Laboratory safety and management. Department of Molecular Biosciences, Wenner-Gren Institute (MBW)

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1 Laboratory safety and management Department of Molecular Biosciences, Wenner-Gren Institute (MBW)

2 I. Welcome to MBW 5 - Responsible for safety - General regulations - In case of emergency - Important telephone numbers II. Aspects of safety and protection 7 - General considerations - Points of order - Working alone in the lab - Equipment to be used for personal protection o Eyes o Hands and skin - Air hygiene III. Handling of chemicals 10 - General - KLARA - Guidelines for laboratory work with chemicals - Health effects and exposure - Toxics chemicals - Regulations for work with combustible goods and organic solvents - Waste IV. Working with radioactive substances 15 - Radioisotope practice - General and legal guidelines for working with radioactive isotopes - Code of practice for isotope work - Radioactive waste disposal - Handling/storage - Liquid radioactive waste and scintillation liquids - Liquid waste - Dry waste - Radioactive substances in the form of sealed radiation sources - Plan your waste handling according to SSMFS 2010:2 - Hand-over/transport 2

3 V. Working with bacteria, virus and cell cultures 22 VI. Working with animals 24 VII. Instruments 25 - General - Centrifuges and rotors. VIII. Waste disposal guide 26 - Laboratory glassware. - Contaminated laboratory glass. - Radioactive waste - Hazardous waste IX. Information concerning accidents 29 - General - Eye damage - Skin damage - Inhalation of toxic gases and chemicals - Ingested poisons - Injury caused by electricity - Shock - How to induce vomiting - Automated external defibrillator (AED) - Report all accidents/incidents to SAMIR X. Useful legislations and lists 34 - Provisions and general recommendations from the Swedish work environment authority (AFSar från Arbetsmiljöverket) - Swedish radioactive safety authority - The Swedish board of agriculture (Jordbruksverket) - Webportal för genetikmyndigheter - Medical products agency (Läkemedelsverket) - Swedish poisons information centre (Giftinformationscentralen) - Swedish civil contingencies agency (Myndigheten för samhällsskydd och beredskap) - Regulations that apply to Stockholm University o SAMIR o Avfall och avfallsrutiner/ waste management procedures o KLARA Inventory system for chemical products - Swedish chemical inspectorate (Kemikalieinspektionen) - Incase of emergency (Om något händer) 3

4 XI. Information på svenska om gifter och olyckor 41 XII. Form to assert that you will work according to MBW regulations 47 4

5 I. Welcome to the Department of Molecular Biosciences, Wenner-Gren Institute (MBW) This instruction is intended to serve as guidance for the introduction of newcomers to the department. The aim is to help you to rapidly learn about the general rules and working routines in our department. The text outlines some rules but cannot be regarded as complete. More detailed descriptions, rules and instructions can be found in separate folders for instance regulations for radioactive work and working in the animal house (see further in SOP Standard Operating Procedures ). It is the responsibility of every individual to plan and conduct his/her work in a safe and clean way without causing danger or disturbing other people or environment within or outside the lab. Do not hesitate to ask other people in the lab, primarily your group leader/supervisor if you need to discuss any details. This must be done BEFORE you start your experiment or even before ordering new chemicals and other reagents. Note: During the first week the newcomer has to study this document carefully and get additional information from his/her group leader and the safety representative (skyddsombud). Thereafter the newcomer has to sign a form that the introductory information has been received and hand it in to the secretariat. The form is attached this document. Responsible for safety The head of the department, Per Ljungdahl, has final responsibility for internal control of the work environment at the department. It is possible, however, for the head of department to delegate employer responsibility. If you have questions regarding safety when you work the first person to ask is your group leader. You can also ask one of the safety representatives for advice, see list of key persons below. General regulations Everyone working at MBW must ensure that they can distinguish the sounds of the fire alarms, ventilation alarms and card-reader alarm. You must also know the locations of fire extinguishers, first-aid equipments, emergency eye washes, emergency showers, emergency escape routes, main switches for electrical power and main stop-cocks for gas and water. Make sure you know where to find of a list of telephone numbers to be used in case of an accident or emergency. A FIRST AID AND CRISIS PLAN is posted beside the emergency exit plan and by all telephones. Those who work in laboratories at MBW must have basic knowledge in laboratory procedures. It is the responsibility of the supervisor to provide support and information such that work can be carried out safely. It is the responsibility of the supervisor to make new students, employees and guest researchers familiar with the safety regulations. 5

