Emergency Preparedness &
Laboratory Safety
Topics
 Emergency Preparedness and
Response
 Laboratory Safety
 Additional Training / Other
Resources
Emergency
Response
What to do in an Emergency?
 For
a fire?
 For an accident?
 Other
emergencies?
Call 8-1911
from any building phone
TORNADO
SHELTER
AREA
MU Emergency Response
Please Review the MU
Emergency
Procedures Guide
Important
Phone Numbers
Criminal Activity
Bomb Threats
Fire
Chemical Spills / Hazardous
Odors or Leaks
Severe Weather
Etc.
MU Emergency 288-1911
Provide the following:
 Name
 Building
and Room
number
 Type of Emergency (i.e.,
Fire, Spill, Explosion)
 Any Injuries
 DO NOT HANG UP!
Fire Emergency
Fire





Alert persons in area
of fire.
Close door(s)
behind you.
Activate fire alarm.
Evacuate through
nearest safe exit.
Go to gathering
place.


Fire extinguishers are supplied
throughout campus buildings
When in doubt, get out!
Fire
Fire



Do not use elevators.
Go to designated
meeting area.
Call for assistance
from a safe location.
Dial 8-1911.
Designated Meeting Areas
Tornado/Severe Weather




Other emergencies?
Know the location of
Storm Shelter.
Warning sirens? Seek
shelter.
Follow BEC’s instructions.
Evacuation Maps
Chemical Emergencies
Classifications -
Minor spill


one which you can safely
clean up yourself
Major or high hazard
spill emergency

one which you can not safely
clean up yourself
Chemical Spills -- Minor

Spill considered
minor only if
person who
spilled it is
familiar with
chemical, knows
associated
hazards and
knows how to
clean up spill
safely
US&A (v 2/07)
What to Do?
Major Spills





Alert coworkers
Move to safe location
Seek assistance from building
manager or senior research staff
Call Public Safety 8-1911 if
necessary
Remain available to provide
pertinent information on spill
Minor Spills


Alert coworkers and proceed to
clean up spill
Contact EHSRM for disposal of
spill clean-up materials
Prepare for Chemical
Emergencies


Know where emergency
showers and eyewash
stations are located and
how to use them
Your lab should have:




MSDS Sheets
Spill absorbent
PPE (i.e., gloves, goggles)
for spill cleanup
Emergency phone numbers
Elevator Malfunction
If you are trapped in
an elevator
Use the emergency
phone to contact 81911 dispatcher
•
If phone is
inoperable, turn on
emergency alarm
which will signal for
help
•
Power Outage




Prepare for an outage
Response to short
term outage
Response to
prolonged power
outage
Know what to do
after a power outage
Gas Leak

If you smell gas and
suspect a gas leak





Cease all operations
Verify that all valves are
shut off
Leave the area at
once
Pull fire alarm to
evacuate building
Call 8-1911 from
outside the area of
the leak
Emergency Preparedness






Learn about fire
safety
Plan ahead for
emergencies
Identify location of
emergency exits
Participate in fire
drills
Be aware of your
own capabilities and
limitations
Sometimes, staying
in your room is safer
Questions?
MU Public Safety
1-414-288-1911
Laboratory Safety

Familiarize yourself with lab hazards
 Chemical hazards
 Physical hazards
 Specialized usage
 Biological Materials
 Research Animals
 Radioactive Materials
Laboratory Safety
1.
2.
3.
4.
Chemical Safety Concepts
Labeling and Storage
Disposal of Chemicals
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Chemical Safety Concepts




Toxicity -- the ability of a chemical
substance to cause harm
Hazard -- likelihood a material will
cause harm under the conditions of
use
With proper handling, even highly
toxic chemicals can be used safely
Less toxic chemicals can be
extremely hazardous if handled
improperly
Chemical Safety
.
MSDS Includes
the following:









Product Information
Fire and Explosion
Toxicology
Health Effects
PPE
Storage
Leaks and Spills
Waste Disposal
First Aid
MSDS Format
MSDS Available on the Web
www.cispro.mu.edu
REVIEW: Key to Working Safely
Understanding the Hazards


Read your Chemical Hygiene Plan
Review Material Safety Data Sheets
(MSDS)





Physical and health hazards - Protective
measures
Exposure signs and symptoms Emergency procedures
Read all labels
Know your protocol / procedures
Remember, some chemicals may
have delayed toxic effects on the
body
Laboratory Safety
1.
Chemical Safety Concepts
2.
Labeling and Storage
3.
4.
Disposal of Chemicals
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Chemical Safety - Labeling
All chemicals , including solutions and chemicals
transferred from their original containers should
be labeled.
Label contains
•common names
• concentrations
•hazards
Labels
What are the health hazards?
What are the fire hazards?
What are the reactivity hazards?
Are there any special hazards?
4
3
2
1
0
=
=
=
=
=
Severe Hazard
Serious Hazard
Moderate Hazard
Slight Hazard
Minimal Hazard
Chemical Safety - Storage


Separate
chemicals into
compatible groups
Designate
separate storage
for highly toxic
chemicals
Chemical Safety - Storage
Chemical Safety - Storage
Store corrosive,
toxic, and
highly reactive
chemicals in a
well-ventilated
area
Chemical
Safety Storage

