Hazardous Chemicals, Activities or Devices

 Index

Rules for ALL Projects Involving Hazardous Chemicals, Activities and Devices
Additional Rules for Specific Regulated Substances
Environmentally Responsible Chemistry
Sources

The following rules apply to research using hazardous chemicals, devices and activities. These include substances and devices that are regulated by local, state, country, or international law, most often with restrictions of their use by minors such as DEA-controlled substances, prescription drugs, alcohol, tobacco, firearms and explosives. Hazardous activities are those that involve a level of risk above and beyond that encountered in the student’s everyday life.

These rules are intended to protect the student researcher by ensuring proper supervision and the consideration of all potential risks so that the appropriate safety precautions are taken. Students are required to meet all standards imposed by Intel ISEF, school, local, and/or regional fair(s).

Rules for ALL Projects Involving Hazardous Chemicals, Activities and Devices

1) The use of hazardous chemicals and devices and involvement in hazardous activities require direct supervision by a Designated Supervisor, except those involving DEA-controlled substances, which require supervision by a Qualified Scientist.

2) The student researcher must conduct a risk assessment in collaboration with a Designated Supervisor or Qualified Scientist prior to experimentation. This risk assessment is documented on the Risk Assessment Form 3.

3) Student researchers must acquire and use regulated substances in accordance with all local, state, U.S. federal and country laws. For further information or classification for these laws and regulations, contact the appropriate regulatory agencies.

4) For all chemicals, devices or activities requiring a Federal and/or State Permit, the student/supervisor must obtain the permit prior to the onset of experimentation. A copy of the permit must be available for review by adults supervising the project and the local and affiliated and the ISEF Scientific Review Committee in their review prior to competition.

5) The student researcher must minimize the impact of an experiment on the environment. Examples include using minimal quantities of chemicals that will require subsequent disposal; ensuring that all disposal is done in an environmentally safe manner and in accordance with good laboratory practices.

6) The following forms are required:

• a. Checklist for Adult Sponsor (1), Student Checklist (1A), Research Plan and Approval Form (1B)
• b. Regulated Research Institution Form (1C), when applicable
• c. Qualified Scientist Form (2), when applicable
• d. Risk Assessment Form (3)

Additional Rules for Specific Regulated Substances

There are additional rules for the following regulated substances:

• A. DEA-controlled Substances
• B. Prescription Drugs
• C. Alcohol & Tobacco
• D. Firearms and Explosives

A. DEA-Controlled Substances

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) regulates chemicals that can be diverted from their intended use to make illegal drugs. Other countries may have similar regulatory bodies; students outside of the U.S. must adhere to their own country’s drug regulatory agency requirements in addition to U.S. DEA regulations. DEA-controlled substances and their schedule number are at the DEA website under Sources of Information. It is the responsibility of the student to consult this list if there is a possibility that substances used in experimentation could be regulated.

• 1) All studies using DEA-controlled substances must be supervised by a Qualified Scientist who is licensed by the DEA (or other international regulatory body) for use of the controlled substance.
• 2) All studies using DEA Schedule 1 substances must have the research protocol approved by DEA before research begins. Schedule 2, 3 and 4 substances do not require protocol approval by DEA.

B. Prescription Drugs

Prescription drugs are drugs regulated by federal or country laws and are available only through a pharmacy to protect against inappropriate or unsafe use. Special precautions must be taken in their use for a science project as follows:

• 1) Students are prohibited from administering prescription drugs to human participants.
• 2) A veterinarian must supervise student administration of any prescription drugs to vertebrate animals.

C. Alcohol and Tobacco

The U.S. Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) regulates the production of alcohol and distribution of alcohol and tobacco products. Many such products are restricted by age for purchase, possession and consumption. Students outside of the U.S. must adhere to U.S. regulations and to their local and country laws and regulations.

• 1. The Designated Supervisor is responsible for the acquisition, usage and appropriate disposal of the alcohol or tobacco used in the study.
• 2. Production of ethyl alcohol (wine or beer) is allowable in the home under parental supervision and must meet the TTB home production regulations.
• 3. Fermentation studies in which minute quantities of ethyl alcohol are produced are permitted.
• 4. Students are allowed to distill alcohol for fuel or other non-consumable products. To do so, the work must be conducted at school and a TTB permit must be obtained by school authorities. Details regarding this process are available from the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) website.

D. Firearms and Explosives

The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), along with state agencies, regulates the purchase and use of firearms and explosives. A firearm is defined as a small arms weapon from which a projectile is fired by gunpowder. An explosive is any chemical compound, mixture or device, the primary purpose of which is to function by explosion. Explosives include, but are not limited to, dynamite, black powder, pellet powder, detonators, and igniters.

The purchase of a firearm by a minor is generally unlawful. The use of a firearm, without proper state certification, is illegal. Students should check the training and certification requirements of individual states and countries.

• 1) Projects involving firearms and explosives are allowable when conducted with the direct supervision of a Designated Supervisor and when in compliance with all federal, state and local laws.
• 2) A fully assembled rocket motor, reload kit or propellant modules containing more than 62.5 grams of propellant are subject to the permitting, storage and other requirements of federal explosive laws and regulations.
• 3) Potato guns and paintball guns are not firearms unless they are intended to be used as weapons. They must be treated as hazardous devices.

