Laboratory Safety: Actions and Reactions
Gloves:
- Alert your lab supervisor or PI if you have a latex allergy. Remove gloves before leaving lab. - No gloves in the hallway!! - A glove compatibility chart is available for a manufacturer and are manufacturer specific. Best Glove company compatibility chart must be used to identify which gloves should be used for Best Gloves. - Use a glove compatibility chart to decide which glove will protect you from the chemical hazard. - No glove will protect you from every chemical. The right glove will only protect for only a certain time period
BASIC SAFETY RULES:
1. Wear safety glasses or goggles at all times when in the lab 2. Wear proper clothing (solid toed-shoes, long pants, etc.) as directed by your PI 3. Wear a lab coat as required 4. Use a glove-compatibility chart to determine the proper gloves to protect yourself 5. Do not wear gloves outside the lab 6. Wash your hands regularly, especially when taking gloves off 7. Do not eat in the working area of the lab or store food where chemicals are kept 8. Dispose of outdated and unused chemicals through EH&S in a timely manner 9. Know the location of the emergency equipment in the lab (emergency eyewash/shower, fire extinguisher, spill kit, first aid kit) 10. Know and follow emergency procedures for lab and building (KNOW WHAT DIAMOND MEANS) 11.Store flammables in a flammable-rated storage refrigerator or freezer only 12.Use potentially hazardous chemicals in the fume hood not on an open bench top 13.Do not modify equipment 14.Extension cords can only be used for temporary wiring (24 hours or less). AND Do not overload power cords or wall receptacles. 15.
What are you supposed to do before working in the lab and working with experiments?
employees with their supervisors are required to review the University's laboratory safety manual and the Chemical Hygiene Plan Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for laboratory tasks
SDS: (Safety Data Sheets)
- You shall have access in your laboratory to the SDS either online or in print format. These should also be located in the Chemical Inventory section of the CHP. A good knowledge of chemical properties may increase the likelihood of success for an experiment and will allow work with industrial chemicals to be conducted in a safer manner. Review the MSDS before starting work with a new chemical.( AKA THE BIG BINDERS) • Are generated and distributed by the manufacturer of the chemical • Must have one for each chemical on the lab's inventory • Must be easily accessible in each lab • Can be found online and saved electronically
PPE:
- all labs must have a PPE Certification of Hazard Assessment that describes hazards and the type of PPE required for the hazards.
HAZARDS:
- an acid next to an oxidizer - no labeled bottles - overflowing needles waste bins or any bins - no lid on boxes that are hazardous - no abbreviations on labels - plastic over heat pads can be fire hazard - not secured cylinders - unidentified and open bottles - glass should not be on floor
SOP: (standard operating procedures)
- had two pages - PAGE 1: This is for the physical lab. • Must be reviewed with all lab staff. • Describes where chemicals are stored, how the chemicals are transported, emergency procedures and other necessary laboratory procedures. - PAGE 2: This should be completed for every process being done in the lab. It IDs the chemicals being used. • The hazard class of the chemical (flammable, corrosive, toxic or reactive) • The health hazards associated with each of those chemicals • The PPE required to be worn when working with those chemicals • The engineering controls to be used. These are physical barriers: fume hoods, biological safety cabinets, point source ventilation systems, radiation shields, etc. • Other precautions specific to the work or chemicals in use.
