Following a safety incident, in which weighing of sodium azide powder outside a chemical hood has led to safety/health near miss event, we would like to emphasize the following:
Powder of sodium azide is a highly hazardous chemical (see ref1, risk category 1&2), with the risks of high toxicity (fatal), dust explosion, explosion by heat and toxic gas release in contact with acids (see ref1 for more information).
Therefore,working with sodium azide powder must be avoided.
Safer alternatives to sodium azide powder include:
Commercially available sodium azide solutions at different concentrations (see ref2 for more information).
ProClin preservatives solutions are highly effective biocides for the control of microorganisms in reagents and products intended for in vitro diagnostic use.
Their advantages include:
1. Broad-spectrum and immediate effect on bacteria, yeast and fungi.
2. Compatible with key enzymes and do not inhibit antibody/ enzyme activity.
3. High effectiveness in low concentration.
4. Stable and effective at pH 2-8.5.
5. Can be mixed with aqueous solutions at any ratio.
Prior to commencing work involving a chemical substance, make sure to refer to its safety data sheet (SDS) and familiarize yourself with its specific hazards (see Ref 3).
Guidelines for Purchasing and Holding Materials and Equipment at the Weizmann Institute of Science
The purchase and holding of materials and equipment at the Weizmann Institute of Science are regulated by several authorities: The Ministry of Environmental Protection, the Ministry of Health, Home Front Command, Nuclear Research Center – Soreq, and others. These entities enforce the legislation by providing the Institute with annual permits, and perform on-site inspections. If they find unpermitted materials or equipment, they are authorized to cancel the permit the Institute holds for chemicals, biohazards, or radioactive materials and equipment. Such cancellation may have significant impact on the scientific activities at the Institute. To comply with the state legislation and Institute regulations, it is crucial to follow these guidelines for purchasing/holding materials and equipment: 1. All purchases of chemical, biological, or radioactive materials and equipment must be conducted through the Procurement Division – Warehouses Branch (via the TAFNIT system). 2. Materials or equipment that cannot be purchased through the TAFNIT system, such as those obtained from colleagues or from other sources, the PI must notify the Safety Unit prior to ordering or acquiring the goods, so as to obtain a written approval/permit.
About us
The Safety Unit strives towards excellence with quality of work as its top priority. Our work focuses on active prevention of various types of dangerous situations that could cause harm to Weizmann personnel and students in their daily work. We pride ourselves in the fact that we handle emergency situations in a quick and efficient manner and constantly improve readiness for emergency situations on campus.
