College of William and Mary
at the Applied Research Center
Employee Safety Guidelines
Getting to know
Environmental, Health & Safety
Industrial Safety
Laboratory Safety
Recycling
Respiratory Protection Program
Fire Safety
Radiation Safety
Safety Data Sheets Management
CPR/First Aid Training
Web site: http://web.wm.edu/facman/safety/
Why are you here?
• Free Lunch discussing SAFETY
• Hazardous Communication
• Personal Protective Equipment
• Lab Maintenance
• Laboratory Safety Equipment
• Handling Cryogenics and Gases
• Emergency Procedures
• Need to Know/Nice to Know
Hazardous Communication
•
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•
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Signs
Labels
Safety Data Sheets (SDS)
Warning Devices
Lab Protocols & Standard
Operating Procedures
(SOP)
• Training
• Supervision/daily
oversight
• On-the-job
reminders/corrections
NFPA Hazard Diamond
Chemical Label
Global
Harmonization
System
Safety Data Sheets (SDS)
• Previously known as MSDS
• Details information about the
nature of a chemical
– Physical and chemical properties
– Health
– Safety
– Fire
– Environmental hazards
Where do I find the College’s MSDSs?
http://www.wm.edu/facman/safety/msds.php
Applied Research Center
Employee Safety Guidelines
Necessary Attire
Proper attire in the lab is very important
Personal Protective Equipment
• Job Specific
– Check standard operating procedure before performing a new
task
» Pouring liquid Nitrogen
» Cutting samples at the work bench
– Protective equipment such as gloves and earplugs are
available in all of the labs.
• Always wear Close-toed shoes
Necessary Attire
Proper attire in the lab is very important
DON’T
Safe Practices
 Keep long hair or clothing away
from your immediate work area.
 Create potential hazards when
working with moving equipment and
electrical devices.
 Wear gloves
 Handling, loading or unloading
samples
 Cleaning the lab or equipment
 Lab Coats
 Wear when dealing with caustic
chemicals to protect you from a spill
 Do not store clean lab coats with
soiled lab coats
DO
Necessary Attire
Proper attire in the lab is very important
– Employees wearing unsafe or inappropriate
attire will be asked to leave work and
return later with proper dress
– Pay will be forfeited for the lost time
– Repeated violation of this or any safety
procedure will result in written notification
to your lab sponsor.
Lab Maintenance
(Housekeeping)
Any space you use in the lab is to be kept clean and organized.
While you are working in the labs, use these
Safe Practices:
Poor Housekeeping
•Make sure everything you need is clean and
ready to use.
• Ensure all of your samples and containers are
labeled.
• Clean up the workspace you used, and clean
and return all tools and equipment to their
proper place.
•If you have to store containers or samples,
place them in a drawer, cabinet, or in the fume
hood if necessary.
•Please do not leave work out on the bench
while you are not there to attend to it.
Proper Housekeeping
Lab Maintenance
(Housekeeping)
Lab Maintenance
(Liquid Chemicals and Solvents)
• Never pour chemicals down the drain nor dispose of
contaminated material in ordinary trash.
• EPA guidelines are very strict regarding what
goes down the drain, and waste-water
testing is performed frequently to make sure
labs are not disposing of chemicals in the
sink.
• Common solvents used at the ARC include
Isopropanol, Methanol, and Acetone.
• Use these solvents in small amounts and
inside of a fume hood.
• Other used liquids should be kept in properly
labeled waste containers and disposed of
during the next chemical waste pickup.
Lab Maintenance
(Liquid Chemicals and Solvents)
•Hazardous waste must
be labeled with start date
and constituents
•Waste containers must
be closed when not in
use.
•Waste stored in fume
hoods should be in
secondary containment.
Handling Gas Cylinders
• Gas Cylinders
– Heavy
– Difficult to move
– Contain high pressure
• Dropping or Damaging a gas
cylinder
– Rapid loss of pressure
making the making the
cylinder into a gas
propelled missile.
– Less severe damage
• May result in the slow
expulsion of gas
• Displaces oxygen
• Causes a suffocation
hazard
Handling Gas Cylinders
Transporting Gas Cylinders
• When transporting a gas cylinder a
distance of more than a few feet, you
must use the cart provided for
carrying cylinders.
•
Always make sure, whether the
cylinder is on the cart or on a
cylinder rack that it is secured by a
strap or chain. Never leave a gas
cylinder unsecured.
If you accidentally drop a gas cylinder, or you see one about to drop,
do not try and catch it. Instead, move away from the cylinder, avoiding
possible injury due to gases escaping from a broken valve or the
potential projectile-cylinder.
Handling Gas Cylinders
Transporting Gas Cylinders
To move a gas cylinder from one floor of
the building to another, call at least
one other person to assist you.
