Heated Liquids Safety

Standard Operating Procedures

Building: Combs Research Building
Room: 222
Department: Markey Cancer Center
PI: Andrew Pierce, PhD.

Section 1: Process

Section 2: The purpose of the Heated Liquids Safety module is to be used as a guideline to ensure the laboratory worker remains cognizant of the liquids used in the labs and their associated hazards when heated. Heated liquids incorporates the use of the autoclaves, water baths, heat blocks, and also heating liquids via microwaves and heat stir plates.

Section 3: The most common hazards when working with heated liquids are thermal burns. Sometimes, however, it is possible to super-heat some liquids beyond their natural boiling point. Such super-heated liquids may boil suddenly and violently when jolted or stirred after removal from a microwave oven or autoclave. It is therefore a good idea to take the necessary precautions such as covering liquids or allowing them to cool before removal from the heat source *OTHERWISE SERIOUS BURNS WILL OCCUR.

Burns are thereby classified on the amount of damage: 1st, 2nd or 3rd degree.

• First-degree burns affect the outer layer of skin, which is called the epidermis. They are moist, red in color and cause pain, redness and swelling. First-degree burns are partial-thickness burns because of their depth. They will heal spontaneously.
  
• Second-degree burns are also partial-thickness burns. The second-degree burn is a serious burn that causes destruction of tissue layers deep into the skin. Second-degree burns involve destruction of both the outer and the underlying layers of skin. It effects all of the epidermal layers and extends into the dermis. These burns are usually caused by contact with hot liquid and flames. The burned area looks like blisters and the skin is often cherry red or pink. Second-degree burns are usually treated without surgery but sometimes need skin grafting. These burns are classified as either superficial or deep.
  
  • Superficial burns effect the outermost part of the dermis, which causes pain, is hypersensitive to touch, and usually causes blisters and redness.
    
  • Deep burns cause damage to the deepest layers of the dermis. They appear like the superficial burns but usually are dry and white. These burns are usually painful, may take three to four weeks to heal, and may result in thick scarring.
    
• Third-degree burns are the most serious of all burns, in which all the layers of skin are destroyed. Sometimes third-degree burns also affect underlying tissue. They extend deeper into the skin and destroy all of the epidermis and dermal layers, extending to the subcutaneous layers. This turns the skin brown or black, gives it a leathery appearance, and often makes it separate from the surrounding tissue. The nerve endings are destroyed from the burn and therefore these burns usually not painful. Third-degree burns are typically caused by contact with hot liquid, flame or electricity. After being burned, the skin appears white, pearly or leathery. The skin must be replaced either through transplantation or grafting. Treating third-degree burns usually involves debridement, which is the removal of dead skin, and surgical skin grafting.
  

Section 4: All lab personnel should be wearing a lab coat or lab apron, gloves and safety glasses when working with heated liquids in the lab, at a minimum. Orange autoclave gloves should be worn when working with hot liquids out of the autoclave, and the rubberized Hot Hand gripper should be used to handle hot liquid filled flasks from the microwave.

• Note that the orange autoclave gloves provide NO PROTECTION WHEN WET. Be sure to keep them dry at all times.
  

Secton 5: The engineering controls for this module will be the use of the safety shower and eyewash station located by the sink in the lab.
A first aid kit is located on the computer bench top shelf if needed.

Section 6: The microwave is stored to the left of the entryway. Heat blocks will be located throughout the lab as well as heat stirrers. The one water bath that we have is located on the right side of the entryway. All autoclaves will be located on the 2nd floor in room 229. Access to the lab shall be limited (room securely locked when unoccupied) to laboratory personnel only.

Section 7: If a spill from a heated liquid should occur, clean up the liquid after its cooling according to its hazard rating and dispose of the towels into the biohazard container. If the laboratory worker was burned, they should seek treatment immediately going to the UK emergency room or by dialing 911.

Section 8 & 9: For decontamination purposes, a solution of 1% Alconox or 10% Bleach will be sufficient to cleanse the area where the spill occurred making sure that there is a 20 minute contact period. Once the area is free from contaminants from the spill, 70% ETOH can be applied to the area and then wiped clean with paper towels. Any glass should be disposed of into the sharps container while all towels should be placed in the biohazard container both provided in the lab.

Section 10: Materials Safety Data Sheets, MSDS, for all chemicals may be found on the following web address:

Section 11: Protocols