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Lab Safety Manual (PDF) Laboratory Safety Manual The University of Texas at Austin December 2017 1 Laboratory Safety Manual THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND SAFETY December 2017 2 Laboratory Safety Manual Introduction The University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin) is committed to maintaining the safest possible laboratories. We encourage faculty and researchers to take all reasonable precautions to protect the health and safety of everyone - staff, students, visitors and the general public. In other words, we want to keep you and those around you safe. Laboratory operations can be dangerous whether you are working with hazardous materials or equipment or just performing common laboratory procedures. Every day there are incidents in teaching and research laboratories on university campuses across the U.S. Although many accidents are minor, there are also serious cases, including fatalities. Every year, UT Austin has multiple incidents in our laboratories. Our goal is to reduce that number and reduce accidental injuries. This Laboratory Safety Manual has been prepared specifically for UT Austin by Environmental Health and Safety in collaboration with the faculty Research Safety Advisory Committee. The manual promotes safe and practical laboratory procedures. We have included information on the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), the use and storage of chemicals, hazard communication and the proper methods of waste disposal. This manual also covers emergency procedures and incident response should something go wrong. It is important to recognize that this manual does not cover all the risks and hazards in every laboratory. There are a wide variety of hazardous materials handled in laboratories at UT Austin. Faculty and researchers know the most about the unique hazards in their laboratory. It is expected that the Principal Investigator will append any supplementary safety information to this manual pertinent to their specific laboratory. 3 Table of Contents I. Responsibilities……………………………………………………………………..…… 7 University-wide Laboratory Safety Responsibilities…………………………………. 7 Environmental Health and Safety……………………………………………………… 7 Personnel of the University……………………………………………………………. 7 Facility Services………………………………………………………………............... 7 Research Safety and Advisory Committee……………………………….................. 7 College Laboratory Safety Responsibilities…………………………………………... 8 Dean……………………………………………………………………………………… 8 Department Chairs and Directors……………………………………………………… 8 Laboratory Safety Coordinator…………………………………………….................. 8 Principal Investigators and Laboratory Supervisors………………………………… 8 Personnel…………………………………………………………………………........... 9 II. Emergency Procedures………………………………………………………………… 10 Primary Emergency Procedures for Fires, Spills and Accidents (Gas Leaks) …… 10 Special Procedures for Radioactive Hazards………………………………………… 11 Building Evacuation Procedures………………………………………………………. 11 III. Fundamentals of Laboratory Safety………………………………………………… 13 1. Risk Assessment…………………………………………………………….. 13 2. Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)…………….... ………………. 13 3. Training……………………………………………………………………….. 13 a. Site Specific Training (OH 102)…………………………………… 13 b. Hazard Communication Training (OH 101)………………………. 15 c. Laboratory Safety Training (OH 201)…………………………….. 15 d. Fire Extinguisher Training (FF 205)……………………….……. 15 e. Hazardous Waste Management Training (OH 202)…………….. 15 f. Bloodborne Pathogens and Biosafety Training (OH 218, OH 207)…………………………………………………… 16 g. Other Lab Safety Training Classes……………………………... 16 h. Checking Your Training History Online………………………....... 16 4. Personal Protective Equipment Policy…………………………………….. 16 5. Chemical Procurement, Transport, and Storage………………………….17 a. Procurement…………………………………………………………. 17 b. Stockrooms/Storerooms……………………………………………. 17 c. Transporting/Shipping………………………………………………. 18 d. Laboratory Chemical Storage…………………………………....... 18 6. Storage Cabinets……………………………………………………………. 21 a. Flammable Storage Cabinets…………………………………….. 21 b. Acid Storage Cabinets……………………………………………… 22 4 c. Compressed Gas Cylinder Cabinets……………………………… 22 7. Signs and Labels…………………………………………………………….. 24 8. Records……………………………………………………………………….. 25 a. Hazardous Chemical Inventory……………………………………. 25 b. Laboratory Incidents……………………………………………....... 25 c. Monitoring……………………………………………………………. 25 d. Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)………….…………………. 26 9. Occupational Health Program……………………………………………… 26 a. Procedures for Authorizing Medical Treatment………………….. 26 b. Physician’s Written Opinion………………………………………... 27 c. University Health Services…………………………………………. 27 10. Chemical Waste Disposal Program…………………………………….. 28 a. Chemical Waste Containers………………………………………. 28 b. Accumulation of Chemical Waste…………………………………. 