Lab Safety Presentation

Kelly Wagner

June 21, 2005

OVERVIEW

Safety in the laboratory is extremely important and steps should always be taken to make the lab as safe as possible for you and your co-workers.

I will cover some of the most important and applicable lab safety information that I found of importance. For further information, you can check out the Tufts safety website: http://publicsafety.tufts.edu/ehs/index.html

Indoor Air Quality: Problems and Solutions

Swamp Gas or Sewer Smell This is by far the most common problem in all of the university labs. Most labs have multiple

sinks. If the sinks are not used frequently, the traps dry out and the odors can come up from the drains. The solution is simple: check all drains in the laboratory if you identify a sink or drain that has not been used in a while, pour water down it. Putting water down an unused sink drain on a routine basis can prevent this problem from arising.

Chemical Odor Check to make sure all containers are sealed tightly. Do not pour any hazardous chemicals

down the drains. Check any hoods to make sure that they are on and functioning when in use. Biological Odor Make sure all biological waste is properly disposed of with the correct labels and containment.

Check around refrigerators and water coolers for mold or other growth. Dry or Stuffy Feeling Check room temperature and humidity if possible. This usually occurs in the winter months

when the heat is on. Turn down heat, open a window. Introduce humidity into the environment.

Ergonomic Safety Eye Strain Get an updated eye exam and tell your eye doctor how much computer work you do. If you need a

corrective prescription, get it filled and use it. Eliminate glare on your computer screen. Take a short "vision break" every half hour to relax the eyes. During such breaks, use techniques of

palming, focus change and deep winking. The names sound a bit exotic, but the techniques are easy to learn.

Posture Stress These approaches help: Position the top of the computer screen at eye level. Locate the screen about 18 to 30 inches from your eyes. Adjust the keyboard height so that your elbows are comfortably close to your body and so that your arms

hang freely. Avoid keyboard or mouse positions that put your wrists at unnatural angles. Sit so as to maintain the four natural curves of your spine. Take short physical breaks every couple of hours if you are doing continuous computer work. Repetitive Lab Motions Come up with creative technique to take the stress off of one finger or part of your hand by switching your

fingers used or taking a break.

Appropriate Lab Wear

DO wear lab glasses, gloves, and lab coat. Tie hair back if it is long.

(for a detailed listing of Appropriates gloves for Specific chemicals, go to: http://publicsafety.tufts.edu/ehs/index.html

DO NOT wear open toed shoes or shorts

Safety Features of the Lab

All Emergency numbers are listed on the door of the lab. When an alarm sounds everyone must evacuate the building using the stairs adjacent to the lab. Do not use the elevator.

There is any eye wash station by the glassware. Try not to block the eye wash station.

The emergency shower is by Yong and Guangquan’s lab area and should not be obstructed.

The broken glassware container is between the two lab benches and should be used for sharp glass/plastic pipettes (call custodians to clean up glass box, but there cannot be any bio/chemical hazards in this area)

There is a First Aid Kit attached to the wall, next to the showers, by the desk area, which includes band aids, disinfectant, and ice packs.

What is Hazardous Waste?

Any element, chemical compound, or mixture of elements/compounds which is a physical hazard or a health hazard. Physical properties include flammability, combustibility, instability, explosiveness, and water reactivity. Health hazards can be either short-term or long-term and include agents which can damage the eyes, skin, lungs, internal organs, etc.

Hazardous Waste in the Lab

Work with any hazardous material under the hood (at least six inches from the opening)

Any material contaminated with chemicals should be placed in Satellite Accumulation Areas

Bio waste includes cells, media, and plastic tips used for cell transfer

Hazard Communication Program The purpose of the Hazard Communication Program is to promote employee safety through training and communication on

the safe use, handling and storage of hazardous materials. The program establishes guidelines for informing employees about the hazards of chemicals in the workplace and the procedures needed to protect themselves from these hazards.

