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SOP Medicine 06v3 Liquid Nitrogen

This document provides a standard operating procedure for the safe handling of liquid nitrogen in research laboratories within the Department of Medicine. It outlines the responsibilities of principal investigators and laboratory staff, the hazards of liquid nitrogen including cold burns and asphyxiation, required personal protective equipment, engineering controls, approved storage containers, safe handling practices, transport procedures, training requirements, first aid measures, and incident reporting procedures.

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Sandeep Shetty
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141 views5 pages

SOP Medicine 06v3 Liquid Nitrogen

This document provides a standard operating procedure for the safe handling of liquid nitrogen in research laboratories within the Department of Medicine. It outlines the responsibilities of principal investigators and laboratory staff, the hazards of liquid nitrogen including cold burns and asphyxiation, required personal protective equipment, engineering controls, approved storage containers, safe handling practices, transport procedures, training requirements, first aid measures, and incident reporting procedures.

Uploaded by

Sandeep Shetty
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Department of Medicine Doc.

No:
SOP-Medicine-
06

Standard Operating Procedure Ver No: 003

Title: Liquid Nitrogen


Page: 1 of 5

Yeo Soh Bee A/Prof Dan Yock Young 15-04-2019


Prepared by Approved By Issue Date

1. OBJECTIVE

This SOP provides the procedures for safe handling of liquid nitrogen in Department of
Medicine research laboratories.

2. SCOPE

This SOP is applicable to all staff and students in Department of Medicine research
laboratories at MD1, MD6 and NUH.

3. RESPONSIBILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY

3.1 The principal investigator (PI) is responsible to ensure that their staff and students are
aware of the risk assessment and are trained for the safe handling of liquid nitrogen.
The PIs shall ensure that necessary safety equipment is available in the laboratory.

3.2 All staff and students using liquid nitrogen in the laboratory must be aware of the
potential hazards, and must be trained in the practices of such material safely.

4. PROPERTIES & HAZARDS

Liquid nitrogen (LN2) is inert, colorless, odorless, non-corrosive, non-flammable,


tasteless, extremely cold, and has no warning properties.

The two properties of LN2 that present potential hazards are:


a. It is extremely cold - At atmospheric pressure, LN2 boils at -196 °C.
b. Small amounts of liquid vaporise into large amounts of gas. One liter of liquid nitrogen
becomes 0.7 m3 of gas.

The hazards arising from the use of LN2 are:


a. Cold burns and frostbites - Extremely low temperatures can freeze flesh very rapidly.
b. Asphyxiation - When the oxygen concentration in the air is sufficiently low, a person
can become unconscious without any warning symptoms.
c. Explosion - On vaporization it expands by a factor of 700; one liter of LN2 becomes
24.6 cubic feet of nitrogen gas. This can cause explosion of a sealed or insufficiently
vented container.
d. Cryotube explosions - Cryotubes used to contain samples stored under LN2 may
explode without warning. Tube explosions are thought to be caused by LN2 entering
the tube through minute cracks and then expanding rapidly as the tube thaws.
e. LN2 must not be disposed of down the drain, as piping in laboratory sinks may not be
able to withstand cryogenic temperatures.
Department of Medicine Doc. No:
SOP-Medicine-
06

Standard Operating Procedure Ver No: 003

Title: Liquid Nitrogen


Page: 2 of 5

5. PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE)

The following safety equipment is required when working with or dispensing LN2:
a. Face shield / safety glasses
b. Cryogenic gloves
c. Long-sleeved lab coat
d. Closed-toed shoes
e. Cryogenic apron

6. ENGINEERING CONTROLS

Adequate ventilation is essential when working with liquid nitrogen because a small amount
of liquid can rapidly convert to a large volume of gas. Do not use in confined spaces
because of the threat of asphyxiation.

7. LIQUID NITROGEN CONTAINERS

7.1 Vacuum insulated containers:


Vacuum insulated containers are used for storing and dispensing liquid nitrogen. They
are either sealed (capable of holding a 20 psig – 240 psig with pressure relief valve) or
ambient pressure (covered loosely with a cap, cork, or stopper) and are referred to as
dewars. There are two primary types of dewars: benchtop and large dewars.
Benchtop dewars (Figure a) are typically for small-scale laboratory use and the lid is
the only pressure-relief device.
Large dewars (Figure b) are typically used for storage of lab samples, movement of
samples between campus locations, or to fill other secondary containers. Large
dewars may have a secure seal and pressure relief vent.

