Research Insights
Safety Tip: Labeling Chemical Containers
The need to properly label chemical containers cannot be overestimated.
The need to properly label chemical containers cannot be overestimated.
To ensure safety of laboratory personnel and all of the UGA community, all chemical containers must be labeled with the chemical name and any appropriate hazard ratings or descriptions. Recently, a waste container found on campus was labeled as biohazardous waste and following established protocol, bleach was added to the container to eliminate the biohazard. The solution began to react immediately releasing poisonous chlorine gas. Based on the type of reaction that was observed, the solution was likely acidic waste and thus improperly labeled.
These simple oversights can put safety professionals, faculty, and students at risk. For additional information on chemical container labeling and hazard descriptions, please contact the Office of Research Safety at 706-542-9088.