29 c. Submitting Requests for Disposal of Chemical Waste to EHS… 30 11. Laboratory Evaluations…………………………………………………… 30 a. Self-Evaluations…………………………………………………….. 30 12. Minors in Laboratories……………………………………………………. 30 IV. Basic Guidelines for Working with Hazardous Materials………………..……… 33 1. General Rules………………………………………………….................. 33 a. Laboratory Protocol…………………………………………………. 33 b. Accidents and Spills………………………………………………… 35 c. Steps to Prevent Routine Exposure………………………………. 35 d. Equipment and Glassware………………………………............ 36 e. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)…… ……………………… 41 f. Unattended Operations…………………………………………….. 43 g. Use of Fume Hoods………………………………………………… 44 h. Storage of Chemicals in the Lab………………………………..... 45 2. Working with Allergens……………………………………………………… 45 3. Working with Embryotoxins………………………………………………… 45 4. Working with Chemicals of Moderate Chronic or High Acute Toxicity.... 46 5. Working with Substances of High Chronic Toxicity……………………… 49 V. Procedures for Specific Classes of Hazardous Chemicals…………………….. 52 1. Flammable Liquids…………………………………………………….......... 52 a. Terms and Definitions………………………………………………. 52 b. Use and Storage of Flammables………………………………….. 53 c. Health Hazards Associated with Flammables…………………. 53 d. First Aid Procedures for Exposures to Flammable Materials…...54 e. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)……………………………. 54 2. Oxidizers……………………………………………………………………… 55 a. General Characteristics……………………………………………. 55 b. Examples of Common Oxidizers………………………………….. 55 c. Use and Storage of Oxidizers………………………….................. 55 d. Use and Storage of Perchloric Acid………………………………. 55 5 e. Health Hazards Associated with Oxidizers………………………. 56 f. First Aid………………………………………………………………. 56 g. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)……… …………………… 56 3. Corrosives (Acids and Bases)……………………… ……………………...56 a. General Characteristics……………………………………………. 56 b. Examples of Corrosives…………………………………. ……… 57 c. Use and Storage of Corrosives……………………………………. 57 d. Use and Storage of Hydrofluoric Acid……………………………. 58 e. First Aid……………………………………………………………… 59 f. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)……… …………………… 59 4. Reactives……………………………………………………………............. 60 a. General Characteristics……………………………………………. 62 b. Use and Storage of Reactives…………………………………….. 62 c. Health Hazards Associated with Reactives……………………….63 5. Compressed Gas Cylinders………………………………………………… 64 a. General Characteristics……………………………………………. 64 b. Purchase Policy……………………………………………………... 64 c. Use and Storage……………………………………………………. 65 6. Nanomaterials………………………………………………………………... 69 a. Overview ................................................................................... 69 b. Regulations ............................................................................... 70 c. Risk Anaylsis/Assessment ......................................................... 70 d. Exposure Routes ....................................................................... 70 e. Factors Affecting Exposure ........................................................ 73 f. Containment ............................................................................... 74 g. Using Nanomaterials with Animals ............................................. 76 h. Waste Disposal .......................................................................... 77 i. Training and Documentation ....................................................... 77 j. Emergency Response ................................................................. 78 k. Occupational Health ................................................................... 78 l. Glossary ..................................................................................... 79 m. References ............................................................................... 80 VI. Physical Hazards a. Fire Safety……………………………………………………………82 b. Hearing……………………………………………………………….81 c. Shop Safety Rules…………………………………………………..81 d. Ergonomics…………………………………………………………..82 References………………………………………………………………………………. 83 Appendix A: Laboratory Safety Coordinator…………………………………….. 85 Appendix B: Chemical Storage Segregation Scheme…………………………... 86 Appendix C: Emergency Instructions……………………………………………… 89 Appendix D: Lab Inspection Checklist…………………………………………….. 91 Appendix E: Risk Assessment Template………………………………………… 93 6 I. Responsibilities Lab workers conducting chemical reactions, using chemicals, or performing laboratory procedures are required to have proper training in the safe handling and disposal of all materials they use. Each individual is responsible for conducting activities in a safe manner that complies with the applicable requirements of state and federal law as well as with university policies and procedures described in this manual. Oversight responsibility for ensuring that
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