Standard Operating Procedures

Laboratory Specific
Handling Cryogenic Fluids

Please fill out the form completely. Print a copy and insert into your
Laboratory Safety Manual and Chemical Hygiene Plan.
Refer to instructions for assistance.

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Department:________________________ Date when SOP was written:_______

Date when SOP was approved by the lab supervisor: ___________________

Principal Investigator:___________________________________________________

Internal Laboratory Safety Coordinator/Lab Manager:___________________________________

Laboratory Phone:____________________ Office Phone:_____________________

Emergency Contact:____________________________________________________
(Name and Phone Number)

Location(s) covered by this SOP:__________________________________________

(Building/Room Number)
_____________________________________________________________________________

Type of SOP: Process Hazardous Chemical Hazardous Class

Purpose

Cryogenic fluids are liquids that exist at a very low temperature (below −150 °C). Common examples of cryogenic
liquids are liquid nitrogen and helium. These fluids are used as coolants for various instruments and experiments.

This standard operating procedure (SOP) is intended to provide general guidance on how to safely work
with cryogenic fluids.

Hazardous Chemicals/Class of Hazardous Chemicals

 Nitrogen and Helium are not toxic, but are simple asphyxiates.
 Cryogenic fluids are materials with extremely low boiling points (i.e., less than – 150 °F). At these
temperatures, tissue burns may be sustained after contact with the fluids, surfaces cooled by the fluids, or by
evolving gases. The hazard is comparable to that of handling boiling water.
 One special property of cryogenic liquids is that they undergo substantial volume expansion when converted
to a gas phase, which can potentially lead to an oxygen deficient atmosphere where ventilation is limited.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Hand protection
Handle with thermally insulated gloves. Gloves must be inspected prior to use.
Eye protection
Wear protective safety glasses. Use equipment for eye protection tested and approved under appropriate
government standards such as NIOSH (US) or EN 166(EU).
Skin and body protection
Long pants, lab coat, and closed toed shoes should be worn when working with cryogenic fluids. Never allow any
unprotected part of the body to touch non insulated pipes or vessels which contain cryogenic fluids. The
extremely cold metal will cause the flesh to stick fast and tear when one attempts to withdraw from it. Frostbite is
likely to occur.

Engineering Controls

Use cryogenic fluids only in well-ventilated areas. Unconsciousness occurs without warning in an oxygen
deficient atmosphere.
Neither nitrogen nor helium gas is toxic, but if too much oxygen is displaced by these gases, the danger of
asphyxiation is very real! These gases expand their volumes by a factor of ~700 when they are evaporated and
allowed to warm up to room temperature.

First Aid Procedures

If inhaled
Persons suffering from lack of oxygen should be moved to fresh air. If victim is not breathing, administer artificial
respiration. If breathing is difficult, administer oxygen. Get medical attention immediately.
In case of skin contact
Remove any clothing that may restrict circulation to frozen area. Do not rub frozen parts as tissue damage may
result. As soon as practical, place the affected area in a warm water bath which has a temperature not to exceed
105°F (40°C). Never use dry heat. Call a physician as soon as possible.
In case of eye contact
Flush the eyes with cool or warm water for fifteen minutes (do not use hot or cold water). Get medical attention
immediately.

Special Handling and Storage Requirements

Store and transport cryogenic fluids only in Dewars or cryogenic liquid cylinders designed for that particular
cryogen. Cryogenic liquid dewars are to be stored in well-ventilated areas with the pressure relief valve in the
opened position.

Spill and Accident Procedure

Assess the extent of danger.

In the event of a large spill, you should alert others immediately in the vicinity to evacuate, close the doors of the
lab if opened, and restrict access to the work area.
Do not attempt cleanup if you feel unsure of your ability to do so or if you perceive the risk to be greater than
normal laboratory operations. Dial 911 or EH&S at (206) 543-7262 for assistance.

Medical Emergency Dial 911

Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) Location

(State the location of MSDS)

Hardcopy or electronic copy must be available for cryogenic fluids.

Online MSDS can be accessed at https://cspc.admin.washington.edu/mychem/uwnetid/home/greeting.aspx.
Protocol/Procedure

1. Containers for cryogenic liquids must not be closed completely. Although liquid nitrogen and helium are
stored in vacuum-jacketed vessels (dewars), there is always some heat leak into the dewar such that there is
boil-off of the liquid at all times. Pressure will build up and if no exit is available to the gas, the container
would ultimately explode. A pressure relief valve is attached to the dewar to keep the internal pressure very
low. Make sure you are aware of the presence of a protective pressure relief valve on any dewar that you
handle.

2. If a crack in the metal between the liquid and the vacuum space of a dewar were to occur, a rapid pressure
build-up in this relatively confined space will occur since it would no longer be insulated by vacuum. For this
reason, all metal dewars must be constructed such that a pressure relief valve or rupture disk connected to
the vacuum space will relieve excess pressure prior to sufficient build-up to cause explosion. For the same
reason, all glass dewars must be wrapped with tape or netting to prevent flying glass in the event of an
explosion.

3. Do not leave openings to cold dewars wide open to the atmosphere for any longer than is absolutely
necessary for the manipulations required for transferring liquids. The temperature of liquid nitrogen at
atmospheric pressure is -196°C and of liquid helium is -269°C. Air (and its contents) will condense into the
dewar and can cause blockages that are potentially dangerous and that will almost certainly interfere with
some aspect of the liquid transfer or with the operation of the instrument in the long run. The freezing point of
liquid oxygen is -183°C, i.e., above that of these cryogenic fluids. The collection of liquid oxygen into these
colder liquids is an explosion hazard!

4. The very cold temperatures of cryogenic fluids necessitate complete avoidance of contact with the skin.
Frostbite, i.e. “burns” from extreme cold, will occur very quickly upon contact, especially if clothing, shoes,
etc., hold the liquid tightly to the skin. Take care about spills and use appropriate hand protection while
transferring these liquids. Use thermally insulated gloves; thin gloves will not help. Take care to avoid
contact with the portions of the transfer line that have been inserted into the dewars during the transfer as
they will be cold enough to cause cold “burns” for quite a while after removal from the dewars.

5. Liquid helium transfer lines are vacuum jacketed and should not be very cold to touch during the initial cool
down of the transfer line. If a transfer line appears to be too cold, it is time to re-pump the vacuum space.
The heat of vaporization of liquid helium is very small, i.e., ~10% of that of liquid nitrogen. Thus, helium is
never seen as a liquid during transfer operations. A “plume” or “flame” is the indicator that liquid helium is
coming through the transfer line during the cool down and is ready to be inserted.

Any deviation from this SOP requires approval from PI.

Documentation of Training (signature of all users is required)

 Prior to conducting any work with cryogenic fluids, designated personnel must provide training to his/her
laboratory personnel specific to the hazards involved in working with this substance, work area
decontamination, and emergency procedures.

 The Principal Investigator must provide his/her laboratory personnel with a copy of this SOP and a copy of
individual cryogenic liquid MSDS provided by the manufacturer.

 The Principal Investigator must ensure that his/her laboratory personnel have attended appropriate laboratory
safety training or refresher training within the last two years.

I have read and understand the content of this SOP:

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