Laboratory Safety Manual
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LABORATORY SAFETY MANUAL Environment, Health & Safety 1120 Estes Drive Extension CB# 1650 TABLE OF CONTENTS Section or Chapter Page Introduction i Emergency Telephone Numbers ii EHS – Scope of Service iii Condensed Laboratory Safety Information for New Research Personnel v Chapter 1 – Laboratory Safety at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 1-1 Chapter 2 – Laboratory Safety Plan 2-1 Chapter 3 – General Safety Principles and Practices 3-1 Chapter 4 – Proper Storage of Chemicals in Laboratories 4-1 Chapter 5 – Protective Clothing and Equipment 5-1 Chapter 6 – Safe Handling of Chemicals 6-1 Chapter 7 – Highly Toxic Chemicals and Select Carcinogens 7-1 Chapter 8 – Reproductive Health 8-1 Chapter 9 – Controlled Substances 9-1 Chapter 10 – Fire Safety 10-1 Chapter 11 – Explosive and Reactive Chemical Hazards 11-1 Chapter 12 – Management of Laboratory Wastes 12-1 Chapter 13 – Safe Handling of Peroxidizable Compounds 13-1 Chapter 14 – Safe Handling of Laboratory Animals 14-1 Chapter 15 – Safe Handling of Biological Hazards 15-1 Chapter 16 – Biological Safety Cabinets 16-1 Chapter 17 – Laboratory Hoods 17-1 Chapter 18 – Safe Use of Nanomaterials 18-1 Revisions to Laboratory Safety Manual REV-1 Laboratory Safety Manual – the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill INTRODUCTION This manual is a safety reference document for laboratory personnel at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The University’s Department of Environment, Health & Safety prepared this manual, followed by review and approval from both the University’s Laboratory and Chemical Safety Committee (LCSC) and the University Safety and Security Committee (USSC). This manual provides basic information about hazards that you may encounter in the laboratory and safety precautions to prevent laboratory accidents and minimize exposure to hazardous chemicals. The Laboratory Safety Manual is part of the University's "Chemical Hygiene Plan" required by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (http://www.osha.gov) in its "Occupational Exposures to Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories" Standard (29 CFR 1910.1450). Each laboratory that uses hazardous materials must have a printed copy of this manual readily available to employees in the laboratory, along with certain other materials described in Chapter 1. Each laboratory worker must be familiar with the contents that pertain to his or her workplace and the procedures for obtaining additional safety information needed to perform his or her duties safely. In order to keep the contents of this manual up-to-date with current regulations and best practices, EHS may periodically rewrite, add, or delete sections. EHS will notify the Principal Investigator and Safety Supervisor listserv and post the changes to the EHS website when this occurs. The message will prompt you to add, replace, or discard particular pages as needed. EHS will maintain a log of the additions, deletions, and replacements to the Laboratory Safety Manual on the Laboratory Safety page: http://ehs.unc.edu/ih/lab/. Comments and suggestions for improving the manual are welcome and encouraged. Please send comments to: Director Environment, Health & Safety 1120 Estes Drive Extension, CB# 1650 (p) 962-5507 (f) 962-0227 email: [email protected] ______________________________________________________________________________ June 2008 LSM i Laboratory Safety Manual – the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill EMERGENCY TELEPHONE NUMBERS PHONE HOURS Environment, Health and Safety 962-5507* 8:00 am- 5:00 pm (EHS) Work-Related Injuries 966-9119 8:30 am - 4:30 pm (normal work hours) Work-Related Injuries 966-7890 After hours (after hours) University Police 911 24 hours Fire or Smoke 911 24 hours Medical Emergencies 911 24 hours N.C. Poison Control Center 1-800-84 TOXIN 24 hours (1-800-848-6946) *University Police contacts EHS during non-business hours. SPECIAL INCIDENT REPORTING Gas Leaks or Odors: EHS - 962-5507 Chemical Spills: EHS - 962-5507 ______________________________________________________________________________ April 2007 LSM ii Laboratory Safety Manual – the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill EHS - SCOPE OF SERVICE EHS employs a staff of professionals trained in the field of occupational and environmental health and safety to provide support for University activities and to assure a safe and healthful environment for employees, students and visitors. The Department’s program areas are: Radiation Safety The radiation safety program includes inventory and purchase control of radiation sources, use application review, monitoring, radiation safety surveys, training and consultation. The Radiation Safety Manual describes the radiation safety