Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) Handling Concentrated Acids other than Hydrofluoric Acid.

#1 General Process Description To properly handle (carry, dispense, and dispose) of concentrated acids. All work described in this SOP will have to be conducted in either room JHE 246/A, or JHE 240 in the fume hood. You MUST have WHMIS Training before working with any acid. Contact Person is Ed McCaffery Laboratory Manager (Room JHE 248 ext 24985). #2 Hazardous Chemicals/Class of Hazardous Chemicals Concentrated acids are very corrosive and dangerous chemicals encountered in the laboratory. Some acids are also shock sensitive which given the right conditions can explode. Concentrated acids may be fatal if inhaled; and can cause severe eye and skin burns, severe respiratory and digestive tract burns. Contact with other material may cause a fire. Whenever working with concentrated acids it MUST be done in the fume hood. Some Common Acids used frequently in Materials Science & Engineering are: (~65%) Nitric acid (HNO3) (~32%) Hydrochloric Acid (HCl) (~96%) Sulphuric Acid (H2SO4) (~97%) Acetic Acid ((CH3CO)2O) These are not the only acids used just some of the more common. #3 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Before any acid is taken out of the acid-storage cabinets, ensure that you will at least meet the following protective requirements: 1. Goggles or Safety glasses (prescription glasses are not enough!) 2. Gloves preferably nitrile 3. Closed-toe shoes with socks 4. Long pants (no shorts!) 5. Face shield if not wearing goggles 6. Neoprene apron or Lab Coat 7. Chemical Spill Kit 8. No contact lenses

SOP Handling Concentrated Acids. When transporting any acids you MUST place the acid bottle into a plastic transport container. Before proceeding, you must have read and are familiar with the MSDS for each of the hazardous materials you will be using. All Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) are located in room JHE 248 top shelf East Wall. Ensure the spill kit is available in the event of an exposure. The acid spill kit is located underneath the polishing machines in room JHE 246/A, and by the West Wall at the door in room JHE-240. If you spill Hydrofluoric acid DO NOT use these acid spill kits; use the HF spill kit. #4 Engineering / Ventilation Controls All work with concentrated acids must be done in the fume hood, with no other persons working close enough to interfere or come into contact with the acid; someone must be in the immediate area in case of an emergency, the protective shield on the fume hood drawn down as much as possible, but allowing to work comfortable. Make sure when you are dispensing the acids that the bottle being dispensed in is far enough in the fume hood so that fumes will not come back to the users face. #5 Special Handling Procedures and Storage Requirements Store all Acids waste in labeled chemically compatible containers (e.g., polyethylene or Teflon). Do not store in glass, metal, and ceramic containers, as they are not compatible with some acids. Store all concentrated acid containers in the acid cabinets in its proper secondary containment tray. Acids are stored in the acid cabinets under the fume hood. Place a secondary containment tray in the fume hood, when handling and pouring concentrated acids. In case you overfill or spill acids, it will stay in this secondary containment. When pouring from a large acid bottle, pour into a clean beaker then, pour the acid from the beaker into a graduated cylinder (this will help reduce the risk of spillage). Remember to slowly pour acid into water, never water into acid. No rinse water with pH below 5.5 may be drain disposed.

SOP Handling Concentrated Acids. Please review the last page for emergency contact and notifications. #6 Spill and Accident Procedures This is for all acids EXCEPT HF. If you spill acid and the spill is an immediate threat to your health, leave the room, call 88. Remain nearby. In the event of an acid exposure, follow McMaster University First Aid Instructions posted in the labs. If you accidentally spilled concentrated acid (e.g., while pouring an acid into the measuring cylinder): Dont panic! Remain calm. If the spill is minor (less than 30mL, note a 5 inch x 7 inch paper towel will absorb 5 ml of water), and will not pose a health issue; use the spill-containment kit; pour the absorbent; first make a circle encompassing the spill then pour the absorbent on top of the spill. Find a plastic/neoprene-disposal bottle in room JHE 248 and carefully place the soaked absorbent into the bottle, and place in Chemical Waste label on the container. To minimize contact with the acid during clean-up, use the small broom and dust pan to move the soaked absorbent into the bottle. All of this must be done in the fume hood. If the spill is significant; larger (> 30 mL) or you flipped over an entire bottle of acid, if the spill does not pose a health hazard; inform any other personal in the lab; then use the spill-containment kit in room JHE 240 by the WEST Wall near the door. Pour the absorbent around the spill then pour the absorbent all over the spill. If spill is greater than 30 ml, or cleanup takes longer than 15 minutes, document the cleanup activity either by calling EOHSS at Ext 24352 or by notating the lab inspection forms. IF THE CONCENTRATED ACID IS RUNNING OUT OF THE FUMEHOOD, place spill-containment absorbent on the spill and contact EOHSS at 24352 or call 88 (Emergency) immediately and leave the laboratory making sure you notify any personal in that lab, but stay nearby to provide information to responders. DO NOT TRY to place the soaked absorbent into the neoprene bottle, as fume evaporating from the concentrated acids pose a serious health hazard. Contact Emergency Response (88), then Ed McCaffery Ext 24895, and Lisa Morine Ext 23314. If the spill runs underneath the fumehood; or lab equipment; or if it goes down sink call EOHSS Ext 24967. If a fire breaks out because of the acid spill leave the area immediately, activate the fire alarm, and call 88. Stay close to the building to inform emergency personal of what started the fire and what other chemicals are in the immediate area of the fire (note on this web page is a chemical list of all chemicals in the Materials Science & Engineering Department).

