9. 9
SAFETY IN LABORATORIES
Personnel working in laboratories may be exposed to risks from various chemicals, infectious
materials, fire hazard, electrical shock, gas leak etc.
The environment is also at risk of being contaminated by hazardous materials used and wastes
generated in the laboratory. The laboratories should prepare their own safety manual covering
the hazard and their mitigation plan and train staff on them. Policies should outline the use of
sharps, disposal of bio-waste, reagents, sharps and other wastes generated in the laboratory in
accordance with the local and national regulations. It is essential to train all personnel in
standard precautions. A code of practice is a listing of the most essential laboratory practices
and procedures that are basic to good microbiological technique. Safety in laboratories
therefore includes protection of both the personnel and the environment from hazardous
materials
15. Ventilation
• Types of ventilation found in labs:
• Laminar flow hood
• Protects samples/operation
• Useful for working with bacterial or cell cultures (helps prevent
contamination)
• Does NOT protect the user!
• Biosafety cabinet
• Useful for working with infectious agents
• Depending on type of cabinet, may protect only the samples
• Biosafety Cabinet training is available
• Contact Office of Research Integrity (474-7832) or EHSRM (474-6771)
to enroll in online training.
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17. Emergency Response
• Fire
• If your clothing catches on fire, drop and roll to put out the
flames. Immediately notify your supervisor of the incident.
• Chemical spill on clothing
• Get to the safety shower immediately and remain there for
at least 15 minutes.
• Remove contaminated clothing while in the shower.
• Notify your supervisor of the incident.
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19. Objectives
After this session, you will know:
• How to identify health and safety hazards of
school laboratory work
• Health and safety measures your lab
should have in place
• How best to protect yourself from hazardous
exposures
• The requirements of OSHA’s Laboratory Standard
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20. Why All the Fuss?
Exposure to Hazardous Chemicals Can Result in acute
or chronic health effects
Acute – occurring within hours or days of exposure
Chronic – occur after exposure over many years
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21. Engineering: Removes or
Separates Hazard from Person
i.e.:
• Local Ventilation (Fume Hoods)
• Chemical Substitutions
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Administrative: Procedures
that Limit Contact with Hazard
i.e.:
• Job Rotation
• School Staff Training
• Good Housekeeping
22. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
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PPE Should Be Considered Only After
Administrative and Engineering
Controls Have Been Applied.
Minimum Recommended PPE:
Chemical Resistant Gloves, Splash Proof Goggles,
Lab Coat, Face Shield, and Rubber Apron when Necessary
23. PPE: Glove Selection
Should be based upon:
• the chemical composition of the substance you
are working with
• the properties of the glove material.
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Find Out More about Glove Selection by Reviewing
Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) or from Glove
Supply Companies.
24. OSHA’s Laboratory Standard
• Protects staff who use and handle hazardous
chemicals in laboratories
• Requires your School to:
• Determine staff exposure to any substances
regulated by the standard
• Conduct initial training & additional training if a
new hazard is introduced into the lab
• Develop a Chemical Hygiene Plan
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25. Training Requirements
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Labs are
required to
supplement
course
material
with site-
specific
information
& training
including:
•Specific Work Practices
•Chemical hygiene plan/lab manual
•Location & availability of MSDSs
•Specific lab safety work practices or SOPs
•Training whenever new hazards are used in the lab
•Personal Protective Equipment
•Instruction on appropriate PPE & how to use it
•Location & availability of PPE & maintenance of
reusable PPE
•Lab Equipment
•Location & operation of eyewash &/or shower
stations
•Use of fume hoods, storage cabinets, refrigerators &
other engineering controls
•Waste Handling and Spill Response
26. Chemical Hygiene Plan
• Must Include:
• Designation of a Chemical Hygiene Officer
• Exposure control measures
• Measures to ensure properly functioning fume hoods
& equipment
• Staff training on hazard awareness & measures
available to protect themselves
• Provisions for medical consultation & examination
• Respiratory protection program
• Recordkeeping procedure
• Hazard identification system
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27. Safe Practice: Maintain a
Chemical Inventory!
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Conduct a yearly inventory of chemicals and
update the file of material safety data sheets
(MSDS) to prevent the accumulation of orphaned
chemicals
Some of these chemicals become unstable,
react with the container, slowly degrade or
evaporate
28. You Have the
Right to Know!
