All chemicals, gases, and stable isotopes (CG&SI) being used in Ny-Ålesund Research Station should in principle be ordered and managed through Kings Bay. The aim is to improve the overall safety for everyone involved in handling CG&SI in Ny-Ålesund from procurement to disposal, while making it more cost efficient and predictable for researchers.

Any activities in Ny-Ålesund involving the use of chemicals must be in compliance with all applicable guidelines, standards and regulations as defined in Norwegian law, and with any additional requirements defined by the host institution. This will reduce the danger to, and the potential impact on both human health and the environment associated with handling and storage of such materials.

Only in exceptional cases will you be allowed to bring your own chemicals to Ny-Ålesund. You are not allowed to work with chemicals in any Kings Bay laboratories or buildings without clearance from Kings Bay AS, from your home institution, and, when applicable, also from your host institution in Ny-Ålesund.

Booking of chemicals, gases, and stable isotopes

CG&SI should be ordered via Kings Bay Marine Lab, normally through the RiS portal. Kings Bay uses Sigma Aldrich (Merck) and VWR as their main suppliers. If you can find suitable products from these suppliers, please use catalogue number to specify the product you want/need. If not, please find a supplier that provides a suitable product and use their catalogue number so that Kings Bay (if possible) can order from this supplier or find the same/similar product elsewhere. Please also inform about the grade required so Kings Bay AS can make sure the product ordered will be meet your requirements. Kings Bay AS will notify the researcher if the chemicals needed cannot be ordered, or if substitution of a specific product is required.

Most CG&SI are classified as “hazardous goods” and must be shipped by boat. Boat cargo arrives approximately once every 5-6 weeks. You are therefore recommended to plan accordingly, and place orders early. It is possible to order CG&SI before your RiS-booking, but please be aware that in some cases may not be possible to cancel orders.

Contact the Marine Lab Coordinator for information about scheduled deliveries.

Handling of chemicals, gases, and stable isotopes

Laboratory users and institutions that possesses or expects to possess CG&SI must submit a risk assessment to their host institution in advance.

All users of the laboratory should read the Safety Data Sheets (SDS) and the relevant risk analysis, and then participate in a safety briefing before start-up of their work. Users and lab personnel should not use CG&SI and equipment if they have not received appropriate training, or if they feel uncomfortable engaging in such use.

Users and lab personnel in all laboratories should clearly label their container, bottle, flask, etc. with the name of the chemical, the Globally Harmonized System (GHS) safety pictogram, and with the date, month and year it was first opened. This is required for all CG&SI.

Storage and transport of chemicals, gases, and stable isotopes

Kings Bay, as well as NPI, are using Eco Online for registration of all CG&SI stored or available at the different locations in Ny-Ålesund. Kings Bay will provide information on how they intend to use Eco Online for locations owned by them, and rented and used by other institutions.

All laboratories and facilities at the Ny-Ålesund Research Station should reduce the storage of CG&SI compounds in active use to the absolute minimum necessary to secure operations.

Kings Bay and the different institutions storing CG&SI should have a routine for reviewing their chemical storage at least once yearly. This clean-up should also include an update of their CG&SI registrations log, e.g. Eco Online.

Storage of CG&SI must be in accordance with the relevant SDS guidelines. Special precautions must be taken to avoid mixing acids, bases, flammables, oxidizers, Peroxide-Forming Chemicals and/or Compressed Gases.

Safety Equipment and guidelines

There might be various types of safety equipment in both the Kings Bay common laboratories, and host institution laboratories. The responsible lab manger will ensure that the users of the laboratories are introduced to the location and receive appropriate training in the correct operation of the safety equipment. Laboratory safety equipment should include:

  • Fume Hoods
  • Chemical Spill Containment Kits
  • Emergency eye Wash Station
  • Safety showers
  • Fire Extinguishers
  • Fire Blankets
  • Additional safety equipment as required.

Lab Equipment Safety Guidelines is required and will be available for the operation of lab specific equipment like Dryer, Oven, Washer, etc.

Highly Hazardous chemicals, gases, and stable isotopes

Some CG&SI are considered as highly hazardous. Those highly hazardous CG&SI have health, physical, or environmental hazards that require additional safety and environmental practices beyond the standard laboratory safety requirements.

View the Highly Hazardous Chemicals List for more information. Please contact the responsible lab manger to explore if a substitute chemical can be found. A permission for an exemption to handle highly hazardous CG&SI should be granted by the host institution, as well as Kings Bay when using their common labs.

Waste and disposal of chemicals, gases, and stable isotopes

Any kind of chemical waste of common laboratories or from institutions must be disposed via Kings Bay Marin Lab, based on routines and procedures defined by Kings Bay.

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