College of William College of William and Maryand Mary

at the Applied Research Centerat the Applied Research Center

Employee Safety GuidelinesEmployee Safety Guidelines

Prepared by Natalie Pearcy

Safe Operating Procedures at the Safe Operating Procedures at the William and Mary ARC laboratoriesWilliam and Mary ARC laboratories

Proper Employee AttireProper Employee Attire Handling GasesHandling Gases Handling CryogenicsHandling Cryogenics Lab Safety EquipmentLab Safety Equipment Lab MaintenanceLab Maintenance Emergency ProceduresEmergency Procedures

Necessary AttireNecessary AttireSome Lab procedures require protective clothing. Everyday jobs may include lifting and moving heavy objects such as gas cylinders, or working with caustic chemicals. For these reasons, proper attire in the lab is very important.

DOs and DON’Ts

To protect yourself from injury always wear close-toed shoes. Open-toed shoes or excessive high-heels are not to be worn in the lab. Soles should have treads that give you good traction on smooth floors.

Long hair or loose clothing can be dangerous in the lab. For your own safety, as well as cleanliness of the equipment and samples you are working with, keep long hair or clothing (e.g. large sleeves or neck ties) away from your immediate work area. These things as well as jewelry are also potential hazards when working with moving equipment and electrical devices.

Necessary AttireNecessary Attire

Some tasks such as pouring liquid Nitrogen or cutting samples at the work bench require special safety equipment like goggles or masks and gloves. Always check standard operating procedure before performing a new task.

Necessary AttireNecessary Attire

It is standard practice to always wear gloves when handling, loading, or unloading samples and also when cleaning the lab or equipment. If you have a known allergy to latex, please notify your supervisor immediately.

Employees wearing unsafe or inappropriate attire will be asked to leave work and return later with proper dress, forfeiting their pay for the lost time. Repeated violation of this or any safety procedure will result in written notification to your lab sponsor.

Handling Gas CylindersHandling Gas Cylinders

Handling and transporting gas cylinders are common jobs at the ARC, but also require a great amount of caution. Besides being very heavy and difficult to move, the cylinders contain high pressure gases. Dropping or damaging a gas cylinder can result in the rapid loss of pressure making the cylinder into a gas propelled missile. Less severe damage may result in the slow expulsion of gas, displacing oxygen and causing a suffocation hazard.

Handling Gas CylindersHandling Gas CylindersTransporting Gas CylindersWhen transporting a gas cylinder a distance of more than a few feet, you must use the cart provided for carrying cylinders. Always make sure, whether the cylinder is on the cart or on a cylinder rack that it is secured by a strap or chain. Never leave a gas cylinder unsecured.

If you accidentally drop a gas cylinder, or you see one about to drop, do not try and catch it. Instead, move away from the cylinder, avoiding possible injury due to gases escaping from a broken valve or the potential projectile-cylinder.

Handling Gas CylindersHandling Gas CylindersTransporting Gas Cylinders

If you have to move a gas cylinder from one floor of the building to another, call at least one other person to assist you.

1. Have the person helping you wait at the elevator of the floor you are sending the cylinder to.

2. Load the cylinder on the cart into an empty elevator, making sure the warning sign is visible. Press the number for the floor you want to send the cylinder to and exit the elevator. Do not ride in an elevator with a gas cylinder.

If an elevator door opens when it is carrying a gas cylinder, do not enter the elevator. Wait for the elevator to pass and then press the elevator call button again.

Handling Liquid NitrogenHandling Liquid Nitrogen

Some of the equipment at the ARC requires liquid nitrogen to function. When filling dewars of liquid nitrogen, remember to wear the temperature shielding cryo-gloves that are available. Always wear long pants and close-toed shoes when pouring or transporting liquid nitrogen as any skin contact will cause a burn. When filling a dewar, always wear a face shield and goggles to protect you from any spills or gas plumes.

