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Laboratory Reagent Disposal Procedure <br /> The OHM approach to handling unknown chemical reagents <br /> ensures the safety of personnel and provides a timely, cost <br /> effective method of disposing of unknown chemicals. The <br /> work will be performed by a team of highly trained <br /> technicians experienced in the handling of unknown <br /> chemicals. <br /> OHM will implement a remote-controlled "unknown" items <br /> opening and consolidation program in lieu of exposing a <br /> technician to a possibly explosive and/or highly reactive <br /> condition. The reasoning behind OHM's decision to eliminate <br /> the sampling of these containers parallels that provided in <br /> the following excerpt from the U.S. Environmental Protection <br /> Agency Lab Pack Disposal Procedure: <br /> " If the individual containers are not identified, <br /> they must be sampled for categorization and proper <br /> disposal. This situation is complicated by the <br /> probability of shock-sensitive explosive materials <br /> being present such as picric acid or peroxides. <br /> Both of these materials can be detonated , in some <br /> cases, by simply opening the container in which they <br /> are stored. Therefore, the sampling procedure becomes <br /> hazardous when dealing with the unknown lab pack <br /> components due to the possibility of an explosion <br /> when opening the containers to draw samples. " <br /> " Unfortunately, a noninvasive technique does not <br /> exist for identifying either picric or peroxides (or <br /> similar materials) in unmarked containers. Therefore, <br /> any procedure for dealing with unknown lab pack <br /> components must be assumed to be the worst case, i.e. , <br /> every container contains a shock-sensitive material <br /> unless evidence exists to the contrary. " <br /> " As a result of the above mentioned factors, it is <br /> unacceptably hazardous to put a worker in the position <br /> of opening unknown lab pack components manually, as he <br /> might suffer injury or death as a result of an <br /> explosion. Considering that no personnel protective <br /> exists that would adequately protect a person from this <br /> type of hazard, a remote method must be used to open <br /> the subject containers. " <br /> OHI <br />