We also are getting ready to roll out GHS training but the GHS hazard classes don't, as others have noted, really serve well as storage compatibility classes. I think of it more has a health & handling hazard system. There's no perfect system for storage compatibility, but after much evaluation we decided to adopt the Stanford system and are making that part of our GHS training rollout. Since we purchased the Chematix chemical inventory system (still in the process of completing initial inventory), the storage class will be printed on every the labels or internally-printed barcode, and I've created a simple PDF that explains the system.

The hardest part is assigning the compatibility class for chemicals that either don't have much safety literature, or that have multiple reactivities. That's where a knowledgeable chemist is critical. Since only one storage class can be assigned to each chemical, we go with the one that presents the greatest hazard if the reaction occurred, but which doesn't put it in storage with other chemicals with which it would create other major compatibility issues. E.g. glacial acetic is both an organic acid and flammable, so it's classed as a flammable since that's the greater hazard, and both it and other flammables need to be protected from oxidizers. But if There is no perfect system, though.

mmc
_______________________________________________________
Mary M. Cavanaugh CIH
University Industrial Hygienist
Occupational Health Programs Manager
Office of Environmental Health, Safety, & Emergency Management
Appalachian State University
ASU Box 32114
Phone 828.262.6838
Fax 828.262.6914
Email cavanaughmm**At_Symbol_Here**appstate.edu

-----Original Message-----
From: DCHAS-L Discussion List [mailto:dchas-l**At_Symbol_Here**med.cornell.edu] On Behalf Of DCHAS-L automatic digest system
Sent: Wednesday, July 24, 2013 12:02 AM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**listserv.med.cornell.edu
Subject: DCHAS-L Digest - 22 Jul 2013 to 23 Jul 2013 (#2013-163)

There are 8 messages totaling 1248 lines in this issue.

Topics of the day:

1. GHS and chemical storage (7)
2. What we do is important!!!!

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

Date: Tue, 23 Jul 2013 18:23:00 +0000
From: "Ralph B. Stuart"
Subject: GHS and chemical storage

We're in the process of rolling out GHS training to our lab groups and one of the questions that arose is whether GHS hazard classes can be used as guidance for chemical storage compatibility groups. I can't think of any reason why not off the top of my head, but I thought I would ask the DCHAS-L list if you've run into any examples of GHS icons putting chemicals in the wrong storage class. Have you?

Thanks for any help with this.

- Ralph

Ralph Stuart CIH
Chemical Hygiene Officer
Department of Environmental Health and Safety Cornell University

rstuart**At_Symbol_Here**cornell.edu

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

Date: Tue, 23 Jul 2013 15:00:28 -0400
From: Nicole Wilb
Subject: Re: GHS and chemical storage

Hello Ralph,

The only problem is for the corrosive class, that contains acids and bases.
So you can not rely completely on GHS for storage, as these products are not compatible.

Sincerely,

Nicole

*Nicole Wilb*, Ph.D.

Chemical Safety Officer

EH&S

*Universit̩ de Sherbrooke*

Phone : (819) 821-8000 ext. 62084

Email : Nicole.Wilb**At_Symbol_Here**USherbrooke.ca

On Tue, Jul 23, 2013 at 2:23 PM, Ralph B. Stuart wrote:

> We're in the process of rolling out GHS training to our lab groups and
> one of the questions that arose is whether GHS hazard classes can be
> used as guidance for chemical storage compatibility groups. I can't
> think of any reason why not off the top of my head, but I thought I
> would ask the DCHAS-L list if you've run into any examples of GHS
> icons putting chemicals in the wrong storage class. Have you?
>
> Thanks for any help with this.
>
> - Ralph
>
>
> Ralph Stuart CIH
> Chemical Hygiene Officer
> Department of Environmental Health and Safety Cornell University
>
> rstuart**At_Symbol_Here**cornell.edu
>

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

Date: Tue, 23 Jul 2013 19:29:37 +0000
From: "Ralph B. Stuart"
Subject: Re: GHS and chemical storage

> The only problem is for the corrosive class, that contains acids and bases. So you can not rely completely on GHS for storage, as these products are not compatible.

Good point; I thought of that after I sent the e-mail. I wonder if there are other examples of incompatibilities within GHS classes (for example, explosives?).

- Ralph

Ralph Stuart CIH
Chemical Hygiene Officer
Department of Environmental Health and Safety Cornell University

rstuart**At_Symbol_Here**cornell.edu

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

Date: Tue, 23 Jul 2013 15:38:16 -0400
From: Margaret Rakas
Subject: Re: GHS and chemical storage

Well, then there's the flammable symbol... 70% ethanol is going to be flammable, still, but isn't pyrophoric. In an organic chem lab, I would store pyrophorics separately from 70% ethanol, but the GHS symbol is the same...

