Storing laboratory chemicals safely and correctly is a critical aspect of a lab manager's job. When chemicals are not stored in the best possible way, they can become misused, wasted or hazardous to the staff and anyone working in the lab.
Many lab managers, department heads and people who handle chemical purchases at a university level are well aware of the importance of organization and safety in the lab. However, it is always a good idea to look at what other universities recommend for chemical safety and revaluate your own protocols so that students, scientists and researchers are always in the best and safest possible position in the lab.
Build an elaborate, yet simple, organization system
Take the time to work with scientists and researchers to develop a scheme that fits not only the chemicals that are currently in the lab, but also ones that might come in. The University of Texas extensively outlines its plans for storing each chemical class, including how to store it, what chemicals are included and which chemicals may cause potential issues. By making it so simple, it cuts out any guess work that younger researchers may use and make mistake.
For example, UT explained that it stores all of its oxidizers in spill trays inside of a non-combustible cabinet. These are kept away from flammable and combustible materials as well as reducing agents and organic materials. The guidelines even list what qualifies as an oxidizer, including Sodium hypochlorite, benzoyl peroxide, potassium permanganate and potassium chlorate. This thorough and easy-to-follow list is a great way to keep a lab mistake free.
Be smart with refrigeration
Like any other lab, Yale University's chemistry department has a number of guidelines. But, it is particularly strict with refrigerating chemicals. Yale's refrigeration outlines may help other universities or labs refine their own protocols.
- Never keep food or drink in a chemical fridge.
- All flammable chemicals must be in flame-rated refrigerators. Commercial or residential refrigerators cannot be modified with other lab equipment to meet these specifications. Compressors and other components of the fridge need to be flame-rated but just the casing.
- Everything in the fridge, especially volatile and unstable chemicals, should be in a sealed container rather than a beaker or other open container.
Forget alphabetization
The University of Utah's Environmental Health and Safety department explained that alphabetization can be a helpful way to organize chemicals for easy access, but that it should not be used until after separating chemicals into categories. It may be even simpler to get rid of alphabetization altogether and create a different system with a key.
Once you separate the mineral acids from the organic acids and the poisonous metals from the reducers, you will be free to create any type of organizational system you want. Making a system based off frequent use rather than the alphabet may be more beneficial to certain labs and could cut down on accidental spills.
Do not skimp on the label
Labeling is one of the most important aspects of laboratory storage. Some labs may use short hand or abbreviations to make storage of chemicals quicker, but the University of Vermont advises against shortening names and information for storage. It can end up causing more problems in the long run, including worse waste.
"Properly label all chemicals with full English name (no chemical structures or abbreviations), hazards, date and responsible party. Proper chemical labeling is an important step in emergency planning and prevention. In the event of an incident such as fire or personal exposure, identifying the physical and health hazards of chemicals can be critical in minimizing adverse health effects and property damage. Improperly labeled and/or unidentified chemicals can ultimately end up as 'unknown' chemical waste," UVM explained.
Whether a lab director has been running the lab for months or decades, it is never a bad idea to revisit lab storage procedures in order to prevent mistakes, reduce waste and ensure smooth lab operation.
