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Lab safety

Last Updated: 14-Oct-2015

This guide contains information resources for the laboratory environment and was developed for informational/educational purposes. Please see Stanford's Department of Environmental Health and Safety website for official information about Stanford's policies, procedures, and training.

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The Safety Zone | CENtral Science Blog

The Safety Zone blog

The Safety Zone covers chemical safety issues in academic and industrial research labs and in manufacturing. It is intended to be a forum for exchange and discussion of lab and plant safety and accident information without the fanfare of a news article. Written primarily by C&EN senior editor Jyllian Kemsley, the blog also includes contributions from other C&EN staff writers as well as health and safety experts in academia, industry, and government.

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Includes methods you can use for other types of searches in a resource.

Reagent - Triphosgene

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Find Chemical Substance Identification Information

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Please note: until permission is granted from information providers, access to "Lab Safety Demo" searches are limited to Stanford users. 

Safety culture

Key publications

"Recent serious and sometimes fatal accidents in chemical research laboratories at United States universities have driven government agencies, professional societies, industries, and universities themselves to examine the culture of safety in research laboratories. These incidents have triggered a broader discussion of how serious incidents can be prevented in the future and how best to train researchers and emergency personnel to respond appropriately when incidents do occur. As the priority placed on safety increases, many institutions have expressed a desire to go beyond simple compliance with regulations to work toward fostering a strong, positive safety culture: affirming a constant commitment to safety throughout their institutions, while integrating safety as an essential element in the daily work of laboratory researchers." (publisher's description)  Available in print and online.

Learn more

"The committee has released the final report on creating safety cultures. The report provides guidance, suggestions, examples, and recommendations that will help strengthen the safety culture in two- and four-year undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral programs. It identifies: The best elements and best practices of a good safety culture, Specific recommendations that could be used by universities and colleges, Tools and resources that will help strengthen the safety culture"--ACS Committee on Chemical Safety news site.
7th ed. Washington, D.C. : American Chemical Society, Joint Board-Council Committee on Chemical Safety, c2003.
Stanford University Libraries » Online resource » eResource
This two-volume manual provides guidelines of safe practices for university and college laboratories. Volume 1 is designed for student use. Volume 2 is designed for faculty and administrator use.
Lanham, Md. : Government Institutes, 2007.
SAL3 (off-campus storage) » Stacks » T55 .M328 2007
"Fueled by more than 30 years in the safety industry and by thousands of interviews with managers and workers worldwide, McKinnon confronts the safety industry's most prevalent and most dangerous myths head-on. He identifies 20 common safety paradigms, examines how these misconceptions negatively impact the way employers manage safety and health in their facilities, and provides guidelines for changes that will reduce accidents in the workplace." - (Publisher's description).
Good safety and security procedures can lead to greater productivity, efficiency, savings, and most importantly, greater sophistication and cooperation. Improving safety and security is mistakenly seen as inhibitory, because of lack of understanding of safety and security procedures, cultural barriers, lack of skills, and financial constraints. This online book and accompanying toolkit will assist chemists in developing countries to overcome the barriers they face and increase the level of safety and security in their labs through improved chemicals management and following the best laboratory practices possible.
5th ed. Boca Raton, Fla. : CRC Press, c2000.
Chemistry & ChemEng Library (Swain) » Safety Collection » QD51 .C73 2000
"Provides information on planning and building a facility, developing an organization infrastructure, planning for emergencies and contingencies, choosing the correct equipment, developing operational plans, and meeting regulatory requirements." - (Publisher's description).
Hoboken, N.J. : Wiley-Interscience, c2005.
Stanford University Libraries » Online resource » eResource
"Health and safety management is an ongoing concern in today's workplace. This book provides today's safety professionals with an excellent resource for protecting their organizations' most important resource-their employees. The author, a seasoned health and safety professional, provides a blueprint for installing a system that's been proven to reduce illness and injury on any job, in any industry, with a simple, logical approach that compares safety management to production and quality control-issues today's managers readily understand.  The system uses a team approach to get every level of an organization involved in the process of managing safety issues, with the ultimate goal being the development of a safety culture in which every employee has a personal interest in protecting their lives, their property, and their environment." - (Publisher's description).
Easton, Pa., Eschenbach Printing Company, 1924-
SAL3 (off-campus storage) » Stacks » 540.7 .J86 V.87:NO.7-12 2010
A browsable list of Topics and Keywords is assigned to all articles in the Journal of Chemical Education.  The Domain section includes Laboratory Instruction and Safety / Hazards    The Topics section includes Chemical Technicians  Laboratory Equipment / Apparatus    Laboratory Management    TA Training / Orientation   plus many more topics.

Hoboken, N.J. : Wiley-Interscience, c2005.
Stanford University Libraries » Online resource » eResource
"Redefines organizational safety as an activity that both leads other performance areas and in turn must be led. This book defines the practices, tools, and systems essential to creating an injury-free workplace, including the role of employees at each level, special considerations for coaching the senior executive leader, and the two crucial aspects of human performance that every leader needs to know. Ending with inspiring real-world examples or organizations that have put these tools into practice." - (Publishers' description).
2nd ed. Research Triangle Park, NC : Burroughs Wellcome Fund ; Chevy Chase, MD : Howard Hughes Medical Institute, c2006.
Stanford University Libraries » Online resource » eResource
"Based on courses held in 2002 and 2005 by the Burroughs Wellcome Fund and HHMI, this book is a collection of practical advice and experiences from seasoned biomedical investigators. The second edition contains three new chapters on laboratory leadership, project management, and teaching and course design." - (Publisher's description).  Also see: Training Scientists to Make the Right Moves: A Practical Guide to Developing Programs In Scientific Management. Research Triangle Park, N.C.: Burroughs Wellcome Fund, 2006.
3rd ed. Hoboken, N.J. : J. Wiley, c2003.
Stanford University Libraries » Online resource » eResource
"This book covers subjects that must be mastered by anyone seeking to attain professional status in the practice of safety. It provides a solid foundation for the study of the practice of safety in degree programs. Additionally, it serves as a basis for self-analysis by those safety professionals who seek to improve their performance, gain recognition from management for providing value, and achieve professional status.  Each chapter is a self-contained unit that offers comprehensive coverage of a particular topic. All of the chapters in the Third Edition reflect the increasing professional incidence of safety, occupational health, and environmental affairs falling under a common management, and address each issue accordingly." - (Publisher's description). 
4th ed. [Piscataway, NJ] : IEEE Press ; Hoboken, N.J. : John Wiley & Sons, c2009.
Stanford University Libraries » Online resource » eResource
"For more than a decade, this handbook has been a trusted compendium of strategies and guidance for effectively conveying risk information.  Now in its Fourth Edition, it has been updated with expanded coverage of laws, approaches, messages, and technology-based applications such as social media, as well as all-new information on international risk communication. Combining in-depth scientific underpinnings and the greatest breadth of information available, this book makes the topic of risk communication accessible to those who need it most. It is intended as an introduction to the field as well as a refresher and reference book for those communicating environmental, safety, and health risks in government, industry, and academia." - (Publisher's description).
New York : Wiley, 2013.
Stanford University Libraries » Online resource » eResource
"This book teaches methods for improving a company's safety culture and allows readers to effectively assess, transform, sustain, and integrate behavioral safety precepts as part of their company's continuous improvement efforts. The methods described in this book produce rapid results that can be built upon, expanded, and sustained in the real world. Proven steps give readers a concrete process they can apply to implement change, overcome internal resistance, and measure results. Special attention is paid to multinational sites, and the nuances different countries present in developing a unified plan." - (Publisher's description).

