August 5, 2016

Manual for handling chemicals (second edition)—For SPring-8/SACLA users

Safety Office, Japan Synchrotron Radiation Research Institute (JASRI)
Harima Safety Center, RIKEN

August 5,2016

Contents
1．Introduction

1

2．Procedures to be followed before handling chemicals

1

3．Storage and control of chemicals

2

4. Handling of chemicals

4

5. After using chemicals

6

6. In case of accident

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1. Introduction
This textbook provides, in order to ensure the safety of research conducted at SPring-8/SACLA, healthand safety knowledge and the rules for the facility users handling chemicals (reagents).
Many of the chemicals used in experiments have hazardous properties. Handle them safely, giving
sufficient consideration to health issues, disaster preparedness, theft/loss and environmental pollution.
Principal investigators are responsible for correctly managing chemicals used in their research projects
and providing their workers with training for proper handling.

2．Procedures to be followed before handling chemicals
Before handling chemicals in research at SPring-8/SACLA, the following procedures are required:1) Carrying in chemicals
Submit the List of Samples, Reagents, etc. online to the Users Office of JASRI no later than 10days before each visit.
https://user.spring8.or.jp/apps/login/en?institution=02) Entering information on chemical safety when applying for a research projectEnter the properties, hazardousness, safety measures, and other necessary information, as shown in
the image below, on all chemicals to be used in the project being applied for by referring to the SDS(MSDS). You will be asked to enter the results of risk assessments as well from B term of 2016 (thesecond half of FY 2016).

3) Risk assessment of chemicalsRisk assessment evaluates risks of chemicals to the human body based on the manner in which thechemicals are to be used and considers necessary measures to reduce their risks. This duty has been
imposed on each employer that uses chemicals designated by law since June 1, 2016. Chemicals usedin experiments conducted in SPring-8/SACLA are subject to risk assessment, which must be carriedout by the individual who is going to conduct the experiments. When proposing a research project,1August 5,2016

principal investigators are required to enter the results of risk assessments and the safety measures tobe taken for each chemical to be used. Safety examination by JASRI refers to such information.

4) Handling narcotics, stimulants, raw materials for stimulants, psychotropics and specified
poisonous substances
Before handling such substances, consult the JASRI Safety Office as early as possible, as you must
apply for approval to use them (applying for a license and/or certificate) to the government authorities
in advance.
【Inquiries】
JASRI Safety Office （TEL：0791-58-0874 e-mail：safety@spring8.or.jp）
Examples of items requiring special care for use:
- Specific chemicals stipulated by the Act on the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and theregulation of Specific Chemicals- Narcotics and psychotropics specified by the Narcotics and Psychotropics Control Law- Stimulants and their raw materials specified by the Stimulants Control Law- Hemp and its products specified by the Cannabis Control Law- Opium, opium poppy, and poppy straw specified by the Opium Law- Specified drugs stipulated by the Pharmaceutical Affairs Act- Specified poisonous substances stipulated by the Poisonous and Deleterious Substances ControlLaw- Manufacturing-prohibited substances specified by the Industrial Safety and Health Law
Examples of items requiring special care for the transporting method:- Hazardous materials specified by the Fire Service Act- Poisonous and deleterious substances

3. Storage and control of chemicals
Chemicals are regulated by related laws and regulations according to their properties. They are also
regulated by rules specified by SPring-8/SACLA. Please observe these rules while taking the following
measures. There are storage cabinets available in the experimental hall and you can borrow the keys touse them when necessary. Please contact the Beamline Scientist to borrow the keys to control yourchemicals in the storage cabinets.

1) Narcotics, stimulants, raw materials for stimulants, psychotropics.

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Store separately from other reagents in storage cabinets that are always locked, as described in theapplication submitted to the government authorities. The amounts stored/used for narcotics,stimulants, and raw materials for stimulants should be reported to the government authorities once ayear.
Post the following signs on storage containers for narcotics (left) and psychotropics (right).

