Standard Operating Procedure for Laboratories
HYDROGEN CYANIDE
Department: / Click here to enter text.Principal Investigator(s): / Click here to enter text.
Lab Manager/Coordinator: / Click here to enter text.
Location of Experiment:
(Building/Room Number) / Click here to enter text.
Lab Phone: / Click here to enter text.
Office Phone: / Click here to enter text.
Emergency Contact: (Name/Phone) / Click here to enter text.
Reviewed and Approved by:
PI: (Typed Name) / Click here to enter text.PI: (Signature and Date) / Click here to enter a date.
Lab Manager: (if PI unavailable) / Click here to enter a date.
Hazardous Material Use and Management
Hazardous Material(s) Used: (wt./volume) / Hydrogen Cyanide:Maximum amount allowed without PI approval:
Always buy smallest available quantity of the chemical.
Hazardous Material Storage Location: / Store with flammables in a locked cabinet. Protect from physical damage. Avoid heat, flames, sparks and other sources of ignition. Store away from combustible materials, bases, amines, oxidizing materials, acids, sodium hydroxide, calcium hydroxide, sodium carbonate, caustics, ammonia Depending on manufacturer shelf life is 90 days.
Designated Storage Area:
Experimental Procedure and Lab Techniques to be Used: / Never work alone. Use a buddy system.
Lab must have written procedure for cylinder purge, set up and swap.
Hazard Identification: (i.e., physical/health hazards) / CAS # 74-90-8
GHS Classification: Flammable gas under pressure. Acutely toxic. Acute toxicity to the aquatic life.
· Extremely hazardous substance.
· Poisonous by all routes of exposure.
· It inhibits tissue oxidation causing death though asphyxia. Dangerous fire hazard when exposed to heat, flame or oxidizers.
· Can polymerize explosively in the presence of traces of alkali. The gas forms explosive mixtures with air.
· Reacts violently with acetaldehyde.
· Odor threshold is about 1ppm, when sweet or bitter almond smell can be detected.
OSHA PEL: TWA 10 ppm (11 mg/m3), skin.
NIOSH REL: STEL 4.7 ppm (5 mg/m3), skin.
ACGIH TLV: CL 4.7 ppm, skin.
Review MSDS/SDS prior to working with chemical.
Engineering Controls: (chemical fume hood, biosafety cabinet, glove box) / Can only be used in a chemical fume hood with adequate ventilation and electrically grounded lines and equipment. Toxic gas detector system may be required to detect hydrogen cyanide in the air.
Safety shower and eyewash must be readily available.
Protective Equipment: / When Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) is exceeded, the use of full face respirator is required by regulation. Contact REHS for more information.
Nitrile gloves are sufficient.
ANSI approved properly fitting safety glasses or chemical splash goggles. Faceshield may be recommended.
Wear full length lab coat with long sleeves, long pants and closed-toe shoes.
Medical surveillance program should be made available to everyone working with hydrogen cyanide.
Always check with glove manufacturer for more info.
Waste Collection/Disposal Method: / Cylinders must be returned to the supplier within 90 days of the filling date marked on the cylinder, regardless of whether or not the content have been used (this is due to hydrogen cyanide becoming unstable over time). Make sure that valve protection cap is in place.
All other waste should be collected in tightly closed one-quart container, in secondary containment and in a designated location inside a fume hood. Store waste away from incompatible waste. Affix and complete hazardous waste label. Contact REHS for waste pick up.
https://halflife.rutgers.edu/forms/hazwaste.php
Spill Management: / Evacuate danger area immediately. Ensure adequate ventilation. Remove all ignition sources. If it safe, stop the gas leak. If leak cannot be stopped, remove the leaking cylinder to the safe place in the open air and allow the cylinder to empty.
Small quantities of liquid can be absorbed on paper towels and then evaporated in the fume hood. Make sure to allow sufficient time for evaporating vapors to completely clear the duckwork. Absorb liquid in sand or inert absorbent and remove to safe place. Reduce vapors with fine water spray. Do not get water directly on material.
Gas-tight chemical protection suit including self-contained breathing apparatus should be worn.
If a spill happened outside fume hood, on floor, on bench or outside the lab contact REHS for clean up or call 911.
First Aid: / First Aid Kit should be immediately available and should include: 48 ampules, each of 0.3 ml amyl nitrate and complete instruction for use.
Eyes: Contact lenses should not be worn when working with hydrogen cyanide. Flush eyes with plenty of water for 15 min. Seek immediate medical attention.
Skin: Flush contaminated skin with plenty of water. Remove the clothing if contaminated. Seek immediate medical attention.
Inhalation: If safe, move the person to the fresh air. Keep affected person warm and at rest. Seek immediate medical attention.
Ingestion: If person is conscious give large amount of water immediate. If water has been swallowed, try to get the person vomit. Seek immediate medical attention.
Training
• Prior to conducting any work with hydrogen cyanide, designated personnel must be provided training specific to the hazard involved in working with the substance.
• The PI must provide his/her lab personnel with a copy of the SOP and a copy of the SDS provided with the manufacturer.
• The PI must ensure that his/her lab personnel have attended and are up to date on the appropriate laboratory safety training within the last year.
I have read and understood the content of this SOP and the SDS:
Lab Personnel(Running the Experiment) / Date of Hands-on Training from Department / Signature of Lab Personnel
Click here to enter text. / Click here to enter text.
Click here to enter text. / Click here to enter text.
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HYDROGEN CYANIDE
Acutely toxic. Poisonous by all routs of exposure. Acute toxicity to the
aquatic life.
FIRST AID
First Aid Kit should be immediately available and should include: 48 ampules, each of 0.3 ml amyl nitrate and complete instruction for use.
Eyes: Contact lenses should not be worn when working with hydrogen cyanide. Flush eyes with plenty of water for 15 min. Seek immediate medical attention.
Skin: Flush contaminated skin with plenty of water. Remove the clothing if contaminated. Seek immediate medical attention.
Inhalation: If safe, move the person to the fresh air. Keep affected person warm and at rest. Seek immediate medical attention.
Ingestion: If person is conscious give large amount of water immediate. If water has been swallowed, try to get the person vomit. Seek immediate medical attention.
DIAL 911 Call REHS for more information 848-445-2550