6 The supervisor is also responsible that instructions are supplied such that machines and other equipments are used in the correct manner. IN CASE OF EMERGENCY First-aid kits are available in the corridors and in many labs. Be sure you know were to find it. Emergency showers and eye-flush devises are situated in most laboratories. Fire. An evacuation plan is posted in all corridors. Here, information concerning evacuation routes, fire posts, hand-held fire extinguishers and carbon dioxide extinguishers, blankets, is available. Memorandum: Rescue, warn/ alarm, extinguish Evacuation: Gathering on the field at the front of the Arrhenius laboratories, outside G-salen. Electricity. The main switch for the electricity located in the corridor for each laboratory, must be turned off in case of fire. Gas. The main regulator for the gas supporting each laboratory is located in the pulp cabinet in the corridor. This must be turned off in case of fire. IMPORTANT TELEPHONE NUMBERS - Ambulance; Fire brigade; Police; Swedish Poisons Information Centre (emergency); Swedish Poisons Information Centre (no emergency); Health care contacts (Vårdguiden); Stockholm University alarm-phone; Major safety delegate at SU; Work Environment Engineer (skyddsingenjör); , - Section for Public Safety at SU; (daytime) - Section for Public Safety at SU; (after working hours) Key persons A group with representatives from each section of the department handles the safety and security aspects. You will find the names of these persons on a separate sheet titled Key persons at MBW. 6

7 II. Aspect of safety and protection GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS It is the responsibility of each individual to plan and conduct his/her works in a safe way without causing danger or disturbing other people or environment within or outside the laboratories. When introducing a new laboratory technique, the safety aspects must be considered. This must be done BEFORE starting experiments or ordering new chemicals or reagents that are labeled as hazardous for humans. Consult your group-leader and/ or other lab-personnel already when planning the experiments. Every person in the lab is responsible for: - that reasonable order is obtained at the working-areas, - that equipment is handled in a proper way, - that the workspaces are kept free from unnecessary equipments and consumables, - that the safety regulations are followed. The floors in the laboratories must be kept free from all objects. Electric adaptor devices are NOT allowed on the floors. In order to assure good ventilation and the function of fume hoods, all windows of the laboratory should be kept closed, also during summer. In the absence of magnetic holder device, doors connecting fire cells must be closed. It is not allowed to eat, drink or bringing foods into the laboratories. POINTS OF ORDER A. Children Children must not be taken into the lab area. B. Pets Pets are not allowed at the university since many people are allergic. C. Rules of conduct Discuss the local rules in the laboratory. If accidents occur or incidents that could have been an accident report to the safety representative and to the incident/accident reporting link SAMIR at the SU homepage. D. Working hours Official working hours are in the wintertime, 8-16 in the summer (1 st of may -15 th September). This is exclusive lunch; hence you work 8 hours and 10 minutes per day in the winter and 7 hours and 30 min in the summer. When planning your work it is important that you are not performing dangerous steps in an experiment when you are alone in the lab. Always make sure that someone knows where you are if you work odd hours. E. Lunch rooms In order to keep the lunchroom nice and tidy everyone is assigned one week responsibility, together with another person, for kitchen duty on rotating bases. This includes cleaning the tables, running the dish washing machine and keeping the coffee machine working. Lab coats are not allowed in the lunchroom. 7

