Safety Regulations in the
Chemical Laboratory
Kate Nowell
Safety Officer School of Chemistry
Room: 252
Ext: 4-0548
Email: knowell@unimelb.edu.au
Sioe See Volaric
Deputy Safety Officer
Room: 283
Ext: 4-6472
Email: sioe@unimelb.edu.au
Christine Baggs
Bio 21 EHS Coordinator
Ext: 4-7757
Email: cbaggs@unimelb.edu.au
School of Chemistry, Jan 2015
Personal Protective Equipment
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Lab coat
Safety Glasses/Goggles
Closed shoes
Gloves: Latex, Nitrile, Neoprene, Barrier, PVC,
PVA, Cotton, Leather Welding, etc.
Face Shield
Other PPE as required for the task
Glove Safety
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Do:
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Ensure you use the correct glove for the chemicalconsult MSDS
Replace gloves IMMEDIATELY after contamination
Do Not:
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Re-use gloves
Touch common surfaces (door handles) with gloves
Wear gloves or lab coats outside of the lab
Watch out for defective gloves (check expiration date)
SHOES
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Examples of suitable footwear
Examples of unsuitable footwear
Personal Protective Equipment
The last line of defence.
PPE use is mandatory.
PPE Maintenance & Inspection:
 Check PPE on a regular basis—send lab
coats for cleaning
 Throw out PPE when it is worn/damaged
 Replace with new ones conforming to
Australian Standards
Building Evacuations
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If the alarm sounds, safely shutdown all experiments
(gases, heat, reactions that require monitoring).
A floor warden wearing a yellow hard hat will ensure
areas are clear and assist with an orderly evacuation
(do not wait to be told).
KNOW THE LOCATION OF:
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Various exit pathways
First Aid kits
Safety Showers / Eye Wash Stations
Spill kits—every lab must have one
Fire extinguishers / fire blankets
Emergency Assembly Area
Emergency Assembly Area
MacFarland Court
Emergency Information
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Once outside, take direction from the Wardens and proceed to the
assembly point – MacFarland Court (grassy area next to Chemistry
West).
Stay out of the building until you are told by the Building Emergency
Controller (BEC) that you are allowed to re-enter the building.
If you have an incident in your lab, please inform the Safety Officer
ASAP. No incident scene should be cleaned up without permission
from the Safety Officer.
If there is a fire and the fire alarm has not sounded, activate the
closest red break-glass alarm – this will contact the fire brigade and
evacuate the building. Only fight small fires.
Emergency contacts are listed in the Safety Manual and throughout
the building.
Material Safety Data Sheets
Before using a chemical for the first time, you must read the MSDS.
An MSDS contains information you need to safely use, store, and
dispose of the chemical and what to do in the event of a spill, leak
or exposure.
Australian MSDSs have 16 sections.
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Identification: UN number, DG class, Poisons schedule, Hazard
Ratings and statements, etc.
Physical data: Flashpoint, auto-ignition temperatures
Emergency data: Spills, health effects, first aid
Storage and use: Incompatibilities, disposal considerations.
MSDSs can be accessed in ChemWatch GoldFFX at:
http://safety.unimelb.edu.au/topics/chemical/chemwatch/
GoldFFX access and info
GoldFFX search
Search Results
ChemWatch MSDS
Hazards Identification
Exposure Control
Manufacturer’s MSDS list
Manufacturer’s MSDS
Chemical Hazard Risk Assessment
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Available in Green lab books from Chemistry
Store
Must be added to other lab books
Must be signed off by your supervisor before
the work
If this form is not appropriate for the
experiment use a generic risk assessment
form.
Risk Control Hierarchy
Most
Preferred
Least
Preferred
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Eliminate (design change)
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Substitute (safer chemical)
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Isolate (barriers / enclosure)
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Engineering controls (fume hood)
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Administrative controls (rules)
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Personal Protective Equipment
Faulty / Broken Equipment
Affix tag in a visible location and tell your supervisor
Waste
DO NOT POUR CHEMICALS
DOWN SINKS!
Use the appropriate waste
container (Water Soluble,
Water Insoluble,
Chlorinated etc.)
Recycling
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In green/yellow bins
Contents as indicated
Printer cartridges
Batteries (safe disposal)
Glass/plastic bottles
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Clean glass only in glass
bins behind the building –
choose recycling or landfill.
Remove chemical residue
Remove/deface chemical
label incl. hazard diamond
Residue-free chemical
containers are recyclablebins outside
Pyrex glass (lab
glassware), Pasteur
pipettes, slides are not
recyclable.
Housekeeping
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Keep benches tidy & clutter free
Corridors, passages, exits must remain clear
Seal all chemical and waste containers
Label chemical containers clearly (full chemical name)
Do not store chemical containers on the floor
Liquid chemicals must be in spill trays
Keep the laboratory floor dry at all times. Clean up spills.
Food and drink must never be taken into laboratories
Ensure sinks are clear of rubbish, debris and any
obstructions
Beware of broken glass – clean up only with dust pan and
brush to prevent glass cuts
Additional Requirements
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All water connections must have hose
clamps installed.
All unattended hotplates must have a
secondary temperature control method.
Passengers must not travel in a lift with
gas cylinders or liquid nitrogen.
Supervision / After hours work
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Hons/Masters/PhD students/staff must not carry out
experiments alone in the lab.
Working after hours: 6 pm – 7:45 am, weekends, public
holidays:
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Swipe card access, East Wing entrance or bio21 foyer
Fill in After-Hours Register
No hazardous operations after hours
Use a buddy system
Do not loan your keys/card to anyone. Report lost keys/card.
No parties, no alcohol consumption!
Gas Alarm strobe & siren
Gas Alarm Panel – data display
Gas Alarm Panel – data display
Gas Isolation Panel
Lab Inspections
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Full lab inspection: Every 3 months, Bio21
Every 6 months, Chem
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Emergency eye washes: Weekly
Safety Showers: Every 4 weeks
Specific Safety Inductions
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Resonance Lab, Room 283
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NMR, Mass Spectrometry, EPR
Decanting liquid nitrogen
X-Ray Diffractometer
Lasers (plus eye exam required)
Solvent Decanting
Other Safety Information
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Some entry/exit points to the building will be
blocked at various times. Learn your way
around using different entry/exit points.
Report unsafe areas/situations to the Safety
Officer.
Smoke Free Campus – designated spots only
Read Chem News every Friday for safety
updates. Let us know if you are not receiving it.
Required Study Documents
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Chemistry EHS Manual v5
http://www.chemistry.unimelb.edu.au/ehs-procedures-and-processes
Practical Aspects of Chemical Safety
Chemical Management – also return assessment
Compressed Gas Safety – also return assessment
Fire Extinguisher
Safety Regulations in the Chemical Lab (this presentation)
Laser & Ionising Radiation (if applicable)
Questionnaires to be returned and passed before work.
Laser Eye exam required before work.
http://www.university-eyecare.org.au/
Required Online Training
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Visit http://safety.unimelb.edu.au/support/training/courses/
Complete the following courses:
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EHS Roles & Responsibilities for Supervisors
Risk Management
Print or save your certificates of completion
Online Training
Record your details
Dept: Chemistry
Faculty: Science