The effectiveness of the laboratory safety program depends on cooperation and understanding among all parties involved, particularly among faculty, and the laboratory safety committee. The general safety responsibilities of each of these key participants is summarized below:
Faculty:
- Enforce safety rules on staff, students and on visitors.
- Assure that proper safety equipment, such as safety showers and fire extinguishers, is readily available, operable, and known to all people in the laboratory.
- Make certain that lab is equipped with adequate fume hood facilities and other safety equipment.
- Ensure that appropriate warning signs are placed within the laboratory.
- Provide staff training on hazard information safety rules, recommended good practices, etc.
- Make material safety data sheets for hazardous chemicals used in the laboratory available for laboratory staff.
- Develop specific project safety plans for procedures involving hazardous chemicals (see form in this section).
Safety Committee:
- Have regular meetings which seriously address each department's safety concerns.
- Conduct regular self inspection programs.
- Follow up on Safety & Risk Management inspection reports.
Safety Officer (Chemical Hygiene Officer)
- Keep the laboratory Safety Manual up to date.
- Conduct safety inspections of laboratories.
- Check fume hoods and safety equipment.
- Monitor hazardous material storage and disposal.
- Investigate hazardous material incidents.
LABORATORY INSPECTION CHECK LIST
1. (1) Use of chemicals reviewed, hazards identified and precautions documented ___________________
2. (3) Chemical Right-To-Know training provided for each laboratory worker. ___________________
3. (3) Containers labeled ___________________
4. (3) Work with extremely hazardous substances evaluated ___________________
5. (4) Unattended operations - light on, warning sign, over-temperature protection
provided ___________________
6. (4) Working alone - cross check arranged ___________________
7. (4) Eating/Drinking in separate area from chemicals ___________________
8. (4) Housekeeping maintained__________________
9. (4) Warning on doors as needed (laser, radiation, etc.) ___________________
10. (4) Guards/electrical covers in place ___________________
11. (5) Gloves, goggles, apparel available as necessary ___________________
12. (8) Carcinogen precautions apply ___________________
13. (14) Biohazard precautions apply ___________________
14. (9) Flammables limited to 10 gallons outside a safety cabinet ___________________
15. (11) Compressed gases secured ___________________
16. (12) Time sensitive chemicals monitored ___________________
17. (13) Hazardous waste labeled and monitored ___________________
18. (16) Infectious waste labeled/sterilized ___________________
19. (17) Needles/Sharps put in hardwall or plastic containers and labeled ___________________
20. (11)* Exits not blocked or locked ___________________
21. (12)* Fire extinguisher and eye wash not blocked ___________________
22. (4) *Accident reporting procedures reviewed with lab workers ____________________
23. (19)* Chemical spill procedures reviewed with lab workers ____________________
Building: ______________________________________________
Inspector/Lab Supervisor: _______________________________
Laboratory Room Number: ______________
Specific Project Safety Plan
DEPARTMENT: ________________ LOCATION: ____________________
PROJECT NAME: _____________________________________________
PERSONS WORKING IN THE PROJECT: ______________________________________________
CHEMICAL SUBSTANCE INVOLVED:
NAME HAZARDS LOW MODERATE HIGH
1. TOXIC BY INHALATION
TOXIC BY INGESTION
CONTACT HAZARD
FLAMMABLE
CARCINOGEN UNSTABLE
OTHER
2. TOXIC BY INHALATION
TOXIC BY INGESTION
CONTACT HAZARD
FLAMMABLE
CARCINOGEN UNSTABLE
OTHER
3. TOXIC BY INHALATION
TOXIC BY INGESTION
CONTACT HAZARD
FLAMMABLE
CARCINOGEN UNSTABLE
OTHER
4. TOXIC BY INHALATION
TOXIC BY INGESTION
CONTACT HAZARD
FLAMMABLE
CARCINOGEN UNSTABLE
OTHER
5. TOXIC BY INHALATION
TOXIC BY INGESTION
CONTACT HAZARD
FLAMMABLE
CARCINOGEN UNSTABLE
OTHER
Briefly describe each step in the experiment, the associated hazards (toxic vapors, etc.) and the precautions (fume hood use, gloves, etc.). Also note any special conditions such as the need for warning signs, unattended operations etc.
GENERAL PROCEDURE STEPS HAZARDS SAFETY PRECAUTIONS