From: "Chainani, Edward Torres" <echaina2**At_Symbol_Here**ILLINOIS.EDU>
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Grassroots lab safety examples?
Date: Tue, 10 Oct 2017 20:13:28 +0000
Reply-To: ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**PRINCETON.EDU>
Message-ID: 3007C787-77E4-4838-87C6-1CDA630E87FF**At_Symbol_Here**illinois.edu
In-Reply-To <7CF7175D-5665-48F8-BDDC-2DE2ACC00633**At_Symbol_Here**keene.edu>


What about this substitution of a hazard:  Use of commercially-available stabilized formulation of sulfuric acid and hydrogen peroxide, instead of concocting "piranha solution" from scratch, resulting in fewer reports of "out-of-control" piranha baths.  Cleanroom researchers adopted the substitute after it was introduced to them.


Regards,

Edward Chainani, Ph.D.
Safety Engineer
College of Engineering Office of Safety
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
1308 W Green St
Urbana, IL 61801
Phone: (217)244-5594
Email: echaina2**At_Symbol_Here**illinois.edu



On Oct 10, 2017, at 2:49 PM, Stuart, Ralph <Ralph.Stuart**At_Symbol_Here**KEENE.EDU> wrote:

In a conversation with a colleague today, I was thinking of examples of lab situations in which lab workers "naturally" (i.e. without prompting from EHS offices) developed alternatives to the use of risky chemicals. Examples I came up with included the decrease of the routine use of benzene and Chromerge to wash glassware; and the development of nitric acid based microwave systems to replace boiling perchloric acid baths.

I wonder if there are other examples of such natural transitions that others on DCHAS-L can identify?

Thanks for any help with this.

- Ralph

Ralph Stuart, CIH, CCHO
Environmental Safety Manager
Keene State College
603 358-2859

ralph.stuart**At_Symbol_Here**keene.edu

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