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Liquid Nitrogen
Liquid nitrogen is inert, colourless, odourless, noncorrosive, nonflammable, and extremely cold.
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- Liquid nitrogen is the听commonest material to preserve biological samples at听a听temperature that听stops biological processes.鈥�
- As part of the system to maintain superconducting magnets nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy听(NMR) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Recommended Control Measures鈥�
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- Store in well-ventilated areas, if indoors have oxygen alarms to warn of low oxygen levels.听鈥�
- Have procedures in place to minimise the risks from lone working.鈥�
- When decanting liquid nitrogen from a pressurised听dewar, always use a transfer听dewar, which will reduce听spills by controlling the rate of supply to a small transportable听dewar.鈥�
- Never travel in lifts or use nitrogen in a small space. A small volume of liquid can evaporate to a听700 fold听volume of gas that can displace oxygen to cause asphyxiation and death. Many scientists have died from听nitrogen asphyxiation.鈥�
- Properly induct and train new users - use the Local Induction for liquid nitrogen checklist.
Cryostores
- 鈥婩or听cryostores, keep cryogenically preserved听samples at low temperature and only听handle听as necessary. If听handling听a number of听samples or raising samples to room temperature, do this as slowly as possible and听place samples in a secondary container to contain the contents if an explosion occurs. Remember that even听heat through gloves when holding samples in your hand will increase the rate of expansion within the vial.鈥�
- Elimination of听cryo-storage is sometimes possible with the use of freezers, however there are costs听associated with other methods (such as power) and the risk associated if there is a power failure听鈥�
鈥婸ersonal Protective Equiment (PPE)
- As much skin as possible should be covered (lab coats with elastic cuffs and shoes that cover the top听of the foot). Gloves should be worn due to the risk of samples being splashed on the skin, and to prevent听cold burns. The type of glove needs to be assessed for the task being carried out.鈥�
- Eye protection needs to worn and the type of protection will depend on the task being done.鈥�
Health Surveillance听鈥�
None.
Chemical safety library
> Read more about control measures for chemicals in our chemical safety library听
Last updated: Tuesday, June 23, 2020
