Laboratory Safety and Biohazard Management Flashcards

Under the OSHA Hazard Communication Standard aligned with GHS, how many sections must a Safety Data Sheet (SDS) contain?

Answer: 16

GHS-aligned SDSs use a standardized 16-section format, from identification through other information.

On an NFPA 704 hazard diamond, what does the blue quadrant indicate?

Answer: Health hazard

Blue indicates health hazard, red flammability, yellow instability, and white special hazards.

When diluting concentrated sulfuric acid, which procedure is correct?

Answer: Add acid slowly to the water

Adding acid to water lets the larger water volume absorb the heat and prevents violent boiling and splattering.

Which GHS pictogram indicates acute toxicity that may be fatal or toxic?

Answer: Skull and crossbones

The skull and crossbones pictogram marks acute toxicity in the more severe categories.

Why must picric acid never be allowed to dry out in the laboratory?

Answer: Dry picric acid is shock-sensitive and explosive

Dry picric acid and its metal picrates can detonate from shock, friction, or heat.

What is the OSHA 8-hour time-weighted average permissible exposure limit for formaldehyde?

Answer: 0.75 ppm

OSHA 29 CFR 1910.1048 sets the formaldehyde PEL at 0.75 ppm TWA with a 2 ppm STEL.

Why should reagents containing sodium azide not be flushed down drains without large volumes of water?

Answer: They form explosive metal azides with lead or copper plumbing

Sodium azide reacts with lead and copper pipes to form shock-sensitive explosive azide salts.