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Department of Chemistry Chemistry Life Safety

Research Assistant Safety Contract

This safety contract is a minimum set of rules you agree to follow to work in any research lab in the Department of Chemistry.  This applies to undergraduate, graduate, and all other research assistants.

printable version (.docx) (.pdf)

 

 

WSU-Chemistry- Research Assistant Safety Contract

Every graduate student who is enrolled in the department of chemistry is required to sign the safety contract prior to issuance of keys to laboratory and office space in the department. The contract is distributed to students and the signed contract is collected by the Chemistry Storeroom for records keeping.

 

SUMMARY OF LABORATORY SAFETY RULES

  1. General Safety:
    • Researchers are required to practice disciplined and responsible conduct at all times in the building. Playing around in the laboratory, sitting or leaning on the lab benches, and disorderly behavior are not permitted. Be alert and proceed with caution at all times when in the lab. Avoid any behavior that might confuse, startle, or distract another worker.
    • Keep work areas clean, chemicals properly stored and labeled, and equipment properly stored. Ensure lids on reagent bottles are secure.
    • Avoid working alone in a building.
    • Do not work alone in a laboratory if the procedures being conducted are hazardous.
    • Make arrangements to cross check between individuals working alone in separate laboratories.
    • Take proper precautions when running an operation overnight.
    • Be familiar with all relevant departmental Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
    • Do not remove materials from a laboratory without the express permission of the PI.
  1. Personal Hygiene:
  • Consumption of any type of food/drink (beverages, chewing gum, tobacco, etc.) or application and/or use of cosmetics (lip balm, gloss etc.) in the laboratory is prohibited.
  • Store, handle, and consume food and beverages in an area well separated from the work area and hazardous substances.
  • Do not use laboratory refrigerators, freezers, ice chests, cold rooms for storing food and beverages.
  • Do not use laboratory glassware as food or beverage containers.
  • Do not apply cosmetics in the laboratory.
  • Wash hands with soap and water after work in the laboratory and after spill clean‐ups.
  • Wash promptly with soap and water whenever a chemical has contacted the skin. For caustic chemicals, flush the area with water for 15 minutes.
  • Avoid inhalation of chemicals; use the wafting technique to test chemicals.
  • Do not mouth pipet or use mouth suction for starting a siphon.
  1. Personal Apparel:
  • Always wear a lab coat in the laboratory.
  • Wear eye protection—goggles or safety glasses—appropriate for the task. When using any hazardous liquid where chemical splash goggles with no direct open holes.
  • Avoid wearing contact lenses in the laboratory. If wearing contact lenses while working with chemicals take precautions from chemical exposure. Notify co‐workers that you wear contact lenses.
  • Wear appropriate protective gloves when working with corrosive, sensitizing, radioactive, hazardous chemicals, or potentially biohazardous materials.
  • Wear respiratory protection when necessary.
  • Tie back or secure long hair and loose clothing. Keep beards trimmed.
  • Wear shoes that protect or cover your feet. Avoid wearing sandals and perforated shoes.
  • Wear clothes that can serve as a layer of protection without presenting other hazards that cover toe to shoulder.
    • No bare midriffs or ankles
    • No tank tops or low cut tops
    • No shorts, skirts, or cropped pants
    • No sandals, open toe, slippers, or open topped shoe (mary jane shoes, crocs, ect)
  • Avoid wearing extremely loose clothing, or extremely tight clothing.
  • Opt for clothing made of natural fibers over clothing made of synthetic fibers.
  • Do not wear laboratory coats, gloves and other protective clothing outside the laboratory.
  1. Personal Protection:
  • Monitor where applicable for radioactivity or other hazardous contamination.
  • Know the hazards of the chemicals, radioactive isotopes, and infectious agents you use.
  • Take proper precautions when using chemicals, isotopes, or infectious agents.
  • Use the appropriate equipment or engineering controls for the task to prevent exposure to hazardous agents.
  1. Disposal
  • Know the proper departmental procedure for disposal procedures for hazardous chemicals, infectious agents, and radioactive material.
  • All cleaning liquids which can be deemed hazardous or contaminated by hazardous materials must be disposed properly as a hazardous material.
  • Ensure incompatible wastes are kept separate (oxidizers should not be added to organic waste, ect.)
  • All reagent, chemical, and waste containers must be properly labeled and capped when not in use.
  • Waste containers should be disposed of at least every 90 days from time it’s first opened even if it’s not full.
  1. Chemical Safety:
    • Know the location of Safety Data Sheets (SDS). These are available through the share drive: //chem-diamond3.ad.wsu.edu/FulmerChemicals/SDS
    • Do not store incompatible chemicals together. (Store chemicals by reactive group order first then, if desired, alphabetically.)
    • Store and transport all chemicals in secondary containers (i.e. Nalgene tubs). Secondary containers will serve to contain spills and can be used to segregate incompatibles.
    • Clearly label all chemical containers with the chemical identity (including water) by name and not formula.
    • Do not use the fume hood for long-term storage of any amounts of chemicals, or excessive storage of equipment/materials.