OSHA’s Hazard Communication
Standard requires that
ALL Containers Must be Labeled With:
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Chemical
Name &
Physical/H
ealth
Hazards
Name &
Address of the
Manufacturer
& Emergency
Contact
Numbers
100 Main St., Philadelphia, PA
1-800-555-1212
29. Types of Labels
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NFPA Diamonds and
HMIS Bars are Color &
Number Coded with
Hazard Information
DOT Symbols Are
Usually Found on
Shipping Cartons
30. Material Safety Data Sheets
(MSDS)
• An MSDS Must Be on File & Available for Each Chemical
in the Lab.
• An MSDS lists:
• Product Identity
• Hazardous Ingredients
• Physical Data
• Fire & Explosion Hazard Data
• Reactivity Data
• Health Hazard Data
• Precautions for Safe Handling & Use
• Control Measures
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31. What Should the Ideal Laboratory
Look Like?
• Practices • Equipment & Ventilation
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32. 32
Supply Air Diffusers & Room Air Exhausts Should
be
Located So As to Avoid Intake of Contaminated Air
Windows Should be Operable
General Ventilation
33. Local Ventilation
Fume Hoods Used For Operations that Give Off:
• Noxious Odors
• Flammable or Poisonous Vapors
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HOW DOES YOUR VENTILATION MEASURE UP?
34. Safety Showers
and Eyewashes
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Must Be Available in All Lab Areas That
Use or Store Chemicals Which Are
Corrosive or an Irritant to the Eyes or
Skin
Combination Eye Wash & Drench
Hose Units at the Sink are Now
Available
35. Match the Extinguisher to the Risk!
Fire Extinguishers Must Be:
Clearly labeled to indicate the types of fire
they are designed to extinguish.
Visibly inspected monthly and maintained
annually.
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Class ABC Extinguishers Should Be
Located:
–At the Laboratory Exit
–Within 50 Feet of Any Point in
the Lab.
Class D Extinguishers Are Required for
Combustible Metals.
37. It’s Shocking!
There should be no accessible live, exposed electrical wiring.
Consideration should be given to installing
ground-fault circuit interrupters on electrical
circuits within 6 feet of water sources.
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Electrical Safety in the High School Lab
38. Chemical Storage
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Safe Storage of Chemicals is a Necessity in Every
School Laboratory!
Minimizes Exposure to Students and Staff to Corrosive and Toxic
Chemicals
Lessens the Risk of Fire
Prevents the Mixing of Incompatibles & the Creation of an Emergency
Situation
39. The “Don’ts” of Chemical Storage!
Avoid storing any chemical above eye level
Don’t store incompatible chemicals together
Don’t store chemicals near sources of heat or sunlight
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Don’t store chemicals in the hoods or acids on metal shelves
Avoid storing anything on the floor, especially glass bottles
41. So, You’re in Charge!
• How would you organize and store chemicals in
your perfect lab?
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42. Ideal Storage Area Set-Up
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Acids
NA, LI
Oxidizers
Bases
Flammables
Cabinet
Metal Salts
Nitrates
Spill
Materials
Room Should Have:
•Eye Wash
•Safety Shower
•Emergency Phone
•Fire Extinguisher
Dry
Chemicals
43. Be Prepared for Small Incidental
Spills
• Organic Solvents
• Acids
• Alkalis (Bases)
• Mercury
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Proper Incidental Spill Control
Equipment Includes:
Spill Control Materials Such As Spill
Control Pillows, Pads, Booms, etc.
Scoops, Brooms, Pails & Bags
Absorbent – such as Diatomaceous Earth
Neutralizers – for Acids & Alkalis
Mercury Spill Control Kit
Chemical Categories Found
in Most Secondary Schools
Include:
44. Certain Spills Aren’t for Quick
Clean-up
• As a science teacher or lab specialist, you should only respond to
incidental chemical releases, or small spills.
• For large or especially hazardous spills:
• Quickly assess whether there are any injured persons and
attend to any person who may have been
contaminated.
• Follow the notification, evacuation and emergency
medical treatment procedures for your school.
• Evacuate the immediate area until the
hazardous release has been characterized and
controlled.
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45. Waste Chemical Disposal
• Requires:
• Proper storage– same rules apply – make sure waste
chemicals are compatible
• Proper labeling – tags should be placed on bottles name of
chemical
• Pre-planning – know what waste you’re creating prior to
carrying out experiments; minimize purchases
• Record-keeping – of all waste chemicals on hand and those
already picked up for disposal
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46. How to Assess Your Classroom for
Hazards
• Using the Checklist
• Working with Your Union
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