In the interest of public safety, OEHS recently updated the University's mixed chemical identification procedures. Effective immediately, laboratory staff must attach color coded tags to the handles of the 19 liter carboys used for chemical waste. These tags will help in assuring that wastes are not inappropriately mixed. The tags will also help emergency responders identify large quantities of chemicals quickly.
The tags do not replace the current adhesive green chemical waste labels. The green labels serve to identify the specific contents in the carboy. Colored tags must be used in addition to the labels.
Prior to using the 19 liter carboy, attach the appropriate colored tag to the handle of the 19 liter carboy as follows:
| Category | Tag Color | Description | Common Examples |
| Halogenated solvents | Green | · any liquid mixture containing halogens · no acids |
· chloroform & methylene chloride |
| Nonhalogenated solvents | Pink | · any flammable nonhalogenated solvent · no acids · < 15% water |
· xylene, hexane, acetone & methanol |
| Aqueous solutions | Blue | · solvents with > 15% water · no halogenated liquid mixtures · no acids |
· acetonitrile & water · acetone & water · methanol & water |
| Petroleum oil | Tan | · various petroleum oils (stored separately) | · pump oil, lube oil, etc. | Miscellaneous solutions | White |
· solutions which generally do not fit into the previous four categories · store each solution category in a container · refer to common examples |
· formalin or; · phenol/chloroform or; · acids or; · bases or; · ethidium bromide |
Colored tags are available at OEHS at 1408 Blockley Hall or can be requested by phone (898-4453) or e-mail (oehs@oehs.upenn.edu).
Almanac
Volume 43 Number 14
December 3, 1996
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