Prudent practices

This book that has served for decades as the standard for chemical laboratory safety practice.  It offers prudent practices designed to promote safety and includes practical information on assessing hazards, managing chemicals, disposing of wastes, and more.  This revised edition has an expanded chapter on chemical management and delves into new areas, such as nanotechnology, laboratory security, and emergency planning. 
7th ed. Oxford : Elsevier/Butterworth-Heinemann, 2013.
Chemistry & ChemEng Library (Swain) » Reference » TP156 .P83 A76 2013
"A best seller since 1966, "Purification of Laboratory Chemicals" keeps engineers, scientists, chemists, biochemists and students up to date with the purification of the chemical reagents with which they work, the processes for their purification, and guides readers on critical safety and hazards for the safe handling of chemicals and processes. The Seventh Edition is fully updated and provides expanded coverage of the latest commercially available chemical products and processing techniques, safety and hazards: over 200 pages of coverage of new commercially available chemicals since the previous edition." - (Publisher's description).
7th ed. Washington, D.C. : American Chemical Society, Joint Board-Council Committee on Chemical Safety, c2003.
Stanford University Libraries » Online resource » eResource
This two-volume manual provides guidelines of safe practices for university and college laboratories. Volume 1 is designed for student use. Volume 2 is designed for faculty and administrator use.
Hoboken, N.J. : Wiley-Interscience, c2007.
Stanford University Libraries » Online resource » eResource
"Provides a practical, hands-on resource for students and practitioners of organic synthesis. It presents the fundamentals and guides the reader through the entire process of organic synthesis. It includes basic instructions on everything from on handling reagents, gases, and solvents to conducting and working up/purifying reactions as well as applying analytical techniques to identify the reaction product" - (Publisher's description).
Handbook of Chemical Health and Safety
Washington, D.C. : American Chemical Society ; New York : Oxford University Press, 2001.
Chemistry & ChemEng Library (Swain) » Safety Collection » T55.3 .H3 H344 2001
"This handbook provides the tools necessary to create and maintain a safe work environment. It provides information on proper chemical and equipment handling, storage, and disposal. The safe use of specialized equipment is outlined. Emergency preparedness plans are given. This book also covers industrial hygiene issues, radiation safety practices, safe laboratory and facility design criteria, bio safety issues and more." - (Publisher's description).
6th ed. Hoboken, N.J. : Wiley, c2011.
Stanford University Libraries » Online resource » eResource
Presents valuable information on the recognition and evaluation of chemical agents, physical agents, and biohazards in the workplace, as well as engineering control of exposure and personal protection.

* Personal protection

Quick selection guide to chemical protective clothing
Sixth edition.
Stanford University Libraries » Online resource » eResource
Provides the reader with the latest information on Selection, Care and Use of Chemical Protective garments and gloves. The key feature of the book is the color-coded selection recommendations. The red, yellow or green indications are highly appreciated by the users.  This sixth edition has been updated, to include approximately 1,000 chemicals/chemical brands or mixture of chemicals.  The performance of 9 generic materials and 32 proprietary barriers are compared against the 21 standard test chemicals listed in ASTM F1001.
This report provides chemical protective clothing recommendations for the chemicals listed in the NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards, June 1997 Edition (Publication No. 97-140). These recommendations are based on another published work, Quick Selection Guide to Chemical Protective Clothing, Third Edition, by Krister Forsberg and S.Z. Mansdorf (1997).
[Washington, D.C.] : U.S. Dept. of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, 2003.
Stanford University Libraries » Online resource » eResource
This guide will help both employers and employees do the following: Understand the types of personal protection equipment (PPE). Know the basics of conducting a "hazard assessment" of the workplace.  Select appropriate PPE for a variety of circumstances. Understand what kind of training is needed in the proper use and care of PPE.
Personal protective equipment (PPE) is critical for those dealing with toxic, infectious, and radioactive materials.  Covering the physics, chemistry, and physiology of these hazards, the book explains how PPE protects from various forms of hazards as well as how to use this information to select PPE against these highly hazardous substances for first responder or military users.
3rd ed. Santa Rosa, Calif. : American Glovebox Society, c2007.
Chemistry & ChemEng Library (Swain) » Safety Collection » TK9152.1645 .G85 2007
Contains established and proven practices compiled by experienced industry professionals. Covers areas of glovebox technology from conception to installation, operations, and maintenance.
Includes a number of "Consumer Reports" style tables comparing PPE.  "Provide emergency first responders with information to aid them in the selection of personal protection equipment or PPE, both percutaneous (skin) protection and respiratory protection. PPE providing percutaneous protection addressed in this guide includes protective ensembles, footwear, and gloves. PPE providing respiratory protection from CBRN threats addressed in this guide includes these types of respirators: air-purifying, powered air-purifying, self-contained atmosphere supplying, and escape. The guide is intended to be more practical than technical and provides information on a variety of factors that should be considered when purchasing and using PPE." - (Publisher's description).
2nd ed. New York : Wiley, c1999.
Chemistry & ChemEng Library (Swain) » Safety Collection » TP149 .F66 1999
"Chemical protective clothing is an essential part of any personnel protection program for workplace health and safety. This practical guide provides a reliable source for making informed decisions in this area. The new edition replaces all of the obsolete data from the 1989 edition, and expands the range of data covered in terms of materials and their ability to protect human health and safety. Topics covered include test materials, thickness, permeation rates, breakthrough times, and permeation index numbers." (source: Nielsen Book Data)
Boca Raton : Lewis Publishers, c1995.
Chemistry & ChemEng Library (Swain) » Safety Collection » TP149 .F663 1995
"The three most important things to evaluate when selecting Chemical Protective Clothing (CPC) are: evidence of degradation of the garment exposed to a chemical; breakthrough time; and permeation rate. Because proper CPC selection must be based on permeation and degradation tests performed upon specific manufacturer products, an information source that enables you to access test results quickly and easily is needed. "Chemical Protective Clothing Permeation and Degradation Compendium" aims to be that source." - (Publisher's description).

Protective clothing - more items on this topic

* Electrical safety

Principles of Electrical Safety
Hoboken : Wiley, 2014.
Stanford University Libraries » Online resource » eResource
"Principles of Electrical Safety discusses current issues in electrical safety, which are accompanied by series of practical applications that can be used by practicing professionals, graduate students, and researchers. . Provides extensive introductions to important topics in electrical safety Comprehensive overview of inductance, resistance, and capacitance as applied to the human body Serves as a preparatory guide for today's practicing engineers."
Electrical safety code manual : a plain language guide to National Electrical Code, OSHA, and NFPA 70E
Amsterdam ; Boston : Butterworth-Heinemann, c2010.
Stanford University Libraries » Online resource » eResource
"Safety in any workplace is extremely important. In the case of the electrical industry, safety is critical and the codes and regulations which determine safe practices are both diverse and complicated. Employers, electricians, electrical system designers, inspectors, engineers and architects must comply with safety standards listed in the National Electrical Code, OSHA and NFPA 70E. Unfortunately, the publications which list these safety requirements are written in very technically advanced terms and the average person has an extremely difficult time understanding exactly what they need to do to ensure safe installations and working environments. This book will tie together the various regulations and practices for electrical safety and translate these complicated standards into easy to understand terms."
Electrical safety handbook
4th ed. New York : McGraw-Hill, c2013.
Stanford University Libraries » Online resource » eResource
"An essential, fully updated on-the-job safety resource covering every major electrical standard.  Written by experts in electrical construction safety and medicine as a practical guide for electrical workers and others exposed to electrical hazards. This easy-to-use, illustrated guide provides vital safety information for industrial, commercial, and home-office based electrical systems."
Practical electrical equipment and installations in hazardous areas
Oxford ; Boston : Elsevier/Newnes, 2005.
Stanford University Libraries » Online resource » eResource
"A basic understanding of instrumentation and electrical theory would be of benefit to the reader, but no previous knowledge of hazardous area installation is required. It is an engineer's guide to the hazards and best practice for using electrical equipment in potentially explosive atmospheres. It is fully in line with the newly adopted international standards, the IEC79 series. Clear explanations of terminology and background information make this the most accessible book on this subject.

Batteries

Handbook of battery materials
2nd, completely rev. and enlarged ed. Weinheim : Wiley-VCH Verlag, c2011.
Stanford University Libraries » Online resource » eResource
"A one-stop resource for both researchers and development engineers, this comprehensive handbook serves as a daily reference, replacing heaps of individual papers.  The authors, from such leading institutions as the US National Labs and from companies such as Panasonic and Sanyo, present a balanced view on battery research and large-scale applications. They follow a distinctly materials-oriented route through the entire field of battery research, thus allowing readers to quickly find the information on the particular materials system relevant to their research."

