A. Standard operating guidelines (SOG) are intended to provide guidance on working safely with specific classes of chemicals or other laboratory hazards. In some instances, multiple SOGs may be applicable for a specific substance. For example, SOGs for flammable liquids and for carcinogens would both apply to benzene. SOGs include the following categories of information:

1. Hazard Assessment. Prior to beginning work, you should determine whether the materials you will work with pose any special hazards, such as being pyrophoric (spontaneously flammable in air), and what special precautionary measures may be required to cope with these hazards.

2. Notification of the Office of Environmental Health and Safety. Some categories of hazards require that you notify the EH&S office prior to beginning work. For example, the initial use of reproductive hazards in a laboratory requires EH&S notification.

3. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Consult the MSDS for all substances you will work with to learn what special PPE may be necessary. In general, you should always make use of the following:
   1. Eye Protection. If no possibility of a splash hazard exists, safety glasses that meet the requirements of the Practice for Occupational and Educational Eye and Face Protection (ANSI Z.87.1, 1987) and are equipped with side shields may be worn. However, safety glasses do not provide protection from splashes; therefore, when working with chemicals, goggles or face shields MUST be worn. This is Department of Chemistry and University policy, as well as safe practice. Prescription (street) glasses are NEVER adequate for protective purposes, but may be worn under goggles when required for clear vision.

   2. Gloves. Consult the MSDS or the glove guide provided by the Department for selection of proper glove materials.

   3. Lab Coat or Apron. Consult the MSDS to determine if the substances you are using require coats or aprons made of special materials.

   Consult Section I of this document if you are in doubt as to the appropriateness of available PPE.

4. Safety Equipment. Consult the MSDS to see if any special safety equipment is required before beginning any new type of experiment. The following should be available in every laboratory:
   1. Eyewash. A drench or flush type eyewash station is necessary when working with many kinds of materials. Bottle-type eyewashes generally are not acceptable.

   2. Safety Shower. Use the safety shower both for chemical splashes and for clothing fires.

   3. Safety Shielding. Safety shielding is required any time an experiment involves a risk of explosion, high exothermicity, or splash hazard. The sash of a fume hood, in the lowest feasible position, provides appropriate shielding. Portable shields are acceptable if placed so as to protect all laboratory occupants, and are a useful accessory in hoods as well.

5. Ventilation.
   1. Fume Hoods. Any process that may release noxious or flammable gases, or that involves flammable substances with high vapor pressure, must be conducted in a fume hood.

   2. Glove (Dry) Boxes or Bags. If inert or dry atmospheres are required in handling of chemicals, such as pyrophoric materials, glove boxes or bags flushed with dry nitrogen or argon may be employed.

6. Emergency Procedures. Consult the MSDS to determine if any special emergency procedures must be developed for the substances with which you are working. If so, put the procedures in writing, and add them to the section on emergency procedures in your Department chemical hygiene manual. Such procedures should address at least the following issues:
   • Emergency telephone numbers (EH&S, University police, your advisor, the building manager)

   • The locations of all safety equipment.

   • How to warn others in the event of an emergency.

   • Special spill control materials required.

   • Any special first aid treatments

   Be sure you are familiar with the Department's Emergency Action Plan (in your copy of the chemical hygiene plan).

7. Gas Cylinders. Be sure that equipment is available for securing any gas cylinders that may be needed to supply gases for your experiment. Cylinders must be firmly restrained by a clamp affixed to a bench top or hood, or confined in a restricted area by a strong chain. Lecture bottles of gases also must be restrained, either by clamping to a ring stand with a heavy base or in a rack specially designed for the purpose.

8. Labels and Signs. All chemicals in use must be clearly labeled with a correct name or structural formula. Hand-written labels are acceptable. When especially hazardous materials or procedures are in use, the hood or other work area should carry a warning sign.

9. Designated Areas. Some procedures and chemicals may be used only in designated areas of a laboratory. For example, special areas marked with caution tape or signs must be set aside for work with reproductive hazards.

10. Special Storage. The substances used must be stored appropriately to their hazard category, as described in the Storage section of the Department's chemical hygiene plan. Any special storage requirements, such as for pyrophoric materials, should be determined from the MSDS.

11. Vacuum Equipment. If the use of high vacuum is part of the experimental procedure, precautions must be taken to avoid injury should evacuated glassware implode. This may mean conducting work in a hood with the sash at the lowest feasible level or behind a portable shield.

