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General'Laboratory'Operation'Guidelines'
SECTION'ONE'–'RESPONSIBILITIES'
Principal'investigators"are"responsible"for"assuring"safe"laboratory"operation."This"includes"
1."Developing"and"providing"current"Standard"Operating"Procedures"(SOP)"for"lab"protocols"
2."Providing"the"needed"equipment,"materials"and"supplies"for"all"procedures"
2."Assuring"compliance"with"and/or"enforcement"of"appropriate"chemical"safety"and"hygiene"
measures"in"the"work"areas"that"they"supervise."
""
Lab'users"are"responsible"for"learning,"understanding,"respecting,"and"following"the"safety"and"
health"hazard"warnings"associated"with"each"chemical"and"with"the"operation"of"instruments"
and"equipment"they"use,"and"for"complying"with"Utah"State"University"Environmental"Health"
and"Safety"(EHS)"Laboratory"Safety"guidelines"at"ALL"times."New'laboratory'personnel'must'
take'the'Laboratory'Safety'(Initial)'training'course'offered'through'EHS'before'starting'work."
http://rgs.usu.edu/ehs/htm/training/healthLandLsafetyLtrainingLcourses/ehsLtrainingLsignLupL
form"
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SECTION'TWO'–'LABORATORY'USE'GUIDELINES'
Children'and'unauthorized'persons."Children"and"persons"who"are"not"employed"to"carry"out"
work"in"the"laboratory"area"are"not"allowed"in"the"laboratory"area"unless"accompanied"by"an"
authorized"laboratory"user."No"children"or"unauthorized"persons"are"allowed"in"areas"where"
hazardous"materials"are"stored,"where"potentially"hazardous"activities"are"in"progress,"or"where"
hazardous"equipment"or"chemicals"are"being"used."
'
Injuries."If"an"injury"requiring"emergency"medical"assistance"has"occurred,"call"911"and"notify"
campus"security"to"facilitate"EMTs"in"locating"the"victim."Be"prepared"to"give"detailed"
information"to"the"emergency"dispatcher."All"such"accidents"must"be"reported"immediately"to"
the"Principal"Investigator"or"your"immediate"supervisor.""USU"employees"with"nonLlife"
threatening"injuries"should"be"evaluated"at"WorkMed'(412'North'200'East'in'Logan;'435X713X
2700;'Mon'thru'Thu'8:30AM'X'5PM;'Fri'8:30AM'X'4PM).""A"First"Report"of"Injury"or"Illness"
(Worker’s"Compensation)"form,"found"on"the"USU"HR"web"site,"must"be"filed"within"7"days.""
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Housekeeping."Exits,"aisles,"hallways"and"safety"equipment"must"NOT"be"obstructed"in"any"way"
by"equipment,"furniture"(e.g.,"carts,"chairs),"or"other"items."Work"areas"and"hallways"are"not"to"
be"used"for"storage."Aisles"within"the"laboratory"must"be"cleared"to"at"least"36"inches"(90"cm)"in"
front"of"bench"space,"fume"hoods"and"sinks."A"45Lcm"(18Linch)"clearance"should"be"maintained"
below"sprinkler"heads"on"the"ceiling."
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Chemical'labels."ALL'containers'(bottles,"beakers,"totes,"bags)"must"be"clearly'labeled'with'
their'contents."Both"reagent"and"waste"bottles"must"be"labeled"with"the"name"of"the"PI,"the"
contents,"their"concentrations,"the"person"who"made"the"solution,"and"the"date."All"chemical"
waste"must"be"properly"packaged"and"containers"labeled"as"required"for"hazardous"waste"
pickup."Unused"reagent"solutions"should"be"properly"disposed"of"at"regular"intervals.""Multiple"
containers"of"the"same"chemical"waste"must"not"be"allowed"to"accumulate."""
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1"
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General'Laboratory'Operation'Guidelines'
Standard'operating'procedures'(SOP)."Written"protocols"must"be"developed"by"each"
supervisor"and/or"PI"for"all"experiments"to"be"carried"out"by"both"supervised"and"unsupervised"
laboratory"personnel.""SOPs"must"be"reviewed"at"least"annually"and"updated"as"protocols"
change."Steps"requiring"personal"protective"equipment"(e.g.,"splash"goggles,"gloves"with"type"
specified)"and"use"of"a"fume"hood"used"must"be"identified."An"SOP"should"be"developed"
collaboratively"with"lab"personnel"for"the"greatest"clarity"and"efficiency."
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Shoes'and'Clothing."OpenLtoed"shoes"are"never"allowed"in"the"laboratory."Scarves,"jewelry"and"
looseLfitting"clothing"can"create"hazards."Lab"coats"should"be"worn"to"protect"clothing."
"
Chemical'spills."Every"SOP"should"include"cleanup"instructions"for"potentially"hazardous"spills."