Electric batteries

* Laser safety

Laser Safety

For Stanford information, please see: Stanford EH&S > Laser Safety Program

Bellingham, Wash. (1000 20th St. Bellingham WA 98225-6705 USA) : SPIE, 2013.
Stanford University Libraries » Online resource » eResource
"There is no more challenging setting for laser use than a research environment. In almost every other setting the laser controls count on engineering controls, and human exposure is kept to a minimum. In research, however, the user often manipulates the optical layout and thereby places him or herself in peril, but this does not mean that accidents and injury are unavoidable. On the contrary, laser accidents can be avoided by following a number of simple approaches. Laser Safety in the Lab provides the laser user and laser safety officer with practical guidelines from housekeeping to eyewear to on-the-job training." - (Publisher's description).
Boca Raton, FL : CRC/Taylor & Francis, 2006.
Engineering Library (Terman) » Stacks » TA1677 .B36 2006
"An effective laser safety program can improve the quality of your research program, your organization's reputation, and improve your bottom line.  This book provides practical tools for successfully implementing a laser safety program in any environment.  It defines the three elements of laser safety: users, the laser safety officer, and incidental personnel. It covers the types of laser injuries, standard operating procedures to ensure safety, tips and tools to avoid pitfalls, training, control measures, and personal protection equipment. The author explores the laser safety officer position and delineates the required elements of effective SOPs. He also discusses non-beam hazards, includes practical control examples and sample forms, and covers U.S. and European regulations and standards. Taking a pedagogical approach, the book covers not only how to avoid accidents, but how to investigate them if they do occur. It includes a sample safety program designed to evaluate your current safety plan and act as a roadmap for where you need to be and how to get there. Filled with common sense solutions for laser safety issues, the book makes setting up a safety program practically painless." - (Publisher's description).
Laser safety : tools and training
Second edition.
Stanford University Libraries » Online resource » eResource
"This text provides background information relating to lasers and laser safety, and examines the components of laser work and laser safety from a different perspective. Written by a working laser safety officer, the book considers ways to keep users, as well as those around them, safe. The author encourages readers to think beyond protective eyewear. As it relates to safety, he determines that if eyewear is required, then the laser system is not ideal. This book factors in optics, the vibration elements of the optical table, the power meter, and user training, elements that are not commonly considered in the context of laser safety. It presents ways for users to evaluate the hazards of any laser procedure and ensure that they are following documented laser safety standards. The material serves as a fundamental means or road map for laser users seeking to utilize the safest system possible." - (Publisher's description).
Bristol : Institute of Physics, 2004.
Engineering Library (Terman) » Stacks » TA1677 .H462 2004
"Covering both underlying theory and practical applications, this book provides a unique and readily-understandable review of current laser safety. This resource explains in detail the biological effects of laser radiation, particularly on the eye, and the provisions and requirements of the international laser safety standard IEC 60825-1, including a full description of the recently revised system of laser classification. It elucidates the rationale for the often-complex laser emission and exposure limits given in the standard, and provides detailed guidance for using the standard to carry out quantitative laser assessments. The authors also discuss practical issues of risk assessment, safety controls, eye protection, and laser safety management." - (Publisher's description).

* Lab design

"Features concise, straightforward advice organized in an easy-to-use format that facilitates the design of safe, efficient laboratories. Divided into five sections, the book records some of the most important discoveries and achievements in: Common Elements of Laboratory Design, Common Elements of Renovations, Design Guidelines for a Number of Commonly Used Laboratories, Laboratory Support Services, HVAC Systems, and Administrative Procedures." - (Publisher's description).
The first comprehensive guide to modern laboratory planning in ten years to address both construction and operating aspects.  Covers the entire lifecycle of a laboratory facility, starting with the site layout and the planning of the building, followed by the planning of such areas as housing for laboratory animals, clean rooms and production facilities. The next section of the book deals with the installation of laboratory equipment, including storage and emergency facilities, while the final parts address safety and sustainability standards applicable to laboratories, as well as facility management and optimization during normal laboratory operation.
"Laboratory facilities are complex, technically sophisticated, and mechanically intensive structures that are expensive to build and to maintain. Hundreds of decisions must be made before and during new construction or renovation that will determine how successfully the facility will function when completed and how successfully it can be maintained once put into service. This book provides guidance on effective approaches for building laboratory facilities in the chemical and biochemical sciences. It contains both basic and laboratory-specific information addressed to the user community - the scientists and administrators who contract with design and construction experts. The book will also be important to the design and construction communities - the architects, laboratory designers, and engineers who will design the facility and the construction personnel who will build it-to help them communicate with the scientific community for whom they build laboratory facilities." (publisher's description)

Laboratories design and construction

  1. Ken Barat. 2015

  2. edited by Egbert Dittrich. 2015

  3. Giurgola Architects / Hilary Lewis, Paul Nurse. 2013

  4. Louis J. DiBerardinis, Janet S. Baum, Melvin W. First, Gari T. Gatwood, Anand K. Seth. 2013

  5. Hedwig Beernaert. 2012

Laboratories safety measures

  1. Mary K. Moore, editor, Eastman Chemical Company, Kingsport, Tennessee ; Elmer B. Ledesma, editor, University of St. Thomas, Houston, Texas ; sponsored by the ACS Division of Industrial & Engineering Chemistry. 2014

  2. Committee on Establishing and Promoting a Culture of Safety in Academic Laboratory Research, Board on Chemical Sciences and Technology, Division on Earth and Life Studies, Board on Human-Systems Integration, Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education; National Research Council of the National Academies. 2014

  3. edited by Manfred Weidmann, Nigel Silmann, Patrick Butaye, Mandy Elschner. 2014

Handling & storage

Handling, Labelling, and Storing Chemicals

Hoboken, N.J. : Wiley ; Salem, Mass. : Scrivener Pub., c2010.
Stanford University Libraries » Online resource » eResource
"This book aims to be the most useful "go to" volume for the working engineer, scientist, or chemist who needs quick answers to daily questions about materials or chemicals. Covering only the most commonly used chemicals in the most important processes in industry, this book includes industrial chemicals, such as gases, fuels, and water, which are not incorporated in most "comprehensive" books on materials and chemical properties. Safety plans and procedures that can be implemented by any engineer or plant manager by following the easy, step-by-step instructions in the book are also provided" - Publisher's description.
Boca Raton, FL : CRC Press, c2011.
Chemistry & ChemEng Library (Swain) » Safety Collection » TP150 .S24 D54 2011
"This bookprovides a tool for the management of a range of chemical substances commonly used, handled, stored, transported, and disposed of as wastes. Includes, but is not limited to, industrial solvents, pesticides, metals, air pollutants, toxic gases, pharmaceuticals, persistent organic chemicals (POCs), and persistent organic pollutants (POPs).  An important reference on exposure to different categories of chemical substances, the book stresses the importance of preparedness in any safety program. Taking a broad and interdisciplinary approach to chemicals and workplace safety, it provides guidance on the judicious management of chemical substances" - Publisher's description.
7th ed. Oxford : Elsevier/Butterworth-Heinemann, 2013.
Chemistry & ChemEng Library (Swain) » Reference » TP156 .P83 A76 2013
"A best seller since 1966, "Purification of Laboratory Chemicals" keeps engineers, scientists, chemists, biochemists and students up to date with the purification of the chemical reagents with which they work, the processes for their purification, and guides readers on critical safety and hazards for the safe handling of chemicals and processes. The Seventh Edition is fully updated and provides expanded coverage of the latest commercially available chemical products and processing techniques, safety and hazards: over 200 pages of coverage of new commercially available chemicals since the previous edition." - (Publisher's description).

Safe Storage of Laboratory Chemicals
2nd ed. New York : J. Wiley, c1991.
Chemistry & ChemEng Library (Swain) » Safety Collection » QD51 .S22 1991
"This comprehensive guide contains a series of procedures for the safe destruction of a wide variety of hazardous chemicals and also describes how to deal with spills. Each procedure is presented in great detail, thereby eliminating the need for additional references, and most have been extensively validated by international collaborative studies. In addition, many procedures have been tested to see if the final reaction mixtures are mutagenic."
2nd ed. Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y. : Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, c2007.
Chemistry & ChemEng Library (Swain) » Safety Collection » T55.3 .H3 S24 2007
"This is a slim, benchtop reference collection of tips and warnings on the safe handling of chemicals and biologicals, listed alphabetically by compound. Extracted from a wide range of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press manuals, this valuable information is presented in a handy format designed for easy use. The volume also includes helpful charts and tables." - Publisher's description.
New York : American Institute of Chemical Engineers, 1995.
Chemistry & ChemEng Library (Swain) » Safety Collection » TP201 .G853 1995
"With new and growing interest in dealing with the hazards of reactive chemicals, this book offers guidelines that can significantly reduce the risk or mitigate the severity of accidents associated with storing and handling reactive materials. Necessary elements of a reliable system to prevent equipment or human failures that might lead to a reactive chemical incident are sound and responsible management policies, together with a combination of superior siting, design, fabrication, erection, inspection, monitoring, maintenance, operations and maintenance of facilities. These Guidelines deal with all of these elements with emphasis on design considerations" - Publisher's description.
4th rev. ed. New York : United Nations, 2011.
Green Library » International Government Documents » ST/SG/AC.10/30/REV.4
"The Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals. The GHS is a system for standardizing and harmonizing the classification and labelling of chemicals. It is a logical and comprehensive approach to: Defining health, physical and environmental hazards of chemicals; Creating classification processes that use available data on chemicals for comparison with the defined hazard criteria; and Communicating hazard information, as well as protective measures,  on labels and Safety Data Sheets (SDS)."  

* Standard procedures

Standard operating procedures

A standard operating procedure (SOP) is a set of written instructions that describes in detail how to perform a laboratory process or experiment safely and effectively.

