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What to look for |
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Maintain accurate chemical inventory records. |
Make the most of your chemical investment and prevent chemical degradation over time by keeping track of what you have.
- Include the following in your inventory records:
- Chemical name
- Abbreviations your lab uses on chemical labels
- Quantity of chemical stored
- Chemical Abstract Number (CAS #)
- Compatibility group
- Chemicals that degrade over time require additional record-keeping. These include peroxide formers, air and water reactives, and other time-sensitive materials.
- Carefully track the date received, opened, and tested.
- Read Organic-Peroxide Formers Overview for complete information on identifying, storing, and testing organic-peroxide-forming chemicals.
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Minimize inventory tasks, maintenance, and the risks associated with chemical storage by restricting the amount of chemicals you order and store. |
- Stay on top of your inventory to avoid duplicative ordering.
- Order the minimum quantity of a chemical you will need for the foreseeable future; please do not stockpile chemicals.
- Promptly dispose of unwanted chemicals through the EH&S Hazardous Waste Program at no charge to the researcher.
- Conserve resource funds by using ChemCycle to obtain free chemicals or donate usable, surplus chemicals:
- Check the ChemCycle inventory of over 6,000 chemicals before ordering from a supplier. Follow instructions on the ChemCycle Web page to search for and request free chemicals.
- Donate usable surplus chemicals to ChemCycle:
- Request a Hazardous Waste Collection, identifying the chemicals to be collected.
- Write "FOR CHEMCYCLE" on the chemical waste tag attached to the container you're donating.
- EMF technicians will pick up the container during the next scheduled hazardous waste collection for your building.
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Select an appropriate container when transferring a chemical from its original container.
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Choose sturdy, sealable storage containers made of material compatible with the chemical they'll hold.
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Accurately label chemicals that have been tranferred from their original containers. |
Chemical labels are required by law to contain specific information. Extra information is required on high hazard materials. Follow these steps for proper labeling:
- Make sure labels include the following required information, written legibly:
- Chemical name or abbreviation
- Concentration
- Hazard warning
- Include the following additional information required for chemicals that degrade over time, peroxide formers, and air and water reactives:
- Date received
- Date opened
- Date tested
- Prominently post a chemical abbreviation sheet in the lab when abbreviations are used on labels.
- Print out this list (PDF) (Word) of common substances and abbreviations. Extend the list as necessary with your lab-specific abbreviations.
- Label refrigerators used for chemical storage with a "No Food Storage" sticker. Label refrigerators that are not approved flammable storage units with a "No Flammable Storage" sticker.
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Segregate incompatible chemicals. |
Separate and store chemicals according to compatibility group, not by alphabetical order. Read Chemical Compatibility Guidelines for more information.
- Store each compatibility group in a separate cabinet, or separate them from other chemical groups by using appropriate tubs or secondary containers. Polypropylene "Nalgene" tubs are commonly used for this purpose.
- Label storage cabinets and tubs by compatibility group. For example, a tub containing hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, and phosphoric acid would be labeled "Mineral (Inorganic) Acids."
- Never store flammable liquids of any volume in a standard or domestic refrigerator or freezer. They have numerous ignition sources that could ignite vapors. Flammable liquids that must be chilled or frozen require special flammable storage refrigerators or freezers to minimize the risk of fire or explosion.
- Note: When defrosting a refrigerator do not allow water to damage the facility, other equipment, or become a safety hazard for occupants. Collect the effluent for proper disposal.
- Keep containers capped and closed when not in use.
- Place hazardous materials on lower shelves. Don't store them overhead. Use seismic restraints to prevent containers from "walking off" open shelves during earthquakes.
- Protect drains from chemical spills. Don't use sinks for chemical storage or secondary containment.
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Follow specific storage guidelines for regulated and high hazard materials. |
Particularly high-hazard materials and substances regulated by law are subject to special storage requirements. Read and follow guidelines for any of the materials below used in your facility:
Caution: Never use environmental rooms (also called cold/ warm rooms) for storage of flammable or other hazardous materials. Environmental rooms have many ignition sources and little or no air circulation from outside. Small quantities of flammable or hazardous materials (500 ml) may be used in these spaces, but do not store them there. Back to top
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