Safety Alerts and Lessons Learned
ETA Safety Alerts are made available as a quick source of information on a specific safety or environmental topic that may be of interest. Safety Alerts are organized by category. There is also a search function. If you can't find what you need, please contact the ETA Safety Manager, Ron Scholtz X8137.
Wastes containing nitric acid must be treated prior to placing them into the waste Satellite Accumulation Area (SAA). Neutralization through bench top treatment will prevent safety hazards in the laboratory caused by inadvertently mixing with incompatible materials. Neutralization must be performed through a “bench top treatment” procedure approved by the Berkeley Lab Waste Management Group. Learn more about bench top waste treatment requirements.
Hazardous chemicals must be properly segregated by hazard classification when handled and stored in order to prevent unwanted reactions. These reactions can result in the generation of toxic gases, fire, and even explosions. Read more about how to safely store acetic acid.
Hydrofluoric acid (HF) has a number of physical, chemical, and toxicological properties that make it especially hazardous to handle. Hydrofluoric acid is a clear, colorless, and highly corrosive liquid. HF shares the corrosive properties common to mineral acids, but possesses the unique ability to cause deep tissue damage and systemic toxicity including cardiac arrest due to hypocalcemia. Symptoms from exposure to dilute solutions can be delayed for a number of hours even though tissue damage may be occurring. Learn more about important precautions to take when working with HF.
Lab coats are used to cover your regular clothes and minimize chemical contamination and splash hazards while working in the lab areas. They can also provide some temporary protection against fire depending on the type of material the lab coat is made of. Lab coats are not designed to be impermeable to chemicals, but they can provide additional safety since they can be quickly removed to isolate harmful exposures. Learn more about lab coat requirements and protocols.
Gloves worn on the hand prevent injury from direct skin contact with hazardous materials. It is important that the proper type of glove is worn when handling hazardous chemicals. Failure to follow proper precautions when wearing chemical gloves can result in a serious injury due to exposure to a hazardous chemical. Learn more about wearing chemical gloves.
Check out the “1 Minute 4 Safety” slide library designed to assist Berkeley Lab employees in conducting discussions on the environment, safety, and health topics
Search and contribute to Berkeley Lab's lessons learned library