* Biological materials

Biological safety

For Stanford information, please see: Stanford EH&S > BioSafety Program

4th ed. Washington, D.C. : ASM Press, c2006.
SAL3 (off-campus storage) » Stacks » QR64.7 .L33 2006
"This book describes a complete biological safety program, providing specific advice on management and implementation issues. It features appendices on current NIH, CDC, and OSHA guidelines. It updates information on laboratory-acquired infections and examines routes of exposure. It covers the identification, assessment, and management of hazardous biological agents and toxins. It addresses special considerations from teaching and industrial labs to biosecurity programs." - Publisher's description.
Biosafety in microbiological and biomedical laboratories
5th ed., rev. Dec. 2009. [Washington D.C.] : U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institutes of Health : [For sale by the Supt. of Docs., U.S. G.P.O., 2009]
Green Library » US Federal Documents » HE 20.7002:B 52/2009
"Over the past two decades, Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories (BMBL) has become the code of practice for biosafety—the discipline addressing the safe handling and containment of infectious microorganisms and hazardous biological materials. The principles of biosafety introduced in 1984 in the first edition of BMBL and carried through in this fifth edition remain steadfast. These principles are containment and risk assessment. The fundamentals of containment include the microbiological practices, safety equipment, and facility safeguards that protect laboratory workers, the environment, and the public from exposure to infectious microorganisms that are handled and stored in the laboratory. Risk assessment is the process that enables the appropriate selection of microbiological practices, safety equipment, and facility safeguards that can prevent laboratory-associated infections (LAI)." (publisher's description)
Boca Raton : CRC Press, c2007.
Stanford University Libraries » Online resource » eResource
"By achieving a delicate balance between systems and practices, proper laboratory biosecurity reduces the risk of legitimate bioscience facilities becoming sources of pathogens and toxins for malicious use. Providing guidance to the broad international community, this book addresses the objectives of biosecurity and the ways in which they overlap or conflict with those of biosafety." - Publisher's description.
"Personal protective equipment (PPE) is critical for those dealing with toxic, infectious, and radioactive materials.  Covering the physics, chemistry, and physiology of these hazards, the book explains how PPE protects from various forms of hazards as well as how to use this information to select PPE against these highly hazardous substances for first responder or military users."
Safety and health handbook for cytotoxic drugs
Lanham, Md. : Government Institutes, 2012.
Chemistry & ChemEng Library (Swain) » Safety Collection » RS431 .A64 M87 2012
"Many Healthcare workers must deal on a daily basis with the transportation, preparation, storage, clean up, and disposal of cytotoxic drugs, which are used in chemotherapy because of their harmful effect on cancer cells. These drugs also have harmful effects on good cells, and they therefore pose a significant health risk to those who work with them. Yet there is little safety and health information available about them, and what information is available is scattered across a vast array of literature. The Safety and Health Handbook for Cytotoxic Drugs collects this information so that healthcare workers can better understand the drugs they work with and the safety and health procedures that should be followed. In it, author Samuel J. Murff presents comprehensive technical and procedural information on 106 of the most common cytotoxic drugs. The book provides guidance on quickly dealing with spills, reducing unnecessary exposure, and complying with pertinent regulations and standards in order to better equip healthcare workers to maintain a safe work environment." (publisher's description)

Biological laboratories -- safety measures

  1. edited by Manfred Weidmann, Nigel Silmann, Patrick Butaye, Mandy Elschner. 2014

  2. Alison K. Hottes, Benjamin Rusek, and Fran Sharples, rapporteurs ; National Academy of Sciences and National Research Council of the National Academies. 2012

  3. Reynolds M. Salerno, Jennifer Gaudioso. 2007

  4. Reynolds M. Salerno, Jennifer Gaudioso. 2007

  5. editors, Diane O. Fleming, Debra L. Hunt. 2006

Microbiological laboratories

  1. edited by Long Jason Lu.. 2015

  2. edited by Jacob T. Bjerrum. 2015

  3. edited by Renata Basto and Wallace F. Marshall. 2015

  4. Surajit Das, Hirak Ranjan Dash. 2015

  5. edited by Nicasio Mancini. 2015

* Hazardous substances

Hazardous and toxic substances

[Silver Spring, Md.] : U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Ocean Service, Office of Response and Restoration, 2007-
Stanford University Libraries » Online resource » eResource
"Find response information for thousands of hazardous materials, including fire and explosion hazards, health hazards, firefighting techniques, cleanup procedures, protective clothing, and chemical properties.  Use "My Chemicals" to build a list of chemicals. Explore reactivity, see what hazards might occur if chemicals in your MyChemicals collection are mixed together.  CAMEO Chemicals contains: A library with thousands of datasheets containing response-related information and recommendations for hazardous materials that are commonly transported, used, or stored in the United States. A reactivity prediction tool, which you can use to predict potential reactive hazards between chemicals. This tool is part of the CAMEO software suite, and it is available as a website, mobile website, and as a downloadable version that you can run on your own computer." - (Publisher's description).
6th ed. Burlington : Elsevier Science, 2011.
Stanford University Libraries » Online resource » eResource
"Sittig's 5th Edition remains the lone comprehensive work providing a vast array of critical information on the 2,100 most heavily used, transported, and regulated chemical substances of both occupational and environmental concern. It provides extensive data for each chemical substances in a uniform format. The chemicals are presented alphabetically and classified as a carcinogen, hazardous substance, hazardous waste, or toxic pollutant. Chemicals classified as WMD have been included in the new edition as has more information frequently queried by first responders and frontline industrial safety personnel." - Publisher's description.
Bethesda, Md. : National Library of Medicine, [199-]-
Stanford University Libraries » Online resource » eResource
HSDB has comprehensive, peer-reviewed toxicology data for about 5,000 potentially hazardous chemicals. It is enhanced with information on human exposure, industrial hygiene, emergency handling procedures, environmental fate, regulatory requirements, nanomaterials, and related areas.
Atlanta, Ga. : Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, [2010]
Stanford University Libraries » Online resource » eResource
"The NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards (NPG) is intended as a source of general industrial hygiene information on several hundred chemicals/classes for workers, employers, and occupational health professionals. The NPG does not contain an analysis of all pertinent data, rather it presents key information and data in abbreviated or tabular form for chemicals or substance groupings (e.g. cyanides, fluorides, manganese compounds) that are found in the work environment. The information found in the NPG should help users recognize and control occupational chemical hazards."
New York : Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1992-
Chemistry & ChemEng Library (Swain) » Safety Collection » T55.3 .H3 S3 12TH ED.:V.5 2012
"This book has become the primary source for those who need to evaluate the hazardous potential of substances used in commerce. Sax's is the only reference that combines - for so many substances - data on toxicology, flammability, reactivity, explosive potential, and regularity information. It contains extensive data on approximately 28,000 substances and Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health levels for approximately 1,000 chemicals. It also covers exposure-level classifications for a number of regulatory agencies, from OSHA to the U.S. Department of Transportation." - Publisher's description.
Bethesda, Md. : National Library of Medicine, [199-]-
Stanford University Libraries » Online resource » eResource
TOXNET (TOXicology Data NETwork) is a group of databases covering chemicals and drugs, diseases and the environment, environmental health, occupational safety and health, poisoning, risk assessment and regulations, and toxicology.  Information in the TOXNET databases covers: Specific chemicals, mixtures, and products; Chemical nomenclature; Unknown chemicals; Special toxic effects of chemicals in humans and/or animals; and Citations from the scientific literature.

