KENYA SCHOOL OF TECHNICAL AND VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING

NAME; DYLAN KIPKOECH RONOH

ADM NO; 2024HA157257

COURSE; DIPLOMA IN TECHNICAL TRAINER EDUCATION( ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY)

REPORT TITLE; HAZARDS AND RISKS IN A CHEMICAL LABORATORY AND MITIGATION

MEASURES.

TYPES OF FIRE EXTINGUISHERS.

 INTRODUCTION

Running a research lab is a challenge, to say the least. In all the hustle of loading the auto sampler,
pipetting, pouring, and mixing for research experiments, worker health and safety can be overlooked,
inadvertently pushed aside or forgotten—sometimes with dire consequences.

Understanding the required Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) programs and
recognizing hazards will help you to identify and minimize many of the common safety and health
hazards associated with running a research laboratory..

OSHA tells employers that we must provide a workplace “free from recognized hazards.”

TYPES OF HAZARDS

Most hazards encountered fall into three main categories:

1. chemical
2. biological
3. physical

CHEMICAL HAZARDS

The use of chemicals in research laboratories is inevitable, and the potential for harm or injury could be
significant if they are misused or mishandled.

These may include cleaning agents and disinfectants, drugs, anesthetic gases, solvents, paints, and
compressed gases.

Mitigation measures

It requires laboratories to identify hazards, determine employee exposures, and develop a chemical
hygiene plan (CHP) including standard operating procedures. The lab standard applies to the laboratory
use of chemicals and mandates written Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) addressing the particular
hazards and precautions required for safe use. This goes hand in hand with experimental design and
planning. Both standards require providing material safety data sheets and employee training.

BIOLOGICAL HAZARDS

Biological hazards encompass microbes, recombinant organisms, and viral vectors. They also include
biological agents introduced into experimental animals.
Mitigation measures

Health and safety issues such as containment, the ability for replication, and potential biological effect
are all important. When working with biological hazards, ensure that procedures can be conducted
safely.

PHYSICAL HAZARDS

Research facilities inherently have significant physical hazards present. Included here are electrical
safety hazards, ergonomic hazards associated with manual material handling and equipment use,
handling sharps, and basic housekeeping issues.

Mitigation measures

Many operations in the lab can result in lab workers assuming sustained or repetitive awkward postures.
Examples are eluting a column in a fume hood, working for extended periods in a biosafety cabinet, or
looking at slides on a microscope for extended periods. What is found acceptable for brief or occasional
use may become problematic if performed for long durations or very frequently. Pain is a good indicator
that something is wrong. Conduct work with a neutral, balanced posture. Magnetic assist or
programmable pipettes can reduce frequency of hand force required to prevent worker injury.

Sharps containers are ubiquitous in research labs and following a few safety rules can help prevent
getting stuck with accident reports. Use only puncture-proof and leak proof containers that are clearly
labeled. Train employees never to remove the covers or attempt to transfer the contents. Make sure
these containers are only used for “sharps” and that they get replaced when three-fourths full to
prevent overfilling.

Many injuries stem from poor housekeeping. Slips, trips, and falls are very common but easily avoided.
Start with safe and organized storage areas. Material storage should not create hazards. Bags,
containers, bundles, etc., stored in tiers should be stacked, blocked, interlocked, and limited in height so
that they are stable and secure against sliding or collapse. Keep storage areas free from an accumulation
of materials that could cause tripping, fire, explosion, or pest harborage.

ELECTRICAL HAZARDS

In the laboratory, workers may be exposed to electrical hazards including electric shock, arc blasts,
electrocutions, fires and explosions. Potential exposures to electrical hazards can result from faulty
electrical equipment/instrumentation or wiring, damaged receptacles and connectors, or unsafe work
practices.

Mitigation measures

 Always follow manufacturer’s recommendations for using electrical equipment.

 Do not use electrical equipment to perform a task for which it is not designed.
  Most equipment includes either a 3-pronged plug or double insulation. Equipment with neither
of these features is less safe but may meet electrical codes. You will not be protected from
electric shock if a 3-pronged plug is not inserted into a 3-prong outlet.
 If you plug more than two pieces of low-demand equipment into a standard outlet, use a fused
power strip that will shut off if too much power is used.
 Make sure that any outlet near a sink or other water source is Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupter
protected. If you have a GFCI, periodically test it by plugging something into it and pushing the
test button. Once the equipment shuts off just turn it back on.
 Above all, do not disable any electrical safety features.
 Before turning the equipment on, check that all power cords are in good condition.
 Do not use extension cords as a substitute for permanent wiring. n If you see a person being
electrocuted, DO NOT TOUCH THEM! The electricity can go through you, too.