Necessary"cleanup"materials"and"personal"protective"equipment"must"be"readily"available"for"
emergency"use,"and"laboratory"emergency"equipment"such"as"eyewash,"chemical"shower"and"
Automated"External"Defibrillator"(AED)"station"locations"identified.""All"chemical"spills"should"be"
reported"to"the"Principal"Investigator"or"to"your"immediate"supervisor."
""
Cleaning'up'a'chemical'spill."BEFORE"using"any"toxic"or"hazardous"chemical,"it"is"the"
responsibility"of"the"user"to"find"and"read"the"[Material]"Safety"Data"Sheet"(MSDS/SDS)."If"none"
is"on"file,"do"not"proceed"until"an"M/SDS"is"made"available."Become"familiar"with"the"
instructions"for"the"safe"handling"of"each"chemical"(e.g.,"the"use"of"acidLresistant"gloves)"and"
the"instructions"for"handling"a"chemical"spill."Spill"cleanLup"instruction"should"be"detailed"in"the"
SOP"relevant"to"each"experimental"protocol."
"
1."If"a"hazardous"chemical"spill"occurs"outside"of"a"fume"hood,"CLEAR"THE"ENTIRE"LABORATORY"
AND"ADJACENT"OFFICE"AREA,"then"seek"advice"based"on"the"nature"of"the"material"(below)."
"
2."If"the"spill"is"contained"in"a"fume"hood,"refer"to"the"MSDS"for"the"personal"protective"
equipment"needed"to"safely"clean"up"the"spill."
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3."Because"cleanup"procedures"for"hazardous"material/s"are"specific"to"the"substance"involved,"
call"the"Environmental'Health'and'Safety'Office'(435X797X2892)"for"assistance"and"instructions"
as"needed"before"proceeding."
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Chemical'splash'goggles."Chemical"splash"goggles"must"be"used"in"all"instances"where"the"
potential"for"a"chemical"splash"to"the"eye"exists."Full"face"shields"must"be"worn"over"safety"
goggles"when"corrosive"materials"are"used."
'
Unattended'experiments."Unattended"experiments"(e.g.,"growth"chamber;"freeze"dryers;"
shakers;"digestions)"must"be"clearly'labeled"with"the"name"and"contact"information"of"the"PI,"
supervisor"and"graduate"student"as"appropriate,"along"with"instructions"for"addressing"alarms."
Operations"involving"hazardous"substances"that"are"carried"out"with"no"one"present"are"the"
responsibility"of"the"worker"and"his"or"her"supervisor,"and"must"be"designed"to"prevent"the"
release"of"hazardous"substances"in"the"event"of"interruptions"in"utility"services"such"as"
electricity,"cooling"water,"or"inert"gas.""
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2"
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General'Laboratory'Operation'Guidelines'
(Unattended'experiments,'continued)"
Signs"should"be"posted"identifying"the"nature"of"the"operation"and"any"hazardous"substances"in"
use."If"unattended"experiments"require"the"use"of"running"water,"the"worker"and"supervisor/PI"
must"develop"procedures"for"containment"should"water"leak"from"the"system."Note"that"in"the"
case"of"some"procedures,"such"as"acid"digestions,"“unattended”"means"that"the"responsible"
worker"may"be"at"their"desk"and"periodically"checking"the"progress"of"the"procedure."However,"
at"no"time"may"they"leave"the"building"while"the"procedure"is"in"progress."The"relevant"SOP"
should"include"specific"instructions"for"unattended"experiments."
"
Working'alone."Laboratory"faculty,"staff,"and"students"are"discouraged"from"working"alone"in"
the"laboratory"when"the"procedures"being"conducted"are"hazardous"or"hazardous"materials"are"
involved."However,"if"one"must"work"alone,"it"is"advisable"that"the"individual"maintain"periodic"
contact"with"a"colleague"via"telephone."
"
Food'and'Drink."Food"and"drinks"may"not"be"consumed"in"the"laboratory.""Food"and"beverage"
must"not"be"stored,"prepared,"or"consumed"in"areas"where"hazardous"chemicals"are"used,"
handled"or"stored."
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SECTION'THREE'–'LABORATORY'ETIQUETTE'
Be"respectful"of"lab"colleagues"and"their"belongings"
1. Do"not"use"or"move"any"supplies"or"equipment"without"first"receiving"permission."
2. Do"not"stop"or"interrupt"another"person’s"operation"without"express"permission."
3. Return"borrowed"equipment"and"replace"borrowed"supplies"as"soon"as"possible."
4. Clean"up"after"yourself."Promptly"and"thoroughly"clean"up"any"spilled"material!"Put"away"
tools"no"longer"in"use."
