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Date: Mon, 30 Mar 2009 10:31:01 -0400
Reply-To: kauletta**At_Symbol_Here**NOTES.CC.SUNYSB.EDU
Sender: DCHAS-L Discussion List <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU>
From: Kim Auletta <kauletta**At_Symbol_Here**NOTES.CC.SUNYSB.EDU>
Subject: Re: old Chemistry lab
In-Reply-To: <6408941.1238421908075.JavaMail.root**At_Symbol_Here**elwamui-huard.atl.sa.earthlink.net>
The ANSI Z9.11-2008 document may help with the risk assessment: Laboratory
Decommissioning. Lots of great ideas.
Kim Auletta
Lab Safety Specialist
EH&S Z=6200
Stony Brook University
kauletta**At_Symbol_Here**notes.cc.sunysb.edu
631-632-3032
From:
"Harry J. Elston"
To:
DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU
Date:
03/30/2009 10:24 AM
Subject:
Re: [DCHAS-L] old Chemistry lab
Sent by:
DCHAS-L Discussion List
Kathy,
The question is not one of hazard but one of risk. Unfortunately, you do
not provide enough information to make a call on that question.
The mere presence of a "hazardous chemical" may or may not pose an actual
risk to workers in the area. What are the hazards we're discussing here?
Are we talking about shock sensitive or air sensitive reactive materials,
where a careless bump could cause a detonation? Or are we talking about a
mild poison that require ingestion of several grams to produce a systemic
effect? Clearly the risk to an individual working in the area is
different for these two classifications of "hazardous chemicals."
Harry
-----Original Message! -----
From: Katherine Wall
Sent: Mar 30, 2009 8:27 AM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU
Subject: [DCHAS-L] old Chemistry lab
We have two old chemistry labs connected by the old chemistry stockroom
that are no longer being used for chemistry classes, but rather as storage
of unwanted computers and what I consider to be general trash. (Why these
items are being stored here - no one seems to know!)The rooms are locked
but many on campus have keys. Two years ago, I had a chemical waste
disposal company come in and all of the chemicals were packed up and taken
away. Several had to be stabilized due to peroxide formation, etc. As I
segregated the chemicals, I put all of the mercury compounds (many were so
old they had elemental mercury in them) and broken mercury thermometers in
one hood with the ventilation on. It is next to this hood that most of
the 'trash' is being stored.
My question is: Is the area safe to use as general storage or are there
still chemical hazards?
Thank you for your help.
Kathy Wall
Chemistry Lab Coordinator
Office SCI 204
Waubonsee Community College
Rt 47 at Waubonsee Dr.
Sugar Grove, IL 60554
(630) 466-7900 ext 2347
email kwall**At_Symbol_Here**waubonsee.edu
Harry J. Elston, Ph.D., CIH
Principal
Midwest Chemical Safety, LLC
www.midwestchemsafety.com
Editor, Journal of Chemical Health & Safety
http://membership.acs.org/c/chas/
Nationalized health care: All the efficiency of FEMA with all
the compassion of the IRS
The ANSI Z9.11-2008 document may help
with the risk assessment: Laboratory Decommissioning. Lots of great ideas.
Kim Auletta
Lab Safety Specialist
EH&S Z=6200
Stony Brook University
kauletta**At_Symbol_Here**notes.cc.sunysb.edu
631-632-3032
| From:
| "Harry J. Elston" <helston**At_Symbol_Here**FGI.NET>
|
| To:
| DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU
|
| Date:
| 03/30/2009 10:24 AM
|
| Subject:
| Re: [DCHAS-L] old Chemistry lab
|
| Sent by:
| DCHAS-L Discussion List <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU> |
Kathy,
The question is not one of hazard but one of risk. Unfortunately,
you do not provide enough information to make a call on that question.
The mere presence of a "hazardous chemical" may or may not pose
an actual risk to workers in the area. What are the hazards we're
discussing here? Are we talking about shock sensitive or air sensitive
reactive materials, where a careless bump could cause a detonation? Or
are we talking about a mild poison that require ingestion of several grams
to produce a systemic effect? Clearly the risk to an individual working
in the area is different for these two classifications of "hazardous
chemicals."
Harry
-----Original Message! -----
From: Katherine Wall
Sent: Mar 30, 2009 8:27 AM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU
Subject: [DCHAS-L] old Chemistry lab
We have two old chemistry labs connected
by the old chemistry stockroom that are no longer being used for chemistry
classes, but rather as storage of unwanted computers and what I consider
to be general trash. (Why these items are being stored here - no
one seems to know!)The rooms are locked but many on campus have keys. Two
years ago, I had a chemical waste disposal company come in and all of the
chemicals were packed up and taken away. Several had to be stabilized
due to peroxide formation, etc. As I segregated the chemicals, I
put all of the mercury compounds (many were so old they had elemental mercury
in them) and broken mercury thermometers in one hood with the ventilation
on. It is next to this hood that most of the 'trash' is being stored.
My question is: Is the area safe to
use as general storage or are there still chemical hazards?
Thank you for your help.
Kathy Wall
Chemistry Lab Coordinator
Office SCI 204
Waubonsee Community College
Rt 47 at Waubonsee Dr.
Sugar Grove, IL 60554
(630) 466-7900 ext 2347
email kwall**At_Symbol_Here**waubonsee.edu
Harry J. Elston, Ph.D., CIH
Principal
Midwest Chemical Safety, LLC
www.midwestchemsafety.com
Editor, Journal of Chemical Health & Safety
http://membership.acs.org/c/chas/
Nationalized health care: All the efficiency of FEMA with all
the compassion of the IRS
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