Laboratory Safety Introduction

• Laboratory safety is essential for preventing injuries and illnesses.

Introduction to Safety

• Proper training is needed to make employees aware of potential hazards to their health or life.
• A better understanding of safety and its use in all aspects of life is gained through safety training.
• The University is obligated to protect students, assistants, faculty, and staff.
• There are specific regulations applicable to ISU to ensure compliance.

Agency Information

• Several agencies ensure safety compliance at the University.
• These agencies impact labs where safety is concerned.
• The National Institute of Health (NIH) is in charge of labs using recombinant DNA (rDNA).
• The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) is in charge of labs using infectious agents.
• CDC focuses on protecting personnel and the lab environment and aims for preventative measures by adhering to containment.
• OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) monitors hazardous materials, hazard communication, bloodborne pathogens, and occupational chemical exposure in ISU labs.
• OSHA monitors work conditions and eliminates physical and health hazards.
• The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is in charge of wastes that ISU generates and stores.
• The EPA focuses on hazardous wastes used in research labs that pose a threat to humans, animals, plants, and the environment.
• Biohazardous wastes are regulated and must be properly decontaminated and disposed of.
• The Environmental Health & Safety Office (EHS) oversees activities on campus.
• The EHS interprets laws and regulations, maintains records of health/safety standards, and handles fire/lab safety, training, and emergency response.

Training Importance and Responsibility

• Training is the most important aspect of safety and reduces illnesses/injuries while increasing worker efficiency/awareness.
• Training is required by regulation and is a commitment for ISU.
• Preventing hazards and increasing awareness is the goal of the EHS office.
• Everyone on campus is in charge of training.
• The individual is responsible for participating, comprehending, and utilizing training information for specific duties.
• Supervisors provide proper and effective training.
• The EHS provides assistance to departments in achieving regulatory compliance and developing proactive strategies.

Knowing Your Surroundings

• Know the location of fire alarms in proximity to the lab.
• In case of a fire, a quick response is the best response.
• Supervisors should show the location of the closest fire alarm.
• Fire safety training will provide safety procedures for the lab.
• Many labs contain hazardous substances.
• A hazardous substance is a material/substance that poses a physical or health hazard, including chemicals and biological agents.
• A biohazard is any organism that can replicate and cause disease in humans, animals, or plants.
• Differences exist between a physical hazard and a health hazard.

Health Hazards

• A health hazard has characteristics such as:
  • Being a carcinogen
  • Being toxic or highly toxic
  • Being a reproductive toxin
  • Being an irritant
  • Being corrosive
  • Being a sensitizer
  • Being hepatotoxic
  • Being nephrotoxic
  • Being a neurotoxin

Physical Hazards

• A physical hazard can be:
  • Explosive
  • Flammable
  • An oxidizer
  • Pyrophoric
  • An organic peroxide
  • A compressed gas
  • A combustible liquid
  • Unstable (reactive)
  • Water-reactive
• Locating the eye wash stations and safety showers is very important when physical or health hazards exist.
• Knowing where to go in an emergency can reduce injury/illness.
• First aid kits contain quick relief items, and their location should be known.
• It's recommended to visit Student Health Services if more than first aid is needed.
• The EHS office should be notified within 24 hours if an incident requires more than first aid.
• An emergency spill kit should be available when chemical, biological, or radioactive agents are in use.
• Know the location of the spill kit in the lab.

Hazards in the Lab

• Chemicals can pose a significant hazard and should be used in a properly working fume hood.
• Chemicals can release hazardous vapors that harm the environment and pose a major health threat.
• Chemicals must be handled and disposed of correctly.
• The hazards of chemicals in the lab must be communicated.
• OSHA requires a Chemical Hygiene Plan (CHP) for relaying information regarding procedures, equipment, PPE, and work practices that protect from health hazards.
• Supervisors provide information contained in the CHP.

Lab Safety Guidelines

• Following established guidelines minimizes hazards in a lab setting.
• It is important to take responsibility for actions, keeping in mind irresponsible acts could have lasting effects.
• Guidelines provide responsible conduct in the lab setting.
• As hazards increase, risks and responsibility also increase.

Lab Attire

• Lab attire should include:
  • No open-toed shoes
  • No shorts (unless a lab coat is used)
  • Restrained hair when handling hazardous materials
  • Removal of protective clothing and gloves in public
  • Proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for the job

Personal Habits

• Personal habits influence the minimizing of hazards.
• The following measures must be taken, including:
  • No eating, drinking, smoking, chewing gum, applying cosmetics, or removing/inserting contact lenses in the lab
  • No storing food or beverages in the lab or in a chemical refrigerator
  • Do not mouth pipette
  • Wash hands before leaving the lab or after handling contaminated material

Safe Practices

• Ensure safe working conditions by doing the following:
  • Do not use chipped or cracked glassware
  • Have a second person nearby when working with hazardous materials
  • Know emergency procedures
  • Keep the laboratory neat and clean
  • Use hazardous chemicals under a fume hood and biohazardous materials under a biosafety cabinet (BSC)
  • Decontaminate as needed
  • Perform all procedures to minimize aerosol generation

Laboratory Information

• Each lab has an Emergency Action Plan for emergency situations.
• This plan informs faculty/staff/students of procedures in an emergency.
• The Chemical Hygiene Plan (CHP) is similar to the Hazard Communication Program but specific to labs with chemicals.
• The CHP relays information on procedures, equipment, PPE, and work practices to protect employees from health hazards.

Chemical Hygiene

• Per the laboratory standard, labs with chemicals must address training topics.
• Training topics should include:
  • Methods and observations for detecting hazardous chemicals
  • Physical and health hazards
  • Measures employees can take to protect themselves from hazards
  • Details of the CHP itself
• Methods and observations used to detect the presence or release of chemicals are specific to the lab.
• Sensing chemicals (sight, smell) or using a monitoring device can be important.
• Protection against chemicals includes work procedures/practices, emergency procedures, and PPE.
• Emergency procedures for chemical accidents involve evacuating the area and notifying a supervisor, ISU campus police, and the EHS office if necessary.
• Each lab with chemicals has a lab-specific Chemical Hygiene Plan.
• These plans detail procedures and practices for that location.
• Its is the employee's responsibility to review the CHP.

Labeling

• Knowing as much about a chemical as possible is important.
• The most dangerous substance is the one that has no label.
• Communicating information is essential in the science field.