CHE 580
UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY
DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY

CHE 580, Topics in Chemistry: Chemical Safety (1 credit hour)
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Course Description: An introduction to the principles of laboratory safety. Topics include planning experiments and evaluating the hazards in a chemical laboratory, managing chemicals and waste, safe use of laboratory equipment, personal protective equipment, and government regulation.

The course will satisfy UK requirements for:

 
  • Chemical hygiene plan/laboratory safety training
  • Hazardous Waste training
  • Fire extinguisher training

Instructors: Harry Enoch (252 East Maxwell Street, 257-3242, henoch@pop.uky.edu);
 

Erin Foley (252 East Maxwell Street, 257-2924, efoley@pop.uky.edu)

Text: Safety in Academic Chemistry Laboratories (American Chemical Society, 1995)
Recommended Reading: Prudent Practices in the Laboratory; Handling and Disposal of

Chemicals (National Research Council, 1995) on reserve in the Chemistry Library

Lecture Outline:

1.

Culture of laboratory safety

2.

Fire prevention and fire extinguisher use

3.

 Governmental regulation
Prudent planning of experiments

4.

Evaluating hazards in the laboratory
 

Toxic effects of chemicals

5.

Flammable, reactive and explosive hazards
 

Physical hazards, biohazards and radioactivity

6.

 Risk assessment
Sources of hazard data (MSDSs, etc)
Assignment 1: Preparing a Laboratory Chemical Safety Summary

7.

Disposal of Waste

8.

Midterm Exam

9.

 Management of chemicals (purchase, storage, etc.)
Working with chemicals
  General practices for hazardous chemicals
Toxic chemicals

10.

   Flammable, reactive and explosive materials
Compressed gases

11.

Working with laboratory equipment
  Using equipment safely
Fume hood operation
Personal protective equipment

12.

   Safety equipment
Emergency procedures
Assignment 2: Preparing an SOP for a hazardous operation

13.

Conducting lab inspections

14.

Laboratory facilities
  Fume hood demonstration
Assignment 3: Conducting a lab inspection

15.

Safety in research labs at UK

16.

 Final exam

Determination of grades: Class assignments, 20% each (total of 60%); midterm exam,
 

20%; final exam, 20%

Grade ranges: 90-100%, A; 80-89%, B; 70-79%, C; 60-69%, D; <60%, E.