    Mechanical vacuum pumps must be protected by cold traps, so that experimental materials do not reach the pump where they might be vented into the room. For some kinds of materials, the pump must be vented into a hood.

12. Waste Disposal. Consult the MSDS to determine if any special disposal procedures are required. Otherwise, follow the standard disposal procedures in the Department's chemical hygiene plan.

If so, you MUST create your own SOGs for each non-conforming procedure used in your laboratory. These must be in writing, either in tabular or descriptive form, and MUST be placed with the Department's Chemical Hygiene Plan in your laboratory. You must be able to produce these guidelines upon request by any inspection team.

1. Definitions. The following definitions apply to the categories of chemicals in the following tables.
   1. Pyrophoric substances ignite spontaneously in air at room temperature, either by oxidation or by reaction with atmospheric moisture. Phosphorus is a pyrophoric solid, tributylaluminum is an example of a pyrophoric liquid, and phosphine is a pyrophoric gas.

   2. Corrosive chemicals cause visible destruction or permanent changes in human skin tissue at the site of contact. Strong acids (e.g., H₂SO₄), strong bases (e.g., NaOH), and dehydrating agents such as P₂O₅ are the major corrosives.

   3. Compressed gases are gases or mixtures of gases having an absolute pressure exceeding 40 psi at 70 ° F; or an absolute pressure exceeding 104 psi at 130 °F, regardless of the pressure at 70 °F; or liquids having a vapor pressure exceeding 40 psi at 100 °F.

   4. Acutely toxic chemicals are immediately dangerous to life or health at concentrations in the ppm range. Cyanide salts are an example of an acutely toxic substance.

   5. Reproductive hazards are substances known to affect human reproductive capabilities, including chromosomal damage (mutagens) and fetal damage (teratogens).

   6. Water Sensitive chemicals react vigorously with water. The most common ones are the alkali metals, metal hydrides, alkyl lithiums, and alkyl aluminums.

   7. Flammable Liquids are chemicals that have a flash point below 38.7 °C (100 °F), and a vapor pressure that does not exceed 40 psi at 100 °F.

   8. Oxidizing Substances are either substances that promote combustion, or substances that spontaneously release oxygen at room temperature or upon slight warming. They include peroxides, chlorates, perchlorates, nitrates, and permanganates. Strong Oxidizers are capable of forming explosive mixtures with combustible or easily oxidized compounds, including most organics. Examples of strong oxidizers: ammonium perchlorate, ammonium permanganate, barium peroxide, bromine, calcium chlorate, chlorine trifluoride, chromic anhydride, chromic acid, benzoyl peroxide, fluorine, hydrogen peroxide (> 3%), magnesium peroxide, perchloric acid, potassium bromate, potassium chlorate, potassium peroxide, propyl nitrate, sodium perchlorate, ozone, nitric acid.

   9. Reactive Liquids are liquid chemicals that react vigorously with moisture or oxygen. Acetyl chloride is a reactive liquid.

   10. Reactive Solids are solid chemicals that react vigorously with moisture or oxygen. The alkali metals and lithium aluminum hydride are examples of reactive solids.

   11. Carcinogens are substances that can initiate or speed the development of malignant or potentially malignant tumors, or malignant neoplastic proliferations of cells. Aromatic amines are examples of carcinogens.

   12. Acutely toxic gases are substances that are immediately dangerous to life or health at concentrations in air in the low ppm (parts per million), and have an absolute pressure exceeding 40 psi at 70 °F or 104 psi at 130 °F. Liquids having vapor pressures exceeding 40 psi at 100 °F also are classified as acutely toxic gases. Examples of acutely toxic gases are hydrogen cyanide (HCN) and phosgene (COCl₂).

