I run a private lab on a campus that restricts the use of combustible materials. However, I did lead another private project to replicate highly volatile and energetic nitrotetrazole compounds. We performed the experiment on a 35 acre property in Annapolis, MD. I had the client retrofit the entire lab space with flash proof flooring, grounded countertops, and ventilation. When we did the detonations, we made sure there was at least 50ft of distance between us and the detonation site, with thick polycarbonate shields, eye protection, and heavy duty earmuffs. I'd say that a project is only as dangerous as its safety precautions. Before that, I spent 6 years doing r&d at Chevron, where we were required to outline SOPs, Job Safety Analysis sheets, set up secondary failsafe mechanisms, and have EH&S do a walkthrough before the commissioning of work. So that mental exercise of walking through every single little point of potential failure and having a plan of action is crucial to assessing safety.
Colleagues,
How Dangerous Is Too Dangerous?
That is a fascinating question when looking at the last several hundred years of science and the remarkable advancements made researching with extremely hazardous materials under primitive conditions or insufficient information on the hazards.
A recent publication raises this issue in the specific context of a synthetic organic chemistry procedure utilizing sodium azide in the presence of acid, transition metal salts, and a potentially reactive solvent.
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.joc.2c01402#
“How Dangerous Is Too Dangerous? A Perspective on Azide Chemistry”
Daniel S. Treitler* and Simon Leung, J. Org. Chem. 2022, 87, 17, 11293–11295.
Besides a question of what research is too dangerous, we should also consider who is doing the research. UCLA created Policy 906 “Undergraduate Researcher Laboratory Safety” ( http://www.adminpolicies.ucla.edu/APP/Number/906.0 ) with this in mind:
Undergraduate students may not have the scientific background, technical knowledge, or practical experience to ensure that they can engage safely in all research activities. As a result, additional safety measures are necessary for some research activities. Further, some activities that involve highly hazardous materials and/or conditions are prohibited.
I encourage researchers to examine their own research practices and ask the question: Is a research project using materials/conditions or being conducted by individuals that renders it too dangerous?
Best,
Craig
Craig A. Merlic
Professor of Chemistry, UCLA Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Executive Director, UC Center for Laboratory Safety
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1569
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