8 F. Smoking is not allowed indoors at the university G. Food and drinks are not allowed in the laboratories H. Last person to leave the lab After working hours the corridor doors are locked and alarmed. You have to make sure that windows are closed, and that doors to the rooms are locked. Switch off the light and instruments that unintentionally have been left on. WORKING ALONE IN THE LAB Undergraduate students, including those doing a Degree Project ( examensarbete ) are not allowed to work in the laboratories unless someone else (teacher, PhD-student) in the same research group is present. He/she can be in the lab or in the office. When working alone in the lab after working hours and during weekends, you should make sure that someone else in the Department knows that you are there. See Ensamarbete (Working alone) AFS 1982:3 Hazardous work is not allowed when you are alone in the lab. EQUIPMENTS TO BE USED FOR PERSONAL PROTECTION Each person working in the laboratory shall find out where to get a laboratory coat (which should be used when working in the lab), and where to place dirty laboratory coats. The laboratory coats must NOT be used in common areas outside the laboratory. Unless obviously unnecessary, the need for other equipment for individual protection, e.g., gloves, full-face visor, and respiratory protection device, should be considered in every situation. EYES Protective glasses are obligatory when there is a risk for explosion or splashes of poisons, corrosives, genotoxic compounds. Use specific glasses adapted for work with an unprotected UV-source when needed. (An Eye burn by UV light happens easily if you do not protect you eyes at the UV-table AND IT HURTS!) Contact lenses should not be worn when chemicals are handled, since gases and vapors can become concentrated under the lenses. If a chemical splash occurs, the lenses make it almost impossible to immediately irrigate the eyes thoroughly. Soft lenses are particularly dangerous as they may gradually absorb vapors. Locate the eye-showers, emergency showers and make sure you understand how to use them. HANDS AND SKIN 1. If chemicals come in contact with the skin, the most appropriate action is nearly always to rinse with water. 2. Never handle chemicals directly. Use a spatula or similar tool. 3. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after finishing work and after every contact with chemicals. 4. Rubber gloves protect only against substances that cannot pass through rubber for example aqueous salt solutions. Non-polar substances can easily pass through rubber gloves, in which case there is no protection. Solvent-resistant gloves can be purchased from SU-Butiken. 8

9 Only use the gloves where you work. If you have contaminated gloves when you touch door handles and this like will contaminate the next person that touch it with bare hands. The opposite applies when gloves are used to protect from RNAse, the gloves pick it up from the door handles and other things you touch. AIR HYGIENE 1. All strongly smelling, volatile or poisonous chemicals must be handled in a fume hood. 2. Rinse contaminated glassware in the hood before taking it out. 3. Take particular care when performing chromatography, the equipment which often does not fit in a fume hood. 4. Check that the traps in the drains are filled with water. The drains are ventilated outwards, and the negative pressure in the labs causes unused traps to dry out, allowing labs to cross-contaminate one another. Drains not regularly in use can be filled with a layer of glycerol. 9

10 III. HANDLING OF CHEMICALS GENERAL A general strategy in the laboratory is that all chemicals are to be regarded as being potentially harmful to health and should therefore be used with the proper precautions. It falls on the individual investigator to get accurate knowledge about possible health effects of the specific chemicals that he/she is handling. You shall be instructed by your mentor how to handle chemicals in a correct manner. Aim for proper routines in the balance area, in the laboratory and during transport. For chemicals that are classified and labeled owing to their properties of being dangerous to health or the environment, such information is available in the safety data sheets that are enclosed with the chemicals on delivery. Folders with relevant safety data sheets are available for the laboratories in each corridor. Information on a majority of the chemicals used in the laboratory is available at Enter the database KLARA and search the chemical. Information can also be obtained from several databases (Classification List, Riskline, N-Class, Restricted Substances Database) at the website of the Swedish Chemicals Inspectorate ( It is important to realize that lack of classification and labeling with respect to health effects does not imply that a specific chemical is harmless. It might implicate that existing toxicological data are not sufficient to meet current criteria for classification and labeling used by the authorities. KLARA (Inventory system for chemical products) KLARAs main focus is to present information to users about chemical hazards and to gather information about where chemicals are being used. Additional to this you can also perform risk assessments in the system. You can also use KLARA to search for chemicals at the department. You can also find out if a chemical you would like to test before you buy your own is available somewhere at SU. Example: Ask your local KLARA person Logon for everyone at MBW: Username: mbw Password: you receive the password on paper from xx at the secreterist once you have signed the form where you assure that you will work according to the MBW regulations. Click on the English flag if you need an English version of KLARA and then Chemicals. From this window you may reach the chemical database, click on Chemical 10