More resources on harzardous substances

3rd ed. Hoboken, N.J. : John Wiley & Son, c2007.
Stanford University Libraries » Online resource » eResource
"Correlating chemical structure with toxicity to humans and the environment, and the chemical structure of compounds to their hazardous properties, A Comprehensive Guide to the Hazardous Properties of Chemical Substances, Third Edition allows users to assess the toxicity of a substance even when no experimental data exists. Thus, it bridges the gap between hazardous materials and chemistry." - Publisher's description.
2nd ed. Cambridge, UK : Royal Society of Chemistry, c1999.
Chemistry & ChemEng Library (Swain) » Reference
"The 2nd edition of DOSE includes toxicity, environmental and regulatory data from the world's literature, presented in concise summaries for over 4,000 chemicals. These new data are essential for the accurate assessment of the risks associated with the use and disposal of chemicals. Data on over 100 chemicals new to this edition have been added, including endocrine disruptors, food carcinogens, pesticides and compounds. Information for all of the chemicals includes: occupational exposure limits for 6 countries, recent toxicity and ecotoxicity data, results of new carcinogenicity, mutagenicity and environmental fate studies, and the latest regulatory requirements." - (Publisher's description).
Hazardous chemicals : safety management and global regulations
Boca Raton : CRC Press, Taylor & Francis Group, 2013.
Stanford University Libraries » Online resource » eResource
"Covers proper management, precautions, and related global regulations on the safety management of chemical substances. The book helps workers and safety personnel prevent and minimize the consequences of catastrophic releases of toxic, reactive, flammable, or explosive chemical substances, which often result in toxic or explosive hazards. It also details safety measures for transportation of chemical substances by different routes, such as by road, rail, air, and sea." (publisher's description)
6th ed. Hoboken, N.J. : Wiley, c2008.
Stanford University Libraries » Online resource » eResource
"This handbook offers a "safety profile" of 5000 of the most important hazardous chemicals.  It features unique Chemical Safety Profiles that provide a quick overview of the hazards, synonyms, and physical properties of a variety of chemicals.  It also details government agency standards and recommendations on the handling of each chemical.  It includes three cross-indices to permit rapid location of a material by its Chemical Abstract Service (CAS) number, a synonym for the material, or the DOT Guide Number." - Publisher's description
Hoboken, N.J. : Wiley-Interscience, c2006.
SAL3 (off-campus storage) » Stacks » T55.3 .H3 S475 2006
"Contains detailed coverage of hazardous materials and situations. Plain language and a common- sense approach make this an accessible resource for use by all workers who handle and deal with these materials.Written according to the latest regulations and best practices, this guide groups related materials together for quick and easy access (corrosive, ignitable, radioactive, etc.). It also details methods and procedures for evaluating the properties and strengths of questionable materials, as well as what reactive substances and situations to look out for when working with these materials. this book is a vital reference for all those whose work involves hazardous materials." - (Publisher's description.
6th ed. Hoboken, N.J. : Wiley, c2011.
Stanford University Libraries » Online resource » eResource
Presents valuable information on the recognition and evaluation of chemical agents, physical agents, and biohazards in the workplace, as well as engineering control of exposure and personal protection.

More resources on toxic substances

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, c2009-
Stanford University Libraries » Online resource » eResource
"ACToR (Aggregated Computational Toxicology Resource) is EPA's online warehouse of all publicly available chemical toxicity data and can be used to find all publicly available data about potential chemical risks to human health and the environment. ACToR aggregates data from over 1000 public sources on over 500,000 environmental chemicals searchable by chemical name, other identifiers and by chemical structure." - (Publisher's description).
2nd ed. / Oxford : Elsevier, 2010.
Biology Library (Falconer) » Stacks » RA1199 .C648 2010 V.1
"Comprehensive Toxicology Second Edition provides a unique organ-systems structure that allows the user to explore the toxic effects of various substances on each human system, aiding in providing diagnoses and proving essential in situations where the toxic substance is unknown but its effects on a system are obvious."
2nd ed. Amsterdam : Elsevier Science Direct, 2005.
Stanford University Libraries » Online resource » eResource
Provides an extensive overview of topics related to the effects of chemicals and select biological and physical agents on the health of humans, other animals, and the environment.  Accessible overviews of all the key areas of toxicology are included. The implications of recent developments in areas such as animal alternatives and the Tox21 initiative, computational toxicology and informatics, omics, new risk assessment paradigms, nanotoxicology, graphical displays of data, high throughput screening, toxicity pathways, epigenetics, and the exposome, are also covered.
5th edition. [New York, NY] : Wiley, 2001.
Stanford University Libraries » Online resource » eResource
Patty's Toxicology presents comprehensive toxicological data for industrial compounds from metals to synthetic polymers. Information for each compound includes CAS numbers, RTECS numbers, physical and chemical properties, threshold limit values, permissible exposure limits, maximum workplace concentrations, and biological tolerance values for occupational exposures.It includes: Introduction to the field of Toxicology; Metal Compounds; Organic Halogenated Hydrocarbons and Organic Nitrogen Compounds; Organic Halogenated Hydricarbons and Aliphatic Carboxylic Acid Compounds; Ketones, Alcohols, and Ester Compounds; Epoxy, Glycol Ethers, and Synthetic Polymer Compounds; and Specialized Topics in Toxicological Assessment.
"By Congressional mandate, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) produces "toxicological profiles" for hazardous substances found at National Priorities List (NPL) sites. These hazardous substances are ranked based on frequency of occurrence at NPL sites, toxicity, and potential for human exposure. Toxicological profiles are developed from a priority list of 275 substances. ATSDR also prepares toxicological profiles for the Department of Defense (DOD) and the Department of Energy (DOE) on substances related to federal sites."

* Reactive substances

[Silver Spring, Md.] : U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Ocean Service, Office of Response and Restoration, 2007-
Stanford University Libraries » Online resource » eResource
"Find response information for thousands of hazardous materials, including fire and explosion hazards, health hazards, firefighting techniques, cleanup procedures, protective clothing, and chemical properties.  Use "My Chemicals" to build a list of chemicals. Explore reactivity, see what hazards might occur if chemicals in your MyChemicals collection are mixed together.  CAMEO Chemicals contains: A library with thousands of datasheets containing response-related information and recommendations for hazardous materials that are commonly transported, used, or stored in the United States. A reactivity prediction tool, which you can use to predict potential reactive hazards between chemicals. This tool is part of the CAMEO software suite, and it is available as a website, mobile website, and as a downloadable version that you can run on your own computer." - (Publisher's description).
7th ed. / Amsterdam ; Boston ; London : Academic, c2007.
Chemistry & ChemEng Library (Swain) » Reference
"Bretherick's is widely regarded as the reference work in this field - an assembly of all reported risks such as explosion, fire, toxic or high-energy events that result from chemical reactions gone astray, with extensive referencing to the primary literature. It is designed to improve safety in laboratories that perform chemical synthesis and general research, as well as chemical manufacturing plants. It covers every chemical with documented information on reactive hazards; more than 5,000 entries on single elements or compounds, and 5,000 entries on the interactions between two or more compounds. It includes five years of new reports, new references to the primary literature, and amplification to existing entries. It links similar compounds or incidents that are not obviously related." - Publisher's description.
3rd ed. Hoboken, N.J. : Wiley, c2009.
Stanford University Libraries » Online resource » eResource
"The term "incompatibilities" describes a wide range of chemical reactions that produce undesirable results in noncontrolled situations: the generation of toxic gases, fire, explosions, corrosive activity, polymerization, ruptured containers, creation of more dangerous compounds, and the like. An easy-to-use reference on reactive substances commonly found in commerce, this book compiles hard-to-find data on over 11,000 chemical compounds, providing chemists, technicians, and engineers a thorough, lightning-quick resource to use during experimental preparation and in the event of an emergency." Publisher's description.
New York ; London : McGraw-Hill, 2002.
Chemistry & ChemEng Library (Swain) » Safety Collection » RC87.3 .D78 2002
"This work references some of the most commonly used and transported hazardous materials. Chemicals are conveniently listed alphabetically with the Reactivity Group Number (RGN). This arrangement provides instant access to data regarding the mixing of two or more chemicals.  Section 1: Procedure to Identify Chemical Incompatibility Section 2: Alphabetical List of Compounds Section 3: Chemical Reactivity and Compatibility Chart Section 4: Chemical Class and Chemical Reactivity Index." - Publisher's description.
New York : American Institute of Chemical Engineers, c2003.
Stanford University Libraries » Online resource » eResource
"In its recent investigation of chemical reactivity accidents, the US Chemical Safety Board noted a gap in technical guidance and regulatory coverage. This volume closes the gap in technical guidance, helping small and large companies alike identify, address, and manage chemical reactivity hazards. It guides the reader through an analysis of the potential for chemical reactivity accidents to help prevent fires, explosions, toxic chemical releases or chemical spills. This volume is applicable to processes at any scale and is particularly useful for chemists, safety managers, and engineers involved in scale-up." - Publisher's description.
New York : American Institute of Chemical Engineers, 1995.
Chemistry & ChemEng Library (Swain) » Safety Collection » TP201 .G853 1995
"With new and growing interest in dealing with the hazards of reactive chemicals, this book offers guidelines that can significantly reduce the risk or mitigate the severity of accidents associated with storing and handling reactive materials. Necessary elements of a reliable system to prevent equipment or human failures that might lead to a reactive chemical incident are sound and responsible management policies, together with a combination of superior siting, design, fabrication, erection, inspection, monitoring, maintenance, operations and maintenance of facilities. These Guidelines deal with all of these elements with emphasis on design considerations" - Publisher's description.