    • Do not block the airflow into the fume hood’s in the first and last 6” of the fume hood.
    • Keep the fume hood sash lowered to under 18” operating height when using it. Close the sash when finished.
    • Check the fume hood airflow with the sash at operating height prior to use.
    • Do not keep more than 10 gallons of flammable liquids outside the flammable storage cabinet.
    • Store flammable and combustible liquids not in use in a flammable storage cabinet.
    • Label refrigerators, freezers, and walk‐in cold rooms as to suitability for flammable liquid storage.
    • Do not store flammable chemicals in refrigerators, freezers, or cold rooms not approved for storage of flammable chemicals.
    • Label all chemicals with the date received or prepared and hazard information.
    • Discard outdated chemicals in a timely manner.
    • Do not keep peroxide forming chemicals longer than one year or specified time after opening.
    • Thoroughly rinse AND deface any chemical bottle before discarding it in the appropriate waste.
    • Do not purchase greater quantities of chemicals than you need for your experiments.
  1. Laser Safety
  • Prepare laser safety operating procedures prior to commencing laser operations.
  • Request EH&S review of equipment and design and laser safety procedures when fabricating new systems or making major alterations of existing systems.
  • Assure that laser operators and users have completed a medical eye examination as required.
  • Receive pre‐assignment and termination eye examinations when working with Class IIIB or Class IV lasers.
  • Ensure that lasers made “in house” meet the criteria of the applicable standards including ANSI Z136.1 and 21 CFR part 1040. These lasers should be reviewed by EH&S.
  • Observe all safety rules, and properly use all prescribed personal protective equipment.
  • Receive training before use of a laser.
  1. Biological Safety
  • Mouth pipetting is prohibited and may lead to the accidental ingestion of biohazardous materials.
  • Specimens of blood or other potentially infectious materials should be placed inside a leak proof, unbreakable container during handling, processing, storage, transport or shipping.
  • All work surfaces should be cleaned with a suitable disinfectant at the conclusion of the experiment or immediately after a spill.
  • Place a label with the international biohazard symbol on any work surface or piece of equipment where biohazardous materials are stored or used.
  • Personal protective equipment, such as gloves and a lab coat should be worn whenever biological work is conducted in the lab. Additional items of personal protective equipment, such as a face shield for splash hazards should be considered whenever hazards cannot be abated by good work practice or engineering controls.
  • Make sure to contact Research Assurances if beginning BSL work.
  1. Emergency Preparedness:
  • Know where emergency equipment is located: first‐aid kit, eyewash, safety shower, fire extinguishers, and spill kits.
  • Know how to respond in case of a hazardous spill, fire, or medical emergency.
  • Maintain aisles and exits clear of obstructions. Do not block access to emergency equipment or electrical panels.
  • Keep gas cylinders chained to the wall and capped when not in use.
  • Store materials secured and limited in height to prevent material from falling.
  • Report all incidents to your supervisor.
  • Know meet locations and evacuation plan for your area.
  1. Warning Signs:
  • Post emergency response phone numbers by the phone.
  • Post warning signs in the areas where there are: biological hazards, carcinogens, lasers, radioactivity, UV light, or other special hazards.
  • Label refrigerators either approved for storage of flammable liquids or not approved for storage of flammable liquids.
  1. Electrical Safety:
  • Check for worn, frayed, abraded, or corroded electrical wires.
  • Do not use “octopus” or outlet multiplier adapters.
  • Use grounded, triple‐pronged plugs for all electrical equipment.
  • Power strips and extension cords for electrical equipment may not be “daisy chained” to each other. An extension cord may only be plugged directly into a wall outlet. Running several power strips and extension cords off one another is a fire hazard.
  1. Equipment Maintenance:
  • Make sure fume hoods, biological safety cabinets, and laminar flow benches are certified by life safety annually.
  • Clean refrigerators and freezers regularly.
  1. Laboratory Safety Manual:

The Washington State University Laboratory Safety Manual can be found at the following website:

Laboratory Safety Manual

 

I have read and agree to the safety rules set forth in the chemistry lab safety contract. I realize that I must obey these rules in order to insure my own safety, as well as the safety of others. I am aware that any violations of the contract can result in the removal from the laboratory and loss of credit for the experiment. I also understand that I can be held financially responsible for the laboratory equipment used in this course if I break or destroy an item due to carelessness, neglect, or misuse.

 

SIGNATURE                                                                                                                    DATE _______________

 

Printed Name_______________________________________________________________________

 

Name of Supervisor_________________________________________________________________

 

 

DEPARTMENT (CIRCLE):     CHEMISTRY      MATERIAL SCIENCES      SCHOOL OF MOLECULAR BIOSCIENCES

                                                                           OTHER DEPARTMENT

 

TITLE (CIRCLE): GRAD STUDENT    UNDERGRAD STUDENT   POST-DOCTORAL FELLOW  

                              VISITING SCHOLAR     OTHER:___________________