Figure b – Large Dewar

Figure a – Benchtop Dewar

7.2 Cryogenic Tubes:


Cryogenic tubes are typically used for storage samples. There is no pressure-relief
device on a cryogenic tube other than the lid. Consequently, cryogenic tubes can
explode with warning. Explosion are likely caused by trapped nitrogen expanding
inside of the tube during the thawing process. As the temperature increase, the tube
may become over-pressurized and explode and may result in serious injuries.
Department of Medicine Doc. No:
SOP-Medicine-
06

Standard Operating Procedure Ver No: 003

Title: Liquid Nitrogen


Page: 3 of 5

7.3 Self-Pressurizing Tanks:


Self-pressurizing tanks are generally a 140 – 260L double wall, stainless steel tank
used to fill other liquid nitrogen containers. These tanks are equipped with pressure
relief valves and a backup rupture disk. A loud hissing sound is commonly heard when
the pressure relief valve opens. Exposure to liquid nitrogen can occur when connecting
and disconnecting equipment, during the filling process, from a leaking valve, or from
condensate ice buildup on valves and hoses.

8. SAFE HANDLING AND STORAGE

a. Only trained personnel should work with liquid nitrogen.


b. Use only in well-ventilated and low traffic areas.
c. Wear proper PPE: long sleeved lab coat, covered-toe shoes, cryogenic gloves, safety
glasses, face shield and cryogenic apron.
d. Liquid nitrogen should only be stored in approved containers.
e. Do not touch any non-insulated surface cooled to liquid nitrogen temperatures, as
adhesion of the skin will occur, due to freezing of the moisture layer at the interface,
resulting in contact burns. Handle all cooled objects with tongs or forceps, and do this
without undue delay, as these will also cool rapidly by conduction.
f. Do not allow any LN2 to touch any part of your body or become trapped in clothing
near the skin.
g. Never drop a liquid nitrogen container. Damage to a container may result in over-
pressurization or container failure.
h. Never attempt to stop or catch a falling container.
i. Do not leave open containers unattended.
j. Liquid nitrogen containers should be stored in cool, dry and well-ventilated areas.
k. Do not store in a cold room or other controlled environment without air supply.
l. Liquid nitrogen containers should be stored out of direct sunlight.

9. TRANSPORT OF LIQUID NITROGEN

a. There must be no refill of liquid nitrogen in the lab.


b. The vendor will go to the designated storage/use area.
c. The vendor will transport the tank to the service lift. A buddy system should be
adopted where one to load and the other to receive at the destination floor.
d. The transport of the liquid nitrogen tanks are to be strictly carried out in unmanned
service lifts only.
e. In MD1 and MD6 laboratories contact YLL SoM Research Facilities Management
Team at [email protected] or call 66013771 at least one working day in
advance to obtain the key of service lift.

10. TRAINING

All staff/students using or handling cryogenic liquids must receive training which includes
hazards associated with its use, care, selection and use of protective equipment and
emergency procedures. New users of liquid nitrogen should receive instruction in its use
from safety lead or experienced members in the laboratory.
Department of Medicine Doc. No:
SOP-Medicine-
06

Standard Operating Procedure Ver No: 003

Title: Liquid Nitrogen


Page: 4 of 5

11. FIRST AID

In the event of the following:

Eye contact: Remove victim from source of contamination, open eyelids and allowing liquid
to evaporate. Seek medical attention and notify PI.

Skin contact:
a. For minor injuries, clothing should be loosened and the person made comfortable.
Clothing should not be pulled away from burned or frozen skin.
b. Exposed tissues should be restored to normal body temperature by running warm
water (40°C) over the affected part.
c. Do not rub or massage the affected parts of the body.
d. Seek medical attention immediately and notify PI.

Asphyxiation:
a. If a person is overcome by loss of oxygen while working with cryogenic liquids, the
victim (who may be unconscious) should be removed to a well-ventilated area
immediately.
b. The person should be kept warm and rested whilst medical attention is obtained.
c. Seek medical attention and notify PI.

12. INCIDENT REPORTING

Accidents resulting in injuries must be reported to the PI and/or laboratory safety lead
immediately after first aid is applied.

Seek medical attention when necessary at the University Health Centre or proceed to the
Accident & Emergency units of National University Hospital after office hours.

All incidents or accidents have to be notified to OSHE within 24 hours via the online NUS
Accident and Incident Management System (AIMS)
@https://inetapps.nus.edu.sg/osh/portal/eServices/ehs360_aims.html . The AIMS
report can be submitted by the injured staff/student, safety leads, his or her
supervisor/representative if the staff or student is unfit/unable to do the initial report.

13. REFERENCE

NUS Laboratory Chemical Safety Manual (NUS/OSHE/M/02)


Department of Medicine Doc. No:
SOP-Medicine-
06

Standard Operating Procedure Ver No: 003

Title: Liquid Nitrogen


Page: 5 of 5

14. REVISION HISTORY

Date Revised Version No. Author Summary of Revisions


20-03-2016 001 Yeo Soh Bee
Section 12: Revised Accident and
Incident Reporting System (AIRS) to
01-10-2016 002 Yeo Soh Bee Accident and Incident Management
System (AIMS)

New addition:
Section 5: added cryogenic apron
Section 7.2 Cryogenic Tubes
15-04-2019 003 Yeo Soh Bee
Section 7.3 Self-Pressurizing Tanks
Section 8(h): added cryogenic apron

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