* Reagents & solvents

[New York] : John Wiley & Sons, c2001-
Stanford University Libraries » Online resource » eResource
"This on-line work utilizes the full potential of the web by allowing alphanumeric searches through e-EROS and across all Wiley products, and by allowing chemical structure, substructure and reaction searching straight from a chemist's desktop. It contains a database of around 70,000 reactions and around 4000 of the most frequently consulted reagents and is fully searchable by structure and substructure, reagent, reaction type, experimental conditions etc. and allows sophisticated full text searches. e-EROS offers a systematic and exhaustive coverage of reagents used in organic synthesis. The Editorial Board are keeping e-EROS up-to-date by regularly adding new reagents and catalysts, and by updating existing articles whenever felt necessary. The A to Z listing covers classical reagents, new "designer" reagents and catalysts." (Structure Searching)
Cambridge : Royal Society of Chemistry, c1993.
Chemistry & ChemEng Library (Swain) » Safety Collection » TP247.5 .S634 1993
"This reference provides safety information on approximately 120 solvents in common usage. The publication is indexed by chemical name and synonym. Every "safety sheet" provides the following information, in two facing pages: name; CAS registry number; synonyms; composition; hazard information; first aid measures; accidental release measures; handling and storage; exposure controls and personal protection; physical and chemical properties; stability and reactivity; toxicological information; ecological information; disposal considerations; transport information; and regulations. The sheets can be used to: identify hazards of chemicals in the work environment; follow essential first aid steps; identify precautions to be taken during use or disposal; find remedial action to be taken in case of accidental release; and gain knowledge of the ecological effects of specific chemicals" - Publisher's description.

* Nanomaterials

Nanomaterials Safety

"Provides a systematic evaluation of representative engineered nanomaterial (ENM) of high volume production and of high economic importance. Each class of nanomaterials discussed includes information on what scientists, industry, regulatory agencies and the general public need to know about nanosafety.  This book fills an important need in terms of bridging the gap between experimental findings and human exposure to ENM, and the clinical and pathological consequences of such exposure in the human population." - (Publisher's description).
Chichester, U.K. : Wiley, 2009.
Stanford University Libraries » Online resource » eResource
"An increased understanding of the environmental and human health impacts of engineered nanoparticles is essential for the responsible development of nanotechnology and appropriate evidence-based policy and guidelines for risk assessment. Topics covered in this book include: The properties, preparation and applications of nanomaterial; Characterization and analysis of manufactured nanoparticle; The fate and behaviour of nanomaterials in aquatic, terrestrial and atmospheric environments; Ecotoxicology and human toxicology of manufactured nanoparticles; Occupational health and exposure of nanomaterials; and Risk assessment and global regulatory and policy responses." - (Publisher's description).
Boca Raton, FL : CRC Press/Taylor & Francis Group, c2008.
Engineering Library (Terman) » Stacks » T174.7 .S52 2008
"After outlining the steps of risk analysis, the book examines the opportunity costs inherent in current nanotechnology development. It then introduces life cycle analysis, the toxicology of nanoscale materials, and the known impacts of specific nanoscale materials on people. The text also covers environmental impacts and exposure, followed by chapters on the state-of-the-art tools that adapt life cycle thinking into risk analysis for nanotechnology. The final chapters describe current practices for managing the hazards and risks of nanoscale materials and explore the numerous international efforts that address the risks, science, and policies of nanotechnology." - (Publisher's description).
Norwich, N.Y. : William Andrew ; Oxford : Elsevier Science [distributor], 2009.
Stanford University Libraries » Online resource » eResource
This book tackles the debate over nanotechnology's environmental, health and safety (EHS) by thoroughly explaining EHS issues, financial implications, foreseeable risks (i.e. exposure, dose, hazards of nanomaterials), and the implications of occupational hygiene precautions and consumer protections. Real-world case studies are included, e.g. the discussion of a leading chemical company's unusual pairing with the USA's largest environmental NGO, which became a model approach for proactive nanotechnology EHS risk management. This book considers the potential of nanotechnology from multiple perspectives and provides guidance and advice for appropriate, proactive risk management strategies. It reviews toxicological studies and industrial initiatives, documented with actual case studies." - (Publisher's description).
"Presents a strategic approach for developing the science and research infrastructure needed to address uncertainties regarding the potential EHS risks of ENMs. The report summarizes the current state of the science and high-priority data gaps on the potential EHS risks posed by ENMs and describes the fundamental tools and approaches needed to pursue an EHS risk research strategy" -  (Publisher's description).

* Waste management

Waste Management

This book that has served for decades as the standard for chemical laboratory safety practice.  It offers prudent practices designed to promote safety and includes practical information on assessing hazards, managing chemicals, disposing of wastes, and more.  This revised edition has an expanded chapter on chemical management and delves into new areas, such as nanotechnology, laboratory security, and emergency planning.
Second edition.
Chemistry & ChemEng Library (Swain) » Safety Collection » TD899 .L32 L33 2012
"Since the first edition of this book was published in 1994, state and federal agencies have increased enforcement of their hazardous waste disposal laws in laboratories. The enforcement actions resulting from these inspections have changed the perspective of many hazardous waste managers about what constitutes a "compliant program". These changes have prompted the preparation of this 2nd Edition. This revision is intended to provide all levels of laboratory staff a guide for managing laboratory chemical wastes in compliance with federal and state environmental regulations. New chapters have been added, all have been updated, and additional resources have been included to address changes in regulations and regulatory interpretations." - Publisher's description.
3rd ed. Hoboken, N.J. : John Wiley & Sons, c2012.
Stanford University Libraries » Online resource » eResource
The book describes practical procedures for the destruction of hazardous chemicals and biological agents in the laboratory in which they are used.  The destruction of many pharmaceuticals is also covered in response to the detection of pharmaceuticals in the water supply. A new chapter, "General Methods for the Destruction of Hazardous Chemicals in the Laboratory," describes recent advanced oxidation methods that should be generally applicable to all organic compounds.  The methods use commonly available laboratory equipment and reagents.
3rd ed. Boca Raton, Fla. : Lewis Publishers, c2003.
Chemistry & ChemEng Library (Swain) » Safety Collection » QD64 .A76 2003
"A perennial bestseller, this book includes individual entries for over 300 compounds. Emphasis is placed on disposal methods that turn hazardous waste material into non-toxic products. These methods fall into several categories, including acid/base neutralization, oxidation or reduction, and precipitation of toxic ions as insoluble solids. The text also provides data on hazardous reactions of chemicals, assisting laboratory managers in developing a plan of action for emergencies such as the spill of any of the chemicals listed." - Publisher's description.

* Spills & emergencies

Spill & Emergency Response

"The objective of this guide is to provide laboratory employees with a framework for spill response planning. This planning must be done in advance, not after a spill occurs.  All spills are different; this guide cannot give definitive guidance on how to handle every one. This guide is NOT a regulatory compliance manual.  This guide is designed only to prepare laboratory workers for spill cleanup. Understanding this guide requires a basic level of chemical knowledge and training. Reading this guide will help you, the laboratory worker, have fewer spills. It will also help you plan for an appropriate response when spills do occur. Many spills in the laboratory work area can be prevented. Development and implementation of good laboratory practices will significantly reduce the likelihood of spills. While this guide is oriented to spill response, spill prevention methods are included as Appendix B." - Publisher's description.  
Boca Raton, FL : CRC Press/Taylor & Francis, c2008.
SAL3 (off-campus storage) » Stacks » T55.3 .H3 H673 2008
"Written for emergency workers responsible for the safe response to and management of unknown hazardous materials, this book provides readily applicable strategies for developing and implementing a fluid concept of risk analysis based on hazard characterization in emergency situations where definitive identification of the material may be impractical or even impossible." - Publisher's description.
New York ; London : McGraw-Hill, 2002.
Chemistry & ChemEng Library (Swain) » Safety Collection » RC87.3 .D78 2002
"This work references some of the most commonly used and transported hazardous materials. Chemicals are conveniently listed alphabetically with the Reactivity Group Number (RGN). This arrangement provides instant access to data regarding the mixing of two or more chemicals.  Section 1: Procedure to Identify Chemical Incompatibility Section 2: Alphabetical List of Compounds Section 3: Chemical Reactivity and Compatibility Chart Section 4: Chemical Class and Chemical Reactivity Index." - Publisher's description.
2nd ed. Boca Raton : Tayor & Francis, c2008.
Stanford University Libraries » Online resource » eResource
"This second edition presents in-depth coverage of actual response techniques and new approaches for coping with critical situations caused by criminal activity, industrial accidents, or even mini-epidemics. Augmenting its coverage of field first aid for response personnel, this edition contains up-to-date tools such as checklists and streamlined procedures for on-scene coordination. It incorporates the latest detection devices, cost/recovery and hazard analyses, diagnostic methods, pretreatments, vaccines, decontamination techniques, antidotes, and medical treatments available." - Publisher's description.
2nd ed. Hoboken, N.J. : J. Wiley & Sons, c2004.
Stanford University Libraries » Online resource » eResource
"Provides a detailed reference for emergency responders and people who transport chemicals. New to this edition is information on chemical warfare agents and Weapons of Mass Destruction that might be used as weapons of terrorism. It clearly explains symptoms of exposure and appropriate treatment for the exposure when available, and describes what to do in an emergency situation. The book also gives the NFPA hazard classifications, as well as chemical hazard class information." - Publisher's description.

