Chemical Storage and Segregation - UCLA - Environment, Health ...

Fact Sheet
ENVIRONMENT,
HEALTH & SAFETY
Why is Chemical Storage and Segregation Important?
Be Safe, Stay Informed
EH&S Facts
Chemical Storage and Segregation
The safe storage of hazardous chemicals is an essential part of laboratory safety. Chemical storage facilities must
meet certain minimum standards to satisfy diverse regulations, such as those of Cal/OSHA (see Cal/OSHA Laboratory
Standard), the local sanitation district, the California Fire Code and University guidelines (see UCLA Chemical Hygiene
Plan). This fact sheet provides guidelines to help you meet these standards.
What Must be Done for ALL Chemicals in Labs?
y Date all chemicals on receipt and keep an up-to-date chemical inventory.
y Label storage areas and cabinets to identify the hazardous nature of chemicals stored within (see Chemistry Safety
Labels).
y Properly identify and label all chemicals before storing (see Chemistry Safety Labels). Chemical labels should
include the chemical name, date, and the user’s name or intials.
y Store chemicals in a cool and dry location with caps or lids tightly closed. No
chemical residue should be on the outside of the container and containers must not
be stacked on top of each other.
y Store and arrange in compatible chemical families rather than in alphabetical
order (see chart on page 2). Chemicals may be arranged in alphabetical order within
compatible families.
y Particularly Hazardous Substances (PHS) should be purchased in the smallest
quantities possible and must be isolated and properly labeled. Warning labels
specific to the hazard associated with the chemical must be affixed to: storage areas, cabinets, containers, and
secondary containers (see PHS Fact Sheet and UCLA Policy 907: Safe Handling of PHS).
Warning Labels: Particularly Hazardous Substances
Cabinet & Storage
Area Labels
Primary & Secondary
Container Labels
CANCER
HAZARD
CANCER
HAZARD
y Download printable warning labels www.chemistry.ucla.edu/pages/safety
y PHS Fact Sheet and Policy 907: www.ehs.ucla.edu
ACUTE
TOXIN
ACUTE ACUTE
TOXIN
Contact EH&S:
Tel: 310-825-9797
Fax: 310-825-7076
www.ehs.ucla.edu
Rev 01/13

Compatible Chemical Storage Families
Different hazard classes (colored boxes-e.g. flammables, corrosives) should be stored in separate cabinets or shelves.
Compatible families (boxed bottles-e.g. organic acids, bases) and PHS should be further segregated in secondary containers.
Flammables
Examples: alcohols,
acetone, ethers
Instructions:
1. Store all except small
working quantities
in an approved
flammable cabinet
with self-closing
doors.
2. Never store in a
standard refrigerator
or freezer; use only
those approved for
flammable storage.
3. Keep away from
ignition sources, heat,
combustible materials
and oxidizing
chemicals.
Flammable PHS
(e.g., toluene, benzene,
carbon disulfide)
Corrosives
Instructions:
1. All corrosives must
be stored in plastic
(polypropylene
or polyethylene)
secondary containers.
2. Store below eye level
at all times.
Bases
(e.g., NaOH, KOH,
NH 4 OH)
Organic Acids
(e.g., acetic acid, propionic
acid)
Inorganic &
Oxidizing Acids
(e.g., HCI, H 2 SO 4 , HNO 3 , H 3 PO 4 )
Special
Corrosives
(e.g., HF, chromic acid)
Oxidizers
Examples: persulfates,
perchlorates,
permanaganates,
halogens, peroxides,
nitrates
Instructions:
1. Keep away from
organics, flammables,
and combustible
materials.
2. Very strong oxidizers
(chromic acid) should
be stored in glass
or inert containers.
Do not use corks or
rubber stoppers.
Oxidizing PHS
(e.g., lead nitrate,
osmium tetroxide)
Reactive and Potentially Explosive Chemicals
Low Reactivity
Chemicals
Examples: buffers, most
weak acids/bases and
salts.
Instructions:
1. Lips or seismic
restraints on storage
shelves should be
in place to prevent
bottles from falling off.
2. Do not stack
chemicals.
3. Avoid storing
chemicals on the floor
or on benchtops.
If these areas must
be used, always
use secondary
containment.
Low Reactivity PHS
(e.g., sodium selenate,
mercuric chloride)
Examples: hydrides and borohydrides (water reactive), metal powders and lithium reagents (air reactive),
azides, nitrates and perchlorates (potentially explosive).
Instructions:
1. All of these hazard classes present extreme physical hazards and anyone using reactive or explosive
chemicals must be thoroughly trained in safe handling and storage procedures including reviewing
Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). The instructions below are generalized for each hazard class,
but labs with these types of chemicals must ensure that appropriate chemical specific procedures are
implemented.
2. Water reactive chemicals must be stored in an area away from water sources such as sinks, water based
chemicals and solutions. They must be segregated, contained and labeled as “water reactive” and stored
in a dry environment such as a desiccator or glove box filled with dry gas.
3. Air reactive (pyrophoric) chemicals must be segregated, contained and labeled as “air reactive” and
stored in a dry, inert atmosphere such as a glove box filled with an inert gas such as helium, argon, or
nitrogen.
4. Potentially explosive chemicals must be labeled as “explosion risk” and stored in a cool, dry, area away
from heat and ignition sources such as open flames, hot surfaces, spark sources, and direct sunlight.