Keep in mind that
liquids with low flash
points may ignite if they
are near heat sources
such as hot plates,
steam lines or lab
equipment which might
produce a spark or
heat.
Chemical Safety - Storage

Do not store Chemicals on top of cabinets.
Gas Cylinders






Chain or strap cylinder to
wall / bench
Always use a cart & safety
chain
when transporting cylinder
Store flammable gas
lecture bottles in
flammable storage cabinet
Keep non-compatible
gases separate
Store multiple cylinders by
“nesting”
Laboratory Safety
2.
Chemical Safety Concepts
Labeling and Storage
3.
Disposal of Chemicals
4.
Personal Protective Equipment
1.
Chemical Safety – Waste
Disposal




Minimize
Containerize
Label
Deliver to
designated
collection point
Laboratory Safety
3.
Chemical Safety Concepts
Labeling and Storage
Disposal of Chemicals
4.
Personal Protective Equipment
1.
2.
Always Wear PPE




Good lab practice and required by code
Wear enclosed goggles
Shoes, lab coat, long pants (gives
protection from falling objects and
spills/splatters). No sandals, flip flops,
shorts, etc.
Wear nitrile gloves for this project
Personal Protective Equipment




Lab coats or
aprons
Eyewear
Gloves
Personal
monitoring devices
Eye Protection






Glassware under reduced
pressure
Cryogenic materials
Glassware under elevated
pressure
Explosives
Caustics, Irritants or Corrosives
Biohazards
Eye Protection Cont.






Radioactive Materials
UV Light
Toxic Chemicals
Carcinogens
Flammable Materials
Lasers
Eye Protection
Wear goggles when using
acids or whenever there is
potential for a splash hazard
Wear safety glasses at other times
when chemicals are present and
when handling glassware
Eye Protection –
Emergency Response



Forcibly open eyelids to
ensure effective washing
behind eyelid
Wash from nose out to
ear to avoid washing
chemicals back into eye or
into an unaffected eye
Flood eyes and eyelids
with water/eye solution
for minimum of
15 minutes
Gloves

Gloves









Cotton
Leather
Latex
Viton
Butyl
Neoprene
PVC
Nitrile
Other
Gloves

Be sure you know which
type of glove is
appropriate for the
chemical you are using
Gloves
Check “Chemical
Resistance Guide” in
safety catalog for
degradation rating and
permeation
breakthrough
information for various
chemicals
(Xylenes: Nitrile)
(Perchloric Acid: Nitrile,
Neoprene or PVC)
Gloves
Remove soiled
gloves. If gloves
become soiled or
contaminated
during experiment,
stop, and remove
carefully.
Wash your hands and put on new pair of gloves.
If you double-glove, remove soiled glove, replace
with new one, and continue your work.
Laboratory Safety
1.
2.
3.
Physical Hazards
Good Lab Practices
Additional Training / Resources
Use needles,
capillary tubes,
scalpels and
other sharp
instruments
with extreme
caution to
prevent
punctures and
cuts
Sharps
Sharps - Recapping


Recapping is not
necessary for
disposal
If recapping is
imperative, the correct
procedure is:
 Keep one hand
behind the back, use
other hand to scoop
cover onto needle
Sharps - Disposal


Put sharps in punctureresistant, leak-proof,
sharps container.
Label the container with
the word,
"SHARPS”.

Seal container tightly.
Plastics - Disposal




Disposable Pipettes
Pipette Tips
Falcon Tubes
Petri dishes
Laboratory Safety
1.
Physical Hazards
2.
Good Lab Practices
3.
Additional Training / Resources
Good Lab Practices


Keep your work
area neat at all
times.
Clean up spills
and broken
glass
immediately
Good Lab Practices
No eating,
drinking,
smoking or
chewing gum in
laboratory
where chemicals
are present
Good Lab
Practices

No application
of cosmetics or
handling
contacts lenses
in lab work
areas
Good Lab Practices

Food and beverage
containers should not
be stored in
refrigerators, cabinets
or desks in
laboratories
Good Lab Practices




Take special precautions when handling contaminated
glassware
Broken, contaminated
glassware can cause
chemical exposure.
Do not use broken,
chipped, starred or
cracked glassware.
Clean up spills and
broken glass
immediately.
Good Lab Practices


Do not pick up
broken glass with
bare hands
Dispose in a sealed
container.
Good Lab Practices




Remove gloves before handling
environmental surfaces:
 Phones
 Instruments
 Door knobs
 Computer mouse or keyboards
When moving between labs with
items, such as Ethidium bromide gels
or samplesA GLOVED hand is carrying the gel
or sample
The NON-GLOVED hand is operating
door handles, elevator buttons, etc.
Laboratory Safety
1.
2.
3.
Physical Hazards
Good Laboratory Practices
Additional Training /
Resources
Additional Training
 Bloodborne
Pathogens
 Radioactive Materials
 Animal Care & Usage

Additional information is available from
our Environmental Health and Safety
Department : 8-8411
Thank You
Any Questions ?