Lab Safety
1. Personnel should write a standard operating procedure for their experiments. The procedure should include the details of the experiment, potential safety hazards and action that will be taken in case of an accident.
2. Personnel must be familiar with the specific hazards of each chemical they are using and must be aware of the proper use of personal protective equipment.
3. Personnel must have access to Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs) for each chemical they use. MSDSs can be requested from the manufacturer. They are also widely available on the Internet.
4. Personnel using biohazards, extremely toxic chemicals, radiation, and carcinogens must take special precautions during their work.
5. Personnel must be instructed in emergency procedures such as exiting, location and use of fire extinguishers, and what to do in the event of a chemical or medical emergency.
6. Personnel must be instructed in how to respond to a hazardous material spill in the laboratory.
7. Laboratories should be kept as clean and uncluttered as possible. Research has shown a direct relationship between messy/cluttered laboratories and increased accidents.
8. Approved first-aid supplies must be readily available to employees.
9. Shelves used for storage of chemicals and heavy items should have restraints (lips, wires) to prevent chemicals from falling.
10. Food and beverages should not be stored in the laboratory or in refrigerators that are used for hazardous material storage.
11. Fire extinguishers must be maintained annually. Personnel should check periodically whether the extingisher is functioning.
12. Personnel should be advised that it can be hazardous to wear contact lens in the laboratory. If a chemical splashes into the eye, the contact lenses will interfere with rinsing and may become fused to the eye. Vapors can also adhere to contact lens and be released into the body via the eye.
13. Protective gloves should be worn when handling chemicals. Latex gloves are good for general laboratory wear but do not protect well against most chemicals. For large volume chemical usage (particularly acids and solvents) special resistant gloves should be used. A table of what gloves to wear while handling various chemicals can be found in any safety handbook.
14. Eye protection must be suited to the hazard. Indirectly ventilated goggles protect against splashes. Unventilated goggles protect against vapors, mists, and airborne dusts. Face shields will protect the face and eyes from splashes but not vapors.
15. Make sure that experiments which involve vapours or fumes are done in a well-ventilated room.
16. Unguarded moveable machine parts and belts cause a large number of accidents and injuries. These parts must be guarded with a screen or cover.
17. If flammables are stored in ordinary household refrigerators, a serious explosion can occur. Special laboratory (spark-proof) refrigerators/freezers are required for laboratory use.
18. Compressed gas cylinders must be restrained with a rack, metal strap or chain to prevent falling.
19. If a compressed gas cylinder is not being used, the regulator must be removed and the cap replaced.
20. All chemicals must be labeled with a complete chemical name (not just the chemical formula) and a hazard warning.
21. Chemicals must be segregated for storage by hazard class (acids, bases, oxidizers, flammables, water reactives). Store all acids together, store all flammables together etc.
22. Hazardous waste must not be poured down the drain.
23. For safe operation, all electrical equipment must be properly grounded.
24. Improper use of extension cords can cause a fire. They should be for temporary use only.
25. Overloaded outlets can lead to fires. Install additional outlets if they are needed.
More details on the Chemical Lab Safety Guidelines.
