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 (OSHA) in its "Occupational Exposures to Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories" Standard (29 CFR 1910.1450). Each laboratory that uses hazardous materials must have a copy of this manual readily accessible to employees in the laboratory. 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. You are not required to keep a printed copy of this manual unless your work location does not have access to an electronic version. 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) 919-962-5507 (f) 919-962-0227 email: [email protected] ______________________________________________________________________________ July 2014 LSM i Laboratory Safety Manual – the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill EMERGENCY TELEPHONE NUMBERS (Post a copy of this page by your laboratory telephone.) PHONE HOURS Environment, Health and Safety 919-962-5507* 8:00 am- 5:00 pm (EHS) Work-Related Injuries 919-966-9119 8:30 am - 4:30 pm (normal work hours) Work-Related Injuries 919-966-7890 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 will contact EHS during non-business hours. SPECIAL INCIDENT REPORTING Gas Leaks or Odors: EHS – 919-962-5507 Chemical Spills: EHS – 919-962-5507 ______________________________________________________________________________ July 2014 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 sections include: Biological Safety The Biological Safety section provides general surveillance over activities involving biohazardous agents, monitors and reviews the performance and maintenance of containment systems, provides consulting services on aspects of biological safety, biosafety cabinets, and provides guidance and assistance concerning the packaging and shipping of biohazardous agents. Chemical Safety The Chemical Safety section works to anticipate, recognize, evaluate, and control personnel exposures to chemical hazards. The section provides consultative services to laboratory personnel on proper handling and storage of hazardous chemicals, laboratory chemical hoods, engineering controls, safety equipment and personal protective clothing. Environmental Affairs – Hazardous Waste Management The Environmental Affairs section has responsibility for oversight of environmental permitting and compliance activities, such as underground / above ground storage tank management, air quality permits (Title V), water quality (NPDES) permits, surface water quality, storm water management, wetland issues, and environmental assessments at inactive waste sites. This section also manages the hazardous and radioactive waste collection and disposal programs. Fire Safety and Emergency Response EHS’ Fire Safety and Emergency Response section is responsible for enforcing the North Carolina Building and Fire Codes, investigating fire incidents, developing evacuation procedures and maintaining fire alarm and extinguishing systems and coordinating the EHS Emergency Response and HazMat Team. Occupational and Environmental Hygiene The Occupational and Environmental Hygiene section is responsible for ensuring that indoor campus environments are conducive to good health and wellbeing, by recognizing, evaluating, and controlling health and safety hazards, using knowledge and experience in industrial hygiene, asbestos management, air and water quality, and safety engineering. The section assesses potential safety hazards, possible instances of exposure, and suitability of protective equipment. OEH works with facilities engineering and facilities services personnel to find ways to keep historical buildings functional, while protecting employee health, and works with planning, construction, and startup of new and renovated buildings to anticipate and eliminate building related health issues. Radiation Safety The Radiation Safety section provides services that include authorization for use of radioactive material and irradiators, personnel monitoring, x-ray safety surveys, sealed-source leak tests, and laboratory safety inspections. ______________________________________________________________________________ July 2014 LSM iii Laboratory Safety Manual – the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill University Employee Occupational Health Clinic The University Employee Occupational Health Clinic (UEOHC) provides occupational health care services to all part-time, full-time, and temporary employee of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The UEOHC directs medical care for all workplace injuries/illnesses. The UEOHC also provides pre-employment screening, annual immunization reviews, and medical surveillance for healthcare and non-healthcare workers. Employees working in healthcare facilities are required to have annual immunization reviews. Other groups of employees are required to have medical surveillance screening if they work with asbestos, animals, or use respiratory protection, etc. Departments employing persons that require any services other than workplace incidents/injuries are charged for these services. Workplace Safety The Workplace Safety Section provides services to Industrial Maintenance and Construction, Support Services and Clinic Environments. We offer expertise in ergonomics, respiratory protection, safety training, medical surveillance, workers' compensation and safety management information system. OTHER RESOURCES EHS Website You can obtain additional information regarding EHS by accessing the EHS website. The website includes Health and Safety forms available for download, several self-study modules, access to employee training history, training schedules, annual reports, guidelines for recombinant DNA use, links to Safety Data Sheet sites, and much more. EHS continually updates the website to best serve the UNC community. 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. The online New Employee Orientation for laboratory employees covers the following areas: laboratory safety (required for all laboratory personnel) 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 Radiation safety training is also conducted by EHS. Contact EHS for a schedule of classes or to arrange a presentation for your laboratory. Animal handler training is available through the Office of Animal Care and Use. ______________________________________________________________________________ July 2014 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 Manual and Biological Safety Manual as well as the EHS web site. 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,