program in detail: http://ehs.unc.edu/manuals/index.shtml. Fire Safety EHS’ fire safety section is responsible for enforcing the North Carolina Building and Fire Codes, investigating fire incidents, developing evacuation procedures, implementing the Egress and Life Safety Policy, maintaining fire alarm and extinguishing systems, and serving as liaison to the State Department of Insurance. EHS reviews construction, renovation and maintenance projects to ensure compliance with safety standards. Direct any concerns relating to fire or life safety to the Campus Fire Marshal. Regular health and safety inspections of University physical facilities (buildings, offices, laboratories, classrooms and shops) identify safety deficiencies and potential hazards. Industrial Hygiene and Biological Safety The industrial hygiene and biological safety program inspects University work environments to anticipate, recognize, evaluate, and control personnel exposures to chemical, physical and biological hazards. IHBS provides consultative services to laboratory personnel on proper handling and storage of hazardous chemicals and infectious agents, ventilation and other engineering controls, safety equipment and personal protective clothing. The industrial hygiene section investigates and evaluates potential health hazards encountered by University personnel. This section also conducts performance testing of chemical hoods, provides employee safety training, and reviews proposed plans for new or renovated laboratory facilities. IHBS operates an asbestos program that surveys campus buildings for asbestos, collects air samples in buildings with asbestos, and inspects asbestos abatement contractors for compliance with state regulations. ______________________________________________________________________________ April 2007 LSM iii Laboratory Safety Manual – the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Environmental Affairs – Hazardous Waste Management The hazardous waste management program assists University departments in properly disposing of hazardous materials used in their support and research operations. A major goal of the program is to encourage researchers to incorporate waste minimization procedures in their research protocols. Safety Training Safety training programs available to University personnel provide a review of safe practices and provide an orientation to University policies and state and federal regulations. Programs are available in the following areas: • laboratory safety (required for all laboratory personnel) • radiation safety • use of fire extinguishers • compliance with the OSHA standard for Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories, also known as the “OSHA Laboratory Standard” • compressed gas cylinder safety • biological safety • hazardous waste • animal handler training (available through the Office of Animal Care and Use) Contact EHS for a schedule of classes or arrange a presentation for your laboratory. EHS Website You can obtain additional information regarding EHS by accessing the EHS website at http://ehs.unc.edu. The website includes Health and Safety forms that one can download (MS Word format), Laboratory Safety Data Sheets, several self-study modules, access to employee training history, training schedules, annual reports, guidelines for recombinant DNA use, links to Material Safety Data Sheet sites, and much more and EHS continually updates it. ______________________________________________________________________________ April 2007 LSM iv Laboratory Safety Manual – the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Condensed Laboratory Safety Information for New Research Personnel (Adapted from Responsible Conduct of Research 2005, Office of Vice Chancellor for Research & Economic Development) Safe use of hazardous materials requires knowledge of risks to the researcher, campus community, and environment. Researchers learn to handle hazardous materials safely during their scientific training and experience, as well as through information and training provided by their supervisors and the University’s Department of Environment, Health, and Safety (EHS). This section summarizes some key requirements, and the subsequent chapters of this Laboratory Safety Manual expand on these requirements. Through campus committees, the University has established environment, health, and safety policies and procedures to minimize risk and comply with state and federal laws. These policies and procedures are in this Laboratory Safety Manual, the Radiation and Biological Safety Manuals, as well as the EHS web site (http://ehs.unc.edu/). All laboratory personnel are welcome to participate in University environment, health, and safety committees. Although many of these policies and procedures are directed at laboratories, any research involving hazardous