cylinders
2. Cryogenics (liquid nitrogen or dry ice)
3. Hazardous chemicals
4. Chemical waste

To be trained to transport items safely using the neighbouring goods lift, please consult the Building Warden Karen Little, karen.little@monash.edu

4.5.6 Labelling of Decanted Chemicals and Chemical Research Samples

Under no circumstances must bottles containing chemicals be allowed to remain unlabelled. This rule applies to both proprietary lines and research samples. The minimum labelling requirements are:

• Product name and concentration
• Date
• Name of generator
• DG class or diamond (or words that indicate the type and severity of the hazard)

For small containers of a research sample, the product name may be replaced with a sample number that refers to a laboratory notebook.

All labels MUST be legible to co-workers and emergency services.

Re-used containers MUST have the old label removed or totally covered.

Food and beverage containers are NOT permitted to be re-used for chemical storage.

4.6 Chemical Spill Management

Each laboratory should have a local system to prepare for chemical spills ensuring appropriate spill kits containing an absorbent material eg kitty litter, vermiculite, sand are readily accessible and regularly checked and restocked as necessary, and appropriate PPE is available to cater for foreseeable chemical spills. Workers should also consider specific hazards for highly dangerous chemicals eg concentrated strong acids and contingency plans in case of a spill as part of their risk assessment. Transferring or decanting hazardous chemicals generally presents a far greater risk than static storage and particular care and attention should be applied to these processes.

For emergency situations, full or half face-masks have been placed in the corridors around the School to be used in place of Self Contained Breathing Apparatus. A filter should be attached to the mask prior to use (align the arrows on the cartridge towards the face mask).

4.6.1 Green Chemical Spill Kits

These large green kits are located in the corridors close to all laboratories. Ensure that you know where to find them and how to use their contents in the event of a spill.

For serious, large spills of a hazardous material, isolate the area, and call 333 (see also Emergency Procedures above)

4.7 Disposal of Chemicals

Unwanted or waste chemicals and research samples should be destroyed chemically if possible and within the laboratory of generation. Otherwise properly labeled waste should be taken to the Faculty of Science Store as soon as possible for disposal through EPA licensed contractors such as Toxfree.

Procedure for disposal of Chemical waste through the Faculty of Science Store.

1. Print or email a complete inventory of the waste to be submitted including the following information:
   your name,
   waste type and quantity,
   DG class, cost centre and fund.
2. Waste MUST be in a sealed container and labelled with:
   your name,
   waste type and quantity,
   DG diamond.
3. Take the waste to the store during store hours and the staff will direct you.

Used solvents should be recovered for use if possible. Otherwise all waste solvents must be placed in a sealed container (recycled solvent bottles may be used provided that the existing label is completely removed or covered, alternative for larger volumes, 20L carboys are available from the Faculty of Science store).

Waste solvents should be separated under the following categories:

• Halogenated Solvents (DG Class 6.1)
• Flammable solvents (DG Class 3)
• Carbon disulfide and other special cases must be stored separately and properly labelled.

All waste solvent containers MUST be properly labelled with the name of the waste generator, the contents, the date and the relevant Dangerous Goods diamond affixed. Prior to disposal, waste containers must be stored according to their DG class and should have secondary spill containment.

The generation and storage of any potentially explosive mixtures, e.g. acetone and chloroform, is NOT permitted. Examples include: acetone and chloroform, nitric acid, (strong oxidiser) and flammable organics.

Waste classifications of some frequently generated waste streams are listed on the Monash University OHS website.

4.8 Information on destruction of wastes

If you are carrying out a chemical destruction or neutralization process prior to disposal for the first time, ensure that your supervisor or an experienced researcher is available to assist you. Adequate safety equipment such as fire extinguishers, breathing apparatus etc. should be on hand as determined by your Risk Assessment.

4.8.1 Neutralisation of sodium metal residues

Several fires have occurred in this School during destruction of sodium residues from drying solvents. The School has developed a standard Operating Procedure for the Quenching of Alkali Metals which is located on the Monash Shared drive (see below). This procedure MUST be followed without exception.

• The quenching of alkali metals is highly hazardous and should be performed during business hours only (9am-5pm weekdays).
• The procedure should never be performed alone.