Environmental Engineering
Lab Safety
Fall 2010
Proper Lab Attire
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Safety glasses must be worn at
all times
 No contact lenses – can retain and
trap chemicals
Gloves – latex or nitrile
Shoes must be closed-toe and
enclose the heel – no sandals or
clogs
Tie back long hair, no loose fitting
clothing
Proper Lab Behavior
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No eating or drinking
No smoking or chewing gum
Don’t bring drink or food containers into
lab
Keep your workspace and all common
areas clean and orderly
Don’t place glassware near edge of lab
bench
Don’t let water drip onto power strips
No horse play
Handling Glassware
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Glass breakage – most common
cause of injury in labs (e.g. when
inserting pipette into pipette bulb)
Discard all broken, chipped, starred
or badly scratched glassware
Do not attempt to catch glassware if
dropped or knocked over
Do not pressurize conventional
glassware
Fume Hoods
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Serve as a physical and chemical
barrier for chemical exposure
Keep head outside of hood
Keep sash closed if not in use
Keep sash opening at a minimum
when in use
Keep clutter inside hood to a
minimum
Don’t use for chemical storage
Preparation of Solutions
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Always add concentrated chemical
(e.g. acid or base) to water – NOT
water to concentrated chemical
Labels
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Clearly identify contents – do not
abbreviate
Date
Your name and contact information
Waste Disposal
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Do not throw lab wastes into the
trash or pour down the drain
Waste must be disposed of in an
appropriate container with
secondary containment
Waste containers have to be labeled
with date and contents
Keep waste segregated by type:
organic vs. inorganic, etc.
Materials Safety Data Sheets
(MSDS)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
6.
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8.
Identification
Composition
Physical Data
Fire Fighting Measures
Hazards Identification
Stability & Reactivity
Handling & Storage
Exposure Controls
Spill Control & Clean-up
How do I get an MSDS?
o
o
Folder in lab for compounds used in lab
Use EHSC Web Home Page
http://www.ncsu.edu/ehs/MSDS.htm
In Case of Spills or Accidents…
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Know location and how to use it
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First aid kit
Safety shower
Eyewash station
Sand bucket – for non-hazardous liquid
spills
Locations of Safety Equipment
Figure 1:
Floor Plan
Room 109
Mann Hall
N
Safety Shower
Eye Wash
Safety Glasses
Spill Control Station
First Aid
Fire Extinguisher
Fume Hood
Exit
In Case of Emergencies…
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Know campus emergency number
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911
Know exit locations
Know location of fire alarms
Know location of fire extinguisher
Evacuate area when alarm sounds
Know evacuation assembly location
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In parking lot across the street from
the building
Evacuation Plan/Fire Alarms
N
Figure 2: Floor Plan
Mann Hall Basement
Room
109
Building
Exit
Fire Extinguisher
Fire Alarm Switch
Building
Exit
Building
Exit