LABORATORYSAFETY

Lab Safety Awareness

This course was developed to establish best work practices for TSU personnel. In this course we will discuss:•General Practices•Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)•Waste Handling•Hazard Identification/Labels•Steps to take if you find a hazardous material spill•Emergency response contact information

General Practices

When you first walk into a lab you should always take note of the location of:•Safety showers•Eyewash stations•Emergency exits•Fire extinguishers•Emergency electrical cut-off switch

General Practices

Always wear gloves when working in a lab.

Always assume everything you touch is contaminated.

General Practices

Never touch or move equipment yourself - always ask the lab staff to do it.

Examples of equipment include:o Glasswareo Microscopeso Instrumentationo Heating elementso Pumpso Grinders

General Practices Never touch a “sharp”! A sharp is any object that can be reasonably anticipated to

penetrate the skin or other part of the body and result in an infectious exposure incident. Examples include:o Needleso Scalpelso Lancetso Broken glass

General Practice Don’t remove empty chemical containers

unless they’re marked as “triple rinsed” Never take anything out of the lab

because “it’s really cool”

Lab Clean-outs: Always check countertops and

cabinets before work Call Risk Management

and Safety for advice before work

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Personal Protective Equipment

• Personal protective equipment is exactly what is sounds like…equipment to protect YOU!

• Some of the most important protective equipment you will use include:– Eye Protection– Gloves– Footwear– Protective Clothing

PPE – Eye Protection

• Eye injuries occur at a rate of about 2000/day, with 15% of those resulting in temporary or permanent vision loss

• 3 out of 5 people who receive sustainable eye injuries were not wearing eye protection

What can eye protection do for you?

This picture effectively illustrates the degree of protection provided by each type of eye protection.

You should choose your eye protection based on the degree of hazard you will be working with.

PPE – Eye Protection

You should always use the appropriate eyewear for the job…

PPE – Eye Protection

• Tips to protect your eyes:– Wear goggles or a face shield when working around

chemical gases/vapors, acids or caustics– Turn containers away from face when opening– Remove protective eyewear only after you have

exited the lab– Be sure the protective eyewear you have is approved

for the environment in which you are working– Use of contacts should be avoided in the lab. If

contacts will be worn, protective goggles should also be worn.

PPE - Gloves

• Always wear the proper gloves when working or cleaning in and around labs.

• Be sure you remove gloves properly so as not to contaminate yourself.

• Dispose of gloves properly – do not reuse disposable gloves.

• Rinse reusable gloves and check for cracks or holes before reusing.

• Always wash your hands when you take off gloves.

PPE – Glove Selection• For concentrated acids, alkalis, and

organic solvents the recommended glove is natural rubber, neoprene, or nitrile.

• For hot objects, gloves made of heat resistant material (leather or Nomex™) are recommended.

• Special insulated gloves should be worn when handling very cold objects.

Your lab supervisor can help you choose the best glove to wear for the specific activity you will be performing. Also, the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) provides a listing of protective equipment.

PPE – Glove InspectionBefore each use, gloves should be inspected for:•Discoloration•Punctures•Tears.

Rubber and plastic gloves may be checked by inflating with air and submersing them in water to check for air bubbles.

Glove RemovalAny glove used in the lab for handling chemicals should be considered contaminated.

The following demonstrates the method for removing contaminated gloves.

How to Remove Contaminated GlovesStep 1

Pull one glove near your wrist towards your finger tips until the glove folds over.

How to Remove Contaminated GlovesStep 2

Carefully grab the fold and pull towards your finger tips. As you pull you are turning the inside of the glove outwards.

How to Remove Contaminated GlovesStep 3

Pull the fold until the glove is almost off.

How to Remove Contaminated GlovesStep 4

Completely remove your hand from the glove. Do not let go of the glove.

How to Remove Contaminated GlovesStep 5

Slide your finger from the glove free hand under the remaining glove.