Guidance for Risk Assessment

Please find below guidance on conducting risk assessment when using the following:

• A. Hazardous Chemicals
• B. Hazardous Devices
• C. Radiation

A. Hazardous Chemicals

A proper risk assessment of chemicals must include review of the following factors:

Toxicity – the tendency of a chemical to be hazardous to health when inhaled, swallowed, injected or in contact with the skin.

Reactivity — the tendency of a chemical to undergo chemical change.

Flammability — the tendency of a chemical to give off vapors which readily ignite when used under normal working conditions.

Corrosiveness — the tendency of a chemical, upon physical contact, to harm or destroy living tissues or physical equipment.

When assessing risk, the type and amount of exposure to a chemical must be considered. For example, an individual’s allergic and genetic disposition may have an influence on the overall effect of the chemical. The student researcher must refer to Material Safety Data Sheets provided by the vendor (MSDS) to ensure that proper safety precautions are taken. Some MSDS sheets (e.g., Flinn) rank the degree of hazard associated with a chemical. This rating may assist students and adult sponsors in determining risk associated with the use of a chemical.

A risk assessment must include proper disposal methods for the chemicals used in an experiment. The Flinn Catalog (referenced in the Sources of Information section) provides information for the proper disposal of chemicals. If applicable, the student researcher must incorporate in the research plan disposal procedure required by federal and state guidelines.

B. Hazardous Devices

The documentation of risk assessment (Form 3) is required when a student researcher works with potentially hazardous/dangerous equipment and/or other devices, in or outside a laboratory setting that require a moderate to high level of expertise to ensure their safe usage. Some commonly used devices (Bunsen burners, hot plates, saws, drills, etc.) may not require a documented risk assessment, assuming that the student researcher has experience working with the device. Use of other potentially dangerous devices such as high vacuum equipment, heated oil baths, NMR equipment, and high temperature ovens must have documentation of a risk assessment. It is recommended that all student designed inventions also have documentation of a risk assessment.

C. Radiation

A risk assessment must be conducted when a student uses non-ionizing radiation beyond that normally encountered in everyday life. Non-ionizing radiation includes the spectrum of ultraviolet (UV), visible light, infrared (IR), microwave (MW), radiofrequency (RF) and extremely low frequency (ELF). Lasers usually emit visible, ultraviolet or infrared radiation. Lasers are classified into four classes based upon their safety. Manufacturers are required to label Classes II – IV lasers.

Class I lasers

– those found in CD players, laser printers, geological survey equipment and some laboratory equipment. There are no known risks associated with using a Class I laser.

Class II lasers

– found in laser pointers, aiming and range-finding devices. These pose a risk if the beam is viewed directly over a long period of time.

Class III lasers

– found in higher-powered laser pointers, printers and spectrometers. They are hazardous devices which can cause eye damage when the beam is viewed directly even for a short period of time.

Class IV lasers

– high powered lasers used in surgery, research, and industry. They are extremely hazardous and can cause eye and skin damage from both direct and indirect exposure. The beam is also a fire hazard.

Projects involving radionuclides (radioisotopes) and X-rays must involve a careful examination of the risks associated with the study. Depending upon the level of exposure, radiation released from these sources can be a health hazard. Most research institutions have a Radiation Safety Office which oversees the use of ionizing radiation and ensures compliance with state and federal regulations.

Sources: Hazardous Chemicals, Activities or Devices

General Lab/Chemical Safety
1) Safety in Academic Chemistry Laboratories, Volumes 1 and 2, 2003. Washington, DC: American Chemical Society.
Order from (first copy free of charge):
American Chemical Society
Publications Support Services
1155 16th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20036
phone: 202-872-4000 or 800-227-5558
email: help@acs.org,
www.acs.org/education
2) General
Howard Hughes Medical Institute as a resource forn working with cell cultures, radioactive materials and other laboratory materials.
www.hhmi.org/resources/
3) Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) website for green chemistry
www.epa.gov/greenchemistry
4) Material Safety and Data Sheets (MSDS)
MSDS should be collected by your laboratory or available from the manufacturer. The internet also has a range of free resources:http://www.flinnsci.com/msds-search.aspx/
A directory of MSDS sheets from Flinn Scientific Inc. that includes a ranking of hazard level and disposal methods
www.ilpi.com/msds/index.html - A listing of numerous sites that have free downloads of MSDS sheets
5) DEA Controlled Substances
Drug Enforcement Agency website:
www.justice.gov/dea/index.htm
Controlled Substance Schedules – a list of controlled substances : www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/schedules/
6) Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms and Explosives
Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau
www.ttb.gov
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
www.atf.gov
7) Radiation
Radiation Studies Information (CDC)
www.cdc.gov/nceh/radiation/default.htm
8) CDC Laboratory Safety Manuals
www.cdc.gov/biosafety/publications/index.htm
9) Occupational Safety and Health Administration
www.osha.gov
Safety and Health Topics:
www.osha.gov/SLTC/
www.osha.gov/SLTC/reactivechemicals/index.html
www.osha.gov/SLTC/laserhazards/index.html
www.osha.gov/SLTC/radiationionizing/index.html
10) U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Material Safety and Inspection Branch
One White Flint North
11555 Rockville Pike
Rockville, MD 20852
phone: 301-415-8200; 800-368-5642
www.nrc.gov