Safety

General lab Safety Rules

Safety in the laboratory is a primary concern to both students and instructors. None of the experiments you will perform in this course are dangerous if proper procedures are followed, but accidents may still happen, especially to an unprepared or careless student.

The safety procedures listed below :

1- No eating or drinking in the lab. This means no gum, cough drops, applying chapstick, chewing hair ends, holding a pencil in your mouth, nail-biting, etc.

2- Handle everything as if it's pathogenic. Use good microbiological practice. Soil and water samples that students try to culture in class or for a science project should be handled with standard microbiological practice under adult supervision. Autoclave sterilizes for 0.5 hr or flood with freshly prepared 10% bleach for 0.5 hr and rinse before disposing in the regular trash.

3- Keep flame and flammable solutions far apart. Set up your classroom so that if a flame IS to be used, it is located far from the exit, so most students are closer to the exit. Have any open alcohol beakers far from the flame --- for instance on another workbench --- so some of the alcohol evaporates while the tool is brought to the flame.

4- Keep electrical equipment far from water. Keep areas around electrical equipment dry (aquaria excluded, of course!).

5- Clean spills from the outside IN. Apply paper towels over the spill, then, carefully starting from the outside, wipe in.

6- Use proper safety protection --- fume hood, goggles, and gloves. NOTE that latex allergies can develop!

7- Always clean glassware before you use it to be sure that residues are cleaned away. Add at least some water first, before adding any liquid or solid solutes.

8- Be careful weighing out chemicals and reagents. Do NOT return excess materials to the stock container. Learn vocabulary of chemical safety.

9- Check all water baths with a thermometer before putting your hand into

10- All sharps (needles, razors, pins, toothpicks) should be discarded in a sturdy container. A coffee can with plastic lid work well. Cut a small slit in the lid and make a bright clear label for the can.

11- Science and writing go hand-in-hand ; have students keep a proper laboratory notebook or write Standard Operating Procedures.

12- Be Prepared (40 Steps to a Safer Laboratory, Laboratory Safety Institute) Wash your hands before AND after lab work.

Emergency Procedures

Generally, all accidents must be reported immediately to your instructor or the Laboratory Supervisor. If it is an emergency, take the immediate action needed to move the person to safety and/or deal with the cause of the accident.

• Know the location and operation of the following safety features in the laboratory:

• Emergency eye wash fountains
• Emergency safety showers
• Fire extinguishers
• Laboratory exit doors
• First aid kit
• Fire blanket
• Fire alarm pull boxes (in hallway)

If any of the following occur, notify your instructor as soon as possible.

Corrosive chemicals are splashed in your eyes?

Immediately use the emergency eye wash fountain to flush your eyes with water. If you are wearing contact lenses remove them immediately. Continue rinsing your eyes for at least 15 minutes. Obtain medical attention promptly.

Corrosive chemicals are splashed on your skin or clothing?

Imediately flush the affected areas with large quantitiesof water. If a large area is affected, use the safety shower. Remove any affected clothing -- this is no time to be modest! Obtain medical attention if any pain or irritation is noted.

You cut yourself?

Small cuts can be washed well with soap and water and then covered with a Band-Aid.Do not work in the laboratory with any open cuts.

If the cut is more serious, stop the bleeding by applying direct pressurewith a clean towel. Obtain prompt medical attention.

If you burn yourself?

For minor burns, you may put ice water over the affected area to relievepain. You should not put anything on the burn.

For major or extensive burns, seek prompt medical attention.

If there is a fire in the laboratory?

Move away from danger and call for help. Know the location of the nearest fire alarm and telephone. Do not attempt to extinguish the fire by yourself unless there is no other recourse.

If your clothing should catch fire, and an emergency safetyshower is within reach, use it to completely drench yourself and your clothing with water. Alternatively, use a fire blanket or the ever popular method of "Drop, Stop and Roll".