5. Chemicals"may"not"be"stored"on"bench"tops."Return"them"to"their"storage"cabinet."
6. Wash"your"glassware"promptly"and"put"it"away"at"the"end"of"your"experiment"
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Shared'Equipment"
Centrifuges."Run"information"must"be"included"in"the"log"for"every"use"of"a"centrifuge.""If"there"
is"no"log"available,"start"a"new"one."Any"leaks"or"spills"must"be"cleaned"up"immediately."
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Ovens,.Furnaces,.Refrigerators.and.Freezers"
All"equipment"and"instruments"in"common"areas,"such"as"fume"hood"rooms"or"the"freezer"farm,"
should"be"labeled"with"the"PI’s"name"and"contact"information."Check"with"the"PI"to"get"
permission"for"use"prior"to"using"their"instrument"or"equipment."Temperatures"of"ovens,"
furnaces,"fridges"and"freezers"should"never"be"adjusted"without"first"checking"with"the"
PI.""Every"item"in"every"refrigerator"and"freezer"must"be"labeled"with"the"contents,"the"names"
of"the"user,"the"PI"and"the"date"stored."
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Balances"
Balances"should"not"be"relocated"as"moving"the"balance"will"invalidate"its"calibration."After"
each"use,"clean"up"any"spills"and"check"that"the"balance"is"still"level"or"relevel."
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3"
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General'Laboratory'Operation'Guidelines'
Supplies!
Supplies"such"as"safety"goggles,"lab"coats,"gloves,"pipette"tips,"centrifuge"tubes,"glassware,"
bench"paper"and"paper"towels"are"to"be"provided"by"each"PI"for"his/her"workers."Do"not"take"
consumable"supplies"from"another"group’s"bench"without"permission."
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Acid.Baths.
Acid"baths"should"be"covered"and"doubly"contained."They"must"be"labeled"with"the"type"and"
concentration"of"acid,"PI,"and"date"of"preparation."Safety"googles,"lab"coats,"heavy"duty"
neoprene"gloves,"long"pants,"and"covered"shoes"must"be"worn"to"place"labware"in"or"remove"
labware"from"the"acid"bath."Labware"removed"from"the"acid"baths"should"be"rinsed"
immediately"with"DI"water."Wipe"and"dry"all"splashes"around"acid"baths"after"use."When"
possible,"acid"baths"prepared"from"less"volatile"acids"(e.g.,"HNO3"or"H2SO4)"are"preferable"to"HCl"
acid"baths."
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Dishwasher.
Rinse"all"labware"to"remove"traces"of"chemical"residue"prior"to"loading"in"the"dishwasher."Only"
use"the"designated"dishwasher'detergent;"other"soaps"may"damage"the"appliance."If"the"
labware"will"be"subsequently"acid"washed,"do"not"use"the"DI"water"rinse"step."Promptly"remove"
cleaned"labware"from"the"dishwasher"at"the"end"of"the"cycle.""
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Autoclave.
The"suitability"of"materials"to"be"autoclaved"should"be"ensured"prior"to"use."For"example,"
substances"containing"solvents"or"substances"that"may"emit"toxic"fumes"must"not"be"
autoclaved."Glassware"should"be"checked"for"cracks"and"plastics"must"be"heat"resistant."Assure"
that"materials"placed"in"the"autoclave"are"loosely"wrapped,"bagged"or"covered"with"aluminum"
foil"to"permit"steam"penetration"and"prevent"pressure"buildup."Do"not"overload"the"autoclave;"
leave"enough"room"for"steam"circulation."Always"use"an"autoclave"pan"to"contain"spills."Use"the"
established"sterilization"programs."HeatLinsulating"gloves"and"closedLtoe"shoes"must"be"worn"
when"loading"or"unloading"the"autoclave."PI"and"user"name,"date"and"time"in/out"should"be"
noted"on"the"white"board."
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Sharps.Waste.
Broken"glassware,"disposable"glass"supplies,"and"razor"blades"must"be"disposed"of"in"such"a"way"
that"custodians"will"not"be"injured."Most"lab"supply"companies"have"boxes"that"are"designed"
(and"clearly"labeled)"to"be"used"for"glass"waste"or"for"sharps.""For"disposal"of"glass"waste,"a"
sturdy"cardboard"box"with"intact"flaps"or"lid"may"be"lined"with"a"plastic"bag"so"that"when"it"is"
filled,"the"bag"and"the"box"can"be"securely"closed"and"sealed"with"tape"for"disposal"as"trash."The"
box"should"be"clearly"labeled"'“Broken'Glass”'or'“Glass'Waste”.'Other'“sharps”"such"as"razor"
blades"and"needles"should"not"be"disposed"of"in"the"glass"waste"container.""Razors,"needles,"
etc."should"be"disposed"of"in"an"approved"sharps"container,"available"from"most"lab"supply"
companies."
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