Good morning:

 

I’m reviewing an incident report from one of my inorganic synthesis researchers.  A little sodium, wiped off tweezers onto a kimwipe and not properly disposed, that went badly downhill.  No one hurt but it sure got everyone’s heart pounding for a bit.

 

In the corrective action, the lab worker states they keep LN2 nearby as an extinguishing agent for small air/reactive metals fires (think size of a beaker).  That just sounds all bad.  In my guidance document, I state that dry sand, Met-L-X, lime, or soda ash are suitable extinguishing agents for small fires.  We have our own fire department and don’t provide Class D fire extinguishers (for a long list of very good reasons).

 

I’m getting some push back – that using LN2 is commonplace in this lab and the default fire extinguishing agent.

 

Thoughts?

 

 

Debbie M. Decker, CCHO

Campus Chemical Safety Officer (soon to be Chemistry Department Safety Manager)
Environmental Health and Safety
University of California, Davis
1 Shields Ave.
Davis, CA  95616
(530)754-7964/(530)681-1799 (cell)

(530)752-4527 (FAX)
dmdecker**At_Symbol_Here**ucdavis.edu
Co-Conspirator to Make the World A
Better Place -- Visit www.HeroicStories.com and join the conspiracy