Annual Report on Project XL Activities at Boston College

Prepared by N. Gail Hall, Environmental Health and Safety Officer

August 15, 2005

 

Introduction

 

This report contains the findings and observations of the most recent year of Boston College’s participation in the New England College and University Laboratories Project XL.  The report includes waste data for the calendar year 2004, and survey, training and other data for the academic year 2004-2005.

 

 

Management of Hazardous Chemicals of Concern (EPIs 1 & 2)

 

Laboratories are required to submit complete chemical inventories to the Office of Environmental Health and Safety annually.  These inventories are used by us to meet regulatory requirements, including emergency planning, Tier II and emission source registration reporting.  We compare the HCOC list to the main inventory in order to identify HCOCs in various locations in labs.  The HCOC list is also used to identify particular chemicals for targeted clean-out or maintenance (e.g. ethers, picric acid).  In the past year we have used the HCOC list in developing a protocol for limiting lab activities when there is a significant event on campus[1] (e.g. football game, commencement, Boston Marathon).  By sorting the HCOC list based on certain parameters (e.g. Class 1A flammables [Table 1] and reactive chemicals [Table 2]), we have been able to provide labs with a discrete list of chemicals whose use is prohibited during significant events when there are large numbers of people on campus and emergency response to campus is difficult.  In addition, the HCOC table is used to provide information on chemical storage of unstable chemicals.

 


Table 1:  HCOCs sorted by NFPA Diamond Flammable Level 4 (Lab workers are prohibited from using these chemicals during significant events.)

 

CHEMICAL:

HCOC Reactive [R]/ Toxic [T]

NFPA Flammability Rating***

Oxidant [S/L/G]

Explosive

Peroxide Former Class**

Acute Toxicity: DOT Poison*

Waste Code***

Special Handling Requirements

Acetaldehyde

R

4

 

 

2

 

 

12 month storage limit if inhibited, 3 month if  not inhibited

Butadiene

R

4

 

 

1

 

 

3 month storage limit

Chloroethane

T

4

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diethyl Ether

R

4

 

 

2

 

 

12 month storage limit if inhibited, 3 month if  not inhibited

Ethylamine

T

4

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ethylmercaptan

T

4

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hydrocyanic Acid

T

4

 

 

 

B

 

 

Hydrogen

T

4

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hydrogen Cyanide

T

4

 

 

 

A/B

 

 

Isobutane

T

4

 

 

 

 

 

 

Isopropylamine

T

4

 

 

 

 

 

 

Methyl Mercaptan

T

4

 

 

 

 

 

 

Methylamine

T

4

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pentane

T

4

 

 

 

 

 

 

Propylene Oxide

T

4

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trimethylamine

T

4

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vinyl Bromide

R

4

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vinylidene Chloride

R

4

 

 

1

 

 

3 month storage limit

Diazomethane

T

Flam Gas

 

X

 

 

 

 

Diborane [G]

T

Flam Gas

 

 

 

A

 

 

Acetylene

T

Flammable Gas

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Table 2:  Excerpt from HCOC Reactive Chemicals (Lab workers are prohibited from using these chemicals during significant events.)

 

 

CHEMICAL:

HCOC Reactive [R]/ Toxic [T]

NFPA Flammability Rating***

Oxidant [S/L/G]

Explosive

Peroxide Former Class**

Acute Toxicity: DOT Poison*

Waste Code***

Special Handling Requirements

Acetal

R

 

 

 

2

 

 

12 month storage limit if inhibited, 3 month if  not inhibited

Acetaldehyde

R

4

 

 

2

 

 

12 month storage limit if inhibited, 3 month if  not inhibited

Acetylenic Compound

R

 

 

X

 

 

P

 

Acrylic Acid

R

 

 

 

1

 

 

3 month storage limit

Acrylonitrile

R

3

 

 

1

 

 

3 month storage limit

Acyl or Alkyl Nitrates

R

 

 

X

 

 

 

 

Acyl or Alkyl Nitrites

R

 

 

X