Transcript LAB SAFETY AWARENESS AND CHEMICAL SAFETY FOR NON-LAB PERSONNEL University of Alaska Fairbanks Environmental Health, Safety, and Risk Management October 2009

LAB SAFETY AWARENESS AND CHEMICAL
SAFETY FOR NON-LAB PERSONNEL
University of Alaska Fairbanks
Environmental Health, Safety, and Risk Management
October 2009
OVERVIEW
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Non-Lab Personnel Guidelines
 Coordinate with lab personnel
 Protect yourself
 Fume hood concerns
 Consider your actions
Potential Lab Hazards
 Chemical Hazards
 Physical Hazards
 Signs
Responsibilities of Lab Personnel
Emergency Response
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GUIDELINES FOR NON-LAB PERSONNEL
Non-laboratory personnel whose job duties
include performing work in UAF laboratories
must follow these guidelines.
 You are also required by law to have Hazard
Communication Training (Hazcom).
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 This
training is available online through EHS&RM.
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COORDINATE WITH LAB PERSONNEL
Coordinate your work with the Lab Supervisor by
doing the following:
 Explain the work that will be performed, especially
any actions that could affect lab operations.
 Give advanced warning for the following
possibilities:
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Utility shut-offs, so experiments and sensitive materials
can be protected with alternative power sources
Use of equipment that may generate heat or sparks, so
flammable materials can be safely stored away from the
work area
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COORDINATE WITH LAB PERSONNEL (CONT.)
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Wait for lab personnel to clear the work area of
hazardous materials and contamination before
beginning work.
Do not move lab equipment or chemicals without
direct assistance or approval from lab personnel.
Contact your supervisor and wait for instructions if
there is no one in the lab to assist you when
laboratory equipment or chemicals need to be
moved.
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Do not start work until specifically cleared to do so.
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PROTECT YOURSELF
Protect yourself from hazards in laboratories:
 Enter labs only when necessary, preferably when
lab personnel are present.
 Do not bring food or drink into a lab.
 Wash your hands after leaving a lab.
 Wear proper clothing—no shorts.
 Wear proper shoes—closed-toe, low heels, no
sandals.
 Wear personal protective equipment (PPE) when
necessary.
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PROTECT YOURSELF: PPE
PPE for protecting yourself from hazards in
laboratories:
 Gloves
Single-use surgical type nitrile gloves are
recommended to protect against potential
contamination. Other types of gloves may be
required. Check with the Lab Supervisor.
 Eye protection (many labs require safety glasses
to be worn at all times)
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FUME HOOD CONCERNS
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Do not remove or disturb equipment or materials located in the
fume hood.
Wait for laboratory staff to remove equipment and supplies and
decontaminate the inside surface if necessary.
 Before ANY work can be done, check with the Lab
Supervisor, Department Safety Coordinator/Officer or UAF
Industrial Hygienist to determine whether the fume hood
has been used for work with perchloric acid.
Wear proper gloves for work inside a fume hood.
Disposable coveralls are recommended.
Immediately wash or dispose of the gloves and coveralls after
use.
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CONSIDER YOUR ACTIONS
Consider how your actions will affect the building occupants:
 Never turn off building alarms without first coordinating with
your supervisor and the department.
 Notify the department in advance if your work requires
turning off a blower, de-energizing an electrical circuit, or
disrupting any utilities.
 Unanticipated interruptions may expose people to
hazardous situations.
 Avoid using hazardous materials, strong-smelling materials,
or combustion-driven equipment inside the building or near
air intakes.
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CONSIDER YOUR ACTIONS (CONT.)
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Do not pour hazardous materials down the drain or dump them
anywhere on campus.
 Dispose of hazardous waste properly. Call EHS&RM Hazmat
Division 474-5617 for assistance.
Keep hallways and stairways clear to allow emergency exit.
 Do not block extinguishers, fire alarm pull stations, electrical
panels, or emergency eyewashes or showers.
Expect extra precautions for work in "clean rooms“. Clean rooms
are special facilities where samples, experiments, and/or
equipment are highly susceptible to germs, dust, and dirt.
 Expect to be asked to wear coveralls, a gown, a mask, or other
protective gear to protect these items from possible
contamination.
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CONSIDER YOUR ACTIONS (CONT.)
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Do not put equipment, tools, coats or any other
items you brought into the lab on the bench tops.
 You may be asked to leave certain items outside
the door.
If cleaning the laboratory floor, do not put waste
baskets, chairs, etc. on the bench tops.
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POTENTIAL LAB HAZARDS
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Be aware of potential lab hazards and how to protect
yourself against them.
If you see a hazardous situation, notify the lab personnel
or EHS&RM (474-6771 or 474-5197).
If you have safety questions about any equipment,
chemical, or process in the lab, do not hesitate to ask
lab personnel for information.