How to Remove Contaminated GlovesStep 6

Turn your finger 180 degrees and pull the glove out and towards your finger tips. As you do this, the first glove will be enclosed in the second glove. The inside of the second glove will be turned out.

How to Remove Contaminated GlovesStep 7

Grab the gloves firmly by the clean inside surface. Let go of the first glove you removed. Pull your second hand free from its glove. Dispose of the gloves properly and wash hands thoroughly.

One way to test your skill is to apply ketchup or a similar substance to the outside of the glove, then try to remove it without getting the ketchup on your skin!

Hand Washing

When you are working with chemicals you should wash your hands:

o When you remove your gloveso If your gloves rip or tearo Before eating, drinking, smoking or

applying makeup

How do you wash?

• Use water and soap• Regular soap is ok – antibacterial soap

is not necessary• Scrub hands for 10 – 15 seconds• Rinse with water• Dry hands

PPE - What’s on your feet?

• Do not wear flip-flops or sandals in labs.

• Wear appropriate shoes when in the lab!

• If you do not have appropriate footwear, booties are available.

PPE – Protective Clothing

• Lab coats should be worn at all times in the lab area to prevent absorption and accumulation of chemicals in your clothing.

• Lab coats should never be worn outside the lab.• Aprons may be required to provide additional protection against chemical exposure.

PPE - Summary• Remember – PPE is ONLY effective if it is

worn properly and securely• Always inspect PPE before each use to

insure it is clean and in good working condition. Check for:– Cracks, scratches, holes– Broken or missing parts– Wear and tear

• If you encounter PPE that is not usable, notify your supervisor or safety coordinator for proper disposal and replacement

Waste Handling

Disposal of Empty Disposal of Empty ContainersContainers

• If the container held liquids, it must be emptied so no material can be drained from the container.

• If the container held solids, no materials can remain that can feasibly be removed by physical means.

• Under no circumstances may a container labeled with the radioactive symbol or with the words “Hazardous Waste” be disposed of in the regular trash.

NOTERemove labels or mark out information that does not

represent the actual contents of the container.

Disposal of Empty Disposal of Empty ContainersContainers

• All containers must be triple rinsed before disposal.

• Destroy label.– Use black marker to cover

label or tear off label.

• Mark container “triple rinsed.”

Special Hazardous Special Hazardous WastesWastes

Universal Wastes• A category of “less” regulated

wastes.• Universal Waste must be collected

and disposed of separately from other waste.

Examples are:• Lead-acid, nickel/cadmium, lithium

and mercury batteries (not alkaline)• Mercury ballasts• Fluorescent bulbs (contain mercury)• High Intensity Discharge (HID) lamps

Universal Waste Lamps Stony Brook UniversityStony Brook, NY 117794(631) 632-6410 Date ______

Sample Label

Aerosol Cans Aerosol cans may be

considered Hazardous Waste if one or more of the following conditions exist:

• The can is still pressurized. • The propellant is chlorinated • The propellant is isobutene,

ether or some other flammable gas.

• The material contains lead, pesticides or another hazardous constituent.

Used Fluorescent BulbsUsed Fluorescent Bulbs

Used fluorescent bulbs may contain: MercuryMercury Pack used bulbs in original box. Close the box or container. Put universal waste label & date

box when first lamp is placed inside.

Notify your supervisor when box is full.

Contact your supervisor for disposal of other universal wastes.

Hazard Identification - Labs

• Entrances to labs and storage areas must have signs to warn emergency response staff of unusual or severe hazards, such as:– unstable chemicals, radioactive materials,

carcinogens, mutagens, teratogens, pathogens, high-pressure reactions, lasers, water reactive materials, cryogens, compressed gases

– include names and home phone numbers of lab director

Hazard IdentificationRadiation Sign

Biohazard Sign

Chemical Hazard Sign

Radiation Sign

Hazard Identification - Containers

• All chemical containers must be labeled with the proper name and precautionary information.