Handling Liquid NitrogenHandling Liquid NitrogenPouring Liquid Nitrogen

When pouring liquid nitrogen into another dewar or into lab equipment, have the necessary tools ready and use caution. Use a funnel capable of withstanding the temperature change to avoid spills. Always wear temperature shielding gloves, long pants and shoes as described in the previous slide. Do not try and lift a dewar that is too heavy for you, or pour liquid nitrogen at any level above your shoulders. Do not try to pour liquid nitrogen into equipment when you are alone. Always have someone nearby to help you in case of difficulty.

Note: Spilling LN2 on floors will cause damage to vinyl tiles, which is costly to repair.

Lab Safety EquipmentLab Safety EquipmentAll of William and Mary’s labs at the ARC are stocked with standard safety equipment.

Fire extinguishers are marked and mounted near the entrance to the labs as well as in the lab hallways.

Protective equipment such as gloves and earplugs are available in all of the labs. Some labs will have several stations where these are available, others are stored in plastic boxes near the fume hood.

Lab Safety EquipmentLab Safety EquipmentLab coats are available in all of the William and Mary labs. They should be worn when dealing with caustic chemicals to protect you from a spill.

When you are finished using a lab coat, make sure that it is clean and free of any contaminant before you hang it up. Remember to hang the lab coat on a peg or coat hanger by itself. Do not let the inside of a lab coat come in contact with the outside of another one.

Lab Safety EquipmentLab Safety EquipmentIn case of emergency, eye wash stations are next to the sink in every lab, as well as combination safety shower and eyewash stations in the hallways. Please learn to locate eyewash stations, preferably with your eyes closed.

Always learn the location of all of the safety equipment you will need while in the lab and in case of an emergency.

Emergency phone numbers are listed on Jlab safety cards on all the phones and are also posted on the inside of the lab door.

Lab MaintenanceLab MaintenanceAny space you use in the lab is to be kept clean and organized. A cluttered work area, unlabeled containers or samples, or lack of cleanliness can be dangerous to you and other people in the lab.

While you are working in the labs, make sure everything you need is clean and ready to use, and that all of your samples and containers are labeled. When you are finished working, clean up the workspace you used, and clean and return all tools and equipment to their proper place. Clean the area around your work area including the floor which should be kept clear of cords or other hazards. If you have to store containers or samples, please place them in a drawer or in the fume hood if necessary. Please do not leave work out on the bench while you are not there to attend to it.

Lab MaintenanceLab MaintenanceAlthough everyone is responsible for cleaning his or her own workspace, general lab clean up is still necessary. Everyone takes a part in cleaning the lab benches, floors, and work areas in the labs.

Occasionally the lab benches and tables must be cleared and wiped down and the floors are swept and vacuumed. In case of a spill, clean up promptly and prevent foot traffic until the spill area is dry. Never pour chemicals down the drain nor dispose of contaminated material in ordinary trash. Only water and soap or detergent may go down one of the lab drains.

If any work is left in the work area, it may be moved for cleanup. If any unlabeled or unorganized work is left out then it may be moved to the lost and found drawer or thrown away if it is left for a long period of time.

Emergency ProceduresEmergency ProceduresEmployees are expected to be familiar with emergency procedures for their work area and any special procedures regarding equipment or materials. Make sure that ODH, GERT, and other required certifications are kept up to date.

IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY OR SERIOUS INJURY, CALL 911 AND THEN CALL 4444.

If any accident or other incident occurs, notify your supervisor, no matter how insignificant it may seem.

If an alarm sounds in a building you are in, evacuate the building immediately, avoiding elevators and any hazards such as gas plumes or spills. Be familiar with several possible exits, as you may have to avoid these types of hazards in an emergency evacuation.

Emergency ProceduresEmergency Procedures

http://www.jlab.org/intralab/emergency/phone_card.pdf

Employee Safety Employee Safety GuidelinesGuidelines

Make sure the lab stays a clean and safe place to work. Follow all safety guidelines and standard operating procedures. Don’t hesitate to ask any questions regarding safety or if you are not familiar with a procedure. Also, don’t hesitate to point out any unsafe conditions or practices you encounter.

Take the time to ensure safety in the lab. A few minutes to cleanup and find the right equipment will save you time and work, and make the lab a safe and efficient place for everyone to work.