July 8, 2015

SOP Standard Operating Procedure

Etching All Materials

#1 General Process Description

This Sop will describe how to safely etch different materials using different techniques. All
work described in this SOP will be done in JHE-246/A, in the fume hood. You MUST have
WHMIS Training and HF Training (if necessary) before etching any materials. Contact person is
Ed McCaffery Laboratory Manager (Room JHE 248 ext 24985).

#2 Hazardous Chemicals/Class of Hazardous Chemicals

The acids used to etch materials are usually diluted with water and normally do not exceed 5%
concentration; but there are etchants which are very concentrated, and also shock sensitive.
Concentrated acids may be fatal if inhaled; and can cause severe eye and skin burns, severe respiratory
and digestive tract burns. Contact with other material may cause a fire. Whenever working with
concentrated acids it MUST be done in the fume hood. Some of the Acids used in the department are:
1. Hydrofluoric Acid
2. Hydrochloric Acid
3. Nitric Acid
4. Picric Acid
5. Chromic Acid
6. Sulphuric Acid
7. Acetic Acid

These are not all of the acids which are used to etch materials but some of the most common.

#3 PPE (Personal Protective Equipment)

Before etching ALL Persons MUST wear the following:

1. Goggles or Safety Glasses (Prescription or Sun glasses are not enough!)

2. Gloves Nitrile or Neoprene
3. Close Toe shoes
4. Long Pants
5. If working with concentrated acids (Face Shield is required)
6. No Contact Lenses!
7. Ensure that the spill kit is available and that all components of the spill kit are intact.
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SOP Etchant cont

#4 Engineering / Ventilation Controls

All work with etchants must be done in the fume hood, with no other persons working close
enough to interfere or come into contact with the etchant; someone should be in the
immediate area in case of an emergency, the protective shield on the fume hood drawn down
as much as possible, but allowing to work comfortable. The person MUST be wearing all of the
required PPE.

#5 Special Handling Procedures and Storage Requirements

All etchants must be stored in a polypropylene bottle with a proper WHMIS label. DO NOT
store any etchants in (Glass, Steel, Ceramic bottles), many etchants will react these materials,
and can cause a fire or exposure. If you are creating a new etchant; place a secondary
containment tray in the fume hood, when handling and pouring concentrated acids. In case you
overfill or spill acids, it will stay in this secondary containment. When pouring from a large acid
bottle, pour into a clean beaker then, pour the acid from the beaker into a graduated cylinder
(this will help reduce the risk of spillage). If you are working with HF you DONT use any
glassware, use the plastic beakers and graduated cylinders which are located in JHE-246A.
Remember to slowly pour acid into water, never water into acid!
Always rinse any glassware 3 times and collect the rinse into the appropriate Chemical Waste
Container.

#6 Spill and Accident Procedures

If you spill acid and the spill is an immediate threat to your health, leave the room, call 88.
Remain nearby. In the event of an acid exposure, follow McMaster University First Aid
Instructions posted in the labs. If a fire starts because of the release notify anyone in the
immediate area to leave, pull the fire alarm and leave the building, call 88 and remain
nearby to inform Security.

If you accidentally spilled concentrated acid (e.g., while pouring an acid into the measuring
cylinder): Dont panic! Remain calm. If the spill is minor (less than 30mL, note a 5 inch x 7 inch
paper towel will absorb 5 ml of water), and will not pose a health issue; use the appropriate
spill-containment kit (Note there is a specific HF Spill kit for HF Spills, any other acids use the
Acid Spill kit); pour the absorbent; first make a circle encompassing the spill then pour the
absorbent on top of the spill. Find a plastic/neoprene-disposal bottle in room JHE 248 and
carefully place the soaked absorbent into the bottle, and place in Chemical Waste label on the
container. To minimize contact with the acid during clean-up, use the small broom and dust pan
to move the soaked absorbent into the bottle. All of this must be done in the fume hood.
July 8, 2015

