Laboratory Safety

Safety Trainings

Staying safe in clinic or lab starts with completing any required safety trainings. All engineering clinic and laboratory students are required to complete their assigned trainings through HSI, Canvas, or in-person by doing the following:

Log in with your @g.hmc.edu email address at "HSI's Website" or "HMC Canvas" (in-person safety trainings are provided by the Chemical Hygeine Officer, Annalee Sendis)
Complete your safety training within the assigned time limit.
If you're having issues accessing any assigned trainings in HSI or Canvas, please let the Instructional Support Coordinator know!

Before any clinic or laboratory work begins:

All team members must complete their required safety training modules (e.g., in-person or HSI/Canvas).
Any applicable statements of procedures (SOPs) must be finalized and approved by your faculty advisor after review by the Safety Committee.
Experimental work may not begin until both requirements are met!
Unauthorized experiments or the removal of equipment or chemicals from any lab space are grounds for dismissal from the laboratory and may result in disciplinary action by the College.

Hazardous Material Handling

Engineering clinic and research laboratories that use chemicals or hazardous materials are required to:

Inform Engineering staff and the Chemical Hygiene Officer of any planned chemical use.
Obtain all required Safety Data Sheets (SDS) for each material you plan to use (it's highly recommended to not purchase chemicals from Amazon, as SDS are oftentimes not provided and/or the chemical bought doesn't match the website's description)
Ensure that all work with chemicals takes place in a room equipped with a functioning fume hood.
- The hood must be on whenever chemicals are in use or if a leak is possible.
- No chemicals may be used in a room without a fume hood.

Labeling Requirements

All containers, including waste containers, must be labeled correctly at all times. Labels should include:

Name(s) of chemical(s)
Mass or volume
Type and hazard categories
Physical state (solid, liquid, gas)
Date and purpose of use

If a container holds mixed chemicals, list each component separately on the label. Do not use the term “mixed chemicals.”

You can obtain the appropriate label templates from the Chemistry Department's Stockroom in Room 2310 of Jacobs Hall.

Chemical Waste Disposal

Never dispose of chemicals or hazardous materials down the sink drain or in trash bins!
All chemical waste must be collected, labeled, and handled according to the Chemical Hygiene Officer’s guidelines.

If you’re unsure how to dispose of a substance, ask the Chemical Hygiene Officer before discarding.

Harvey Mudd College, Department of Engineering, Engineering Stockroom

Contact: jstaimpel@hmc.edu

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