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Laboratory Safety Manual

Storage of chemicals

Chemical products must be stored safely to avoid accidents, health risks, theft and releases to the environment. Storage must be adapted based on the properties of the chemical product and guidance can be obtained from the product's labeling, hazard pictograms (CLP), and the product's safety data sheet (SDS). The basic rule is that different types of chemicals are stored separately, but in cases where there is only a ventilated cabinet and it concerns single bottles, joint storage can take place. The single bottle must be stored on a separate shelf and in its own embankment, e.g. a plastic bin. The shelf levels must be marked.

Acids and bases

Acids and bases should be stored in a ventilated cabinet on a spill container or in a refrigerator; they should not be stored above eye level. Acids and bases should not be stored together or with organic substances and flammable products.

Peroxide-forming chemicals

Peroxide-forming chemicals (e.g. ethers, tetrahydrofuran, dioxane) should be stored in a cool and dark place, preferably in a spark-free refrigerator. For hydrogen peroxide, no more than a few liters may be stored in the laboratory. Opened bottles may not be stored for longer than one year. Peroxide-forming chemicals should not be stored with other chemicals and flammable materials. Peroxide-forming chemicals should be regularly checked for possible peroxide formation. Chemicals with a clearly detectable peroxide content (≥3 mg/L) should not be used but destroyed. Peroxide testing can be done using test strips (e.g. from Sigma-Aldrich; Quantofix 1-100 mg/L) or by adding 1 ml of the solution to 1 ml of concentrated acetic acid (HOAc) mixed with 0.1 g NaI or KI. The latter method gives a yellow color at low peroxide content; brown color = high peroxide content.

Oxidizing agents

Oxidizing agents should be stored in a cool, dry place, or in a ventilated cabinet. Oxidizing agents should not be stored in quantities greater than a few liters in the laboratory or together with oxidizable substances (e.g. alcohols) or other chemicals.

Flammable products

Flammable and volatile products should be stored in fireproof and ventilated cabinets. Flammable liquids should not be stored together with flammable substances/materials or with gases. Flammable products that need to be kept cool should be stored in spark-free refrigerators. The amount of flammable products stored in front on benches etc. should be as small as possible and only cover the daily needs.

  • Flammable gas should be stored in a fireproof manner but not in the same cabinet as flammable liquids.
  • If there is a lack of space, loose containers of flammable liquids may be stored on their own shelves in cabinets where other hazardous chemicals are stored together. The shelves should be marked.

Pipelines

Visible pipelines in which hazardous chemical products (liquids, gases) flow must be marked with hazard pictograms, the name of the product and an arrow for the direction of flow.

Other chemicals

Other chemicals are stored in a ventilated cabinet.

Requirements for the storage location

Spaces where chemical products are stored must be ventilated and clearly signposted/marked so that it is clear that the spaces are intended for chemicals. The rooms must be locked so that unauthorized persons cannot enter. Cabinets that store flammable goods, explosive goods, corrosive substances, oxidizing substances, gases under pressure, only toxic substances or toxic substances that are also flammable must be marked with the respective hazard pictograms (CLP signage). If hazard pictograms for "flammable" or "toxic" already exist, the hazard pictogram for "gas under pressure" is not needed in the case of small packages.

Requirements for packaging and containers

All hazardous chemicals must be classified and labelled in accordance with the rules of the EU Regulation on classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures (CLP Regulation).

  • Packaging and containers must be intact and clean and always closed when not in use. If packaging and containers are reused, all labelling that is no longer relevant must be removed. There must be no doubt about what the container contains.
  • Containers with pure chemical substances must be labelled with content, quantity, supplier and hazard pictograms.
  • Containers with chemical mixtures must be labelled in accordance with CLP with the name of the product and the applicable hazard pictograms and, where applicable, with the text "may cause cancer", "may cause allergies", "may damage the genetic material" or "may interfere with reproduction".
  • The labelling must be clear. The information must be in Swedish and more languages ​​if required. Exceptions are made for small packages, less than 125 ml, and for short-term handling when it is obvious to the user what a container contains.
  • Containers that you fill yourself must be intended for storing chemicals and the contents must be labelled with the product name and hazard pictograms. If the substance is carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic to reproduction, the container must be labelled with that information.