If the spill is significant; larger (> 30 mL) or you flipped over an entire bottle of acid, if the spill
does not pose a health hazard; inform any other personal in the lab; then use the spill-
containment kit (Note there is a specific HF Spill kit for HF Spills, any other acids use the Acid
Spill kit) . Pour the absorbent around the spill then pour the absorbent all over the spill.
If spill is greater than 30 ml, or cleanup takes longer than 15 minutes, document the cleanup
activity either by calling EOHSS at Ext 24352 or by notating the lab inspection forms.
IF THE CONCENTRATED ACID IS RUNNING OUT OF THE FUMEHOOD, place spill-containment
absorbent on the spill and contact EOHSS at 24352 or call 88 (Emergency) immediately and
leave the laboratory making sure you notify any personal in that lab, but stay nearby to provide
information to responders. DO NOT TRY to place the soaked absorbent into the neoprene
bottle, as fume evaporating from the concentrated acids pose a serious health hazard. Contact
Emergency Response (88), then Ed McCaffery Ext 24895, and Lisa Morine Ext 23314.
If the spill runs underneath the fume hood; or lab equipment; or if it goes down sink call EOHSS
Ext 24967.

#7 Waste Disposal

If youve spilled acid and soaked up acid using absorbent, make sure it is disposed into
neoprene bottle (4L). These containers will be labeled with a Chemical Waste Label. Any waste
acids are to be dispensed in the Chemical Waste Buckets located in the fume hoods. Any
glassware used needs to be rinsed three times prior to washing.

#8 Training requirements

Prior to entering and working in the laboratory, you must have completed the EOHSS WHMIS
training. You will have to retain training documentation for at least one year. Any person
performing electrical etching using this SOP must receive training on the contents of this SOP.

#9 Approval Required

All research staff, students, and Graduate students must be trained prior to starting work with
the Electrical Etcher. If working after hours you have to ask for approval from your Supervisor
and the Person In-charge, Laboratory Manager Ed McCaffery.

#10 Decontamination

Once finished the area needs to be cleaned, this includes rinsing all glassware three times
making sure the rinsate goes into the waste bottle. Clean all glassware with soap and water
and wipe down the fume hood with a soapy sponge. Place all equipment underneath the fume
hood.
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SOP Etchant cont

#11 Designated Area

Upon leaving a designated work area, remove any personal protective equipment worn and
wash hands. After each use (or day), wipe down the immediate work area. At the end of each
project, thoroughly decontaminate the designated area before resuming normal laboratory
work in the area.

#12 Precise Process Description

1. Make sure you have all personal protective equipment on (safety glasses, gloves, etc)
2. Place your polished sample into a containment tray.
3. Take etchant and apply to polished sample (this can be done many ways depending on
the sample); (swabbing, pouring, immersing, etc)
4. Either etch sample by timing or by observation.
5. Once sample is etched rinse it with water in the containment tray.
6. Take sample and immerse it with plenty of water, then wash with soap and water, rinse
with Ethanol (over ethanol waste bucket) then quickly dry sample.
7. Any of the collection in the containment tray pour into appropriate waste bucket and
rinse three times into the aforementioned waste bucket.
8. Rinse any glassware the same as step 7; then wash with soap and water.
9. Clean area with soapy rag or sponge, and return all glassware and containment trays
back to the appropriate spots.
10. Wash gloves thoroughly before removing them.
July 8, 2015

Laboratory Accident Response Procedures

Health Threatening Situation - In the event of an imminent or actual health-threatening

emergency (threatening local or public health, safety, or welfare; or the environment outside
the immediate area):

1) CALL 88 FOR THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE

REMAIN IN THE AREA TO ADVISE RESPONDERS IF YOU CAN.
2) ACTIVATE LOCAL ALARM SYSTEMS IF REQUIRED) Once personal safety is established, call
EOHSS at Ext 24352 and proceed with local notifications, below.

Health Threatening Situation In the event of a major injury:

1) Notify McMaster Responders: Call 88 (24 hours/day, 7 days/week), then

2) Provide local notifications:

Name Phone Number Title
Ed McCaffery Ext 24985 Lab Manager/ Principal Investigator
Lisa Morine Ext 23314 EOHSS

Local Response Situation In the event of a minor injury:

1) Notify personnel in the area and restrict access.
2) Make sure the Anvil is not moving or in a position which could pose more harm,
make a record in your lab inspection report, and notify your supervisor.

Disclaimer: The SOP as written contains our best understanding at this time on how to work
safely with this piece of equipment. When new information is found that would improve the
safe use of this equipment it will be added in a timely manner. As it stands we cannot be held
liable for misuse or abuse of these instructions through negligence on the users part or based
on the content of these notes.