Chapter 20. Laboratory Safety

I. Safe laboratory practices.

A. See the Laboratory Safety Manual, Safety with Chemical Carcinogens in Research and Teaching, and the Radiation Safety Manual for complete details on laboratory safety.

B. General principles when working with laboratory chemicals.

1. Minimize all chemical exposures. Approach all chemicals as hazardous and use common sense.

2. Avoid underestimating the risk. One should assume that any mixture will be more toxic than its most toxic component and that all substances of unknown toxicity are highly toxic.

3. Provide adequate ventilation. Use fume hoods and other ventilation devices to prevent exposure to airborne substances.

4. Institute a Chemical Hygiene Program. These guidelines. set forth procedures, personal protective equipment, and work practices that protect the health of personnel subjected to hazardous materials.

5. Observe the TLV's. The Threshold Limit Values of the American Confernece of governmental Industrial Hygienists should not be exceeded.

C. General safety rules.

1. Avoid working alone in the laboratory.

2. Avoid exposure to hazardous materials.

a. Do not store or consume food or beverages near chemicals.

b. Do not smoke in laboratories.

c. Do not smell or taste chemicals.

d. Wash exposed skin well before leaving the laboratory.

e. Do not pipette by mouth. hazardous, caustic, toxic, radioactive, cancer causing, or biological materials.

f. Clean up spills promptly.

g. Keep the work area clean and uncluttered.

3. Avoid using damaged glassware.

4. Horseplay, practical jokes, or other acts of carelessness are prohibited.

5. Wear proper personal protective equipment.

a. Wear shoes, laboratory coat or apron, and confine loose clothing and hair. Do not wear sandals, perforated shoes, open toed shoes, or canvas sneakers.

b. Protective glasses or goggles should be worn in the laboratory. Nonvented goggles should be worn when working with acids, caustics, explosives, or hot molten materials. Do not wear contact lenses in the laboratory.

c. Wear proper gloves when working with toxic materials, allergens, pathogenic organisms, or hot materials.

6. Appropriate warning signs should be posted near any dangerous equipment, reaction, or condition.

7. General handling and storage of chemicals

a. All chemical storage containers should be labeled with contents name, hazard, and manufacturer.

b. Flammable materials should be stored in approved containers.

c. Do not store flammable materials in greater than 5 gallon quantities in the laboratory.

d. Do not store glass containers on the floor.

e. Do not store materials in the fume hood.

f. Store chemicals by hazard classification, not by alphabetical order.

8. Workers using radioactive materials or sources must maintain strict adherence to the general safety precautions plus specific procedures outlined in the Radiation Safety Manual.

II. Chemical hygiene program.

A. The Department of Public Safety will designate a university Chemical Hygiene Officer who will provide technical guidance and assistance for the implementation of the Chemical Hygiene Program as requested by the department. This individual will work with departments to ensure proper compliance with the safety rules of Kansas State University.

B. Worker exposure monitoring.

1. Initial monitoring. The Director will provide adequate worker monitoring for substances that are regulated by a health standard that require monitoring, such as formaldehyde or ethylene oxide, if there is reason to believe that exposure levels routinely exceed the TLV.

2. Periodic monitoring. If initial monitoring discloses worker exposure above the TLV, the Director will comply with the exposure monitoring provisions of the relevant standard.

C. Chemical hygiene program.

1. Adhere to the University laboratory safety rules.

2. Develop and use written standard operating procedures.

3. Train all workers to understand the hazards of the laboratory they work in and the hazards of the materials they work with.

4. Medical consultation and examinations for workers who develop signs or symptoms associated with hazardous chemical exposure, environmental monitoring reveals an exposure level above the TLV, or a chemical spill takes place which results in a possible exposure.