Responsibilities Environmental Health and Safety Department The Environmental Health and Safety Department is responsible for the development and maintenance of the Hazard

Communication Program. The EH&S department will also provide technical information and recommendations concerning hazardous chemicals, carcinogens and infectious agents.

Supervisors Supervisors at all levels, including Principal Investigators, have the primary responsibility for informing and training

employees about safe work practices for hazardous materials. This will be done BEFORE the work is started. Employees It is the responsibility of every employee to adhere to established safety policies and procedures, and to conduct operations in

a safe manner. Employees should report any unsafe condition to their supervisor and the Environmental Health and Safety Department.

Program Information The Environmental Health and Safety Department maintains a written Hazard Communication Program which details

requirements for informing employees about the hazards of chemicals in the workplace and the procedures needed to protect themselves from these hazards. The written program is available, on request, to employees.

Hazardous Waste Disposal All waste containers must remain closed except when actively adding or removing waste. All full containers must be dated the date they become full. Full containers must be removed

from the satellite accumulation area within 3 days or before a second container is started, whatever happens first.

Tufts university policy is that all hazardous waste must be stored in secondary containers. This can be accomplished by using plastic pails, Rubbermaid containers etc. The intent is to prevent spills from entering the environment through plumbing via sinks, floor drains and the like.

For definitions of hazardous see the Tufts Safety Manual, or if your really bored or have insomnia look up the regulations: State DEP 310 CMR 30, Fed 40 CFR part 261. Basically a waste is a waste if:

-It is a characteristic waste. (Ignitable, Corrosive, Reactive, EP Toxic) -It is listed as a waste. -It is inherently waste-like. (Looks like a duck, quacks like a duck, IT's a duck!) Same intent as the open container rule. Prevent air pollution by keeping containers clean and

cleaning up spills as soon as they occur and properly managing the spill material by putting it in a sealed container.

Satellite Accumulation Area Requirements

1. Satellite area must be at or near the point of waste generation. 2. Satellite area must be under control of the individual directly responsible for the

process generating the waste. 3. For each satellite area only one container per waste stream is permitted. 4. When the container is full it must be dated. 5. Within 3 days of filling the satellite container, it must be moved to the Waste

Storage Area. 6. Containers must be of good integrity and be placed in containment. 7. Containers must be labeled with the words “Hazardous Waste,” a description of the

waste, and the hazards of the waste. 8. Containers must be kept closed unless being added to. 9. Inspections must be conducted weekly of the satellite areas to confirm compliance

(should be documented). 10. Wastes of different types of hazards must be separated. 11. Separate the different hazardous waste containers within the lab.

Hot Plate and Hot Plate/Stirrer Combinations

Purpose and Scope Flammable liquid vapors can ignite if an ignition source is present. Hot plates and hot plate/stirrer

combination plates represent such an ignition source. Although chemical fume hoods do provide some measure of safety, flammable compounds still have the potential to ignite and cause a hazardous condition if the procedures outlined below are not closely followed. Mixtures containing even small amounts of flammable liquids should be treated as a potential hazard.

Hot plate and hot plate/stirrer combinations should be used in hoods which do not contain flammable compounds.

Hot plate and hot plate stirrer combinations may be used in the same hood as flammable compounds provided that:

Both flammable and non-flammable compounds are on the opposite side of the hood as the hot plate and hot plate/stirrer combination plates.

ALL hot plates and hot plate/stirrer combination plates are clearly labeled. Keep papers and other combustibles away from the hot plate and hot plate/stirrer combinations. Unplug hot plates and hot plate/stirrer combination units when not in use. Be aware of the locations of all fire extinguishers, fire blankets, eye wash stations, and safety

showers in case of an accident. Whenever possible, use stirrer plates in place of the hot plate/stirrer combination plates. Begin to develop a program where you replace the exisiting hot plate/stirrer combinaton plates

with the stirrer only plates.

Before leaving the lab, make sure:

Hoods have all been switched off Any refrigerated centrifuges and incubator/shakers

have been turned off (if empty) Visible spectrophotometer is turned off HPLC has been properly shut down PCR machine is off No faucets have been left running