LABORATORY SAFETY SERIES: Orientation To Safety

Transcription

1 ERI Safety Videos Videos for Safety Meetings 2958 LABORATORY SAFETY SERIES: Orientation To Safety Leader s Guide Marcom Group Ltd.

2 INTRODUCTION TO THE PROGRAM Structure and Organization Information in this program is presented in a definite order, so that employees will see the relationships between the various groups of information and can retain them more easily. The sections in this program include: Recent OSHA regulations applying to the laboratory environment. Material Safety Data Sheets. Planning experiments. Personal protective equipment. Safe handling of glassware. Housekeeping. Ventilation controls. Chemical storage. Handling compressed gases. Labeling. Waste disposal. Accidents and emergencies. Safety showers and eye washes. Each of the sections gives an overview of important information in one topic area, providing employees with the basis for understanding the concepts of laboratory safety. This information will serve as the base for more in-depth training on the topics later in the education process. Background Today, more than ever, safety training is essential for laboratory employees. A laboratory can be a dangerous place, and with the daily pressures to get things done employees can be tempted to take shortcuts and ignore safety precautions. With the increasing complexity of the equipment and procedures involved in experiments, employees need an even greater knowledge of safety practices and procedures than they may have in the past. At the same time, recent OSHA regulations such as the Laboratory Standard, the Bloodborne Pathogens Standard and others require that employees have information and training on topics from material safety data sheets to the transmission of bloodborne diseases. All of this means that "new hires" as well as experienced employees need a good general knowledge of safe work practices and the regulatory compliance requirements they will be involved with. Objectives To help provide employees with an overview of the regulations applying to their laboratory, as well as important safety considerations they will encounter, this education and training program is designed to review the fundamentals of laboratory safety. Upon completion of the program, employees should be able to:

3 Recognize the most recent OSHA regulations affecting their laboratory environment. Know what basic personal protective equipment is available to them and when it should be used. Understand the importance of good housekeeping in the laboratory. Recognize various ventilation controls, and know when they should be used. Know the importance of being able to read a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS), recognize chemical labeling and know how to store chemicals correctly. Know the basic actions to take in emergency situations, including the use of safety showers and eye washes. Reviewing the Program As with any educational program, the "presenter" should go through the entire program at least once to become familiar with the content and make sure the program is consistent with company policy and directives. An outline of the points in the program is included in this Presenter's Guide to help with this task and for general reference. As part of this review process, you should determine how you, as the presenter, will conduct your session. The use of materials such as handouts, charts, etc., that may be available to you needs to be well thought out and integrated into the overall program presentation.

4 PROGRAM OUTLINE Safety in the laboratory is important. The laboratory can be a dangerous place. We all seem to have an overwhelming urge to do the "wrong" thing while working. Tend to take shortcuts. Often ignore safety precautions. It is important that you learn laboratory safety rules. There is a great deal you should know. Your supervisor/safety instructor will help you. Types of safety considerations and issues you may be dealing with include: Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS). Your facility's "chemical hygiene plan". Biologically infectious materials. RCRA and TOSCA. Lock-out/tag-out. Respiratory protection. Fire safety. First aid and CPR. An instructor and written plans are only "sources" of safety information. The ultimate responsibility lies with you. Plan experiments carefully. Assemble all materials. Get MSDS's as well. Select proper personal protective equipment. Personal protective equipment is especially important. Know where to find it. Know which areas require it. Eyewear is an important type of protective equipment. It ranges from safety glasses to face shields. Wear the type or combination right for the job. Remember, street glasses are unacceptable. Lab coats are also personal protective equipment. They can shield you from accidental splashes. Selecting proper gloves is important, too. Choose them according to the hazards involved. Consult the MSDS for recommendations. An air-purifying respirator may also be needed. You must be properly instructed to use one. The respirator should be fit tested. An improperly fitting respirator will not protect you.