11 Products. In this database you are able to find safety information (MSDS) about approximately different chemical products. In order to get back to the main menu, use the function Back in the left upper corner. There is a separate search function for chemicals at our department. Search by selecting Inventories from the main menu and then Search products. Select group or in this case click on "Sök här" for "Inst. för molekylär biovetenskap, Wenner-Grens institut" With this function you are able to find the storage and amount for each registered chemical at your department. To search for a product, it is most convenient to use the CAS number for the product. The CAS number you will for instance find on Sigma's website: GUIDELINES FOR LABORATORY WORK WITH CHEMICALS Be aware of the increased risk for accidents and mistakes when routine work gradually builds up a composite feeling of skillfulness, monotony and tediousness. A person may become so familiar with the daily work that the possible hazards with handling chemicals might be forgotten. Dangerous chemicals should be stored in fire resistant lockable cabinets with continuous ventilation. Flammable compounds, oxidizing compounds, toxic compounds, acids and basic compounds are stored separately. Do not store chemicals above head height, especially not corrosives. When handling of chemicals could result in contamination of the air by healthdamaging or explosive dusts, vapors, fumes or gases, the work should be carried out in a fume hood. Fume hoods cannot be used for permanent storage of chemicals, since the containers obstruct the airflow. All bottles, flasks, tubes, beakers, etc. containing chemicals or preparations should be properly and clearly labeled with content, name of user and date. Never return used chemicals to their original containers. Exsiccator under vacuum should only be opened in the fume hood. Avoid exposing chemicals and solvents to direct sunlight. Pipetting solutions by mouth is not allowed. Keep your hands away from mouth and face when handling chemicals. Wash your hands after handling chemicals or even better every time you leave the lab to avoid contaminations in the offices and the lunch rooms. HEALTH EFFECTS AND EXPOSURE Read the MSDS for your chemical before start using it to get information of its effects on 11

12 you. Chemicals causing health effects are assigned to one or several of seven categories depending on which of the inherent health-damaging properties listed below they show: * General toxicity after a single short exposure * General toxicity after repeated or prolonged exposure * Corrosive and irritant properties * Allergenic or sensitizing properties * Carcinogenic properties * Mutagenic properties * Properties toxic to reproduction The strength of a health-damaging effect varies between chemicals. A person working in a laboratory may be exposed to a chemical by: * Ingestion * Absorption through the skin * Inhalation * Injection In order to prevent such exposures, laboratory work should be performed in compliance with the guidelines below and, last but not least, with common sense. TOXIC CHEMICALS Toxic chemicals should be stored in a locked cupboard. Wear gloves when you handle toxic chemicals. Note that ordinary rubber gloves protect against polar substances, e.g. water solutions of salts, but they do not protect against apolar substances that can penetrate rubber. Special, solvent-resistant gloves can be obtained at SU-butiken. Toxic chemicals should be handled in a fume hood. This is important not only for volatile substances, but also for chemical powders that produce fine dust particles. Do not expose other people to toxic chemicals! If you spill something, clean up after yourself immediately! Acrylamide and bisacrylamide are very toxic and may cause allergy. Avoid handling acrylamide as a powder; aqueous stock solutions or preweighed aliquots are available from many manufacturers. Acrylamidewaste should be polymerized. Ethidium bromide is a powerful mutagen. Protective gloves must be used and investigator must be extra careful to avoid contamination when working with it. Solutions or gels containing more than 0.1μg/ml should be disposed in specially marked containers and handled as hazardous waste. Phenol. Always use protective gloves and work in the fume hood. Phenol solutions and contaminated tubes, tips, etc are disposed in specially marked wasted bottles that are sent for destruction. A list of carcinogenic chemicals and other health hazardous chemicals is found in AFS 2011:19 pp Chemicals in group A must not be handled. For group B chemicals special permission is required. Whenever handling a chemical in group C (carcinogens which have 12

