DCHAS-L Archives May 20 2011 - Re: Acceptable Methods For Shipping Chemicals

--0-188534540-1305939552=:8657 Frankly it sounds like it is time to look for another employer if their kne e jerk reaction is to chastize *you* for the problem. =C2=A0 as for the shipping method, if ther chemical is classified as HazMat (see s ection 14 of the MSDS for DOT info) or EHS (Section 15 for environmental et al.) =C2=A0 HazMat should be shipped in properly tested Performance Oriented Packaging. I heartily recommend C.L.Smith as a packagign supplier - I know that they have thoroughly tested every packaging configuration they offer. =C2=A0 Todd Perkins Regional Safety Director Airgas Mid America p3wt3r**At_Symbol_Here**charter.net --- On Fri, 5/20/11, stan arango wrote: From: stan arango Subject: [DCHAS-L] Acceptable Methods For Shipping Chemicals To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU Date: Friday, May 20, 2011, 5:38 PM question for posting I wanted to get some feedback on a situation that I encountered recently. I was told by my supervisor that the e-mail I sent to a vendor was inappropr iate and unprofessional (scroll to the bottom of the screen). According to my supervisor if the chemical was really toxic the vendor would not have ch osen to ship their product in a plastic bag. It seems to me that shipping a ny type of chemical in a plastic bag is a bad idea. Here is an excerpt from the MSDS that was e-mailed to me: Section 6 - Accidental Release Measures General Information: Use proper personal protective equipment as indicated in Section 8. Spills/Leaks:ELIMINATE all ignition sources. Do not touch damaged container s or spilled material unless wearing appropriate protective clothing. Stop leak if you can do it without risk. Absorb or cover with dry earth, sand or other non-combu stible material and transfer to containers. DO NOT GET WATER INSIDE CONTAIN ERS. Section 7 - Handling and Storage Handling: Avoid breathing dust, vapor, mist, or gas. Avoid contact with ski n and eyes. Avoid ingestion and inhalation. Storage: Store in a cool, dry place. Store in a tightly closed container. Section 8 - Exposure Controls, Personal Protection Engineering Controls: Facilities storing or utilizing this material should be equipped with an eyewash facility and a safety shower. Use adequate vent ilation to keep airborne concentrations low. I was the CHO for my company for three years and completed the ACS three da y CHO course back in 2007. After it became apparent to me that Management w as not genuinely concerned with creating a safe work environment I have sin ce resigned as the CHO. I still function as the Lab Manager for the medicin al chemistry department and one of my responsibilities is receiving incomin g chemicals. Part of my frustration comes from the scientist's perception t hat because they are knowledgeable about chemicals they are knowledgable ab out chemical safety. In my opinion there is a big difference between the tw o. Interested to hear what other non-scientists that are functioning as a s afety officer have to say. Also, I am not a doctor I just play one on TV. : -) Thanks, Stan Arango --------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----- From:=C2=A0 Sent: Monday, May 16, 2011 12:45 AM To: Stan Arango Cc: Subject: Reply: Fw: Fw: Unsafe shipment of chemical Hi Dr Stan Arango, Thank you very much for your info. Firstly, Please accept my sincerest apology for shipping method and packagi ng. For Clearance purpose, our shipping agent ship the compound by other sample 's name, and we are requested print the CAS number and our Catalog number o n the Label, and it is allowed send the MSDS with the compound together. Pl ease see attached MSDS. Regarding packing, sorry again for the inconvenience. I have forward it to our Logistics Dept, and we will improve it in future, I can assure that the similar things could not occur again in the future. Please let me know if you have any other questions or conerns. Sorry once again for any inconvenience! Yours faithfully, =E6=9D=A8=E6=B0=B8=E5=AE=81 ******************************************************** > To Whom It May Concern, > > Your shipping method for your product catalog # 60-61118 is unacceptable. During the process of opening the aluminum foil envelope that the chemical came in the plastic bag containing the chemical was inadvertently also ope ned (see attch'd photos). This is an especially dangerous shipping practice because your product did not include a chemical name or MSDS so I do not k now what type of chemical I have been exposed too. Thanks in advance for yo ur speedy reply concerning this matter. > > Stan Arango > Lab Manager, Associate n --0-188534540-1305939552=:8657

Frankly it sounds like it is time to loo k for another employer if their knee jerk reaction is to chastize *you* for the problem.

as for the shipping method, if ther chemical is classified as HazMat ( see section 14 of the MSDS for DOT info) or EHS (Section 15 for environment al et al.)

