Lab Safety Notes (by Richard Matevosyan)

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LAB SAFETY NOTES

Richard Matevosyan, 8th grade

Cyber AcademyCyber Academy

August 24, 2016

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CONTENTS Lab safety rules Lab safety rules – Slide 3– Slide 3 Lab safety signs Lab safety signs – Slide 4– Slide 4 Lab safety means Lab safety means – Slide 5– Slide 5 Your commitment Your commitment – Slide 6– Slide 6 Your integrity Your integrity – Slide 7– Slide 7 Safety schedules Safety schedules – Slides 8-14– Slides 8-14 - Chemical- Chemical - Physical- Physical - Vibration- Vibration - Electrical- Electrical - Heat and Fire- Heat and Fire - Radiation - Radiation - Handling Animals and Plants- Handling Animals and Plants

● Preparing for a field job Preparing for a field job – Slide 15– Slide 15● Emergency response to the accidents Emergency response to the accidents – Slides 16-20– Slides 16-20

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LAB SAFETY RULESRule 1Rule 1:: Whether you are in a lab or in the field, before you commence to an experiment or exploration, be sure that all safety and disposal equipment is set-up and held in the right place.

Rule 2Rule 2:: During your process, you must wear closed-toe shoes (preferably from rubber or washable faux-leather; avoid espadrilles, high heels, sandals, shoes from fabric or real leather). You must wear safety goggles and apron. Wearing a lab robe and latex gloves is required if there is a special warning (see slide 4).

Rule 3Rule 3:: After you finished the work, clean up your area, dispose all the waste as required and where required, and thoroughly wash your hands with warm water and soup (unless there is a specific hand-washing instruction).

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LAB SAFETY SIGNS

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traffic signs.

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SAFETY ACCESSORIES1) Keep a mechanical wall-clock for reliable timing. Electricity may shut down unexpectedly or the batteries of the devices showing time may betray you. 2) Keep a mechanical scale for the same reason.3) Keep a wall thermometer, hygrometer, anemometer.4) Keep fully charged accumulator-tank. If electricity is gone and the freezer stops working, your process will not be interrupted. 5) Store water and ice.6) Keep a functional fire extinguisher.7) Keep a First-aid Kit.8) Keep back-up cloths, shoes, band-aid.9) The lab must have windows and vent.10) Maintain your own physical and mental health.

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Your Commitment 6

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YOUR INTEGRITY1) Adhere to the ethical standards.

2) Do not lie to yourself, to your teacher, supervisor, colleague or associate. Honesty is the key concern to the timely trouble-shooting of an incident or accident that may occur.

3) Maintain good book-keeping habits.

4) Record your input/output and process data on daily basis.

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SAFETY SCHEDULE: CHEMICALCHEMICAL1. DO NOT perform unauthorized experiments in a laboratory alone.2. Approved eye protection must be worn at all times. 3. Long hair and loose clothing must be confined while in the lab.4. Know the location and proper use of fire extinguishers, fire blankets, safety showers, eye-wash devices, and first aid kits.5. Before obtaining any chemicals read the label on the reagent bottles.6. Eating, smoking, drinking, or chewing gums are forbidden in the lab.7. Thoroughly wash your hands after leaving the laboratory.8. Use the fume hoods when toxic or irritating vapors are involved.9. Mouth suction is never used to fill a pipette.10. Never force glass tubing through cork or rubber stoppers without proper lubrication.11. Never direct the open end of test tube toward yourself or anyone else.12. Never pour water into concentrated acid. 13. Never return unused chemicals to their original container.14. Report any accident or injury immediately. 8

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SAFETY SCHEDULE: PHYSICALPHYSICAL

1. Never try to catch falling sharp instruments.

2. Grasp sharp instruments only by the handles.

3. Do not discard the broken glass or other objects into the general trash container. Keep a separate, and properly labeled container.

4. Do not place a cord where someone can trip over it.

5. Push all stools in out of the way.

6. Keep books picked up out of walking isles.

7. Report any accident or injury immediately.

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SAFETY SCHEDULE: VIBRATIONVIBRATION1. Avoid performing lab job near the train stations, airports, or subways.

2. Consider OSHA-approved vibration insulators against the vibration and HAVS.

3. Do not put heavy objects on top of the shelves that are close to the work station or the desk.

4. Check with the employee guidebook as to the requirements for those who are pregnant or who suffer certain diseases, like Raynaud's syndrome.

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SAFETY SCHEDULE: ELECTRICALELECTRICAL1. Worn-out wires should be replaced.2. All electric equipment should be grounded with 3-prong plugs.3. Use of extension cord should be minimized.