13 threshold limits) make sure you know how to work with them and that there is a riskevaluation for your usage of the chemical. Waste containing toxic chemicals (e.g., heavy metals, phenol, acrylamide, ethidium bromide) must be delivered to the store on floor 2, (KÖL M212) as hazardous chemical waste (Miljöfarligt avfall). For details see the Waste section. REGULATIONS FOR WORK WITH COMBUSTIBLE GOODS AND ORGANIC SOLVENTS Combustible goods are labeled with a flame symbol. Exercise great care. Handling combustible goods should be carried out in a fume hood if possible. Ensure that no sources of ignition are present (electric equipment that may give rise to sparking or gas that may explode if ignited by a spark). When pouring combustible liquids (such as ethanol) outside a fume hood, make sure that no sources of ignition are present within a radius of 0.5 meter. The maximum quantity of combustible goods that may be stored in each laboratory is 10 lfor everyday use. Try to minimize the volume as much as possible. Combustible goods that must be stored in a refrigerator or freezer are to be stored in aspark-protected refrigerator/freezer. There is one for all at MBW located in F343 flera?. The maximum volume of combustible goods that may be freely handled in a fume hood is 100 ml. Gas piping used with the coal gas supply must have clamps fitted at both ends. Gas cylinders must be anchored. Do not use spray bottles for 70% ethanol (due to the risk of aerosol formation). Use instead paper with a wash bottle. The amount of organic solvents on the lab benches (e.g. for daily consumption) should be kept as low as possible. 50 l flammable solvents per fire cell (brandcell) are allowed to be stored in the specially designated, ventilated cupboards. 13

14 WASTE Stockholm Water allows the following chemicals to be flushed down in the fume hood at a rate of 1 liter per lab and day. Acetone Acetonitrile Acetic acid Ammonia Formaldehyde Glycerol Rinse carefully with (plentiful) water afterwards! More information of other liquids that can be flushed down the drain can be found in Utsläppslistan, updated You find it in the binder Lab Routines found in every laboratory. The following chemicals have to be turned in for destruction: Iodopax. Ether or petroleum ether. Furthermore all ether waste is to be tested for peroxides before delivery to the waste store due to the explosive risk and Phenol and chloroform. Other solvents should be delivered to the waste store room in glass bottles or metallic waste bins labeled with an appropriate, explanatory label. How to handle organic solvents: All flammable solvents should be handled in the fume hood. Most solvents penetrate ordinary rubber gloves so use special protective gloves that can be bought from SU-butiken. For more detailed information read the information in the chemical data base KLARA and/or ask the safety representatives at the Department. 14

