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• Never store flammable liquids in a house- hold refrigerator or freezer. Vapors can build up inside the refrigerator and a spark from the compressor, thermostat, light- bulb, or electrical switch can ignite the vapors. Explosion-proof refrigerators can be purchased but cost 3–4 times more than household refrigerators.
• Some alcohols will also form peroxides upon standing. These peroxides can be explosive if they are allowed to accumu- late or are concentrated. Do not distill these materials. Consult the Flinn Scientific Catalog/Reference Manual or SDS to determine storage recommendations for specific alcohols.
Transporting
• Secondary containment is critical in preventing major spills or accidents when transporting flammable liquids. Make sure all flammable and combustible liquids are in unbreakable plastic bottles or PVC-coated glass bottles or transport them in unbreak- able bottle carriers.
• Always carry large flammable liquid bottles with one hand underneath the bottle and the other hand around the neck of the bottle. This keeps the bottle closer to your body and decreases the risk of hitting a sharp object like a desk corner.
• If a cart is used to transport hazard- ous chemicals, place compatible chemicals inside an unbreakable secondary containment vessel, such as a plastic tote. The cart should be equipped with guard rails to prevent plastic totes or bottles from sliding off the cart.
• If hazardous chemicals are moved from one floor to another, use an elevator if possible. Only the teacher transporting the chemicals should be on the eleva- tor. Although elevator accidents are rare, should a dangerous material be released in an elevator while passengers are trapped inside, the results could be catastrophic.
Flammable Liquid Safety
Safety Tips for Using Flammable Liquids in Teaching Laboratories
Introduction
The use of flammable liquids is an impor- tant component of most teaching laboratories. Understanding the properties and hazards of these materials is an important first step for the safe purchase, storage, use, and disposal of flammable liquids.
Safety Precautions
All flammable liquids found in teaching environments are also organic compounds. Their principal hazard is flammability. Many are also slightly toxic by inhalation and are body tissue irritants. Mild headaches or dizzi- ness may be a symptom of overexposure to an organic vapor. Good ventilation is highly recommended whenever volatile organic compounds are used. Specific hazards for common organic solvents are presented in this review. Always wear chemical splash goggles, chemical-resistant gloves, and chemical-resistant apron whenever using flammable liquids. Consult current Safety Data Sheets for specific safety, handling, and disposal information.
Purchase
• Before purchasing any organic liquid, ask the following questions:
— Do I understand the hazards of this material?
— How often is this chemical used in a school setting?
— What is the educational value of this chemical?
— Have I used this chemical before?
— Is my lab equipped for the safe use and storage of this chemical?
If these questions cannot be answered positively, please reconsider purchasing the chemical.
• Organic compounds are not easy to dispose of and frequently require costly disposal methods. Purchase only what is required for 1–2 years’ usage.
• Purchase smaller-sized bottles of flam- mable liquids whenever possible to keep them fresh and to make storage and handling easier. It is easier to handle a 100- or 500-mL bottle than a 1- or 4-liter jug of liquid. Smaller bottles of liquids also contain less liquid that can spill in the event of an accident and will add less fuel to a potential fire.
• Always purchase flammable liquids in plastic bottles or in PVC-coated glass bottles. PVC-coated bottles will not shatter and spill material when dropped.
Storage
• Store all flammable liquids, solids, and gases in a dedicated flammables cabinet. The best flammables cabinets are built using high-density wood. Metal is a heat conduc- tor while wood is an insulator. Applying intense heat to a metal flammables cabinet may cause the door to warp and release flammable liquids and vapors into the fire. A wooden flammables cabinet insulates the chemicals inside the cabinet and will withstand a fire better than a metal cabinet. Wooden flammable cabinets have been reviewed and approved by the major stan- dard-setting organizations, including OSHA and NFPA, and by many major city fire departments.
• Flammable storage cabinets should be located in a locked chemical storeroom to prevent theft. The cabinet should also be secured with a lock.
• Within the flammables cabinet, all the materials should be stored using the Flinn Scientific Chemical Storage Pattern.
• A chemical storeroom that contains flam- mable materials should be equipped with an ABC fire extinguisher, fire blanket, and smoke detector.
Store all flammable liquids in a dedicated flammables cabinet.
• The chemical storeroom should also be equipped with a small, corrosive-resis- tant exhaust system. Flinn Scientific recommends a fan that will provide four air changes per hour. The fan should be placed near the ceiling of the storeroom. Since organic vapors are more dense than air, the exhaust system must draw vapors from the floor. Use a galvanized sheet metal duct to draw air from the floor to the exhaust fan near the ceiling. (See flinnsci.com.)
• If a flammables cabinet is not avail- able, store all flammable liquids in Flinn Saf-StorTM cans. (See page 632.) This will provide good secondary containment and protection during fires.
• Never store flammable or combustible materials near strong oxidizing agents. As these materials react with one another, heat is evolved and a fire can occur. Use the Flinn Scientific Chemical Storage Pattern to prevent storage accidents. (See pages 661–632.)
• Diethyl ether may form explosive perox- ides over the course of 1–2 years. Buy and store only small quantities of this material.
FLAMMABLE LIQUID SAFETY continued on next page.