SOP Handling Concentrated Acids. #7 Waste Disposal If youve spilled acid and soaked up acid using absorbent, make sure it is disposed into neoprene bottle (4L). These containers will be labeled with a Chemical Waste Label. Any waste acids are to be dispensed in the Chemical Waste Buckets located in the fume hoods. Any glassware used needs to be rinsed three times prior to washing. #8 Training requirements Prior to entering and working in the laboratory, you must have completed WHMIS training; you are required to also take Specific Workplace Training through EOHSS. You must have written and have signed the safety reports by your supervisor. After each year the safety report must be updated. Any person conducting work in rooms JHE-246/A or JHE-240 using this SOP must receive training on the contents of this SOP. #9 Approval Required All research staff must have WHMIS Training; and Specific Workplace Training prior to starting work with concentrated acids. Users also must have Chemical Handling Training, and Chemical Spills Training which is provided from EOHSS. Always ask a second person to be in the lab with you when working with concentrated acids. If you have to work with concentrated acids and you are alone, you have to ask for approval from your supervisor and the Person In-charge, Laboratory Manager Ed McCaffery. #10 Decontamination All glassware and measuring cylinders that have been used during the process of mixing of acid should be thoroughly rinsed with Distilled water (3 times) and then soap and water (1 time). Collect first three rinseate as hazardous waste. #11 Designated Area Concentrated acids are only allowed to be handled in the fume hoods. Filling and rinsing of the bottles should only be done near a sink, but with secondary containment tray in the sink. Upon leaving a designated work area, remove any personal protective equipment worn and wash hands, forearms, face, and neck. After each use (or day), wipe down the immediate work area and equipment to prevent accumulation of chemical residue. At the end of each project, thoroughly. Decontaminate the designated area before resuming normal laboratory work in the area.

SOP - Handling Concentrated Acids. #12 Precise Process Description 1. Verify that emergency eyewash/shower is accessible and tested within last month. 2. Verify that fume hoods are currently certified and alarms are working. 3. Check the location and expiration of the Acid Spill Kit and that a copy of the MSDS for the concentrated acid being used is available. 4. You have read and understood the contents of this SOP. 5. It is essential that you wear a face shield over your safety glasses, nitrile gloves (preferable), and the neoprene aprons to ensure proper protection for concentrated acid spills. 6. FUMEHOOD: Place any glassware being used to collect the acid is in a secondary containment tray. Make sure the fumehood shield is down as far as possible but not interfering with the work being done. 7. When pouring the acid, pour the acid into a clean beaker, then pour the acid from the beaker into a graduate cylinder. Always pour the acids inside a secondary container in case of a spill. Remember always pour acid into water slowly (Especially Sulphuric Acid). 8. Once the acid has been dispensed; properly label the bottle using the safety data label. 9. Wash any glassware which was used with the acid, rinse them 3 times with Distilled water, and collect the first three washes as hazardous waste.

SOP Handling Concentrated Acids. Laboratory Spill Response Procedures Health Threatening Situation - In the event of an imminent or actual health-threatening emergency (threatening local or public health, safety, or welfare; or the environment outside the immediate area): 1) CALL 88 FOR THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE REMAIN IN THE AREA TO ADVISE RESPONDERS. 2) ACTIVATE LOCAL ALARM SYSTEMS 3) Once personal safety is established, call EOHSS at Ext 24352 and proceed with local notifications, below. Non-Health Threatening Situation In the event of a spill or release which may or has impacted the environment (storm drain, soil, air outside the building) or spill or release that cannot be cleaned up by local personnel: 1) Notify McMaster Responders: Call 88 (24 hours/day, 7 days/week), then 2) Provide local notifications: Name Ed McCaffery Lisa Morine Phone Number Ext 24985 Ext 23314 Title Lab Manager/ Principle Investigator EOHSS

Local Response Situation In the event of a minor spill or release that can be cleaned up by local personnel using readily available equipment (absorbent, available from EHOSS in Spill Kit): 1) Notify personnel in the area and restrict access. Eliminate all sources of ignition. 2) Wear gloves and protective eyewear. Clean up using absorbent. Put the contaminated absorbent in a labeled hazardous waste container. 3) If greater than 30 ml, or cleanup takes longer than 15 minutes, make a record in your lab inspection report, or call 88 Emergency Response to record the spill, and notify your supervisor. 4) Submit online waste pickup request to EHOSS at: waste@mcmsater.ca Disclaimer: The SOP as written contains our best understanding at this time on how to work safely with this piece of equipment. When new information is found that would improve the safe use of this equipment it will be added in a timely manner. As it stands we cannot be held liable for misuse or abuse of these instructions through negligence on the users part or based on the content of these notes.