15 IV. WORKING WITH RADIOACTIVE SUBSTANCES Working with ionizing radiation (SSI FS 2000:7,8,9) and radioactive isotopes, such as 32 P, 14 C, 35 S and tritium ( 3 H), requires strict precautions and all work is regulated by Strålskyddslagen (SFD 1988 nr Strålsäkerhetsmyndigheten, SSM is responsible authority. The applicant for permit for working with radioactive substances is Stockholm University; the radiation safety expert is Mats Jonsson, matsj@kth.se However, yearly reports have to be handed in for each department concerning the amounts and isotopes used at each department. At MBW the contact person is Robert Csikasz. All personnel working with radioactive materials or sources of such must take a compulsory course in Radiation Safety administrated by Security Department. Before permit to work with radioactive material is given you also have to pass a test. The responsible person at SU for radioactivity courses is Mats Jonsson. When the next course is given can be found on the SU home page. You must also attend one seminar per every two years to update knowledge and keep the permit to work with radioactivity. Anyone organizing laboratory work involving isotopes at the MBW department are responsible for providing adequate handling information. Personnel that work with isotopes must be informed and having taken instruction from the specific documents regulating the experimental conditions under which experiments with isotopes can be performed. RADIOISOTOPE PRACTICE Safe use of radioisotopes is largely a matter of common sense and good laboratory practice. The rules for waste disposal are open to a limited degree of interpretation as, for instance, whether something should be left to decay before disposal. It is up to you to implement these rules intelligently. It is your responsibility to make sure that you are aware of all regulations and guidelines before working with radioisotopes. The major stipulation of these rules is that radioisotope work is to be contained within designated, and clearly marked, areas. GENERAL AND LEGAL GUIDELINES FOR WORKING WITH RADIOACTIVE ISOTOPES Radioactive work is divided into four categories of toxicity based on the nuclide involved (A-D), and three categories depending upon the physical risks associated with the experiment (categories I-III). A full list of nuclides is appended and can be found in the Lab routines binder. 15

16 The common isotopes that we use fall into the following categories: B 125 I C 35 S, 14 C, 32 P, 33 P D 3 H The physical categories can be briefly summarized as follows: I II III Work with dusts, gases or very high levels of specific activity Work with liquids (solutions, analyses, animal experiments) Simple liquid operations (e.g., withdrawal of an aliquot from a stock solution) and closed systems. As a general rule, no isotopes in category A are used (or allowed) in the Department and no work in category I takes place; if either are being considered then advice (and permission) must be sought. Consult Mats Jonsson and/or xxx at MBW. 1. The following amounts of radioactivity (in mci) may be handled at any one time: A B C D I II III For example, it is permissible to store 13.5 mci of a category C isotope in a single tube, since storage and simple withdrawal are class III manipulations. The maximum amount that can be withdrawn and used in a given class II experiment is then 1.35 mci. 2. As much work as possible (in principle all) should take place in the isotope labs. However, limitations of space makes this impractical, not least because of the central role of isotopes in biochemical research. Therefore, work in categories II and III and with nuclide types C and D (shaded above) may take place in normal labs, but the following rules must be obeyed: i. The amount concerned must be small (in the μci range). ii. All withdrawals from stock solutions must take place in the isotope labs. iii. Work with radioisotopes in the normal lab must be contained in an area which may not be used for other purposes at the same time, and which must be clearly marked ( radioactivity warning symbol tape or signs). iv. All the other rules regarding isotope usage must also be adhered to. 16

