Student Laboratory Safety Training General Laboratory Safety Rules

Student Laboratory Safety Training

General Laboratory Safety Rules FOOD, DRINK, AND PPE NO FOOD, DRINKS, or CHEWING GUM are permitted while in the laboratory. CLOSED-TOED shoes MUST be worn at all times in the laboratory. Students without closed-toed shoes will not be permitted in the lab, and will lose credit for that class. LAB COATS MUST be worn at all time in the laboratory. GLOVES and full-coverage SAFETY GOGGLES MUST be worn during any lab activity that involves biohazardous or chemically hazardous materials, OR whenever indicated by the instructor.

General Laboratory Safety Rules LOCATION OF ESSENTIAL SAFETY EQUIPMENT Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) binders are located on the south wall of the laboratory. Know how to read these sheets. ALWAYS refer to MSDSs for information on specific chemical handling, storage, disposal, and cleanup. Eye wash and drench shower are located in the back of the lab. If contaminated, immediately run to the shower/eye wash and rinse eyes/body with flowing water for 15 MINUTES. Hold eyelids open when needed. ABC fire extinguisher is located on the north, red wall. Use the PASS method to operate; P-Pull the pin, A-Aim, S-Squeeze the handle, S-Sweep over the area. There is also a fire blanket on the same wall.

General Laboratory Safety Rules AVOIDING CONTAMINATION AND EQUIPMENT SAFETY Lab coats and gloves must always be removed before exiting the lab. Be clean and mindful of your surroundings. Avoid clutter on the work bench to avoid accidental spills, breakage, and/or contamination. Always notify an instructor if spillage or contamination occurs. If you are unsure how to operate a piece of equipment in the lab, don’t!!! Ask your instructor for help. Misuse of laboratory equipment can be dangerous and sometimes fatal. Always follow instructions regarding the proper use of laboratory items and equipment. This not only protects you, but your fellow classmates as well.

General Laboratory Safety Rules PROPERLY AND SAFELY HANDLING CHEMICALS The De. Vry Chemical Hygiene Plan (CHP), Hazardous Communication Plan, and Bloodborne Pathogen Exposure Control Plan are found in two binders in front of the lab. These plans are valuable resources and can be referred to at any time. FUME HOODS should be used when working with noxious chemicals. FUME HOODS are NOT to be used as storage space. EVERYTHING, hazardous or non-hazardous, must be clearly labeled with the name of the substance, date of preparation, and initials of responsible party.

General Laboratory Safety Rules DANGEROUS PRACTICES TO AVOID NEVER pipette by mouth. Laboratorians actually used to do this. Do not directly inhale or taste any lab reagent. Never force glass into a rubber stopper (pipette, thermometer, etc. ). Lubricate the glass with water and gently rotate in. Accidently shoving a glass pipette through your hand is a surprisingly common accident.

General Laboratory Safety Rules DANGEROUS PRACTICES TO AVOID Never put chemicals down the drain OR dispose of an item in the regular trash without permission from instructor Never take any item out of the lab Do not remove supplies from cabinets or refrigerators without permission from the instructor

General Laboratory Safety Rules GOOD LABORATORY PRACTICES Always wash hands with soap and water before and after lab activities. Always sanitize your work station with 10% bleach solution before and after each lab. Never assume a surface is clean. Handle everything as if it’s pathogenic. This is commonly called “Universal Precautions”

General Laboratory Safety Rules GOOD LABORATORY PRACTICES Keep open flames and flammable solutions apart. Tie back long hair and minimize loose clothing to reduce fire hazard. Keep electrical equipment far from water. Use CAUTION when weighing out chemicals and reagents. NEVER return excess material to the stock container.

General Laboratory Safety Rules GOOD LABORATORY PRACTICES When in doubt, ALWAYS ask the instructor Keep the exit free from clutter Properly dispose of all waste in the appropriate waste receptacles, which are as follows…

General Laboratory Safety Rules WHERE TO DISPOSE OF WASTE • Solid, non-sharp, nonbiohazardous waste • e. g. , gloves, paper towels, transfer pipettes, parafilm REGULAR Trash • Sharps contaminated with biohazardous material • e. g. , needles & glass slides regardless of contamination • Non-biohazardous glass tubes • Waste (gauze etc) dripping or soaked with blood • Tubes of blood • Infectious organisms • Inoculated media Biohazardous SHARPS Biohazardous TRASH BIN • ONLY broken glassware, scope slides, culture tubes • NOT PLASTIC SEROLOGICAL PIPETS Broken GLASS • Liquid culture fluids • e. g. , LB broth inoculated with E. coli • INACTIVATE: soak in 10% bleach overnight Sink Disposal AFTER Inactivation

General Laboratory Safety Information and Resources WHAT’S IN THESE BINDERS? MSDS Binders Ø Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs) provide detailed information about a specific hazardous materials Ø Identify (name of substance) Ø Physical Hazard (target organs) Ø Health Hazards Ø Routes of Body Entry Ø Permissible Exposure Limits (PEL) Ø Carcinogenic Factors (cancer causing) Ø Safe Handling Procedures Ø Control Measures (PPE) Ø Emergency First Aid Procedures Ø Special Instructions Ø Contact Information

General Laboratory Safety Information and Resources WHAT’S IN THESE BINDERS? Chemical Hygiene Plan (CHP) Ø Commonly known as the “Laboratory Safety Standard” Ø Purpose is to protect students/employees from harm due to chemicals Ø Intended to summarize policies and procedures related to the use of chemicals Hazardous Communication Plan (HAZCOM) Ø Purpose is to ensure all that all persons handling chemicals know the hazards associated with the chemicals and methods to use to reduce risk of illness or accident Ø Communicated by providing: Ø Chemical inventory Ø Chemical labeling requirements Ø Emergency Contacts in case of spills, exposure, or accidents

General Laboratory Safety Information and Resources WHAT’S IN THESE BINDERS? Bloodborne Pathogen Exposure Control Plan Ø Purpose is to eliminate or reduce exposure to bloodborne pathogens or other infectious bodily fluids Ø Promotes the use of Universal Precautions – “All blood or other potentially infectious materials will be considered infectious regardless of the perceived status of the source individual. ” Ø Potentially infectious bodily fluids include: Ø Blood Ø Urine Ø Saliva

The responsibility for lab safety rests with each and every student in the laboratory. Follow these rules and use common sense and courtesy while in the lab to ensure a safe, educational, and fun experience for everyone!