Promoting Chemical Laboratory Safety and Security in Developing Countries (2010) / Chapter Skim
Currently Skimming:
Summary and Recommendations
Summary and Recommendations
Pages 1-16
The Chapter Skim interface presents what we've algorithmically identified as the most significant single chunk of text within every page in the chapter.
Select key terms on the right to highlight them within pages of the chapter.
From page 1... ...
Many other incidents have occurred involving intentional releases of hazardous chemicals with significance to public health and safety.3 In this report, the term chemicals of concern (COC) is used to describe all those laboratory chemicals that pose a high risk to safety and security and include4 1 See Appendix Table D-1 for an example list of Chemical Weapons Convention chemicals, and see the U.S.
|
From page 2... ...
was found to be storing over a pound of cyanide compounds and other hazardous chemicals in a tunnel near the Chicago subway system, and at least part of the stores of cyanide were obtained from the campus of the University of Illinois at Chicago.5 The growing security threat of COCs thus presents a new challenge to working with chemicals in the laboratory, especially in small-scale industrial and academic settings. While large-scale industrial manufacturing and use of COCs is a dominant concern in national and international chemical security, use of chemicals at the laboratory scale poses a unique and significant security threat and is the main focus of this report.
|
From page 3... ...
. This section provides an overview of current chemical laboratory safety and security practices in developing countries, largely focused on the barriers to and needs for improvement.
|
From page 4... ...
The barriers to and needs for improving laboratory safety practices in developing countries are listed here and described in detail below. Barriers Financial limitations Climate constraints Cultural challenges Needs Institutional safety policy and rules Institutional implementation strategies or plans General safety awareness and training Reporting and compliance processes Waste disposal systems External help and support Barriers to Improving Safety Practices Financial Limitations Financial constraints are among the most important bottlenecks in implementing safety practices in chemical laboratories in developing countries.
|
From page 5... ...
While institutions tend to schedule closures or vacations during extreme weather, appropriate provisions cannot always be made for storing chemicals safely during such conditions. Cultural Challenges Differences in culture have a substantial effect on behavior, including chemical safety and security.
|
From page 6... ...
Needs for Improving Chemical Laboratory Safety Practices Institutional Safety Policy and Rules Not many institutions in the developing world have specific safety rules and policies. They generally rely on generic safety practices that may not be very clear or known to people who are supposed to follow and implement them.
|
From page 7... ...
It is hardly discussed in meetings of faculty members or managers of chemical laboratories, and there are minimal safety instruction, teaching, or training workshops for safety offices. Faculty and laboratory managers who demonstrate consistently safe behavior typically go unnoticed.
|
From page 8... ...
As a result, there is no external audit of safety practices of chemical laboratories. Current Security Practices On a positive note, most campuses in developing countries have strict entry policies, probably better than most campuses in developed countries.
|
From page 9... ...
Barriers Financial limitations Bulk purchase of chemicals Cultural challenges Needs Institutional security policies Institutional security management plans, equipment, and services General security awareness Trained and motivated security personnel Reporting systems Barriers to Improving Security Practices Financial Limitations Secure storage of chemicals, especially COCs, requires stringent measures such as a separate building with lockable doors and an alarm system. Such infrastructure is nonexistent in most developing countries, and all chemicals, even organic solvents and peroxides, are generally stored in small storage areas in laboratory buildings or at laboratory benches.
|
From page 10... ...
Few universities have central storage facilities especially constructed for chemicals. Common teaching laboratory chemicals are typically procured through open bidding at competitive prices in bulk quantities whenever funds are available.
|
From page 11... ...
Needs for Improving Laboratory Security Practices Institutional Security Policies Chemical facility security is rarely treated separately from general security concerns. At both national and institutional levels, there are no plans for security of chemical facilities and storage sites.
|
From page 12... ...
In most developing countries, chemical facilities are guarded by security guards who are not informed about hazardous chemicals and the risks posed by their theft and diversion. That is because there is a widespread belief that diversion of chemicals for malevolent purposes is highly unlikely.
|
From page 13... ...
Because CSP is still in its infancy and is seeking to increase its impact, the Department of State called on the National Academies to assist in the CSP's efforts to promote chemical safety and security in developing countries.9 In this report, the committee examines the dual-use risks posed by toxic industrial chemicals and other hazardous chemicals and provides guidance on a baseline of practices in the handling and storage of hazardous chemicals required to promote safety and security in their use on a laboratory scale in developing countries. In its second task, the committee will be producing educational materials for CSP training.
|
From page 14... ...
As discussed earlier, universities have unique risks that can include lack of safe practices, presence of COCs, improper management and storage of chemicals, and lack of enforcement of safety rules. Through its training activities, the CSP hopes to prepare laboratories in developing countries to avoid the consequences of chemical mismanagement, such as bodily BOX S-1 Current Chemical Security Engagement Program Partners, March 2009 Host governments Universities Chemistry professionals Regional chemical organizations Arab Union of Chemists Federation of Asian Chemical Societies Federation of African Societies of Chemistry National chemical organizations American Chemical Society Indonesian Chemical Society (Himpunan Kimia Indonesia)
|
From page 15... ...
The CSP is also partnering with chemical industrial organizations to promote established best practices in chemical security, such as those reflected in the Responsible Care® Security Code and Responsible Care® Management System.12 Chemical industry risks can include theft of unsecured chemicals and improper disposal of chemicals, in addition to many of the risks that academia faces. KEY FINDINgS AND RECOMMENDATIONS Developing countries have unique needs, and their safety and security practices and attitudes vary considerably, both among developing countries and between developing countries and developed countries.
|
From page 16... ...
The policies should include establishing programs for regular inspections, a method for reporting safety and security incidents, investigations, follow-up, enforcement, and systems for reward and recognition, which will require hiring and maintaining the appropriate level of trained safety and security staff (as outlined in Chapter 4)
|
Key Terms
This material may be derived from roughly machine-read images, and so is provided only to facilitate research.
More
information on Chapter Skim is available.