17 CODE OF PRACTICE FOR ISOTOPE WORK 1. The Department has three? labs designed and designated for use with radioactive isotopes F441, F3xx, and F Accidents and other incidents concerning isotope work must be reported through SAMIR (se section SAMIR) as soon as possible. 3. Personal dosimeters must be worn at all times, even if you are not personally using high-energy sources. Did that apply at the old departments? 4. Physical shielding (lead metal or, where appropriate, Plexiglas) must be used with all high-energy beta sources and with all gamma/x-ray sources. This includes adequate (sideways and upwards) shielding when transporting material. 5. Working areas must be monitored during and at the end of experiments. If no appropriate monitor is available (e.g. for 3 H work), the area should be wiped with swabs and these checked in a scintillation counter. Contamination must be dealt with immediately. 6. Good laboratory practice, including the use of automatic pipettes, lab coats, gloves, safety glasses and masks where appropriate, should be followed at all times. Gloves, safety glasses and decontamination equipment must be available in the isotope labs at all times. Hands must be washed and your person and clothing monitored for contamination at the end of a session. Gloves must be discarded in the isotope labs. 7. Never work directly on the bench, but use a protective layer of plastic-coated absorbent paper. This should be disposed of as radioactive waste, and changed regularly or whenever necessary. 8. Work as much as possible in a fume hood. Always work in a fume hood when using large amounts of radioactıve material of any type or where a significant risk of dust or aerosol formation exists. All work with category B isotopes (such as 125 I) must be carried out in the isotope lab fume hoods. 9. All materials must be labeled with name, group, nuclide, chemical, activity, date and a radioactivity warning symbol. All stock solutions must be stored in the isotope labs. 10. Logs must be kept of all radioactive materials used. This should include recording of withdrawal from stock and log sheets (see example attached) and should be kept in the same isotope lab as the stock, in the folder provided. 11. Dry radioactive waste is to be divided into combustible and noncombustible waste, and separated by isotope type. Radioactive waste must be correctly labeled and be kept separate from other waste in appropriately shielded containers. Scintillation waste is to be kept separate from other radioactive waste. 12. Spillages and contamination must be contained and dealt with immediately, using appropriate decontamination solutions for instance a strong phosphate solution for 17

18 decontaminating 32 P. All potentially contaminated surfaces, including the floor, must be checked. Contaminated equipment (such as pipettes) must be decontaminated immediately and thoroughly, and not left to decay. Contaminated glassware is to be soaked overnight in decon solution, rinsed and checked before return to normal circulation. 13. The cleaners do not clean the isotope labs you do! RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL Consult the new SU Waste Management Manual, pp _procedures_ pdf HANDLING/STORAGE Radioactive substances must be stored under lock and key so that they are not accessible to unauthorized persons. The storage must be satisfactory in terms of fire protection. The storage site must screen off so that the dosage rate does not exceed 20 μsv/h in areas where people circulate or no more than 2 μsv/h in areas used by someone on a permanent basis. LIQUID RADIOACTIVE WASTE AND SCINTILLATION LIQUIDS For example, organic and environmentally hazardous/harmful solvents such as liquid scintillation solutions must not be poured out in the slop sink for liquid radioactive waste and must be packed in plastic or glass bottles placed in a waste container together with a sufficient quantity of absorbent to prevent leaks. The total activity of the waste washed out in drains from a laboratory during a calendar month must not exceed ten times the activity stated in SSMFS 2010:2. The waste washed out at one and the same time must not exceed the activity stated in SSM FS 2010:2. The same summation rule as for waste for combustion applies to releases to drains. Each discharge must be washed down with plenty of water. At every discharge point there must be a clearly visible sign saying that liquid radioactive waste may be washed down the drain. NOTE: Solvents containing NPE (nonyl phenol ethoxylate), such as scintillation liquids like Optiphase Hisafe 2 are listed in Council Directive 2003/53/EC and must not be discharged into any water system in the European Community and must always be sent for final disposal by combustion. Flammable scintillation solutions must always be packed in small plastic and glass bottles with an aggregate volume of no more than 1 liter per waste container. Absorbent must be added to the vessel; the quantity must correspond to a capacity to absorb at least double the quantity (2 liters) of liquid. For non-flammable liquid scintillation solutions, no more than 5 liters may be packed in a waste container with a sufficient quantity of absorbent. 18