麻向2) Non-medical poisonous substances (including specified toxic substances), non-medical deleterious
substancesa) Store non-medical poisonous substances separately from otherreagents in a locked storage cabinet on which a sign of “医薬用外毒物 (non-medical poisonous substances)” is posted.
Keep records for the amount used and stocked. Store specified toxic substances in designatedstorage cabinets as described in the application submitted to the government authorities.

b) Store non-medical deleterious substances separately from otherreagents in a locked storage cabinet on which a sign of “医薬用外劇物(non-medical deleterious substances)” is posted. Keep records for the amount used and stocked.

c) Post one of the following signs on storage cabinets of poisonous/deleterious substances.
医薬用外毒物

医薬用外劇物

3) Medication
Store poisons and powerful drugs separately from other medication in locked storage cabinets.
The following signs must be posted on storage cabinets of poisons (left) and powerful drugs(right).

劇毒4) Dangerous substances
Carefully handle flammable substances such as volatile organic solvents and explosive substancesthat can cause a fire easily and spread a fire leading to great damage Make sure that the labels
indicating ”初期消火表示/First extinguisher”, “可燃物/Flammable”, and “爆発物/Explosive” areposted at the entrance to the room where such substances are actually handled. Do not place glass
containers such as gallon bottles directly on the floor. When such containers break (when kicked or3

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hit with a chair, for example), the contents will spread onto the floor, resulting in significant danger
to people in the room.. Please take safety measures, such as placing a tray and the like under thecontainers.

5) Other reagents
Storage and control of other reagents must conform to related laws and regulations. Please control
and store them in a manner appropriate to the properties of each reagent.

4. Handling of chemicals
Many of the chemicals used for experiments have hazardous or dangerous properties. Such chemicals
must be handled carefully in a draft chamber. You must be familiar with the properties of chemicals you
are going to use prior to experiments.
Chemicals may cause health problems and accidents that involve not only the person actually using
them, but others as well. In order to prevent accidents involving chemicals, make sure that you always
handle chemicals properly.

When handling chemicals, follow the precautions shown below:
1) A beginner must conduct experiments using utmost care, under the guidance of an expert.
Experienced persons must perform all experiments carefully, even if they are already very familiar
with the procedures.
2) Avoid conducting experiments alone.
3) Never leave the location of an experiment that is still in progress.
4) Learn adequately about the experiment you are going to perform beforehand. Then, check reagents,instruments and your protective gear before starting the experiment.
a) Understand all the properties of dangerous chemicals such as combustible/flammable substances,
explosive substances, noxious substances and the like by referring to the SDS (MSDS).
b) Before conducting an experiment that can cause a fire, prepare a proper fire extinguisher andlearn how to use it.
c) Avoid wearing clothes, sandals or the like that allow skin to be exposed.
d) Always wear goggles (protective glasses) and laboratory coats during experiments. Those who
are wearing contact lenses must wear goggles instead of protective glasses when conducting anexperiment.
e) If necessary, prepare and wear gloves, a face shield, a gas mask and the like.
f) Check that experimental equipment is set up in an appropriate manner.
g) Glassware and handmade glass equipment often cause injuries; when handling them keep inmind that “broken glass is a potential weapon”. Do not use glass vessels that are cracked or4

