During the pandemic, much focus in the workplace has shifted to employee safety and increase attention to strong public health measures. It is critical not to lose sight of other common laboratory risks. One common laboratory concern is expired or compromised chemical storage containers. Recently, laboratory staff contacted the Division of Occupational Safety and Health (DOHS) after they noticed a pressurized container with corrosion on the outside of the primary container. After investigation, it is likely that a nearby corrosive material contacted the outer container causing degradation. Fortunately, this was a near miss, and the only damage or issue was with the chemical container. Other similar incidents can lead to more serious laboratory damage, or worse, an injury to a worker.
Laboratory research at NIH utilizes a variety of chemicals with risks and hazard profiles. It is important to ensure you are storing only the volumes of chemicals needed for experiments and that only compatible chemicals are stored together. Storing incompatible materials near one another can cause degradation and damage to your chemical storage cabinet. It is important to review storage location, temperature and conditions upon the receipt of a chemical. Also, dating chemicals and making note of any expiration dates is critical and should be made directly on the container in a clear way. Maintaining a laboratory inventory or listing of chemicals that require timely disposal is recommended. Any chemical container that is showing signs of degradation should be discarded or repackaged.
Chemicals needed for current or planned research must be stored according to guidance listed on Safety Data Sheets and consistent with guidance found in the NIH Chemical Hygiene plan. The NIH Division of Environmental Protection provides assistance on proper chemical storage and waste disposal. DOHS can support hazard assessment and assist in the development of standard operating procedures. Additional information for chemical laboratory safety is also available from American Chemical Society.