19 Scintillation waste Waste scintillation fluid is to be disposed of as described below. The same rules apply as for dry radioactive waste. Consider separating this waste into different categories for ease of disposal. Remember that one Bq/ml (the legal definition) is 600 dpm for a vial with 10 ml of scintillant. 1. Aqueous scintillant with a radioactive content of < 1 Bq/ml of any isotope or < 10 Bq/ml of 3 H or 14 C may be disposed of down the drains. 2. Aqueous scintillant with a radioactive content of > 1 Bq/ml of any isotope or >10 Bq/ml of 3 H or 14 C is to be disposed of as radioactive waste. 3. Organic scintillant with radioactive content of <1 Bq/ml of any isotope or <10 Bq/ml of 3 H or 14 C is to be disposed of as scintillant waste. 4. Organic scintillant with radioactive content of >1 Bq/ml of any isotope or >10 Bq/ml of 3 H or 14 C is to be disposed of as radioactive waste. 5. Scintillation waste must be kept separately from dry waste. Glass and plastic vials should not be mixed. LIQUID WASTE In principle all liquid waste can be disposed of down the drains, accompanied by a large volume of water, unless it should be treated as chemical waste (or environmentally dangerous waste), in which case it should be disposed of through the stores, as for solid waste. See SSMFS 2010:2 to find out how much you can flush out per occasion and month. Storage of short-half-life isotopes (e.g. 32 P) for local decay before disposal is permitted. It is possible to store these in lead chambers in the radioactive waste store talk to the store person for details. Contact the person responsible for radioactivity at the department (currently xxx) for more details on any of these matters. DRY WASTE 1. Waste is to be sorted into combustible and noncombustible waste and ideally also by isotope category (as above). Remember, however, that although 32 P and 14 C (for instance) are in the same regulatory category it may be more practical to separate them. 2. Waste must be properly labeled. Each container should have a single radioactive waste label that indicates name, institution, phone number and signature, and a single hazardous waste label, also correctly filled in. All waste is disposed of via the stores on floor, room A205, (opposite SU-butiken). Access to the radioactive waste storage area can only be obtained during working hours and all deliveries must be recorded to store personnel. Sealable bins for this purpose can be obtained from the stores; waste may be 19

20 also be stored in cardboard hazardous waste boxes. Both must be lined with a plastic bag. 3. Medium-activity waste is defined as that which contains more than 10 mci of 3 H or 14 C, or which contains more than 1 mci of an isotope with t1/2 < 2 years, or which contains more than 0.1 mci of an isotope with t1/2 > 2 years (not counting 3 H or 14 C), and must be labeled as such. RADIOACTIVE SUBSTANCES IN THE FORM OF SEALED RADIATION SOURCES Under the regulations (SSM FS 2010:2) sealed radiation sources with an activity quantity of no more than 50 kbq may be sent for waste combustion. If there is the slightest uncertainty about the activity of the sealed radiation source to be disposed of, contact the University's radiation protection expert Mats Jonsson ( , matsj@kth.se) or Mats Hansson at the Section for Safety [Sektionen för Säkerhet] ( , mats.hansson@su.se). PLAN YOUR WASTE HANDLING ACCORDING TO SSMFS 2010:2 You can find a general description of how waste shall be treated in the Radioation Safety Manual available at every department. It is important to document all handling of radioactive substances all the way to how you pack your waste that in turned in or disposed of in other ways. Release to air- Should not give more than 10µSv/y to representive person. Release to sewar- Activity per month may not be more than 10* the value given in the regulation. Activity per disposal may not be higher than the value in the regulation. Waste for incineration every package must not exceed the listed value. Packing and storage- The surface dose rate has to be given as well as an ID number, name of sender, date and nuclide must be clearly labeled. Waste that is stored for decay should also be documented. HAND-OVER/TRANSPORT Radioactive waste in accordance with these restrictions can be deposited on Thursdays at in room A205 (opposite the SU Shop). The waste contractor then transports the waste for destruction. Radioactive waste that does not meet the restrictions according to these instructions and SSMFS 2010:2 must be taken care of by Studsvik Nuclear AB. In such cases the University s radiation protection expert, and/or Ragnsells radiation protection expert Erik Gustafsson ( ), must always be contacted since other requirements under the ARD-S transport regulations and requirements concerning reporting to the permit authority must also be complied with. Läs Strålsäkerhetsmyndighetens föreskrifter om hantering av radioaktivt avfall och utsläpp från verksamhet med öppna strålkällor SSMFS 20