	Category of Substance
	Pyrophoric	Corrosive	Compressed Gases	Acutely Toxic	Reproductive Hazards	Water Sensitive
Hazard Assessment	Fire safety, spill response, special fire extinguisher	As in hygiene plan	Proper regulators, pressure shielding, secure hose connections	Be aware of health risk; any special handling	Be aware of health risk; any special handling	Fire safety, spill response, special fire extinguisher
EH&S Notification	NA	NA	NA	Prior to first use, or if procedures or quantity change	Prior to first use, or if procedures or quantity change	NA
PPE	Gloves, goggles, lab coat required	Gloves, goggles, lab coat required	Thermal gloves for liquefied gases	Gloves, goggles, lab coat required	Consult MSDS; Gloves, goggles, lab coat required	Gloves, goggles, lab coat required
Safety Equipment	Eyewash, safety shower, shielding, required	Eyewash, safety shower, required	Shielding required; exposure monitors for toxics	Eyewash, safety shower, shielding, required	Eyewash, safety shower, required	Eyewash, safety shower, required
Ventilation	Hood or glove box required	Hood required if vapor production is expected	Hood required if gas otherwise hazardous	Hood or glove box required; biological safety cabinet?	Hood or glove box required; biological safety cabinet?	Hood or glove box recommended
Emergency Procedures	Special spill controls, special first aid measures	Standard, as in hygiene plan	Special first aid for toxics	Standard; plus special first aid	Do not attempt to clean up spill; call EH&S	Standard; consult MSDS
Gas Cylinders	NA	NA	Secured by straps, etc., transport with safety cart	NA	NA	NA
Signs and Labels	Chemicals must be labeled as pyrophoric	Chemicals must be labeled as corrosive	Label full or empty, as well as chemical identity	Sign on room door noting designated area for toxics	Sign on room door noting designated area for reproductive hazards	Label with chemical identity
Designated Area	NA	NA	NA	Caution tape or signs to demarcate designated area	Caution tape or signs to demarcate designated area
Special Storage	Inert atmosphere, away from flammables	As in hygiene plan	Upright, secured; cylinder cap or regulator at all time; away from heat sources	Store in area designated for acutely toxic substances	Store in area designated for reproductive hazards	Store in cool, dry location
Vacuum Protection	Pump must be rated for pyrophorics	NA	NA	Shielding required if used under vacuum	Shielding required if used under vacuum	NA
Waste Disposal	EH&S must be notified	May be neutralized if not otherwise toxic	Return to supplier	Minimize waste when possible; dispose of as hazardous waste	Minimize waste when possible; dispose of as hazardous waste	Minimize waste when possible; dispose of as hazardous waste

	Category of Substance
	Flammable Liquids	Oxidizing Agents	Reactive Liquid	Reactive Solid	Carcinogens	Acutely Toxic Gases
Hazard Assessment	Fire safety measures	Fire safety assessment	Fire safety and specific reactivity assessment	Fire safety assessment; possible peroxide formation	Be aware of health risk; any special handling	Be aware of health risk; any special handling
EH&S Notification	NA	Required for HClO4	NA	NA	Prior to first use, or if procedures or quantity change	Prior to first use, or if procedures or quantity change
PPE	Consult MSDS	Consult MSDS	Consult MSDS	Consult MSDS	Consult MSDS	Consult MSDS
Safety Equipment	Eyewash, safety shower, required	Eyewash, safety shower, shielding, required	Eyewash, safety shower, required	Eyewash, safety shower, shielding, required	Eyewash, safety shower, required	Eyewash, safety shower, required
Ventilation	Use hood if > 500 mL	HClO4 requires hood with washdown facility	Fume hood or glove box required	Fume hood or glove box required	Fume hood or glove box required	Fume hood or glove box required
Emergency Procedures	If spilled, turn off ignition sources	Standard; possible special first aid	Standard; possible special first aid	Standard; possible special first aid	Standard	Standard; possible special first aid
Gas Cylinders	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	Upright, secured; cylinder cap or regulator at all time; away from heat sources
Signs and Labels	Must be correctly labeled	Must be correctly labeled	Must be correctly labeled	Must be correctly labeled	Sign on room door noting designated area for carcinogens; containers must carry carcinogen label	Sign on room door noting designated area for toxics
Designated Area	NA	NA	NA	NA	Caution tape or signs to demarcate designated area	Caution tape or signs to demarcate designated area
Special Storage	Flammables cabinet required for > 5 L outside safety cans	Store below 30 °C; in dry location; minimize quantity stored	Store below 30 °C; in dry location; minimize quantity stored; date containers	Store below 30 °C; in dry location; minimize quantity stored; date containers	Must be stored in designated area	Must be stored in designated area
Vacuum Protection	Fume hood, glove box, or otherwise isolated; use cold trap on vacuum pump	Fume hood, glove box, or otherwise isolated; use cold trap on vacuum pump	NA	NA	Cold trap on vacuum pump; filter if needed to prevent release of particles	NA
Waste Disposal	Standard for hazardous waste	Do not combine with other wastes	Do not combine with other wastes	Do not combine with other wastes	Standard for hazardous waste	Empty/partially filled cylinders returned to supplier