Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) Working with Cryogenic Liquids BUILDING: PREPARED BY: ROOM: REVISION DATE: Experimental Process Brief Description of the Operation/Experiment: Specialized Training Instructions: Chemical and Physical Hazards Associate with the Experiment Before completing this section, please review the UIC Chemicals of Concern form to identify significant chemical hazards involved in this experiment. Chemical: Hazard(s): Liquid Nitrogen Simple Asphyxiant (displaces oxygen) Liquid Helium Severe Tissue Damage (-196 o C) (Extreme Frost Bite) Filling Dewars or Other Storage Vessels Dewars and other storage vessels (e.g. cylinders) are available in a variety of shapes and sizes. Always use a dewar or storage vessel rated for the cryogen you are refilling or transporting. Use only fitted transfer tubes designed for use with the dewar container. Cracked or damaged insulation on transfer tubes should be replaced. Do not handle transfer tubes with bare hands, as the fitting is not insulated. Remove any items on your hand(s)/arm(s) (a spill/splash could freeze the jewelry to your skin). Always wear cryogenic gloves when dispensing a cryogenic liquid. Note: cryogenic gloves only provide short-term protection against accidental skin exposures and are not designed to protect skin against prolonged contact. 1
When transferring into a secondary container, it is generally not a good idea to stand holding the container during filling. It should be placed on a stable stand or hung so that the transfer tube rests securely inside the neck of the secondary container. Only fill a dewar from a transfer line that has a phase separator attached to the end of the line. When filling a dewar flask at a filling station, place the phase separator so that it rests on the bottom of the dewar. Do not allow the cryogen to splash into the dewar. Never fill containers higher than the indicated level. Use stainless tubing to transfer cryogens. Never use rubber or plastic tubing. The temperature can cause rubber or plastic tubing to become brittle and crack, spraying the liquid onto surrounding surfaces. (Liquid helium must be transferred through a vacuum insulated tube because of its extremely low heat of vaporization.) Never leave a filling process unattended. ENGINEERING CONTROLS The following safety equipment or device features must be available. Fume Hood Biological Safety Cabinet Glove Box Autoclave Shielding Laminar Flow Hood Clean Bench Toxic Gas Cabinet Other (Please Explain below) Further Instructions: Store and use this product with adequate ventilation. Do not store or dispense liquid nitrogen in a confined space. Liquid nitrogen when heated turns back into a gas and displaces oxygen in a room leading to asphyxiation. Cryogenic containers are equipped with pressure relief devices to control internal pressure. Under normal conditions, these containers will periodically vent product. Do not plug, remove, or tamper with any pressure relief device. Never allow any unprotected part of the body to come in contact with uninsulated pipes or equipment that contains cryogenic product. The extremely cold metal will cause the flesh to stick fast and tear when one attempts to withdraw from it. 2
Use a suitable hand truck for container movement. Containers should be handled and stored in an upright position. Do not drop, tip, or roll containers on their sides. Do not remove or interchange connections. Contact the vendor if you experience any difficulty operating the container valve or with the container connections. Discontinue use. Use the proper connection. DO NOT USE ADAPTERS! Before filling in this section, the UIC Laboratory Hazard Assessment Tool must be completed. Please refer to this document to select appropriate PPE for the experiment. PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT The minimum required PPE for working with Cryogenic Liquids is as follows: Safety Glasses Flammable Resistant Lab Coat Lab Coat Safety Goggles Face Shield Nitrile Glove Butyl Gloves Chemical Apron Disposable Gowns Respirator Cryogenic Gloves Autoclave Gloves Wire Mesh Gloves Boot Covers Further Instructions: Remember to wear your face shield over your safety glasses for optimal protection. EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT Required for handling these hazardous substances Safety Shower Eyewash Chemical Antidote Emergency Shut-off Switch/Valve Fire Extinguisher Oxygen Sensors/Alarms Further Instructions: For NMR rooms that use liquid nitrogen and helium to cool their magnets, it is recommended that oxygen sensors be installed with a flashing strobe and audible alarm to warn researchers when 3
oxygen levels are low. Please contact EHSO at labsafety@uic.edu if you are considering installing an oxygen sensor. WASTE DISPOSAL NONE. All cylinders are returned to the original manufacturer. SPECIAL EMERGENCY PROCEDURES Outline any special emergency procedures unique to this experiment. GENERAL EMERGENCY PROCEDURES FIRE/EXPLOSION: Use R.A.C.E. Rescue, Alarm, Contain, and Evacuate for all building fires. Leaking Gas Tank or Continuously Venting Gas Tank: Immediately move the liquid nitrogen cylinder next to a fume hood. The area should be immediately cleared and if necessary, the affected area should be evacuated as soon as an emergency is determined. Call 5-5555 for UIC Police on a campus phone OR (312) 355-5555 from a cell phone as needed. Report the spill to EHSO 6-SAFE (6-7233) or 312-996-7233 and complete an incident report. OTHER: If liquid nitrogen contacts your skin, remove any clothing that may restrict circulation to frozen area. Do not rub frozen parts as tissue damage may result. As soon as practical place the affected area in a warm water bath which has a temperature not to exceed 105 F (40 C). Never use dry heat. Call a physician as soon as possible.seek medial attention. Non Life Threatening Emergencies University Health Services (MC 684) 835 South Wolcott Avenue, Room E-144 Chicago, Illinois 60612-7338 T 312-996-7420 F 312-413-8485 Life Threatening Emergencies: Report to University of Illinois Hospital & Health Sciences System Emergency Room 1740 W Taylor Street Chicago, IL 60612 T: 312-996-8177 4
Approval and Certification I approve the use of this SOP for my lab group. I agree to modify this SOP to meet the safety needs of my researchers working in my lab. PI CERTIFICATION I have read and understand the above SOP. I agree to contact my PI or Lab Manager if I plan to modify this procedure. 5
References 1. OSHA Safety and Health Standards (29CFR1910) - United States Department of Labor, OSHA, Government Printing Office: Washington, DC., (latest edition) http://www.osha.gov/sltc/healthguidelines/chloroform/recognition.html 2. Prudent Practices in the Laboratory: Handling and Management of Chemical Hazards, National Research Council, National Academy Press: Washington, D.C., 2011 3. Safety in Academic Chemistry Laboratories- 3rd ed., Committee on Chemical Safety, American Chemical Society: Washington, D.C., 2003 4. Sittig, M., Hazardous and Toxic Effects of Industrial Chemicals, Noyes Data Corporation: Park Ridge, NJ., 1979 5. Furr, A.K., Ed, CRC Handbook of Laboratory, 4th ed., CRC Press: Boca Raton, FL., 1995 6. Walters, C.C., Ed., Safe Handling of Chemical Carcinogens, Mutagens, Teratogens, and Highly Toxic Substances, Ann Arbor Science Publishers, Inc., : Ann Arbor, MI., 1980, Vol. l 7. Mahn, W. J. Fundamentals of laboratory safety: physical hazards in the academic laboratory, Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, 1999 8. UC Center for Laboratory Safety, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles California, 2012, from cls.ucla.edu. 6