Physical Sciences

Department-Specific Safety Training

Dr. Christina CavalliSpring 2011

Why Safety?Why OSHA?Workplace (and other) safety is important!

A couple of funny(?) videos:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BE3U_1IzWWE&NR=1http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zoHyncDapkY

And a serious one:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-TXgSQ-0c4

We don’t want these kinds of incidents at ACC!

EHS personnel cleaning up a chemical spill

ACC Safety Organization

ACC takes safety seriously.

College organizational chart:http://www.austincc.edu/orgref/pdfs/president.pdf

Science Safety Committee:http://www.austincc.edu/sci_safe/committee.html

Training for Faculty:http://www.austincc.edu/sci_safe/physic/docs/PhysSciTrainingReqsTable%2011-1-10.pdf

Physical Sciences SafetyGeneral Safety Applies to everyone

Lab Safety Applies to everyone using a lab room Training occurs before doing ANY labs Additional training done as required for specific

labs

Field Safety Applies to everyone in a field activity Includes any class-required meeting outside ACC

buildings

Where to Get InformationACC Science Safetyhttp://www.austincc.edu/sci_safe/

Important: New flow charts for Injury and Non-injury Incidents Incidents and Accidents

Physical Sciences button has safety training and information for Faculty, Staff, Students and Visitors

Other Sci Safe Website Information

Science Safety Committee lists Committee Members and contact information

Science Safety Plan contains handbook and lots of information

Field Activities has safety training and information for field activities

EHS and Insurance Office has lots of links to forms and other safety information

Physical Sciences Safety on Blackboard

Blackboard site class:

Physical Sciences Department Safety Training for Employees

How to access Blackboard:

From ACC homepage http://www.austincc.edu/

Direct link https://acconline.austincc.edu/

On Blackboard Site EHS HazCom

EHS/PhysSci Presentation and Quiz for yearly trainingDepartment Safety Training

Current department presentation; Training formsStudent Safety Training Forms

Blank Forms and Answer Keys for each labroomSafety Contract to be signed after training

Field Activities FormsNew forms and info for field activities

Other Safety FormsSpecific safety information for certain labsOther useful information

Information and Frequently Asked QuestionsMy Grades

Safety in the Lab

Before doing any labs, Student Safety Training should be done.

Use current forms from Blackboard for your labroom.Students get BLANK forms to fill out.Instructors use answer sheet for training.

Students sign Safety Contract. Instructor makes copy to keep and sends original to me (Chris Cavalli – CYP) after all students have been trained.

Who is Responsible?Instructors are responsible for safety in the

lab, along with the lab techs.

Instructors and lab techs may supervise potentially hazardous procedures, but hourly employees (lab assistants) may not.

Train students at the beginning of the semester.

Train students and/or remind them of specific hazards before each lab.

Physics/Engineering Lab SafetyProjectiles

Masses in motion (including the centripetal force lab) are potentially hazardous. Safety goggles should be worn by both students and instructors.

Heat and ColdUse of hot plates and boiling water should only be done under supervision of instructor and/or lab technician. Any lab experiment that involves boiling water requires students to wear closed-toed shoes (not sandals or flip flops) and long pants.

Lead and other toxic materialsNo food or drink should be near these items. Wash hands thoroughly after handling them.

LasersGenerally we use low-powered lasers which are relatively safe, but take care to avoid eye exposure.

Heavy, Cumbersome or Potentially Hazardous EquipmentStudents should be told which equipment they should not lift (air tracks).Some equipment has sharp pieces and students should be reminded to handle with care.

Radiation SourcesOnly low level sources should be used and should be handled sparingly.

ElectricityWhen students investigate electricity, check circuits before powering. Always use care when doing anything involving electricity.

Geology/Environmental Science Lab Safety

Dilute Hydrochloric Acid Use the dilute hydrochloric acid sparingly (one drop will

cause a reaction). Rinse specimens with a water wash bottle once they have tested them. The wash water is generally collected in plastic beakers and can be disposed down the drain in the lab sinks.

All bottles of liquid in the lab (dilute acid, water, etc.) must be

properly labeled.

Heat and ColdUse of hot plates and boiling water should only be done under supervision of instructor and/or lab technician. Any lab experiment that involves boiling water requires students to wear closed-toed shoes (not sandals or flip flops) and long pants.

Hardness and Streak PlatesPut plates on lab table for testing. Do not hold them in your hand.The sharp sides of all glass hardness plates should by protected with tape (the lab techs have taped them). Cracked or broken glass plates must be disposed of in the broken glass disposal box, either in geology or the chem/bio labs.

Lead, Arsenic, MercuryFaculty and students should wash their hands after handling samples of lead minerals (e.g. galena, anglesite and cerussite), arsenic minerals (e.g. realgar and orpiment), mercury minerals (e.g. cinnabar), and uranium ore (carnotite, pitchblende, uraninite, and autunite)

ElectricityAll electrical items should be unplugged by pulling on the plug, not the cord.

Field Activities

All lab safety rules apply.

Separate field activities training will occur each year, usually in January.

Safety issues include • transportation, vehicle safety, and traffic• dangerous plants and animals• rock fall and other environmental hazards• safe specimen acquisition

Some EHS Updates

Drivers for any ACC event must be approved

Glassware inventory

Donated items must be approved

EHS Document reviewRobert Rogers, EHS Coordinator

Emergency team trainingKristine Elderkin , Emergency Management Coordinator

Funny Safety videohttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6YD5DeApGkI

Why Safety?

A Little Introduction

Penn and Tellerhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wR3qDP1ZJk

Zarbodhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQUeiSGQKFk&feature=related