* Lessons learned

Undergrad lab safety

4th ed. New York : J. Wiley, c2002.
SAL3 (off-campus storage) » Stacks » TP149 .F67 2002
"The best-selling pocket guide now includes 700 chemicals, additional synonyms, CAS numbers, risk codes and special notations to alert the user. This book is an essential field guide for spill responders, safety engineers, industrial hygienists, chemists and chemical engineers, purchase agents, sales people, and workers in all industries." - (Publisher's description).
[Silver Spring, Md.] : U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Ocean Service, Office of Response and Restoration, 2007-
Stanford University Libraries » Online resource » eResource
"Find response information for thousands of hazardous materials, including fire and explosion hazards, health hazards, firefighting techniques, cleanup procedures, protective clothing, and chemical properties.  Use "My Chemicals" to build a list of chemicals. Explore reactivity, see what hazards might occur if chemicals in your MyChemicals collection are mixed together.  CAMEO Chemicals contains: A library with thousands of datasheets containing response-related information and recommendations for hazardous materials that are commonly transported, used, or stored in the United States. A reactivity prediction tool, which you can use to predict potential reactive hazards between chemicals. This tool is part of the CAMEO software suite, and it is available as a website, mobile website, and as a downloadable version that you can run on your own computer." - (Publisher's description).
Glen Huntly, Vic., Australia : Chemwatch.
Stanford University Libraries » Online resource » eResource
While the manufacturer or supplier is the best source of MSDSs, Stanford EH&S has contracted with Chemwatch to provide electronic MSDSs as well. Chemwatch not only has over 1 million MSDS documents, but it can also be used to access research and industry articles, print hazard labels, and many other chemical hazard related activities. The Chemwatch ChemGOLD III MSDS application is provided to the Stanford community for convenient MSDS access.
[Hamilton, Ont. : Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety, 1999?-
Stanford University Libraries » Online resource » eResource
Includes a collection of databases related to occupational health and safety: Material Safety Data Sheets, CHEMINFO (safety info for important workplace chemicals), CHEMpendium (metasearch for chemical hazard information from many sources), Registry of Toxic Effects of Chemical Substances, and OSH References (index to literature).
"This book offers prudent practices designed to promote safety and includes practical information on assessing hazards, managing chemicals, disposing of wastes, and more. Prudent It serves as a leading source of chemical safety guidelines for people working with laboratory chemicals: research chemists, technicians, safety officers, educators, and students." -Publisher's description.
"
Rev. ed. Hoboken, N.J. : Wiley-Interscience, c2006.
Chemistry & ChemEng Library (Swain) » Stacks » QD53 .C69 2006
"Provides complete coverage of all commonly used lab equipment, including essential information about its selection, use, cleaning, and maintenance. It includes helpful guidelines and step-by-step procedures for each topic discussed. Since glassware is typically the most prevalent type of lab equipment, much of the book is devoted to the properties and handling of glass apparatus, with additional material on rubber and plastic tubing, corks, stoppers, and O-rings. Readers will also find broad coverage of measurement systems, high- and low-temperature apparatus and techniques, compressed gases, vacuum systems, and other essential subjects." - Publisher's description
Hoboken, N.J. : Wiley, c2010.
Chemistry & ChemEng Library (Swain) » Safety Collection » QD51 .H55 2010
"This book is uniquely designed to accompany students throughout their four-year undergraduate education and beyond, progressively teaching them the skills and knowledge they need to learn their science and stay safe while working in any lab. This new principles-based approach treats lab safety as a distinct, essential discipline of chemistry, enabling instructors to instill and sustain a culture of safety among students. As students progress through the text, they’ll learn about laboratory and chemical hazards, about routes of exposure, about ways to manage these hazards, and about handling common laboratory emergencies. Most importantly, they’ll learn that it is very possible to safely use hazardous chemicals in the laboratory by applying safety principles that prevent and minimize exposures." - Publisher's description.
Ninth edition.
Chemistry & ChemEng Library (Swain) » On reserve: Ask at circulation desk » QD261 .Z83 2014
"This book presents the basic techniques of the organic chemistry laboratory with an emphasis on doing the work correctly the first time. New to this edition are discussions on safety in the laboratory with new consideration of the addition of such technology as the iPad, Nook, Kindle, and even text messaging. Updated discussion is added on Microscale; a number of NMR spectra have been added, with basic interpretation and suggestions on presentation of the data; and lastly, presentation of a more modern outline of the instrumentation of HPLC is included." - Publisher's description
7th ed. Oxford : Elsevier/Butterworth-Heinemann, 2013.
Chemistry & ChemEng Library (Swain) » Reference » TP156 .P83 A76 2013
"A best seller since 1966, "Purification of Laboratory Chemicals" keeps engineers, scientists, chemists, biochemists and students up to date with the purification of the chemical reagents with which they work, the processes for their purification, and guides readers on critical safety and hazards for the safe handling of chemicals and processes. The Seventh Edition is fully updated and provides expanded coverage of the latest commercially available chemical products and processing techniques, safety and hazards: over 200 pages of coverage of new commercially available chemicals since the previous edition." - (Publisher's description).
7th ed. Washington, D.C. : American Chemical Society, Joint Board-Council Committee on Chemical Safety, c2003.
Stanford University Libraries » Online resource » eResource
"This two-volume manual provides guidelines of safe practices for university and college laboratories. Volume 1 is designed for student use. Volume 2 is designed for faculty and administrator use." - Publisher's description.

For Chemistry 132 Students

[New York] : John Wiley & Sons, c2001-
Stanford University Libraries » Online resource » eResource
"This on-line work utilizes the full potential of the web by allowing alphanumeric searches through e-EROS and across all Wiley products, and by allowing chemical structure, substructure and reaction searching straight from a chemist's desktop. It contains a database of around 70,000 reactions and around 4000 of the most frequently consulted reagents and is fully searchable by structure and substructure, reagent, reaction type, experimental conditions etc. and allows sophisticated full text searches. e-EROS offers a systematic and exhaustive coverage of reagents used in organic synthesis. The Editorial Board are keeping e-EROS up-to-date by regularly adding new reagents and catalysts, and by updating existing articles whenever felt necessary. The A to Z listing covers classical reagents, new "designer" reagents and catalysts." (Structure Searching)

The Safety Song

A musical extravaganza on the importance and execution of laboratory safety.

Websites

Find chem safety data

[Hamilton, Ont. : Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety, 1999?-
Stanford University Libraries » Online resource » eResource
Includes a collection of databases related to occupational health and safety: Material Safety Data Sheets, CHEMINFO (safety info for important workplace chemicals), CHEMpendium (metasearch for chemical hazard information from many sources), Registry of Toxic Effects of Chemical Substances, and OSH References (index to literature).
[New York] : John Wiley & Sons, c2001-
Stanford University Libraries » Online resource » eResource
"This on-line work utilizes the full potential of the web by allowing alphanumeric searches through e-EROS and across all Wiley products, and by allowing chemical structure, substructure and reaction searching straight from a chemist's desktop. It contains a database of around 70,000 reactions and around 4000 of the most frequently consulted reagents and is fully searchable by structure and substructure, reagent, reaction type, experimental conditions etc. and allows sophisticated full text searches. e-EROS offers a systematic and exhaustive coverage of reagents used in organic synthesis. The Editorial Board are keeping e-EROS up-to-date by regularly adding new reagents and catalysts, and by updating existing articles whenever felt necessary. The A to Z listing covers classical reagents, new "designer" reagents and catalysts." (Structure Searching)
[Norwich, N.Y.] : Knovel, 2003-
Stanford University Libraries » Online resource » eResource
Knovel provides access to over 2,000 leading reference works and databases from over 50 international publishers and professional societies through a single interface. Includes the ability to search numeric data.  Some books have interactive tables.
6th ed. Burlington : Elsevier Science, 2011.
Stanford University Libraries » Online resource » eResource
"Sittig's 5th Edition remains the lone comprehensive work providing a vast array of critical information on the 2,100 most heavily used, transported, and regulated chemical substances of both occupational and environmental concern. It provides extensive data for each chemical substances in a uniform format. The chemicals are presented alphabetically and classified as a carcinogen, hazardous substance, hazardous waste, or toxic pollutant. Chemicals classified as WMD have been included in the new edition as has more information frequently queried by first responders and frontline industrial safety personnel." - Publisher's description.
Bethesda, Md. : National Library of Medicine, [199-]-
Stanford University Libraries » Online resource » eResource
TOXNET (TOXicology Data NETwork) is a group of databases covering chemicals and drugs, diseases and the environment, environmental health, occupational safety and health, poisoning, risk assessment and regulations, and toxicology.  Information in the TOXNET databases covers: Specific chemicals, mixtures, and products; Chemical nomenclature; Unknown chemicals; Special toxic effects of chemicals in humans and/or animals; and Citations from the scientific literature.
Glen Huntly, Vic., Australia : Chemwatch.
Stanford University Libraries » Online resource » eResource
While the manufacturer or supplier is the best source of MSDSs, Stanford EH&S has contracted with Chemwatch to provide electronic MSDSs as well. Chemwatch not only has over 1 million MSDS documents, but it can also be used to access research and industry articles, print hazard labels, and many other chemical hazard related activities. The Chemwatch ChemGOLD III MSDS application is provided to the Stanford community for convenient MSDS access.