4. Do not touch electrical equipment or wires with wet hands.

5. No electrical equipment should be used after liquid has been spilled over it.

6. Only electrical plugs are placed into the electrical outlets.

7. While unplugging, pull the plug and not the cord. 11

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SAFETY SCHEDULE: HEAT & FIREHEAT & FIRE1. The required room temperature of a chemistry lab is 20-25°C (68-77°F) and the humidity is 30-45%.2. Evaluate the space before lab tests have begun. 3. Protect yourself through the proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and emergency equipment.4. Unused combustible items (boxes, paper) should be cleared from the station.5. Stored items should not block access to the fire extinguishers or other safety equipment (eye-washes, safety showers), or block access to exits.6. Know where the closest fire alarm pull station is located.7. There should be a safety shower and eyewash located within 10 seconds of the area you are working, so keep that in mind when planning work.8. Do not wedge or block doors in the event of a fire.9. Make sure you are familiar with your building’s evacuation plan, the exits, and the escape routes from your lab area. 12

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SAFETY SCHEDULE: RADIATIONRADIATION1. Routinely use radiation detectors while exposed to radioactive material.2. Wipe tests must be done at least once a month.3. Radioactive waste must be labeled and placed in appropriate containers while “clean” trash should be discarded in “clean” containers.4. Use a fume hood to label, transfer, and dilute radioactive solutions.5. Wear the required cloths, gloves, masks, aprons, glasses and other accessories.6. A Radiation Safety Manual should be readily available.

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SAFETY SCHEDULE: ANIMALS & PLANTSANIMALS & PLANTS1. Handle living organisms with an express permission. 2. Treat living organisms humanely and respect their lives: (I personally, am against the experiments that involve animals .).

3. Handle animals gently. Do not make loud noises or sudden movements that may startle them.4. Handle animals firmly. The animal will struggle more if it sees a chance to escape.5. Use restraint devices to assist when appropriate.6. Chemical restraint should be considered for any prolonged or potentially painful procedure.7. Wash your hands after handling animals or plants.8. Tell your supervisor of any plant or fur allergies.

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PREPARING FOR A FIELD JOB

DATA COLLECTION: Includes collecting data outside of an experimental or lab setting.

DATA: Includes the original or unconventional information, observation, measurements, or specimens obtained through in-depth interviews, surveys, or directly from the field.

METHOD: Follows the hypothesis, developed theory, problem definition and derived inquiries. 15

BIAS TYPE: Ascertainment, attrition, late-look, lead-time, observational, spectrum.

BIAS TYPE: Detection, measurement, omission, protopathic, sampling, scope, spectrum.

BIAS TYPE: Carry-over, experimental, procedural, response, susceptibility.

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ACCIDENTS

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The lab is an uneasy place. Accidents may include explosions, heat burns, radiation, intoxication, inhalation, contamination, spills-and-breaks, allergies, mechanical injuries, and more.

A case: In January 2010, there was an explosion in a chemistry lab at Texas Tech. A graduate student was seriously injured by the burns.

The task was to create derivatives of an explosive compound, nickel hydrazine perchlorate (NHP). The students made 10 grams of the substance, which is 100 times more than their professor considered safe. One of the students decided to crush the substance with a mortar and pestle prior to analysis. This was a tragic mistake as the NHP explodes under friction or pressure. That's exactly what had happened.

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SAFETY MEASURES Spending time on studying safety rules is the key of a successful lab job..

FIRE: Make sure all flammable materials in the lab are properly sealed and stored, and that the visitors are trained enough to inspect burners for any leaks to prevent sudden flares.

HEAT BURNS: Handling hot items hastily without proper tools can result in serious burns. Tongs, water baths, and other cooling equipment must be properly handled. Hot surfaces should never be touched with bare hands.

CHEMICAL BURNS: Wear protective gloves when handling chemicals, measure carefully and use only approved containers for transferring and containing potentially irritating chemicals.

CUTS AND SCRAPES: Diligently wrap sharp items (broken glass, needles, or razor blades) before disposing those to the trash.

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SAFETY MEASURES (continued)

CONTAMINATION: "Wash your hands before and after..." may seem like a basic advice. Yet, it is crucial. Leaving the lab with bacteria, fungi, tissue, bio-liquids, or other potentially harmful substances on the skin or clothes, may result in contamination of various surfaces out of the lab and spreading of ailments.

INHALATION: Accidentally inhaling gases in a poorly ventilated space can cause headaches, nausea, and fainting. Opening windows, using ventilation fans, or equipment that measure the amount of gas emission in a room, are the key to safety.

SPILLS AND BREAKS: These typically results from rushing or not following the procedures. Have a sharp sense for the space and time. 18

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EMERGENCY RESPONSEFIRE: Remain calm. Call campus police or 911. Pull the fire alarm if you can do it. Commence to evacuation of the building in accordance with the fire plan and floor monitors. CHEMICAL SPILLS: Notify the supervisor and determine the level of severity (scale 0-4). Obtain SDS, call the campus police, 911, or EPA and follow their directions. Protect yourself and others from exposure to chemicals and vapors. Control ignition sources. Turn off gas, electrical switches or open flames. Begin evacuation if necessary.NATURAL GAS LEAK: Coat the valve or spray the sealer if you are sure area. Plug off the electric cords and isolate the ignitions sources. If the leak is significant, evacuate the area.

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MECHANICAL INJURIES: Determine the level of injury to decide the best mode of response. Avoid further injury to the victim or to oneself. If the injury requires medical treatment other than first aid, call 911, indicating whether or not chemicals or other agents are involved. Render first aid at the scene for the minored injuries. Secure the scene for an accident investigation by the EPA or the supervisor and complete the paperwork with description of the circumstances, prior safety measures, and the results.

RADIATION: For spills or loss of material, immediately notify police or RSO. Keep all potentially contaminated persons in general vicinity of the lab to prevent the spread of contamination. For injuries, call 911 and testify or articulate the situation in the same manner as a non radiation injury.

EMERGENCY RESPONSE (continued)

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