The information needs to communicate the type of material and hazards. This allows for proper handling from storage to disposal. We capture the information in the following manner.

Container Label
_________________________________________
Owner name: (if student, could be student or supervisor)
Material description: (this should list the most hazardous main component in the material plus a generic description i.e. Epoxy resin in xylene, acid, base)
Notebook number:
Date:
Hazards: (flammable, irritates eyes, skin, resp sys, burn eyes, skin)
Other hazards:
__________________________________________________

For small samples of similar hazard type, these can be labeled with notebook number/page, but then gathered in a larger container with the information above on the larger container.

From a waste perspective, information is needed to categorize appropriately. These should include: nonhazardous, flammable, acid corrosive, base corrosive, flammable acid corrosive, flammable base corrosive, toxic. These can all be identified through the use of labeling as above. This will allow for proper disposal and minimize the risk of mixing incompatible waste.

When a person leaves the department, their samples must be reassigned to someone in the department, or disposed of.

This system works for us, hopefully it will work for someone else.

Regards,

Michelle Cummings
Dow Corning Corporation
Electronics Solutions
Ph (989)496-4672
Fax (989)496-6824
michelle.cummings**At_Symbol_Here**dowcorning.com
This e-mail transmission and any files that accompany it may contain sensitive information belonging to the sender. The information is intended only for the use of the individual or entity named. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution, or the taking of any action in reliance on the contents of this information is strictly prohibited. Dow Corning's practice statement for digitally signed messages may be found at http://www.dowcorning.com/dcps. If you have received this e-mail transmission in error, please immediately notify the Security Administrator at

-----Original Message-----
From: DCHAS-L Discussion List [mailto:dchas-l**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU] On Behalf Of Frank Coppo
Sent: Tuesday, March 04, 2014 8:57 AM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Labeling synthesized chemicals in vials

Dear Colleagues -

I spent 22 years as a research chemist myself... SOP was to label everything with a minimum of the associated notebook code (notebook number & page). There should always be a notebook record for EVERYTHING. This way there is a traceable record of the material, & more than likely its origin, associated reagents, etc... and most notebook codes will fit on even the smallest container (we even labeled 1mL LCMS vials, & NMR tubes).

Hope this helps some!

Best regards,
Frank

Frank T Coppo, ASP
EH&S Specialist
R&D EHS US
HR Centres of Excellence

GSK
1250 S. Collegeville Road, Collegeville, Pennsylvania, 19426-0989, United States
Email Frank.T.Coppo**At_Symbol_Here**gsk.com
Mobile +16103241419
Tel +16109174548

gsk.com | Twitter | YouTube | Facebook | Flickr

From: DCHAS-L Discussion List [mailto:dchas-l**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU] On Behalf Of Kohler, Christopher E
Sent: Monday, March 03, 2014 8:35 PM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Labeling synthesized chemicals in vials

Does it work? Does it matter if they are small samples? and do you always understand the descriptor? and does it help when a researcher unexpectedly leaves and your waste group inherits hundreds of samples? Does the waste group really refer to the CHP to identify them?

This seems to be a continual problem here. :-(

Chris
________________________________________
From: DCHAS-L Discussion List [dchas-l**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU] on behalf of Debbie M. Decker [dmdecker**At_Symbol_Here**UCDAVIS.EDU]
Sent: Monday, March 03, 2014 5:39 PM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Labeling synthesized chemicals in vials I've discovered in my travels that synthetic labs always have some sort of scheme for labelling their lab-produced products. They are usually teeny samples - a few milligrams, typically. Workers treat those synthesis products as if they were toxic, in the absence of information to the contrary. I've been asking researchers to include in their lab-specific CHP a descriptor of the research lab naming convention. It varies from group to group and I WILL NOT get into the business of telling anyone how they should name their samples! They need to tell me how they name their materials.

HTH,

Debbie M. Decker, CCHO
Safety Manager
Department of Chemistry
University of California, Davis
122 Chemistry
1 Shields Ave.
Davis, CA 95616
(530)754-7964
(530)304-6728
dmdecker**At_Symbol_Here**ucdavis.edu

Birkett's hypothesis: "Any chemical reaction that proceeds smoothly under normal conditions, can proceed violently in the presence of an idiot."




From: DCHAS-L Discussion List [mailto:dchas-l**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU] On Behalf Of Kohler, Christopher E
Sent: Friday, February 28, 2014 7:53 AM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU
Subject: [DCHAS-L] Labeling synthesized chemicals in vials

Dear DCHAS Listers,

We are interested in how various colleges and universities label synthesized chemical materials in small quantities in vials.

Some of our organic chemists have hundreds of samples in small vials labelled with structures only. Some samples may or may not be novel substances.

This becomes a problem when someone retires or leaves and our hazardous waste group is tasked with identifying hundreds of samples for disposal purposes.

What do you require?

Actual chemical names? Associated hazards? Can they be grouped and stored in similar chemical groups.

Any information is very much appreciated.

Thanks,

Chris

Christopher E. Kohler
Laboratory Safety Manager
University Environmental Health and Safety
Indiana University
1514 E Third Street
Bloomington, IN 47405
(812) 855-5454
cekohler**At_Symbol_Here**iu.edu

Previous post   |  Top of Page   |   Next post