Find reactions & protocols

[Columbus, Ohio : American Chemical Society, Chemical Abstracts Service]
Stanford University Libraries » Online resource » eResource
SciFinder is the most comprehensive database for coverage of chemistry & chemical engineering. It has the world's largest collection of organic and inorganic substance information. The web version of SciFinder provides integrated access to CAPlus, CAS Registry, CASREACT, CHEMLIST, and CHEMCATS which are produced by Chemical Abstracts Service, and to MEDLINE which is produced by the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Sources covered in SciFinder include 10,000 journals, patents from 63 patent authorities, book chapters, conference proceedings, dissertations, evaluated reference works, technical reports, as well as book reviews and biographical information. (Structure and Reaction Searching)
[Frankfurt, Germany ; New York, NY] : Elsevier
Stanford University Libraries » Online resource » eResource
Available via the web, Reaxys Xcelerate contains an extensive repository of experimentally validated data that chemists need including structures, reactions (including multi-step reactions) and physical properties. Reaxys was formed by the merger of three databases: Beilstein Handbook of Organic Chemistry, Gmelin Handbook of Inorganic and Organometallic Chemistry, and the Chemistry Patent database. (Structure and Reaction Searching)
Stuttgart ; New York : Thieme.
Stanford University Libraries » Online resource » eResource
"Science of Synthesis (SoS) provides a critical review of synthetic methodology developed to-date in the fields of organic and organometallic chemistry. Features include: Selection of molecular transformations by world-renowned experts with elaboration on scope and limitations; Full-text descriptions of synthetic methods with practical experimental procedures immediately applicable in the lab; Community of over 1,000 experts involved in the review and updating of methods; Logical organization of the synthetic methods for each functional group; and Intuitive search functions to allow rapid lead generation and route optimization."  Please see Science of Synthesis at Stanford to view online help, learn more about content, and see what's new. (Structure and Reaction Searching)

Lab protocols

Cold Spring Harbor, NY : Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, 2006-
Stanford University Libraries » Online resource » eResource
This interdisciplinary journal providing a definitive source of research methods in cell, developmental and molecular biology, genetics, bioinformatics, protein science, computational biology, immunology, neuroscience and imaging. Each monthly issue details multiple essential methods—a mix of cutting-edge and well-established techniques. All protocols are up-to-date and presented in a consistent, easy-to-follow format.
Hoboken, N.J. : John Wiley.
Stanford University Libraries » Online resource » eResource
Current Protocols is the largest collection of authoritative and regularly-updated step-by-step research techniques and procedures available. With over 20 years of experience and over 11,500 protocols, as well as expert Editorial Boards and a qualified in-house scientific editorial staff, Current Protocols is the leading source of high-quality protocols for life scientists worldwide.
Springer Protocols
Secaucus, NJ : Springer
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Springer Protocols is the largest subscription-based electronic database of reproducible laboratory protocols in the Life and Biomedical Sciences. Compiling protocols from Humana’s successful book series Methods in Molecular Biology, Methods in Molecular Medicine, Methods in Biotechnology, Methods in Pharmacology and Toxicology, and Neuromethods, as well as from a vast number of Laboratory Handbooks, such as The Biomethods Handbook, The Proteomics Handbook, and the Springer Laboratory Manuals.
JoVE (Journal of Visualized Experiments)
[Boston, Mass. : MYJoVE Corp., 2006]-
Stanford University Libraries » Online resource » eResource
Journal of Visualized Experiments (JoVE) is a peer reviewed, PubMed indexed journal devoted to the publication of biological, medical, chemical and physical research in a video format.

Analytical methods

Amsterdam ; Burlington, Mass. : Elsevier, c2012.
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In its four volumes, this major reference work contains a complete treatment of the theory and methodology of sampling in all physical phases and the theory of sample preparation for all major extraction techniques. Fundamentals of sampling and sample preparation are reinforced through comprehensive sections dealing with Biological and Medical, Environmental and Forensic, and Food and Beverage applications.
[Hoboken, N.J.?] : John Wiley & Sons.
Stanford University Libraries » Online resource » eResource
The Encyclopedia is the most comprehensive analytical chemistry reference available, covering all aspects from theory and instrumentation through to applications and techniques. The chemistry and techniques are described as performed in the laboratory, in the field, or by remote sensing. The level of detail is similar to that of a laboratory protocol and, together with the cited references, will support the analysis of complex inorganic, organic and biological structures by researchers.

Find safety articles & books

Safety Literature Databases

[S.l.] : Cambridge Scientific Abstracts, [199-]-
Stanford University Libraries » Online resource » eResource
Provides a survey of recent work relating to public health, safety, and industrial hygiene. Cited studies are geared to help individuals identify, evaluate, and eliminate or control risks and hazards across the spectrum of environmental and occupational situations. The database provides perspectives on topics of widespread concern such as aviation and aerospace safety, environmental safety, nuclear safety, medical safety occupational safety, and ergonomics. Health and safety related aspects of pollution, waste disposal, radiation, pesticides, epidemics, and other phenomena having the potential to threaten the public, the environment, or the workplace itself are indexed here. The database indexes government reports as well as journal articles, conference proceedings, books, and other publications.
Nottingham, England : Royal Society of Chemistry
Stanford University Libraries » Online resource » eResource
This online database provides key information on hazards encountered by laboratory workers in all fields including R&D, analytical and hospital laboratories, scanned from the primary scientific and trade literature worldwide. Coverage includes: chemical and biological hazards; leaks, spills and unplanned releases; hazardous waste management; fires and explosions; safety legislation; precautions and safe practices; occupational health and hygiene monitoring; and protective equipment.
[Washington, DC] : Environmental Protection Agency, 2009-
Stanford University Libraries » Online resource » eResource
"The Health and Environmental Research Online (HERO) database provides an easy way to view the scientific literature behind EPA science assessments. The database includes more than 300,000 scientific articles from the peer-reviewed literature used by EPA to develop its Integrated Science Assessments. It also includes references and data from the Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS), a database that supports critical agency policymaking for chemical regulation. Risk assessments characterize the nature and magnitude of health risks to humans and the ecosystem from pollutants and chemicals in the environment. New studies are continuously added so scientists can keep abreast of new research. References are then sorted, classified and made available through HERO."
Nottingham : Royal Society of Chemistry
Stanford University Libraries » Online resource » eResource
Covers health and safety issues for all sectors of the chemical industries. The scientific and trade literature are scanned for information on safety and health hazards surrounding chemicals encountered in the chemical and related industries, with over 250 items published online every month. Coverage includes: health and safety; chemical and biological hazards; disposal, storage and transportation; industrial hazards; waste management; plant safety and best practice; legislation; emergency planning; and protective equipment. Searchable by chemical name or bibliographic data.

American Institute of Chemical Engineers. Center for Chemical Process Safety.

About using this guide

Use this guide to:

  • Identify personal protective equipment and training needed before working in the laboratory.
  • Read about best practices for safe operations in the lab.
  • Consult materials about safe handling of chemicals.
  • See resources for working safely with biological materials, nanoengineered materials, and lasers.
  • Become knowledgeable about hazardous and reactive substances that you may use or that may be formed in reactions during your experiments.
  • View resources on toxicology, waste management, and spills.
  • Visit websites to learn more about safety-related organizations.

The "Find" sections at the end of this guide contain searchable databases for finding chemical health and safety information. Sections include:

  • Find substance identification information are resources to help you locate a CAS Registry Number, a unique identifier for a substance.  CAS RNs enable you to do a more precise and comprehensive search than may be possible if you are searching by chemical name.
  • Find MSDS and chemical and physical properties for substances by searching databases.
  • Find protocols are intended to help you find procedures, practices, and methods you can use in the laboratory.   
  • Find reactions and articles in databases to learn more about experimental conditions and what reactions have been reported in the literature for substances you are working with in the lab. 


Related subject guides include "major reference works" if you need background information about topics such as a working with a class of compounds or a particular functional group.