FIRE EXTINGUISHER

A fire extinguisher is a handheld active fire protection device usually filled with a dry or wet chemical
used to extinguish or control fires, often in emergencies.

TYPES OF FIRE EXTINGUISHER

1. Water fire extinguisher

2. Foam fire extinguisher
3. Dry powder
4. Carbon (IV) oxide fire extinguisher
5. Wet chemical extinguisher.

Water fire extinguisher

They are still useful for areas that contain a large amount of combustible material, such as warehouses,
storage units, paper mills, and textile factories.

Foam fire extinguisher

Foam extinguishers, also known as AFFF foam fire extinguishers, are generally used for fires involving
flammable solids and liquids.

Foam fire extinguishers work in two ways. First, they are water-based so they lower the temperature of
the fire. Second, they extinguish flames with their aqueous film forming foam (AFFF), which smothers
the fire, preventing it from reigniting. The foam can be used on flammable liquids as it places a barrier
between the liquid and the flames.
Foam fire extinguishers are ideal for places with multiple fire risks, including hotels, offices, garages, and
factories. Most buildings can benefit from having a foam fire extinguisher.

Dry powder extinguisher

Dry powder fire extinguishers (also known as dry chemical fire extinguishers and multi-purpose fire
extinguishers) are incredibly versatile and can be used for almost every kind of fire. They are filled
with sodium bicarbonate or potassium bicarbonate.

Dry powder fire extinguishers work by smothering fires; they place a barrier between the source of
oxygen and the fuel, so they can be used on most types of fires. They suppress fires very quickly;
however, they do not cool the fire, so it could reignite. Specialist dry powder fire extinguishers work on
flammable metals.

Carbon (IV) oxide Fire extinguisher

CO2 fire extinguishers (also known as carbon dioxide fire extinguishers) are mainly used for electrical
fires. Guidelines advise that they are paired with foam extinguishers.

CO2 fire extinguishers discharge carbon dioxide, which is stored as a liquid and converts to a gas when
released. As the gas is released at speed, the fire extinguishers should not be used with fires involving
cooking oil as they may spread the fire.

CO2 fire extinguishers do not cool fires; instead, they replace oxygen with carbon dioxide, thus removing
the fuel. For this reason, they are very effective with electrical fires. CO2 fire extinguishers are
particularly recommended for places with a lot of electrical equipment, including offices, schools, and
hospitals, where they should be paired with foam extinguishers.

Wet chemical fire extinguisher

Wet chemical fire extinguishers (also known as Class F fire extinguishers) are the only extinguisher that
can safely be used for fires involving cooking oil; therefore, they are essential in professional kitchens
and fast food r Wet chemical fire extinguishers have a yellow label saying ‘Wet Chemical’. They also
have a longer hose than the standard extinguishers and have an ID tag saying ‘Wet Chemical
Extinguisher’.

Potassium is the chemical component of the fire extinguishers, and the chemical is gently sprayed out to
not burn the fats and oils. It creates a film over the grease to suffocate the fire.

Whilst they are excellent and extinguishing grease fires, they can produce toxic fumes, so areas must be
ventilated.

Wet chemical fire extinguishers are available in 2, 3, and 6-litre sizes.

 CONCLUSION

Research laboratories present many challenges. In the day-to-day bustle of conducting research
experiments, worker health and safety can be easily overlooked. However, with proper guidance, a
trained eye, and practice in noticing the mundane, we can find and correct many common mistakes and
prevent illness or injury.

To protect your business and ensure compliance with safety regulations, you must have the proper fire
extinguisher installed correctly. Once your fire extinguishers are installed, they must also be
commissioned by law—meaning that they have been fully checked and approved.

REFERENCES

 https://www.acesecurity.co.uk/blog/what-are-the-different-types-of-fire-extinguishers-and-
their-uses
 https://www.labmanager.com/laboratory-hazards-and-risks-18238.