Types of hazards:
 Chemical hazards
 Physical hazards
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POTENTIAL LAB HAZARDS: CHEMICALS
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Chemical hazards fall into 4 main categories
Flammables
 Corrosives
 Reactives
 Health hazards
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Do not touch any chemicals in a lab.
 If you need chemicals moved, ask the lab personnel to
move them or call EHS&RM for assistance (474-5617).
If you notice a spill, or a leaking container, notify lab
personnel or EHS&RM immediately.
 The spilled material may be an inhalation hazard—do not
remain in the area.
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PHYSICAL HAZARDS
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Includes (but not limited to):
 Compressed
gases
 Electrical equipment
 Lasers
 Thermal hazards
 Radiation
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PHYSICAL HAZARDS:COMPRESSED GASES
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Compressed gas cylinders must be restrained in an upright
position in the lab.
 If you see unrestrained gas cylinders, ask the lab
personnel to secure the tank, or call EHS&RM (4745617) for assistance.
Be careful when working around tanks—avoid situations
where you could accidentally hit the regulator with a tool.
If tanks are in the way, ask lab personnel to move them or
arrange for them to be moved.
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PHYSICAL HAZARDS: ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
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Always inspect electrical cords prior to use. Do not
use if they are cracked or have exposed wiring.
Never use electrical appliances near water.
 Make sure hands are dry when unplugging a
cord.
Do not overload outlets.
Avoid excessive use of extension cords.
Never override the safety features on electrical
equipment.
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PHYSICAL HAZARDS: LASERS
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A laser is a device that emits a pencil-like beam of
either visible or invisible electromagnetic radiation
(light).
Only authorized personnel are allowed in the
vicinity of lasers. Check with the Lab Supervisor
before entering.
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PHYSICAL HAZARDS: THERMAL
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Thermal hazards include
both hot and cold objects.
Examples include:
 Hot Plates
 Bunsen burners
 Drying ovens
 Muffle furnaces
 Autoclaves
 Ultra-cold freezers
 Walk-in coolers or
freezers
 Liquid nitrogen (LN2)
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PHYSICAL HAZARDS: RADIATION
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Radioisotope use at UAF includes both
sealed and unsealed sources.
 Sealed: gas chromatographs,
scintillation counters
 Unsealed: 3H, 14C, 32P, 125I
Never enter a lab or room containing
radioactive materials without
authorization from the Lab Supervisor or
the UAF Radiation Safety Officer (4746771).
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OTHER SIGNS
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You will see other signs like these on doors, cabinets,
trucks, storage tanks, and in various other places around
campus
Pay attention to what they say and follow instructions.
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OTHER SIGNS:
NATIONAL FIRE PROTECTION AGENCY (NFPA)
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The NFPA developed the diamond
shaped numerical hazard rating for
health hazard (blue), flammability
(red), reactivity (yellow) and special
notices (white). The higher the
number (from 0-4), the greater the
hazard.
Stay away
from me!
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RESPONSIBILITIES OF LAB PERSONNEL
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Keep access to emergency shower and eye wash
clear at all times.
Keep work areas free of clutter.
Keep all aisles, stairs, corridors, and stairwells free
of equipment, boxes, chemicals, and debris.
Properly manage and label hazardous waste.
Communicate potential lab hazards and personal
protective equipment (PPE) requirements to any
non-lab personnel with proper signs and tags.
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EMERGENCY RESPONSE
For all emergencies, dial 911 or 474-7721
 Fire
 If
your clothing catches on fire, drop and roll to
put out the flames. Immediately notify lab
personnel and your supervisor of the incident.
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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 lab personnel and your supervisor of the
incident.
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EMERGENCY RESPONSE (CONT.)
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Chemical splashes to the eye
 Immediately
go to the eye wash station and flush
eyes with water for at least 15 minutes.
 Hold
lids open to allow water to reach all surfaces of
the eye and eyelids.
 Seek medical attention and notify lab personnel and
your supervisor of the incident immediately.
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Burns
 Immerse
burned area under cold, running water
as soon as possible.
 Seek medical attention and notify lab personnel
and your supervisor of the incident immediately.
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QUESTIONS?
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Contact EHS&RM:
 474-5413
 General
information and assistance, information on
training/classes
 474-5617
 Hazmat
disposal or spill response
 474-6771
 General
lab safety
 Help with PPE selection
 Radiation safety
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PLEASE COMPLETE THE QUIZ
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Quiz is located at: www.uaf.edu/safety
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Training
UAF Safety Training PowerPoints
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Complete quiz, click the “send quiz to EHS&RM” button.
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NOTE: There is no need to contact EHS&RM to let us know you
have finished the quiz. [email protected] is checked throughout
the day, and your score will be electronically filed for future
reference.
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