HazMat should be shipped in properly tested Performance Oriented Packa ging. I heartily recommend C.L.Smith as a packagign supplier - I know that they have thoroughly tested every packaging configuration they offer.

Todd Perkins

Regional Safety Director
Airgas Mid America

p3wt3r**At_Symbol_Here**charter.net

--- On Fri, 5/20/11, stan arango <sarango92123**At_Symbol_Here**YAHOO.COM& gt; wrote:

From: stan arango <sarango92123**At_Symbol_Here**YAHOO.COM> Subject: [DCHAS-L] Acceptable Methods For Shipping Chemicals
To: DCHA S-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU
Date: Friday, May 20, 2011, 5:38 PM

question for posting

I wanted to get some fee dback on a situation that I encountered recently. I was told by my supervis or that the e-mail I sent to a vendor was inappropriate and unprofessional (scroll to the bottom of the screen). According to my supervisor if the che mical was really toxic the vendor would not have chosen to ship their produ ct in a plastic bag. It seems to me that shipping any type of chemical in a plastic bag is a bad idea. Here is an excerpt from the MSDS that was e-mai led to me:

Section 6 - Accidental Release Measures
General Inform ation: Use proper personal protective equipment as indicated in Section 8. Spills/Leaks:ELIMINATE all ignition sources. Do not touch damaged contai ners or spilled material unless wearing appropriate protective clothing. St op leak if you can
do it without risk. Absorb or cover with dry earth, s and or other non-combustible material and transfer to containers. DO NOT GET WATER INSIDE CONTAINERS.
Section 7 - Handling and Storage
Ha ndling: Avoid breathing dust, vapor, mist, or gas. Avoid contact with skin and eyes. Avoid ingestion and inhalation.
Storage: Store in a cool, dry place. Store in a tightly closed container.
Section 8 - Exposure Control s, Personal Protection
Engineering Controls: Facilities storing or utili zing this material should be equipped with an eyewash facility and a safety shower. Use adequate ventilation to keep
airborne concentrations low. 
I was the CHO for my company for three years and completed the ACS t hree day CHO course back in 2007. After it became apparent to me that Manag ement was not genuinely concerned with creating a safe work environment I h ave since resigned as the CHO. I still function as the Lab Manager for the medicinal chemistry department and one of my responsibilities is receiving incoming chemicals. Part of my frustration comes from the scientist's perception that because they are knowledgeable about chemicals they are knowledgable about chemical safety. In my opinion there is a big difference between the two. Interested to hear what other non-scientists th at are functioning as a safety officer have to say. Also, I am not a doctor I just play one on TV. :-)

Thanks,

Stan Arango

------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------

From:
Sent: Monday, May 16, 2011 12:45 AM
To: S tan Arango
Cc: Subject: Reply: Fw: Fw: Unsafe shipment of chemical

Hi Dr Stan Arango,

Thank you very much for your info.
 Firstly, Please accept my sincerest apology for shipping method and pack aging.

For Clearance purpose, our shipping agent ship the compound b y other sample's name, and we are requested print the CAS number and our Ca talog number on the Label, and it is allowed send the MSDS with the compound together. Please see attached MSDS.

Regarding packing, sor ry again for the inconvenience. I have forward it to our Logistics Dept, an d we will improve it in future, I can assure that the similar things could not occur again in the future.

Please let me know if you have any ot her questions or conerns.

Sorry once again for any inconvenience!

Yours faithfully,
=E6=9D=A8=E6=B0=B8=E5=AE=81
****************** **************************************

> To Whom It May Conce rn,

>

> Your shipping method for your product catalog # 60-61118 is unacceptable. During the process of opening the aluminum foil envelope that the chemical came in the plastic bag containing the chemical was inadvertently also opened (see attch'd photos). This is an especially dangerous shipping practice because your product did not include a chemical name or MSDS so I do not know what type of chemical I have been exposed to o. Thanks in advance for your speedy reply concerning this matter.

>
 > Stan Arango

> Lab Manager, Associate
n
--0-188534540-1305939552=:8657--

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