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scratched.
h) Hazardous chemicals, malodorous reagents or the like that may damage one’s health must behandled in a draft chamber. Recover highly poisonous or malodorous reagents after use. Whenusing such substances in the experimental hall (including the experimental hutch), takeappropriate measures to prevent them from scattering. In the experimental hutch, take necessary
measures to avoid scattering of these substances in case of leakage caused by beam radiation andthe like.
i) Reagents that might ignite a fire or cause a small explosion shall be handled only in a proper
draft chamber made of fire- and explosion-proof materials. If necessary, use a face shield, aprotection shield or the like.
j) Water-reactive and spontaneously-ignitable chemicals must be handled or stored carefully. Takenecessary safety measures. Try to lower risk factors by replacing them with other substances.
k) When you must run an experiment all night or temporarily store dangerous substances or thelike, take necessary safety measures.
l) Waste liquid and solid waste must be classified properly and stored in a cool, dark place while
taking safety measures appropriate for the properties of the waste, such as placing a tray undercontainers of waste liquid.
5) As a safety measure, work areas should be free of obstructions in case an earthquake or accident
should occur.
a) Do not leave reagents, instruments, equipment or the like that you do not use on a lab bench, ina draft chamber or the experimental hall (including the experimental hutch).
b) Organize reagents separately according to their category and take measures to prevent falls.
c) Be considerate of others and keep work areas orderly when using items shared with otherlaboratories.
6) Take measures for prevention of environmental pollution.
a) Chemicals that might be detrimental to our health or the ecosystem (those stipulated in the PRTR
Law, organic solvents/specified chemicals covered by the Industrial Safety and Health Law andthe like) must be handled in a draft chamber. When using such substances in small amounts
temporarily in the experimental hall and the like, ensure that the place is adequately ventilated.
In the experimental hutch, take proper containment measures to prevent chemicals fromscattering around in case of leakage caused by beam radiation and the like.
b) Prior to using a draft chamber, briefly check that it is properly functioning and that it does nothave any broken components.
c) Collect waste solutions in a dedicated container and avoid releasing water/liquid used for primaryor secondary washing into a sink.
d) Only use rotary evaporators with a diaphragm pump or water circulating cooling equipment; do5

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not use a water aspirator. If a water aspirator is used, volatile substances might be mixed into thewaste water.

5. After using chemicals
When finished with chemicals, follow the measures shown below:
1) Clean up thoroughly after every experiment.
Turn off gas outlets, faucets and electrical power after use. Return reagents and equipment totheir proper storage locations. Leaving reagents and other items out may cause an accident.
2) If you have vacuum or gas piping in your laboratory, be sure to shut off the main valves after eachuse.
3) Bring back reagents you brought in, or waste and the like that were produced in your experiments.

6. In case of accident
1) In case of minor abnormalities
When an incident occurs that can be handled by personnel working at the site, follow the measures
shown below:- Judge the situation and follow the necessary measures to prevent the effects from spreading. But
take such action only when your safety is ensured.
- Do not handle the incident alone. Always call someone for help.
- Contact the Beamline Toban (PHS: 3899)

2) In case of emergency
When discovering injury to the human body, significant pollution or damage to experimental
facilities by chemicals and the like, or when noticing a situation potentially leading to such incidents,
follow the measures shown below immediately.
- When the damage may spread, evacuate first. Before evacuating, turn off the electricity and shut off
the main gas valves when possible.
- Contact the Beamline Toban (PHS: 3899)- If you need to call an ambulance or a fire engine, inform the Guard House (emergency call: 119 or0791-58-0828) and they will guide the emergency vehicles. The Guard House will alert the personnel
and the authorities concerned inside and outside the campus.

3) First aid
When a chemical goes into your eyes or comes into contact with your skin, flush the affected areawith running water for more than 15 minutes. If you inhale the vapor of a reagent, go outside

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immediately and breathe fresh air.
You can see a nurse at the Health Office (ext: 3299, 999) near Large Door D3 of the Storage Ring
Facility between 9:00 and 17:30 on week days. When you need to administer first aid, take a first aid
kit from near the large door of the Storage Ring Facility or in the area at bottom of stairs in the SACLA
Experimental Building.
If you need to call an ambulance, tell the Guard House (emergency calls: 119 or 0791-58-0828) todo so. Also inform the Guard House of the name of the room/building where the injured person is
located and describe the injury, which will be reported to the ambulance on arrival.

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Manual for handling chemicals (second edition)

Emergency calls:
Guard House (ext. 119, 0791-58-0828)
Inquiries:
Safety Office, Japan Synchrotron Radiation Research Institute (JASRI)(Tel: 0791-58-0874, e-mail: safety@spring8.or.jp)
Written by:
JASRI Safety Office
Harima Safety Center, RIKEN