1. Have the person helping you wait at
the elevator of the floor you are
sending the cylinder.
2. Load the cylinder on the cart into an
empty elevator, making sure the
warning sign is visible. Press the
number for the floor you want to send
the cylinder to and exit the elevator.
Do not ride in an elevator with a
gas cylinder.
If an elevator door
opens when it is
carrying a gas
cylinder, do not
enter the elevator.
Wait for the elevator
to pass and then
press the elevator
call button again.
Handling Liquid Nitrogen
• Some of the equipment at the ARC
requires liquid nitrogen to function.
• When filling dewars with liquid
nitrogen, wear the temperature
shielding cryo-gloves, face shield
and goggle to protect you from any
spills or gas plumes.
• Always wear long pants and closetoed shoes when pouring or
transporting liquid nitrogen as any
skin contact will cause a burn.
Handling Liquid Nitrogen
Pouring Liquid Nitrogen
• When pouring liquid nitrogen into another dewar or
into lab equipment, use caution and have the
necessary tools ready.
–
Use a funnel capable of withstanding the temperature
change to avoid spills.
–
Always wear the temperature shielding gloves, face shield,
goggles, long pants and shoes.
• DO NOT try and lift a dewar that is too heavy for you
• DO NOT pour liquid nitrogen at any level above your
shoulders.
• DO NOT try to pour liquid nitrogen into equipment
when you are alone.
–
NOTE: Spilling LN2 on
floors will cause damage to
vinyl tiles, which is costly to
repair.
Always have someone nearby to help you in case of
difficulty.
Electrical Safety
 Inspect your equipment's cords and plugs
periodically.
 Look for damaged cord jackets, loose or broken plug blades,
evidence of overheating, and separation of the plug from
the cord.
 Extension cords should only be used as a temporary
measure (90 days) .
 Power strips are acceptable for use of several lowcurrent devices such as computers and their
peripherals. The strips must have built-in overcurrent and voltage surge protection.
 Avoid daisy chaining
 Never use "zip” cords for an extension cord.
 Keep appliances away from water.
For More Information:
http://www.jlab.org/ehs/manual/PDF/6210T2ExtensionCords.pdf
Lab Safety Equipment
• All of William and Mary’s labs at the
ARC are stocked with standard safety
equipment.
– Know the location and proper use of fire
extinguishers and other pertinent safety
equipment in your area.
• Fire extinguishers are marked and
mounted near the entrance to the labs
as well as in the lab hallways.
Lab Safety Equipment
In Case of an Emergency
Eye wash stations are next to the sink in every
lab, as well as combination safety shower and
eyewash stations in the hallways.
Please learn to locate eyewash stations,
preferably with your eyes closed.
Emergency phone numbers
are listed on Jlab safety cards
on all the phones and are also
posted on the inside of the lab
door.
Always learn the location of all of the safety equipment you will need in the lab and in
case of an emergency.
Emergency Procedures
Employees are expected to be familiar with emergency procedures
for their work area and any special procedures regarding equipment
or materials.
IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY OR SERIOUS INJURY,
CALL 911 AND THEN CALL 5822.
If any accident or other incident occurs, notify your supervisor, no matter how
insignificant it may seem.
If an alarm sounds in a building you are in, evacuate the building
immediately, avoid elevators and any hazards such as gas
plumes or spills.
Be familiar with several possible exits, as you may have to avoid
these types of hazards in an emergency evacuation.
Emergency Procedures
http://www.jlab.org/intralab/emergency/phonecard.pdf
Need To Know and Nice to Know
Laboratory Accidents
• Nine out of ten lab accidents
are caused by operator error
– Due to operator fatigue,
inattentive, or haste
• Other common causes
– Improper use of equipment
– Use of the wrong tool for
the job
– Poor equipment
maintenance
Minimize Risk and Exposure
• Assume that all substances
of unknown toxicity are toxic
• Chemicals cause harm
through
• Inhalation
• Ingestion
• Skin contact
• Wear appropriate personal
protective equipment
• Don’t take short cuts
• Think Safety
Questions???
• College of William & Mary Environment,
Health, & Safety
– http://www.wm.edu/facman/safety/index.php
• Jefferson Lab Environment, Health, & Safety
– http://www.jlab.org/ehs/manual/PDF/EHSbookTO
C.pdf
Exposure Prevention
 The best way to prevent exposure to
airborne substances is to prevent their
escape into the working atmosphere by
the use of ventilation devices such as
fume hoods and exhaust fans
 Best way to protect against ingestion
hazards is to prohibit eating, drinking,
smoking and applying cosmetics in the
lab.
 The best way to protect against skin
contact with substances is to wear
personal protective equipment (gloves,
safety glasses, lab coat, long pants,
closed-toe shoes).