Basic Safety Rules in the Laboratory

Some actions may be described as basic or fundamental to safety in any laboratory or other situation where potential hazards exist (e.g. wearing appropriate eye protection, closing hood sashes when leaving a hood, not smoking or eating in the vicinity of hazardous chemicals, etc.). These simple, somewhat “common sense” rules are important. If basic rules are followed, it is more likely that other, more complex and perhaps less intuitive, safety procedures will also be followed.

Laboratory groups should consider developing their own “Basic Safety Rules” and posting them in the laboratory. Examples of basic safety rules may be found in various sources.

1. ·        Obtain and review Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) before ordering and using chemicals. Ensure that the material can be safely procured, stored, used, and disposed of.
2. ·        Know the hazards associated with materials you are using.
3. ·        Be prepared for emergencies and know what action to take. Assure that necessary supplies and equipment are available for handling small spills.
4. ·        Know the location of safety equipment such as emergency shower, eyewash, fire extinguisher, fire alarm, and emergency telephone numbers.
5. ·        Do not work alone in the laboratory if you are working with chemicals.
6. ·        Purchase minimum amounts of hazardous materials necessary to accomplish work and dispense only amounts necessary for immediate use.
7. ·        Use hazardous materials only as directed and for their intended purpose.
8. ·        Never smell or taste a hazardous chemical.
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10. ·        Avoid direct contact with any chemical, use protective equipment to avoid exposure, and review MSDS for specific recommendations for each chemical used.
11. ·        Smoking, drinking, eating, and the application of cosmetics are forbidden in areas where hazardous materials are in use.
12. ·        Ensure emergency contact information is posted at the lab entrance.
13. ·        Ensure all containers are labeled.
14. ·        Label all secondary containers with chemical name and hazard information.
15. ·        Assure ventilation is adequate for the materials you are using. Where possible, handle all materials in a chemical fume hood.
16. ·        Store chemicals in compatible categories.
17. ·        Dispose of waste properly according to the Government Rules, When transporting chemicals outside the lab, use precautions to avoid dropping or spilling chemicals. Use bottle carriers for glass containers and use carts with edges to prevent containers from falling off the cart and breaking. 

Anyone working in a laboratory is required to abide by the following general standard operating procedures:

·        Chemical Labels

Carefully read the labels of all hazardous chemicals before they are used. Any in-house dilution made from stock chemical bottles is required to be labeled with the chemical identity, concentration, and primary hazard as well as expiry date.

·        Material Safety Data Sheets

Anyone using chemicals should be aware of the hazardous properties associated with the use of those chemicals. This can be accomplished by reviewing the MSDSs. The MSDSs for hazardous chemicals should be located internally for the lab in a designated area.

·        Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Personal protective equipment (PPE) recommended on a chemical's hazard warning label or MSDS (e.g., neoprene gloves, vinyl splash aprons, chemical splash goggles, etc.) may be required to be used during handling of the chemicals. Lab requirements for PPE must be specified by the Study Director, Department Head or Safety Manager, based on evaluation of potential hazards. This section should list the types of PPE available, what it’s used for and where it is stored. Proper cleaning, care and repair instructions should also be included. PPE includes eye, hand , foot and hand protection.

·        Chemical Waste

Chemical waste is required to be disposed of in compliance with Government Rules, State and Local environmental regulations. Chemicals should be in a labeled waste container specific for the class of chemicals. Evaporation in a chemical fume hood is not an option. Waste chemicals, no matter how seemingly innocuous, may not be poured down the drain to the sanitary sewer.

The following types of chemicals should be considered for special controls or procedures:

·        Any chemical designated as highly toxic by oral, dermal or inhalation routes of exposure as defined in the OSHA Hazard Communication Standard.

·        Any chemical designated as one of the following:

·          ? ? ? OSHA regulated carcinogen

·        Listed by National Toxicology Program (NTP) as "Known To Be Carcinogenic"

·        Listed by NTP "Reasonably Anticipated To Be Carcinogenic"

·        Listed as Group 1 carcinogen by International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)

·        Listed as 2A or 2B carcinogen by IARC

·        Any chemical designated as "Known to Cause Reproductive Toxicity" according to the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act.

·        Other chemicals which have been shown through laboratory experience to present significant or special hazards during laboratory processing activities.

·        For mixtures, the special evaluation requirement may be waived in those instances where the mixture contains less than 1 percent by weight of highly toxic chemicals and less than 0.1 percent by weight of suspect Carcinogens and Reproductive hazards, where there is no information indicating that the mixture would pose the risk of the individual substance.

The Study Director, Study Personnel, Department Head or Safety Manager is responsible for identifying chemicals which meet the criteria of a special hazard material. When special hazard chemicals have been identified, The Study Director, Study Personnel, Department Head or Safety Manager are responsible for developing and implementing laboratory procedures, practices and equipment which are known to be effective or can be shown to be effective to eliminate the special hazard. These procedures and practices could include, but are not limited to, the following: designated areas, containment devices such as fume hoods and glove boxes, procedures for safe removal of materials, decontamination procedures, or pre-approval required specialised operating procedures.