Controlled
Document
-
do
not
download/save/print/photocopy
Cancer
Clinical
Trials
Centre Standard
Operating
Procedure SOP
No.: 35
Title: Use,
Handling
&
Storage
of
Dry
Ice
Current
Version
No.: 1.0 Reviewed
&
Endorsed
by
STH
Research: 07/03/2016 Approved: 15/03/2016
Effective
Date: 24/11/2017
SOP
Version
History Version 1.0
Approved
Effective
Date
15/03/2016
24/11/2017
Reviewed No
Changes
Ended
CCTC
SOP
Front
Cover
v4.0
06/10/2017
SOP – Use, Handling & Storage of Dry Ice Purpose To provide safety information and guidance to staff working in the Cancer Clinical Trials Centre (CCTC) laboratory to ensure the safe use, handling and storage of dry ice. Scope This SOP applies to all personnel involved in procedures including freezing biological samples (where trial specific protocols should be followed), sample audits/relocations, and shipping of biological samples. 1.0
Hazard Description 1.1 Dry Ice is the solid form of carbon Dioxide (CO2). Dry ice is available for use in the form of pellets, slices or blocks and may be supplied loose or in insulated containers. 1.2 Dry Ice is very cold (-78.5°C). It sublimes (turns directly from a solid to a gas without passing through the liquid phase) to an asphyxiant gas (CO2) that is heavier than air. It must only be used in well-ventilated areas. 1.3 Contact with dry ice or equipment cooled by dry ice can cause severe cold burns and frostbite within a short period of time. Appropriate insulated gloves must always be used when handling dry ice. 1.4 The use of dry ice in poorly ventilated areas can result in the depletion of oxygen resulting in asphyxiation. Symptoms include increased respiration, headaches, nausea, vomiting, loss of mobility, loss of consciousness. 1.5 Placing dry ice into a tightly sealed container can produce sufficient gas build up to cause an explosion. Avoid using sealed containers.
2.0
First Aid Measures First Aid measures are outlined in the COSHH assessment in the CCTC Laboratory COSHH folder. 2.1 First Aid Inhalation: If a person becomes dizzy, nauseous or loses consciousness while working with dry ice, move them and all personnel in the vicinity to a well-ventilated area immediately. If breathing has stopped, apply artificial respiration. Keep warm and at rest and seek medical assistance. 2.2 First Aid Skin/Eye: In case of frostbite spray with water for at least 15 minutes. Obtain medical assistance. Immediately flush eyes thoroughly with water for at least 15 minutes. SOP 35 – Use, Handling & Storage of Dry Ice v1.0 Finalised 30.11.2015 Page 1 of 3
2.3
3.0
First Aid Ingestion: Swallowing must be avoided, since coldness and developing pressure could be dangerous. Obtain medical assistance.
Procedure 3.1 Staff must read the relevant COSHH forms and risk assessments before handling dry ice. 3.2
When handling dry ice appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) must be worn at all times. This includes a long sleeved lab coat to ensure that arms are covered and cold insulating gloves. Safety glasses are also available and should be used if dry ice is being transferred between storage vessels. Appropriate PPE is stored in the CCTC laboratory.
3.3
Dry ice must be stored in a suitable insulated container. Failure to do so will result in evaporation of dry ice. Dry ice must not be stored in a completely air tight container as the sublimation of carbon dioxide gas will cause any airtight container to expand and possibly explode.
3.4
Dry ice must only be used in a well-ventilated room. In small or poorly ventilated rooms carbon dioxide gas can sink to low areas and replace oxygenated air. This can be dangerous and can cause suffocation if breathed exclusively.
3.5
When working with samples on dry ice care must be taken to keep the lid on the insulated containers as much as possible. Never leave a container unattended with the lid removed.
3.6
If at any point when in an area containing dry ice the operator (or anyone in the area) begins to feel unwell, has rapid breathing or cyanosis they, and all other personnel, must leave the area immediately and seek medical assistance.
3.7
If an operator sustains a burn or a blister as a result of handling dry ice they must follow the first aid measures detailed below and inform a trained first aider. An incident form must be completed.
3.8
Specific courier or trial specific protocols must be followed when shipping biological samples on dry ice and only approved transport boxes used. Samples must be packaged and labeled in accordance with the current regulatory shipping guidelines. Dry ice is not classified as a dangerous SOP 35 – Use, Handling & Storage of Dry Ice v1.0 Finalised 30.11.2015 Page 2 of 3
substance or hazardous material for ground transportation by the European Union. However, when shipped by air or water, dry ice is regulated as a dangerous good and IATA packing instruction 904 (IATA PI 904) applies, which requires that packages containing dry ice be labelled specially, with a diamond-shaped black-and white label, UN 1845. 3.9
Staff should be aware that dry ice sublimates at approximately 2-5kg every 24hours. Therefore if biological samples are packaged in dry ice courier collections should be arranged within a suitable time frame to ensure that samples arrive at the destination still frozen with adequate dry ice within the container. Samples should not be left in dry ice for long periods of time as dry ice may evaporate and sample integrity may be compromised. Return samples to freezers where possible.
3.10
Any excess dry ice should be left within the insulated container to evaporate slowly in a well-ventilated room at room temperature. A warning sign must be placed on the insulated container to inform other laboratory users of the contents of the container. Dry ice must not be placed in a sink as the cold temperature can cause damage to the sink and pipes and accumulation of carbon dioxide gas may be dangerous.
References COSHH Assessment: CCTC3 - Use of Carbon Dioxide, Solid (Dry Ice) Safety Data Sheet: Carbon Dioxide, Solid (Dry Ice) Risk Assessment: CCTC RA1 - Use of Dry Ice
SOP 35 – Use, Handling & Storage of Dry Ice v1.0 Finalised 30.11.2015 Page 3 of 3