On Tue, Jul 23, 2013 at 3:29 PM, Ralph B. Stuart wrote:

> > The only problem is for the corrosive class, that contains acids
> and bases. So you can not rely completely on GHS for storage, as these
> products are not compatible.****
>
> ** **
>
> Good point; I thought of that after I sent the e-mail. I wonder if
> there are other examples of incompatibilities within GHS classes (for
> example,
> explosives?).****
>
> ** **
>
> - Ralph****
>
> ** **
>
> ** **
>
> Ralph Stuart CIH****
>
> Chemical Hygiene Officer****
>
> Department of Environmental Health and Safety****
>
> Cornell University****
>
> ** **
>
> rstuart**At_Symbol_Here**cornell.edu****
>
> ** **
>

--
Margaret A. Rakas, Ph.D.
Manager, Inventory & Regulatory Affairs
Clark Science Center
413-585-3877 (p)

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

Date: Tue, 23 Jul 2013 12:57:37 -0700
From: "Herriott, Carole"
Subject: Re: GHS and chemical storage

What about multiple symbols? Which take precedence?
-C

Carole Herriott
EH&S Technician - Hazardous Waste Coordinator Weyerhaeuser Technology Center

From: DCHAS-L Discussion List [mailto:dchas-l**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU] On Behalf Of Margaret Rakas
Sent: Tuesday, July 23, 2013 12:38 PM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] GHS and chemical storage

Well, then there's the flammable symbol... 70% ethanol is going to be flammable, still, but isn't pyrophoric. In an organic chem lab, I would store pyrophorics separately from 70% ethanol, but the GHS symbol is the same...

On Tue, Jul 23, 2013 at 3:29 PM, Ralph B. Stuart > wrote:
> The only problem is for the corrosive class, that contains acids and bases. So you can not rely completely on GHS for storage, as these products are not compatible.

Good point; I thought of that after I sent the e-mail. I wonder if there are other examples of incompatibilities within GHS classes (for example, explosives?).

- Ralph

Ralph Stuart CIH
Chemical Hygiene Officer
Department of Environmental Health and Safety Cornell University

rstuart**At_Symbol_Here**cornell.edu

--
Margaret A. Rakas, Ph.D.
Manager, Inventory & Regulatory Affairs
Clark Science Center
413-585-3877 (p)

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

Date: Tue, 23 Jul 2013 13:32:00 -0700
From: Kevin Creed
Subject: Re: GHS and chemical storage

Hi Ralph,

Also . under 'acutely toxic (Severe)' you could get incompatibles, e.g., cyanide salts and concentrated nitric acid.

Also under the corrosive you have oxidizing acids and organic acids as incompatible.

Kevin

Kevin Creed

Manager, ChemTracker Program

Stanford University

EH&S

480 Oak Road

Stanford, CA 94305-8007

office: 650-723-4767

cell: 408-529-0724

From: DCHAS-L Discussion List [mailto:dchas-l**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU] On Behalf Of Ralph B. Stuart
Sent: Tuesday, July 23, 2013 12:30 PM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] GHS and chemical storage

> The only problem is for the corrosive class, that contains acids and
bases. So you can not rely completely on GHS for storage, as these products are not compatible.

Good point; I thought of that after I sent the e-mail. I wonder if there are other examples of incompatibilities within GHS classes (for example, explosives?).

- Ralph

Ralph Stuart CIH

Chemical Hygiene Officer

Department of Environmental Health and Safety

Cornell University

rstuart**At_Symbol_Here**cornell.edu

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

Date: Tue, 23 Jul 2013 16:52:50 -0500
From: "Bradley, Shelly"
Subject: What we do is important!!!!

Sorry for the double posting. I forgot to change the Subject line.

I just thought I would pass this along to my safety colleagues around the country.

A former student and his mother came by campus today. He is on a long road to recovery from severe injuries in an industrial accident. He wanted me to know that the safety training he received here saved his life.

Never doubt that what we do is important!!

Shelly Bradley
NRCC-CHO
Authorized OSHA Trainer
Instrumentation Specialist
Laboratory Development Assistant
Campus Chemical Compliance Director
Department of Chemistry
Hendrix College
Conway, AR 72032
(501) 450-3812
bradley**At_Symbol_Here**hendrix.edu

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

Date: Tue, 23 Jul 2013 19:27:09 -0400
From: Bruce Van Scoy
Subject: Re: GHS and chemical storage

Ralph,

I have not had the chance to really review the issue yet. I would like to request list members to provide any and all examples of incompatible storage issues that they are aware of under GHS.

I would like to add these bullets to the training to be provided shortly
that is due before December. Since I have not seen anything equivalent or
similar on the "official" pages, the list may be a great place to start the discussion.

BruceV

From: DCHAS-L Discussion List [mailto:dchas-l**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU] On Behalf Of Kevin Creed
Sent: Tuesday, July 23, 2013 4:32 PM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] GHS and chemical storage

Hi Ralph,

Also . under 'acutely toxic (Severe)' you could get incompatibles, e.g., cyanide salts and concentrated nitric acid.

Also under the corrosive you have oxidizing acids and organic acids as incompatible.

Kevin

Kevin Creed

Manager, ChemTracker Program

Stanford University

EH&S

480 Oak Road

Stanford, CA 94305-8007

office: 650-723-4767

cell: 408-529-0724

From: DCHAS-L Discussion List [mailto:dchas-l**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU] On Behalf Of Ralph B. Stuart
Sent: Tuesday, July 23, 2013 12:30 PM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] GHS and chemical storage

> The only problem is for the corrosive class, that contains acids and
bases. So you can not rely completely on GHS for storage, as these products are not compatible.

Good point; I thought of that after I sent the e-mail. I wonder if there are other examples of incompatibilities within GHS classes (for example, explosives?).

- Ralph

Ralph Stuart CIH

Chemical Hygiene Officer

Department of Environmental Health and Safety

Cornell University

rstuart**At_Symbol_Here**cornell.edu

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

End of DCHAS-L Digest - 22 Jul 2013 to 23 Jul 2013 (#2013-163)
**************************************************************

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