If toxic gases are inhaled?

If you can do so without endangering yourself, move the victim to safety. Call for emergency medical help. Administer artificial respiration and/or cardiopulmonary respiration if necessary.

Chemical Hazard labels

A chemical hazard label is a pictogram applied to containers of dangerous chemical compounds to indicate the specific risk, and thus the required precautions. There are several systems of labels.

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has a standard NFPA 704 using a diamond with four colored sections each with a number indicating severity 0-4 (0 for no hazard, 4 indicates a severe hazard). The red section denotes flammability. Blue is health risks. Yellow is reactivity (tendency to explode). The white section denotes special hazard information.

Hazard Symbols

Hazard symbols are easily recognizable symbols designed to warn about hazardous materials or locations. The use of hazard symbols is often regulated by law and directed by standards organizations. Hazard symbols may appear with different colors, backgrounds, borders and supplemental information in order to signify the type of hazard.

· Common hazard symbols

Name	Image
toxic sign
radioactive sign
Non-Ionizing Radiation sign
biohazard sign
Warning sign
high voltage sign

· European hazard symbols

These hazard symbols for chemicals are defined in Annex II of Directive 67/548/EEC. A consolidated list with translations into other EU languages can be found in Directive 2001/59/EC (See the links section).

Explosive (E)	Oxidizing agent (O)	Highly flammable (F)	Extremely flammable (F+)
Toxic (T)	Very toxic (T+)	Harmful (Xn)	Irritant (Xi)
Corrosive (C)	Dangerous for the environment (n)

Chemical Handling

• General safety guidelines

• Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS's) must be available to staff that work with chemicals. Available at www.bu.edu/ehsmc
• Prior to working with a chemical, always review the MSDS.
• Personal protective equipment (PPE) must be worn when working with chemicals.
• Keep eyewash stations and safety showers, fire extinguishers, fire alarm stations, and exits clear at all times.
• Never eat, drink, chew gum, apply cosmetics, wear open-toed shoes in laboratory.
• Confine hair, loose clothing, and jewelry.
• Remove PPE, including gloves before entering common areas.
• Chemical and blood spill kits must be readily available.
• Laboratory doors must be kept closed at all times.
• Do not store food in refrigerators used for chemicals.
• Ensure chemicals are properly labeled.
• Do not store chemicals under sinks.
• Do not use equipment unless you have been properly instructed.
• Use practices and equipment that minimize hazards.

· Chemical storage

Acids

• Store large bottles of acids on low shelves or in acid cabinets.
• Segregate oxidizing from organic acids, flammable and combustible materials.
• Segregate acids from bases and active metals i.e. sodium, potassium, magnesium
• Use bottle carriers for transporting acid bottles.
• Have spill control pillows or acid neutralizers available in the event of a spill.

Bases

• Segregate bases from acids.
• Store solutions of inorganic hydroxides in polyethylene containers.
• Have spill control pillows or caustic neutralizers available for caustic spills.

Flammables

• Store in approved safety cans or cabinets.
• Segregate from oxidizing acids and oxidizers.
• Keep away from sources of ignition.
• Keep fire extinguishing and spill control equipment readily available.
• Store highly volatile flammable liquids in a specially equipped refrigerator.

Oxidizers

• Store in a cool, dry area
• Store away from flammable and combustible materials, such as paper, wood, etc.

Peroxide Forming Chemicals

• Store in airtight containers in a dark, cool, dry area.
• Label containers with receiving, opening, and disposal dates.
• Dispose of peroxide forming chemicals prior to the expiration date or before peroxides form

Compressed Gases

• Store in a secure and upright position.
• When not in use, secure cylinder cap.
• Use a cylinder cart, remove manifolds, secure cap, and chain to cart for transport.

