Environmental Engineering Lab Safety

1. Environmental Engineering Lab Safety Fall 2010

2. Proper Lab Attire • Safety glasses must be worn at all times • No contact lenses – can retain and trap chemicals • Gloves – latex or nitrile • Shoes must be closed-toe and enclose the heel – no sandals or clogs • Tie back long hair, no loose fitting clothing

3. Proper Lab Behavior • No eating or drinking • No smoking or chewing gum • Don’t bring drink or food containers into lab • Keep your workspace and all common areas clean and orderly • Don’t place glassware near edge of lab bench • Don’t let water drip onto power strips • No horse play

4. Handling Glassware • Glass breakage – most common cause of injury in labs (e.g. when inserting pipette into pipette bulb) • Discard all broken, chipped, starred or badly scratched glassware • Do not attempt to catch glassware if dropped or knocked over • Do not pressurize conventional glassware

5. Fume Hoods • Serve as a physical and chemical barrier for chemical exposure • Keep head outside of hood • Keep sash closed if not in use • Keep sash opening at a minimum when in use • Keep clutter inside hood to a minimum • Don’t use for chemical storage

6. Preparation of Solutions • Always add concentrated chemical (e.g. acid or base) to water – NOT water to concentrated chemical

7. Labels • Clearly identify contents – do not abbreviate • Date • Your name and contact information

8. Waste Disposal • Do not throw lab wastes into the trash or pour down the drain • Waste must be disposed of in an appropriate container with secondary containment • Waste containers have to be labeled with date and contents • Keep waste segregated by type: organic vs. inorganic, etc.

9. Materials Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) • Identification • Composition • Physical Data • Fire Fighting Measures • Hazards Identification • Stability & Reactivity • Handling & Storage • Exposure Controls • Spill Control & Clean-up

10. How do I get an MSDS? • Folder in lab for compounds used in lab • Use EHSC Web Home Page http://www.ncsu.edu/ehs/MSDS.htm

11. In Case of Spills or Accidents… • Know location and how to use it • First aid kit • Safety shower • Eyewash station • Sand bucket – for non-hazardous liquid spills

12. Locations of Safety Equipment

13. In Case of Emergencies… • Know campus emergency number • 911 • Know exit locations • Know location of fire alarms • Know location of fire extinguisher • Evacuate area when alarm sounds • Know evacuation assembly location • In parking lot across the street from the building

14. Figure 2: Floor Plan Mann Hall Basement N Room 109 Building Exit Fire Extinguisher Fire Alarm Switch Building Exit Building Exit Evacuation Plan/Fire Alarms