Flammable Liquids

Flammable liquids are chemicals that have a flash point below 100^oF (38.7^o C) and a vapor pressure that does not exceed 40 psig at 100^oF.
 

Not applicable
 

Personnel: Wash hands and arms with soap and water immediately following any skin contact with flammable liquids.

Not applicable

Emergency procedures which address response actions to fires, explosions, spills, injury to staff, or the development of sign and symptom of overexposure must be developed The procedures should address as a minimum the following:

• Who to contact: (University police, and Office of Environmental Health and Safety, Principal investigator of the laboratory including evening phone number)
• The location of all safety equipment (showers, spill clean up supplies, eye wash, fire extinguishers, etc.)
• The method used to alert personnel in nearby areas of potential hazards
• Special first aid treatment required by the type of corrosive material(s) handled in the laboratory

Eye protection in the form of safety glasses must be worn at all times when handling flammable liquids. Ordinary (street) prescription glasses do not provide adequate protection. (Contrary to popular opinion these glasses cannot pass the rigorous test for industrial safety glasses.) Adequate safety glasses must meet the requirements of the Practice for Occupational and Educational Eyeand FaceProtection (ANSI Z.87. 1 1989) and must be equipped with side shields. Safety glasses with side shields do not provide adequate protection from splashes; therefore, when the potential for splash hazard exists other eye protection and/or face protection must be worn.
 

Where the eyes or body of any person may be exposed to flammable liquids suitable facilities for quick drenching or flushing of the eyes and body shall be provided within the work area for immediate emergency use. Bottle type eyewash stations are not acceptable.

When possible experiments involving greater than 500 mL of flammable liquids should be carried out in a fume hood. 

Not applicable
 

Gloves should be worn when handling flammable liquids. Disposable latex or nitrile gloves provide adequate protection against accidental hand contact with small quantities of most laboratory chemicals. Lab workers should contact OEHS for advice on chemical resistant glove selection when direct or prolonged contact with hazardous chemicals is anticipated.
 

Hazard assessment for work involving flammable liquids should thoroughly address the issues of proper use and handling, fire safety, chemical toxicity, storage, and spill response.
 

Not applicable
 

Lab coats, closed toed shoes and long sleeved clothing should be worn when handling flammable liquids. Additional protective clothing should be worn if the possibility of skin contact is likely.
 

Safety shielding is required any time there is a risk of explosion, splash hazard or a highly exothermic reaction. All manipulations of flammable liquids which pose this risk should occur in a fume hood with the sash in the lowest feasible position. Safety shielding is required any time there is a risk of explosion, splash hazard or a highly exothermic reaction. Portable shields, which provide protection to all laboratory occupants, are acceptable.
 

A safety or drench shower should be available in a nearby location where the flammable liquids are used.
 

Containers: All flammable liquids must be clearly labelled with the correct chemical name. Handwritten labels are acceptable; chemical formulas and structural formulas are not acceptable.

The storage of flammable and combustible liquids in a laboratory, shop or building area must be kept to the minimum needed for research and/or operations. If more than 5 gallons of flammables are present outside of safety cans per 100 square feet of area, a flammable-liquids storage cabinet is required. Flammable-liquids storage cabinets are not intended for the storage of highly toxic materials, acidS, bases, compressed gases or pyrolytic chemicals. 

Where feasible (if the quality of the solvent will not be adversely affected) transfer flammable liquids from glass bottles into metal safety cans. 

Manipulation of flammable liquids outside of a fume hood may require special ventilation controls in order to minimize exposure to the material. Fume hoods provide the best protection against exposure to flammable liquids in the laboratory and are the preferred ventilation control device. Always attempt to handle large quantities of flammable liquids in a fume hood. If your research does not permit the handing of large quantities of flammable liquids in your fume hood, contact the Office of Environmental Health and Safety to review the adequacy of all special ventilation.
 

Anticipate spills by having the appropriate clean up equipment on hand. The appropriate clean up supplies can be determined by consulting the material safety data sheet. This should occur prior to the use of any flammable liquids. Spill supplies for flammable liquids are designed to control the liquid portion of the spill and minimize the production of flammable vapors. Never use paper towels on large spills of flammable liquids because it exacerbates vapor production.

In the event of a spill all personnel in the area should be alerted. Turn off all sources of ignition. Do not attempt to handle a large spill of flammable liquids. Vacate the laboratory immediately and call for assistance.
 

* Office of Environmental Health & Safety 292-1284 

* 911  This is a 24 hour service.
 

Evacuated glassware can implode and eject flying glass, and splattered chemicals. Vacuum work involving flammable liquids must be conducted in a fume hood, glove box or isolated in an acceptable manner.

Mechanical vacuum pumps must be protected using cold traps and, where appropriate, filtered to prevent particulate release. The exhaust for the pumps must be vented into an exhaust hood. Vacuum pumps should be rated for use with flammable liquids.
 

Some flammable liquids are hazardous wastes. Questions regarding waste disposal should be directed to the Office of Environmental Health and Safety.