Osmium Tetroxide sop template

Standard Operating Procedure

for work with

Chemical name/class:				Osmium Tetroxide (customization required)	CAS #:	20816-12-0
PI:					Date:
Building:					Room #:
			Designated Work:

1. 
   Circumstances of Use:
   

Osmium tetroxide is a volatile, highly toxic solid that is used as a stain for electron microscopy, and as a fixative for biological samples. Describe specific circumstances of use here, including quantities on hand, concentrations of solutions (if any), and frequency of use.

2. 
   Potential Hazards:
   

Consult the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) and the Laboratory Chemical Safety Summary for Osmium Tetroxide from Prudent Practices in the Laboratory (The National Academies Press). Be aware of these specific hazards: Osmium tetroxide is a strong oxidizer that will sublime (pass directly from solid to vapor and back to solid) readily at room temperature and significantly when refrigerated. It is highly toxic (LD50 oral [rat] 14 mg/kg) – ingesting very small amounts can cause death. It is also a severe eye and respiratory irritant – acute exposure can cause severe eye damage, even blindness, or chemical burns to the respiratory tract. It can also cause dermatitis or lung or kidney damage. The OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit is 0.002 mg/m^3, and the ACGIH Threshold Limit Value is 0.0002 ppm over 8 hours or 0.0006 ppm over 15 minutes. Chronic exposure to osmium tetroxide can result in accumulation of osmium compounds in the liver and kidney and damage to these organs. Osmium tetroxide has been reported to cause reproductive toxicity in animals; this substance has not been shown to be carcinogenic or to show reproductive or developmental toxicity in humans.

3. 
   Engineering Controls:
   

Always work with osmium tetroxide in a chemical fume hood – never on an open benchtop. Use of a Biological Safety Cabinet for working with osmium tetroxide is not appropriate because it sublimes and the BSC is not designed to prevent exposure to vapors. Consult OESO at 919-684-8822 if you need to work with osmium tetroxide and do not have a chemical fume hood available. An eyewash-drench hose must be available in the immediate area. A safety shower is highly recommended – please contact OESO at 919-684-8822 for consultation if a safety shower is not currently available in your area.

4. 
   Work Practice Controls:
   

Use a less dangerous product than osmium tetroxide if possible, or purchase in dilute solution. Laboratory-specific written procedures are required for work with osmium tetroxide, including a designated work area. The lab-specific procedures must cover all sections of this document. Purchase a minimal amount of osmium tetroxide to do your work. Purchase in liquid form if at all possible. Keep corn oil on hand to use for decontamination and in case of a spill – it deactivates osmium tetroxide. Set up a designated area for work with osmium tetroxide and suspensions thereof, and label it with the following wording: DANGER: Osmium Tetroxide in use. Oxidizing Agent, Severe Irritant, Causes Eye Damage, Toxic to Liver and Kidney, Authorized Personnel Only. Line work surfaces with plastic-backed absorbent pads. Keep containers closed as much as possible. If weighing osmium tetroxide powder and the balance cannot be located in a chemical fume hood, tare a container then add the powdered osmium tetroxide to the container in a chemical fume hood (NOT a Biological Safety Cabinet) and seal the container before returning to the balance to weigh the powder. Change gloves regularly (at least every two hours) and wash hands at the time of the glove change. Wash hands thoroughly immediately after working with any concentration of osmium tetroxide. Contaminated containers and equipment may be decontaminated by dipping in corn oil before removing from the hood. The corn oil will turn black. Paper soaked with corn oil may be used to test if the osmium tetroxide is fully neutralized – if the paper blackens, osmium tetroxide is still present and more corn oil should be added. Contaminated work surfaces may be decontaminated with corn oil or an aqueous solution of sodium sulfite, followed by a cleaning with detergent and water.

5. 
   Personal protective equipment (PPE):
   

Two pairs of standard nitrile laboratory gloves and a fully buttoned lab coat with sleeves extending to the wrists should be worn when handling osmium tetroxide. Chemical-protective sleeves or wrist guards, or extended-cuff gloves are recommended. Wear chemical splash goggles (safety glasses are not sufficient). If there is risk of splash, also wear a face shield. In cases where the arms or torso may be exposed to liquid suspensions or dry particles, wear chemical-protective sleeves or gowns.

6. 
   Transportation and Storage:
   

Dry powders and concentrated solutions must be in sealed shatter-resistant containers, within secondary containment, during storage and transportation. Osmium tetroxide powder and concentrated solutions should be stored in a location that is secure (no unauthorized access). Osmium tetroxide can penetrate plastic, so should be stored in a sealed glass container (such as a vacuum-type blood collection tube), and placed inside a secondary container. Osmium tetroxide should be kept in a refrigerator, and should be stored separately from hydrochloric acid as well as other acids, bases, organic materials, metals, strong reducing agents, and strong oxidizing agents.

7. 
   Waste Disposal:
   

Unwanted osmium tetroxide (solid and solutions) must be disposed of following your laboratory-specific chemical hygiene plan, Duke University’s Chemical Waste Policy and the Laboratory Chemical Waste Management Practices. These policies cover container management and procedures and timelines for chemical waste pickup.

8. 
   Exposures/Unintended contact:
   

Contact Employee Occupational Health and Wellness (EOHW) at 919-684-3136 for medical advice on occupational chemical exposures. For an actual chemical exposure Flush exposed eyes or skin with water for at least 15 minutes. If there is respiratory irritation associated with exposure, remove all persons from the contaminated area and contact the OESO spill team. Exposed persons should seek immediate medical attention at the nearest emergency department/ Call 911 from a campus phone or 919-684-2444 from any phone to request assistance if needed. Contact Employee Occupational Health and Wellness at 919-684-8115 for exposure-related advice. The work-related injury or illness report found at: http://www.hr.duke.edu/benefits/medical/workcomp/report.php should be completed within 24 hours. Follow-up medical attention should be sought through Duke Employee Occupational Health and Wellness (919-684-3136).

9. 
   Spill Procedure:
   

For cleaning up a small spill (<2 ml) of osmium tetroxide solution (or powder if confined to a chemical fume hood), cover the spill with corn oil-soaked kitty litter, then scoop up the material and place it in a plastic bag. After spill has been absorbed, wipe down area again with corn-oil, then soap and water solution to decontaminate. Contact OESO Environmental Programs at 919-684-2794 for pick-up. Spills of osmium tetroxide powder or spills of solution > 2 ml outside of a chemical fume hood or other enclosure should be referred to the OESO spill response team by calling 911 from a campus phone or 919-684-2444 from any phone.

10. 
    Training of personnel:
    

All personnel are required to complete the online General Lab Safety session thru the OESO website. This session includes an introduction to general chemical safety. Training on lab-specific procedures and the hazards of osmium tetroxide is required for all personnel working with these materials, and must be documented (topics covered, date, employee names and signatures). All personnel shall read and fully adhere to the laboratory-specific SOP, and shall document that they have read it by signing and dating the SOP.

“I have read and understand this SOP. I agree to fully adhere to its requirements.”

Last	First	Duke ID	Signature	Date