Response to Dehydrated Acid Procedure Procedure Owner: Chair Radiation, Biosafety and Hazardous Substances Committee Keywords: 1) Picric 2) Acid 3) Dangerous Goods 4) 2, 4, 6 Trinitrophenol) 5) Disposal 6) Response 7) Dry 8) Dehydrated TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. INTENT... 2 2. ORGANISATIONAL SCOPE... 2 3. DEFINITIONS... 2 4. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS... 3 4.1 Overview... 3 4.2 Eliminate the need to use picric acid... 3 4.3 What should I do if I discover of dehydrated picric acid... 4 4.4 Response team requirements... 4 5. RELATED DOCUMENTS... 5 6. CONTACT INFORMATION... 5 7. APPROVAL HISTORY... 5 HPRM Folder: HSMS/84 Response to Dehydrated Picric Acid Procedure Page 1 of 5
1. INTENT This procedure provides the minimum requirements to safely respond to the discovery of any Picric Acid (2, 4, 6 Trinitrophenol), which is known or suspected to be dry or has not been regularly maintained. 2. ORGANISATIONAL SCOPE ECU Students, staff, and contractors 3. DEFINITIONS TERM DEFINITION Business Hours Monday to Friday 0800 to 1700 Dangerous goods(dg) Substances, mixtures or articles that, because of their physical, chemical (physicochemical) or acute toxicity properties, present an immediate hazard to people, property or the environment. Types of substances classified as dangerous goods include explosives, flammable liquids and gases, corrosives, chemically reactive or acutely (highly) toxic substances. ECU Response Team Campus Security, Radiation Biosafety Hazardous Substances Committee( RBHSC) members( the executive officer and hazardous material expert), a representative of the Health and Safety team and the Security and Emergency Management team TNT A high explosive formed from toluene by substitution of three hydrogen atoms with nitro groups. It is relatively insensitive to shock and can be conveniently melted Worker(s) A person is a worker if the person carries out work in any capacity for ECU, including work as: a) an employee b) a contractor or subcontractor; c) an employee of a contractor or subcontractor; d) an employee of a labour hire company who has been assigned to work in the person's business or undertaking; or e) an apprentice or trainee; f) a student gaining work experience; g) a volunteer. HPRM Folder: HSMS/84 Response to Dehydrated Picric Acid Procedure Page 2 of 5
4. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS 4.1 Overview Picric acid (2, 4, 6 Trinitrophenol) is a military explosive that is used as a booster charge to set off another less sensitive explosive, such as TNT. It can also be a useful laboratory reagent found in forensic and histology laboratories and in the manufacture of medicines. Picric acid is distributed by the manufacturer wet, with greater than 30% water and is classified as a flammable solid (DG class 4.1). It tends to form dangerously sensitive and unstable picrate salts, such as potassium picrate, if it is kept for a long time or if improper storage allows the liquid to evaporate. Many laboratories have phased out the use of picric acid but may not have disposed of the resulting surplus. A bottle of picric acid shown below was discovered in a university building the material was very old, very dry and potentially unstable and the bottle had a metal lid (this can introduce the possibility of metal picrate formation, another explosive). The material was taken by the explosives inspectors from the Department of Mines and Energy to be detonated under controlled conditions as it was too dangerous to be transported. The incident generated unwanted media attention for the university which could have been avoided by having up to date chemical inventory controls in the laboratory (this extends to offices which might be housing old and precious chemicals). 4.2 Eliminate the need to use picric acid The use of picric acid should be avoided wherever possible. Picric acid is now sold in a 1% solution in water which is much safer but care still needs to be taken as the crystals can still form under the cap. HPRM Folder: HSMS/84 Response to Dehydrated Picric Acid Procedure Page 3 of 5
Before conducting research, teaching or general operational activities involving hazardous substance such as picric acid you will need to seek approval from ECU RBHSC before the work commences. 4.3 What should I do if I discover dehydrated picric acid Any Picric Acid which is known or suspected to be dry or has not been regularly maintained MUST be treated as HIGHLY EXPLOSIVE, DO NOT ATTEMPT TO OPEN IT. In these cases, secure the area/laboratory/store to prevent access and contact Campus Security immediately on 6304 3333. As soon as practical let your supervisor know what has happened. The supervisor is responsible completing the Online Incident Report Form as soon as practical. 4.4 Response team requirements Campus Security will ensure the location is vacated and is appropriately secured by locking down the area remotely to No Access mode or by locking the room door and placing DANGER DO NOT ENTER signage and Security contact details on the door. If the room that the dehydrated Picric Acid is located in, has a door with a glass panel, the next available full door access point shall be secured as described previously. Campus Security will contact the area Executive Dean/Director to advise them of the situation and access controls put in place. Campus Security will send an email to the RBHSC@ads.ecu.edu.au and OSH@ecu.edu.au to advise them of the situation. On the next available business day or sooner if during business hours, the RBHSC in consultation with the Health and Safety team and the Security and Emergency Management team will assess and respond to the situation by following these steps: 1. Contact Campus Security to obtain the situation details and access controls put in place. 2. If a container of dehydrated (dry) picric acid is found, DO NOT attempt to open the container as it could explode from friction on the crystals between the grooves of the cap and the threads. 3. If the dry picric acid is in a plastic container, the person responsible for the area s chemical management i.e. the Chemalert Administrator for your School/Service Centre or equivalent, will place the entire container in a bucket of water, add ice to cause shrinkage of the bottle to enhance penetration of the water and weigh down for several days, if deemed safe to do so. The person responsible for the areas chemical management will contact a specialist chemical removal contractor to arrange disposal of the picric acid. 4. If the dry picric acid is in a container with a metal lid the RBHSC executive officer will contact Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety, Dangerous Goods Officer by telephone on 9358 8001 and the Response team will work with the Dangerous Goods Officer to determine the best course of action for removal HPRM Folder: HSMS/84 Response to Dehydrated Picric Acid Procedure Page 4 of 5
of the dehydrated picric acid. The Security and Emergency Response Team representative will initiate the critical incident process if required. The RBHSC Executive Officer will complete and lodge the Dangerous goods incident report form as soon as practicable and at a minimum with 21 days of a reportable situation unless otherwise agreed with a Dangerous Goods Officer. The Dangerous goods incident report form can be found on the Government of Western Australia, Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety webpage. 5. RELATED DOCUMENTS Australian Standards and Legislation available online via the ECU Library database: Australian Code for the Transport of Explosives by Road and Rail Danger Goods Safety Act 2004 The Australian Dangerous Goods Code Edition 7.5 The Australia Post, Dangerous and Prohibited Goods and Packaging Guide The Competent Authorities Panel National Exemptions, Approvals and Determinations The IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations United Nations Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods. Model Regulations 6. CONTACT INFORMATION For queries relating to this document please contact: Procedure Owner Chair Radiation, Biosafety, Hazardous Substances Committee(RBHSC) All Enquiries Contact: RBHSC Executive Officer Telephone: 08 6304 5556 Email address: RBHSC@ads.ecu.edu.au 7. APPROVAL HISTORY Procedure Approved by: Date Procedure First Approved: Chair Radiation, Biosafety, Hazardous Substances Committee 16.10.2017 Date last modified: 16.10.2017 Revision History: First approved Next Revision Due: HPRM File Reference 3 years after first approval date HSMS/84 HPRM Folder: HSMS/84 Response to Dehydrated Picric Acid Procedure Page 5 of 5