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• Operating eyewashes must be available in any
classroom or laboratory where chemicals are used.
Approved eyewashes must treat both eyes and
provide a stream of clean, potable water for at least
15 minutes.
• Chemical splash goggles must be worn anytime
flammable liquids are used. Safety glasses are not
adequate pro tection.
• During demonstrations, it is very important that
students wear chemical splash goggles anytime
flammable liquids are used. The possibility of an
explosion or fire always exists, and both students
and teachers must be protected. If safety goggles
are not available, use a heavy-duty safety shield to
protect your students.
First Aid
• Always seek professional medical attention upon
exposure to any hazardous chemical, especially
volatile organic solvents. For most organic solvents,
the major hazards are flammability and inhalation.
If there is a spill or accident, immediately remove
any flames, heat or electrical equipment from the
area and begin to ventilate the space.
• If an organic liquid is splashed in the eyes, use an
eyewash to irrigate the eyes with fresh, potable
water for at least 15 minutes. Make sure the eyelids
are held open to properly irrigate them. Ask the
victim to look up, down and sideways to better
reach all parts of the eye. After using the eyewash,
immediately seek professional medical help.
• If a flammable liquid is splashed onto bare skin,
rinse the area with cool water for at least 15
minutes. Many organic solvents will “dry out”
the skin and cause minor dermatitis. If the liquid
causes burns or other skin irritations, seek medical
help immediately.
• If a large amount of flammable liquid is splashed
onto clothing, consider removing the clothing
immediately and placing the clothing in a fume
hood or outdoors. If flammable liquid splashes onto
your skin and clothing, remove clothing and then
begin rinsing the affected areas with water (using
a safety shower is ideal).
• If an organic liquid is ingested, please consult the
SDS and immediately call the poison control center
(1-800-222-1222) or local hospital emergency room.
Follow their directions and seek medical attention
as soon as possible. For most organic solvents,
the goal is to trap the chemical in the stomach
and prevent further injury caused by vomiting.
Activated charcoal is sometimes given to help trap
the chem ical. Do not give the victim anything to
drink or induce vomiting unless instructed by a
medical professional.
Disposal
• Consult your current Flinn Scientific Catalog/
Reference Manual for general guidelines and
specific procedures governing the disposal of
laboratory wastes. For small amounts of most
volatile organic liquids, Flinn Suggested Disposal
Method #18a, evaporation in an operating
fume hood, can be used. For larger amounts, a
professional chemical waste disposal firm will
have to be used.
• Waste crocks or “slop” buckets are used in many
schools for liquid laboratory wastes. Organic
wastes should be kept separate from aqueous
wastes to prevent any accidental reactions. For
organic waste containers, it is best to separate
halogenated organic solvents (e.g., methylene
chloride) from other organic solvents (e.g., ethyl
alcohol) for disposal. Sometimes volatile organic
solvents can be evaporated in a fume hood from
the organic waste container. Be sure to label all
waste containers with their approximate contents.
Dispose of all waste solutions as soon as possible.
Flammable Liquid Safety, continued
• Extreme care must be taken when using flammable
liquids around any heat source, flames or
electrical equipment. Laboratory equipment (e.g.,
stirrers, meters) are designed to be sparkproof,
but limiting vapors is always a good safety precaution.
• Organic vapors are heavier than air and will quickly
travel along a lab bench or floor to an ignition source.
Never use flammable liquids around any ignition
source. Try to minimize the amount of volatile liquids
used and be aware that organic vapors can travel
great distances.
• Flammable liquids are very volatile. Dispense them
in an operating fume hood.
• Use lab mats and/or plastic trays when dispensing
organic solvents to contain spills and drips.
• Students should dispense flammable liquids
from smaller bottles to limit spills and fumes.
Do not allow students to dispense flammable
liquids from containers larger than 1 liter. Larger
volume containers increase the possibility of
contamination and also in crease the amount of
fuel that will be available in case of a fire.
• During lab, dispense the flammable liquid from
a central dispensing location and have students
bring a grad u ated cylinder or test tube to the
dispensing area. This will help minimize spills and
accidents as well as limit the amount of flammable
liquid being brought back to the lab bench.
Dispense flammable liquids
in an operating fume hood.
• Instruct students to remove from the bottle only
the amount of flammable liquid needed for the
experiment. Never add chemicals back to reagent
bottles.
• Have spill clean-up materials readily available
whenever flammable liquids are used. If a spill
occurs, immediately restrict unprotected personnel
from the area, remove all ignition sources and
ventilate the area. If the spill is too large to contain,
the vapors are overpowering or ignition sources
cannot be completely removed, immediately
evacuate the school and call the fire department.
If the spill is small, contain the spill with sand or
an absorbent material. Depending on the spill
material and the amount, allow the spilled material
to evaporate off the sand or absorbent material in a
fume hood or deposit it in a sealed bag or container.
• Absorbent spill pillows are great absorbents for
most organic spills. The pillows quickly absorb
10–20 times their weight, making disposal very easy
(see page 678).
Personal Protective Equipment
and Safety Aids
• Consult the SDSs for the specific personal
protective equipment required and other safety
precautions for the flammable material being used.
• Neoprene rubber gloves are recommended when
handling organic solvents. Plastic or vinyl gloves
will provide some protection against the occasional
splash, small spill and splatter that may occur when
using or dispensing solvents.
SAFETY REFERENCE FLAMMABLE LIQUID SAFETY
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