Chemical Hygiene Plan - Queensborough Community College ...

6.4 Transporting Chemicals
When transporting chemicals between laboratories within the same building or contiguous
buildings, it is recommended the following guidelines be adhered to for protection of people and
the environment, and to minimize the potential for spills to occur:
• Whenever transporting chemicals by hand, always use a secondary container such as a
rubber acid carrying bucket, plastic bucket, or 5-gallon pail. If necessary, a small amount
of packing material (shipping peanuts, vermiculite, or cardboard inserts) that is
compatible with the chemical(s) should be used to prevent bottles from tipping over or
breaking during transport. You should have proper PPE accessible in the event of a spill.
• Wheeled carts with lipped surfaces (such as Rubbermaid carts) should be used whenever
feasible.
• Whenever possible, do not use passenger elevators when transporting chemicals; only
freight elevators should be used. If it is necessary to use a passenger elevator, use should
be restricted to low-use times such as early in the morning or late in the afternoon. If this
is not possible, be sure to warn passengers or prohibit passengers from riding with you.
• When transporting compressed gas cylinders, always use a proper gas cylinder hand truck
with the cylinder strapped to the cart and keep the cap in place. NEVER roll or drag a
compressed gas cylinder.
• Avoid riding in elevators with cryogenic liquids or compressed gas cylinders. If you
must, consider using a buddy system. Have one person send the properly secured dewars
or cylinders on the elevator while the other person waits at the floor by the elevator doors
where the dewars or cylinders will arrive.
Please contact the EHS Office if chemicals are to be transported between laboratories in noncontiguous
buildings.
Please note: If chemicals are being transported off the main campus, be aware that there are
specific procedures, training and other legal requirements that must be followed. For more
information, refer to the Shipping Hazardous Materials section.
6.5 Segregation of Incompatible Chemicals
Chemicals must not be arranged alphabetically or haphazardly in stockrooms or in laboratory
work areas. It is acceptable to store powdered chemicals alphabetically if a hazard class system is
used (e.g. corrosive, flammable, oxidizers, poisons, reproductive hazard. See the CHRIS
compatibility system). Chemicals must be segregated to prevent mixing of incompatible
chemical vapors or liquids in the event that containers break or leak. Numerous approaches can
be taken to segregate chemicals in storage. Different approaches may be required depending on
the type and amount of space available for storage and the environmental conditions of the
spaces. Major considerations for criteria to segregate should include water compatibility and
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