[BNC-all] Unapproved/Dangerous Chemical Found in Cleanroom

[Reger, Ronald K]

Dear Birck Users,

This notice is to alert you to a very serious issue that was discovered by a staff member yesterday in the cleanroom.  A container of potassium cyanide and zinc cyanide pellets was discovered stored in the under-cabinet of an acid hood.  This is a very serious matter on two fronts:


  1.  Cyanide and cyanide compounds are never approved for use in any Birck lab or cleanroom so this was brought in by someone without permission, outside of our required SDS-approval process; and
  2.  Cyanide mixed with acids will generate a gas that is deadly to anyone nearby.

Both of these issues have put us all in danger, and will not be tolerated.

We are working with EH&S to dispose of this properly, with proper handling precautions that they use for dangerous chemicals.  Currently it is labeled as being extremely dangerous, and is being kept in a closed solvent hood in a secondary container until EH&S can deal with it.

Please Birck community, DO NOT bring any unapproved chemicals into our facility.  If you have a chemical that needs approval, submit the SDS to us to receive permission to use it in Birck.


Thanks,
Ron
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