5 Self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) can also be used. They are very sophisticated equipment. They should not be used unless you have been trained on them. Safe shoes are also important in the lab. Don't wear shoes with "open toes." Safety shoes may be required. Check all PPE before using it. If it is cracked or worn, discard it. Remove PPE before leaving your work area. Also wash your hands (this limits the potential for contamination). Know how to work safely with your laboratory equipment. Check each piece before setting up. It must be clean and in proper working order. Cracked glassware must be replaced (pressure could shatter it). If your procedure requires specialized equipment/ containers, find them. Makeshift substitutes can be dangerous. Keep the lab area clean and clutter free. Report/correct any unsafe conditions or actions. Misplaced equipment/furniture can cause slips and falls. Utilize proper local ventilation controls, such as lab hoods. Used correctly, air flow effectively confines and removes released vapors. Test hoods to make sure air flow is working. Select the right type of lab hood for your procedures (for instance, biological safety cabinets can confine potentially infectious aerosols but might not work well for chemicals). Know proper working procedures for your hoods. Work at least six inches inside the hood. Keep the sash as low as possible. Never interfere with the air flow. Proper chemical storage is very important. Don't use bench-tops or hoods. Improperly stored containers are easy to knock over. Flammables require special consideration. Collect small quantities in UL listed containers (with spring-loaded caps). Place amounts greater than one liter in flammable storage cabinets (remember to lock the door). Regulations exist for the safe use of compressed gas cylinders. They should be located away from sources of flame or sparks. They should be strapped to benches, when they are positioned close to them. Consult your supervisor regarding the number of cylinders that can be safely stored in your lab. All chemical containers must be correctly labeled.

6 This identifies the contents for all users. Make sure to write out (not abbreviate) proper names. Know your company's policy on handling chemical and infectious waste. Plan for its disposal before you begin experimentation. A disposal mistake could cause severe problems. Ask your supervisor or safety professional if you have questions. You should know what to due in case of a laboratory accident. Dial 911? Alert on-site emergency responders? Learn your evacuation routes. See your instructor regarding emergency systems and fire alarms. Know the location of emergency equipment. You should also be prepared to deal with chemical spills. If the spill involves a flammable substance, turn off sources of ignition. Know correct cleanup procedures. Eye washes and safety showers are important if you can be splashed. Flush affected areas for at least fifteen minutes. Report the incident. Call for medical help. Coming into a new lab can be stressful and exciting. There are always: New materials to deal with. New procedures to learn. New people to meet. With it all, you must do your best where safety is concerned. If you have a question, find out who to ask. Get it right from the start!

7 QUIZ LABORATORY SAFETY SERIES: Orientation To Safety Name: Date: 1. Which of the following types of personal protective equipment are frequently used in laboratory environments? Safety glasses. Lab coats. Face shields. Gloves. All of the above. 2. or... Material Safety Data Sheets provide little information about chemicals which are used in experiments? 3. or... Before setting up laboratory equipment, you should check to make sure that each piece is clean and in proper working order? 4. In an emergency, which of the following actions might you need to take? Dial 911. Evacuate premises. Activate fire alarms. All of the above. 5. If you come into contact with a hazardous chemical, you should flush the affected area with water for at least how many minutes? 5 minutes. 10 minutes. 15 minutes. 6. or... A UL listed container with a spring-loaded cap should be used to store small quantities of flammable liquids? 7. or... If a flammable substance is spilled, you should turn off or remove all sources of ignition in the area?

8 QUIZ LABORATORY SAFETY SERIES: Orientation To Safety PRESENTER'S COPY...WITH ANSWERS 1. Which of the following types of personal protective equipment are frequently used in laboratory environments? Safety glasses. Lab coats. Face shields. Gloves. X All of the above. 2. or... Material Safety Data Sheets provide little information about chemicals which are used in experiments? X 3. or... Before setting up laboratory equipment, you should check to make sure that each piece is clean and in proper working order? X 4. In an emergency, which of the following actions might you need to take? Dial 911. Evacuate premises. Activate fire alarms. X All of the above. 5. If you come into contact with a hazardous chemical, you should flush the affected area with water for at least how many minutes? 5 minutes. 10 minutes. X 15 minutes. 6. or... A UL listed container with a spring-loaded cap should be used to store small quantities of flammable liquids? X 7. or... If a flammable substance is spilled, you should turn off or remove all sources of ignition in the area? X