College of William and Mary
at the Applied Research Center
Employee Safety Guidelines
Prepared by Natalie Pearcy
Safe Operating Procedures at the
William and Mary ARC laboratories
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Proper Employee Attire
Handling Gases
Handling Cryogenics
Lab Safety Equipment
Lab Maintenance
Emergency Procedures
Necessary Attire
Some Lab procedures require protective clothing. Everyday jobs may
include lifting and moving heavy objects such as gas cylinders, or working
with caustic chemicals. For these reasons, proper attire in the lab is very
important.
DOs and DON’Ts
To protect yourself from injury always wear close-toed shoes.
Open-toed shoes or excessive high-heels are not to be worn in the
lab. Soles should have treads that give you good traction on
smooth floors.
Necessary Attire
Long hair or loose clothing can be dangerous
in the lab. For your own safety, as well as
cleanliness of the equipment and samples
you are working with, keep long hair or
clothing (e.g. large sleeves or neck ties) away
from your immediate work area. These
things as well as jewelry are also potential
hazards when working with moving
equipment and electrical devices.
Some tasks such as pouring liquid Nitrogen or
cutting samples at the work bench require special
safety equipment like goggles or masks and
gloves. Always check standard operating
procedure before performing a new task.
Necessary Attire
It is standard practice to always
wear gloves when handling,
loading, or unloading samples
and also when cleaning the lab
or equipment. If you have a
known allergy to latex, please
notify your supervisor
immediately.
Employees wearing unsafe or inappropriate attire will be asked
to leave work and return later with proper dress, forfeiting their
pay for the lost time. Repeated violation of this or any safety
procedure will result in written notification to your lab sponsor.
Handling Gas Cylinders
Handling and transporting gas cylinders
are common jobs at the ARC, but also
require a great amount of caution.
Besides being very heavy and difficult to
move, the cylinders contain high
pressure gases. Dropping or damaging
a gas cylinder can result in the rapid loss
of pressure making the cylinder into a
gas propelled missile. Less severe
damage may result in the slow expulsion
of gas, displacing oxygen and causing 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
If you have 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 to.
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 of liquid nitrogen,
remember to wear the temperature
shielding cryo-gloves that are available.
Always wear long pants and close-toed
shoes when pouring or transporting
liquid nitrogen as any skin contact will
cause a burn. When filling a dewar,
always wear a face shield and goggles
to protect you from any spills or gas
plumes.
Handling Liquid Nitrogen
Pouring Liquid Nitrogen
When pouring liquid nitrogen into another
dewar or into lab equipment, have the
necessary tools ready and use caution. Use a
funnel capable of withstanding the temperature
change to avoid spills. Always wear
temperature shielding gloves, long pants and
shoes as described in the previous slide. Do
not try and lift a dewar that is too heavy for you,
or pour liquid nitrogen at any level above your
shoulders. Do not try to pour liquid nitrogen
into equipment when you are alone. Always
have someone nearby to help you in case of
difficulty.
Note: Spilling LN2 on floors will cause damage
to vinyl tiles, which is costly to repair.
Lab Safety Equipment
All of William and Mary’s labs at the ARC
are stocked with standard safety
equipment.
Fire extinguishers are marked and
mounted near the entrance to the labs as
well as in the lab hallways.
Protective equipment such as gloves and
earplugs are available in all of the labs.
Some labs will have several stations
where these are available, others are
stored in plastic boxes near the fume
hood.
Lab Safety Equipment
Lab coats are available in all of the
William and Mary labs. They should be
worn when dealing with caustic chemicals
to protect you from a spill.
When you are finished using a lab coat, make sure that it is clean and
free of any contaminant before you hang it up. Remember to hang the
lab coat on a peg or coat hanger by itself. Do not let the inside of a
lab coat come in contact with the outside of another one.
Lab Safety Equipment
In case of 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 while in the lab and in
case of an emergency.
Lab Maintenance
Any space you use in the lab is to be kept clean and organized. A cluttered
work area, unlabeled containers or samples, or lack of cleanliness can be
dangerous to you and other people in the lab.
While you are working in the labs, make sure
everything you need is clean and ready to
use, and that all of your samples and
containers are labeled. When you are
finished working, clean up the workspace you
used, and clean and return all tools and
equipment to their proper place. Clean the
area around your work area including the
floor which should be kept clear of cords or
other hazards. If you have to store
containers or samples, please place them in
a drawer 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.
Lab Maintenance
Although everyone is responsible for cleaning his
or her own workspace, general lab clean up is still
necessary. Everyone takes a part in cleaning the
lab benches, floors, and work areas in the labs.
Occasionally the lab benches and tables must be
cleared and wiped down and the floors are swept
and vacuumed. In case of a spill, clean up
promptly and prevent foot traffic until the spill area
is dry. Never pour chemicals down the drain nor
dispose of contaminated material in ordinary trash.
Only water and soap or detergent may go down
one of the lab drains.
If any work is left in the work area, it may
be moved for cleanup. If any unlabeled
or unorganized work is left out then it may
be moved to the lost and found drawer or
thrown away if it is left for a long period of
time.
Emergency Procedures
Employees are expected to be familiar with emergency procedures
for their work area and any special procedures regarding equipment
or materials. Make sure that ODH, GERT, and other required
certifications are kept up to date.
IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY OR SERIOUS INJURY,
CALL 911 AND THEN CALL 4444.
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, avoiding 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/phone_card.pdf
Employee Safety Guidelines
Make sure the lab stays a clean and safe
place to work. Follow all safety guidelines
and standard operating procedures. Don’t
hesitate to ask any questions regarding safety
or if you are not familiar with a procedure.
Also, don’t hesitate to point out any unsafe
conditions or practices you encounter.
Take the time to ensure safety in
the lab. A few minutes to cleanup
and find the right equipment will
save you time and work, and
make the lab a safe and efficient
place for everyone to work.