Working with chemicals

Rules for working with chemicals in the cleanroom

Following is an itemized list of rules for working with chemicals in the cleanroom

• Before working with a chemical for the first time, you must look up and read its materials safety data sheet (MSDS)! You can find it on kemibrug.dk
  • On kemibrug you may also find local handling procedures and where items are stocked
• New processes can only be introduced in the cleanroom after submission and approval of a chemical risk assessment form.
  • Obtain information and seek advice from qualified colleagues about your process
  • Fill it in and email it to the cleanroom staff for approval before using the new process
• Know what type of chemical reactions to expect
• Always work with chemicals under a fume hood (the only exception is isopropanol and ethanol for wiping equipment)
• Familiarize yourself with the safe operation of the fume hood (Alarms, indicators, emergency max flow)
• When using acids and bases you must:
  • Use personal protection equipment
  • Stand at fume hood
  • Always change gloves if you get chemicals on them
  • Never put your fingers into chemicals even if you wear gloves. Gloves are for safety against spills only!
  • Please note that the glove breakthrough time for most solvents is between tens of seconds and at most a few minutes
  • Remember Triple A: - Always Add Acid to water (På dansk: AVIS: Aldrig Vand I Syre)
• If you spill please use the appropriate spill kit located under the sink to collect the chemicals
  • Always inform other cleanroom users immediately
  • Always inform the NBI staff about spills
  • Evacuate cleanroom and put “No entrance” sign on door if the spill is more than 10x10 cm
• Empty chemical bottles must be placed in the dedicated space under sink. Staff will remove them later
• Wipes saturated with solvents must be left to degas in the fume hood before disposal in the trash bin (even if the trash cabinet is ventilated)
• Use a funnel when pouring chemicals into a small container
• All chemicals must be marked with the prefabricated labels
  • Prefabricated labels are located in the labels folder in the cleanroom
• If you have special reasons to leave a process unattended in a fumehood, please limit the time. Beakers with chemicals left in the fume hood MUST be marked with a content label and your name and cell-phone no. Be prepared to be flexible if approached by other users
• Hot acid mixtures must be left to cool before pouring into the waste containers
• Chemical mixtures giving off gas must be left to degas (with cap off) before pouring into waste containers
• Dangerous chemicals, liquefied gasses etc must not by accompanied by persons during lift transport
  • The lifts at HCØ have a special override feature for unaccompanied transport.
  • Read: “Lift transport of hazardous materials”

Guidelines for using hydrofluoric acid

• Hydrofluoric acid (HF) is by far the most serious danger to your health in the lab. Even though it’s considered a “weak” acid the consequences are much more serious compared to any other acid used in the lab.
• HF can only be used after special safety training by qualified staff
• The users must read the document "working with HF" thoroughly before using HF
• Always work with a “buddy” when using HF

In case of emergency or accidents

Apply the four principles of first aid:

• Stop the accident
• Preserve life
• Summon assistance
• Provide first aid

If you call the emergency services via 112 you must send a colleague down to the main entrance of the HCØ building to help the paramedics locate the site of the accident.

The local emergency is the Bispebjerg Skadestue, 23 Bispebjergbakke, 2400 Copenhagen NV.

All accidents must be reported to one of the permanent NBI staff members. Click here for contact information.

Emergency equipment

• Emergency showers are located in the hallway niches on all floors at HCØ except the basement. The shower head is in the ceiling and tap handle is in the wooden panel above the cabinets.
• Eyewash bottles are in the cleanroom and in all labs where chemicals are used
• Small first aid kits are behind a wooden panel in in the hallway niches on all floors except the basement.
• Larger first aid kits are located in the hallway niches closest to the elevator on the 2’nd floor (near room D205) and 4th floor (near room D413)
• Defibrillators are located in the hallway niches closest to the elevator on the 2’nd floor (near room D205) and 4th floor (near room D413)

Practical information

• Use of contact lenses is not recommended in the lab. Contact lenses make it difficult to wash the eyes in case of splashes. If you choose to wear them you should alert other clean-room users. Other users need to know that lenses will need to be removed if you do get something in your eye
• Accident insurance:
  • All staff members are covered by the insurance provisions of the Occupational Injuries Act. In this relation a staff member is someone receiving salary for the work done
  • Students are not usually covered by the insurance provisions of the Occupational Injuries Act. We recommend that you have an accident policy, and that you make sure it also applies when you are studying and when you are working in the lab.
• Information about the NBI Occupational Health and Safety Committee can be found here (login to KU intranet is needed)
  • This webpage also has links to other relevant Occupational Health and Safety sites at KU
  • A very thorough general lab safety manual for physics students at NBI is also available in Danish:
• Please familiarize yourself with the emergency plan for HCØ
• Please familiarize yourself with the general evacuation concept of KU
• Please learn the chemical hazard labeling system (CLP)
• KU provides First Aid courses. Keep an eye out for courses given in English (Generally offered a couple of times a year).