MSDS location(s): MSDS files are maintained by the supervisor in each laboratory or work area and are available for ready reference.

Special Labeling: Special labeling is required for Formaldehyde (formalin), Carcinogens and reagents prepared in-house as follows:

Items marked "Flammable" must be stored in a posted, approved flammable storage cabinet or specially designed flammable storage room. Single containers of one-gallon or less size may be stored in a work area when in use (except for ether). Capacity of storage cabinets must not be exceeded (e.g. more than 50 gal per 5000 sq. ft. of laboratory space.)

Caustics and corrosives must be stored below eye level, in a posted, cool, well ventilated cabinet (preferably near the floor). They may not be stored with flammables. Acids and bases must stored in separate locations. Organic acids (e.g. acetic acid or acetic anhydride) must be stored separately from strong oxidants (e.g. sulfuric, nitric or perchlorate).

Carcinogens must be stored in a labeled, secure area with restricted access (via supervisory personnel).

Special Posting: Special postings are indicated for carcinogen storage areas, flammable storage areas, caustic storage areas and RIA lab (radioactive material).

 Personal Protective Equipment: Personal protective equipment includes: chemical fume hoods (in chemistry, special hematology, cytology and toxicology), ordinary latex or vinyl gloves, protective clothing and eye / face protection (liquid nitrogen areas-- histopathology and blood bank), acid carriers, rubber aprons (where appropriate), coverslipping hood, grosslabs and fume extractor in histopathology.

Chemical resistant gloves, eyeware, spill absorbant, spill shovel, acid neutralizer, base neutralizer and respirators with cartridges for formaldehyde and acids are available as part of the emergency response equipment.

Items requiring disposal by vendor: Alcohols and xylenes from histopathology, toxicology and cytology.

Items and work areas requiring exposure monitoring: Formaldehyde in histopathology and in the morgue.

Work areas requiring medical surveillance: Not currently required as indicated by exposure monitoring. Indicated if formaldehyde exposure monitoring exceeds the action limit. Surveillance, in the form of periodic and pre-employment questionnaires administered by the Employee Health Clinic, is performed to acquire baseline data on employees routinely utilizing significant quantities of formaldehyde (workers in Histopathology ). Surveillance is also indicated for any employee exhibiting signs or symptoms of over exposure or sensitization to formaldehyde or following any acute accidental exposure.

Work areas requiring medical consultation: None, but consultations may be obtained on employee request via the Employee Health Clinic or they may be initiated by the surveillance program.

Immediate Response: Contain the spill, evacuate the area, attend to the victims and notify the response team via the Pathology Administrative Office 903-0057 ( after 1600 h and on weekends or holidays notify the Safety Director via the operator.

Secondary Response: The pathology office will notify the Safety Director and the Spill Team Leaders and nearby laboratory supervisors, all will meet near the spill.

On consultation with the Spill Team Leaders and the Safety Director, the appropriate clean up procedure will be determined. Personnel for SCBA operations may be called via Hospital Security. The MSDS is to be consulted in this determination and appropriate personal protective equipment, extra ventilation etc., will be employed.

Immuno-Chemistry: Diluting Concentrated Acids

Cytology: Coverslipping slides

Preparation of HCl solution

Preparation of Ammonium Hydroxide Solution

Histopathology: Some Special Stains (see histo manual)

Toxicology: TLC Evaporation (evaporating solvent)

Toxilab Cannabinoid Screen (reagent

tanks for development of color)

Evaporating solvents with Nitrogen

Annually verify fume hood performance by measuring face velocity as follows:

1. Turn hood on and allow 2 minutes to stabilize.

2. Open hood door to maximum height.

3. Visually divide the hood opening into six quadrants (see diagram).

4. Place the velocity vaneometer in the center of each quadrant, hold the device level and perpendicular to the plane of the door take the velocity reading.

5. Record all data on the worksheet and determine the average velocity.

Acceptable Limits:

Average velocity must meet or exceed 50 ft./min for general lab use. If unit fails to meet acceptable criteria this may be due to the obstruction of air flow by equipment under the hood or by external flows. Remove and or re-arrange devices and re-check. If all efforts fail tag the device "OUT OF SERVICE" and contact engineering for corrective action. Document all corrective action activities.