· General guidelines for chemical emergencies

Always be ready! An emergency happens without any warning, so know how to react quickly:

• Know the location of emergency and first aid equipment including eye wash stations, safety showers, and first aid cabinets
• Know who has first aid training in your area.
• Know emergency phone numbers. Have them posted by the telephone in your work area.
• Be able to tell emergency responders the exact name of the chemical involved.

Chemical Burns

If a chemical burns the skin Remove the cause of the burn by flushing the chemicals off the skin surface with cool, running water for 20 minutes ;or more. If the burning chemical is a powder like substance 5such as lime, brush it off the skin before flushing. Remove clothing or jewelry that has been contaminated by the chemical. Wrap the burned area with a dry, sterile dressing or a clean cloth. Rinse the burn again for several more minutes if the victim complains of increased burning after the initial washing. Minor chemical burns usually heal without further treatment. &Seek emergency medical assistance if The victim has symptoms of shock, such as fainting, pale complexion or breathing in a notably shallow fashion The chemical burned through the first layer of skin and the ;resulting second-degree burn covers an area more than 2 to 3 inches in diameter. The chemical burn occurred on the eye, hands, feet, face, !groin, buttocks or a major joint.

If you are unsure whether a substance is toxic, call the poison control center.

Fire

• Never try to put out a fire unless you know what the substance is and what type of extinguisher to use.
• Remember that many materials produce toxic fumes when they burn.
• Immediately call (9), 911 and ask for the fire department.
• Evacuate the area.
• Fire extinguisher training is encouraged for all employees. The environmental health and safety office can arrange a class for you.

Unconsciousness

• Never enter an area to help an unconscious person, unless you are sure that hazardous fumes or lack of oxygen will not overcome you.
• If you can enter the area safely, evacuate the victim to fresh air immediately.
• Call for help. Get a person trained in first aid or call the fire department at (9), 911.
• If the victim’s eyes or skin are contaminated, flush with running water for 20–30 minutes. Remove contaminated clothing.
• Never give liquids to an unconscious person.

Fumes

• Use a fume hood when you work with hazardous materials and volatile liquids.
• Know the symptoms and effects of overexposure to the fumes of materials that you work with.
• Get to fresh air immediately if you feel a burning sensation in your eyes, nose, or throat, or if you feel dizzy, nauseated, or weak.
• Close the container of the material causing you discomfort.
• If none of these measures help, evacuate the area.

Eye contact

• Flush your eyes with water for at least 20–30 minutes. Hold your eye open and rotate your eyeballs to clear the material from all areas.
• Do not use ointments or salves. They may be dangerous.
• Always remove contact lenses if possible before flushing.
• Seek medical attention.

Skin contact

• Drench clothing and skin with plenty of water. Use any available water including safety showers, garden hose, or faucet.
• Remove contaminated clothing while flushing with water.
• Seek medical attention.

Spills

Get help in dealing with LARGE spills. Call community safety (extension 7533) and the environmental health and safety office (extension 7788).

• Isolate the area. Keep away from the spill unless you know what it is and how to handle it. If you don’t know, call for help.
• Control access to the area. Don’t leave the material unattended.
• Protect yourself and others. Provide a thorough report on the conditions to community safety. Treat all materials as hazardous until proven otherwise. Do not touch, ingest, or inhale any unknown material. Do not rush to aid victims until you understand the problem. Stay clear of all spills, vapors, fumes, and smoke.
• Eliminate ignition sources. Never smoke around a spill.
• Know the location of and how to use personal protective equipment such as respirators, goggles, gloves, and boots.

For SMALL or incidental spills use the same basic precautions as you use for large spills: isolate the area, control access to the area, protect yourself and others, eliminate ignition sources, and know how to use protective gear.

• Know the proper spill clean-up method.
• Cover the spill with spill absorbent.
• Allow the spill to absorb.
• Sweep up the absorbed material.
• Place the material in a plastic bag, seal and label it with the contents of the spill.
• Take the spill residue to Chemistry 211 or call the environmental health and safety office.