• This is part of your Right-to-Know training.

Container Labels

Do you know what these mean?

• You need to understand the hazard symbols and the protection symbols:

This product is TOXIC (POISON). Example: Crew Bathroom Cleaner

This product is CORROSIVE (BURNS). Example: Pro Strip

You need to wear these items to protect yourself:

You need to wear these items to protect yourself:

See the Material Safety Data Sheets for more information!

Material Safety Data Sheets

Where do I get an MSDS?• Ask your Supervisor• Contact RMS (9842, 9237)• RMS Website:

www.tarleton.edu/FINADMINWEB/safety/index.html

• Contact Manufacturer

Material Safety Data Sheets

What information can I find on an MSDS?• Chemical identification (chemical make-up)• Hazardous ingredients (is it hazardous?)• Physical data (boiling point, density color)• Fire/explosion data (reaction to fire)• Health hazard data (how humans react to the chemical)• Reactivity data (reaction to other chemicals/air/water)• Spill/leak procedures (how to clean up)• Special protection data (PPE required)• Special precautions (anything else you may need to

know)

Biological Material

• Biohazardous Material– Human blood– Tissue– OPIM (other potentially infectious material)

• Infectious Material– Lab material contaminated with biohazardous material

Some Other Hazards

• Who’s watching the shop?• Fire Safety• Electrical Safety• Compressed Gases• Improper Storage

Chemical and biological hazards are not the only lab safety problem!

Lab staff create same “everyday” hazards that other departments do.

Fume Hoods

Fume hoods should only be cleaned by authorized lab personnel.

Environmental Services personnel should only clean lab benches and empty drawers.

Response to Hazardous Materials Spills

Hazardous Material Spills

Even with all of the appropriate controls and attention to the process in place a spill may occur. Those incidents are usually easy to contain or mitigate.

Most spills however, are usually a result of improper processes, control, or attention, including unattended operations.

Who’s Watching the Shop?Unattended Operations

• A laboratory procedure or operations at which there is no person present who is knowledgeable regarding the operations and emergency shutdown procedures.– Absence for lunch, telephone calls, etc., without

coverage by a knowledgeable person, constitutes an unattended laboratory operation.

Sometimes this can have devastating results.

No one was home……

Response to Spills

• You are our “First Responders”!• You need to be aware of:

– what hazardous substances are in a lab setting.

– what can happen in an emergency when hazardous substances are present.

Spills, Thrills and Chills

Hazardous chemical, biological or radiological spills:•Close door to area.•Find someone from the lab or department & let them know.

•Contact your Supervisor if no one from the lab is around.

•Call Control Center at 9265 or RMS at 9842 or 9237.•Keep non-lab people from entering the lab.

EmergenciesYou need to be able to:–Recognize the presence of hazardous substances in an emergency.

•Leaks? Smoke? Unusual smells?

–Identify the hazardous substances, if possible.•Door or container labels?

–Realize the need for outside help, and to make immediate calls with accurate information.

•Always call Control Center: 9265

–Help in preventing unauthorized entry into the emergency area.

•Keep other custodians and visitors out until lab or dept. staff or RMS, HAZMAT/Fire Marshals come!

Fire Emergency

• If someone’s clothes are on fire:– STOP, DROP & ROLL– Cover the face!– Use fire blanket if available

Emergency Contact Information

• Emergency (fire, police, medical)– 911

• Poison Control Center– (800) 222-1222

• UPD (non-emergency)– (254) 968-9002

• Control Center– (254) 968-9625

• RMS (8-5, Monday – Friday)– (254) 968-9842 / 9898 / 9237 / 9429

• E-mail– hcdavis@tarleton.edu, wkstyron@tarleton.edu, cjordan@tarleton.edu,

mparham@tarleton.edu

• Facilities Maintenance– (254) 968-9065