Embedded Files
The site is still being currently built! Please bear with us the next couple of months.
Important Safety Info (Jana Lab).pptxThe safety info we post here is similar to what we post ourside our lab doors.
Good lab work includes being safe. While you may not care about your own safety, think about your coworkers and how your actions and choices could affect their health or endanger them.
Safety culture is difficult to change, especially from bottom up, so it's vital that senior students in the lab demonstrate good lab practice and (gently) remind others of the rules, even other senior students!
If you're working with chemicals and in the fume hood, you should be wearing all of your typical PPE: gloves, goggles, and coat.
Useful Links
EOHS Forms (General, Radiation, and Chemical)
Glove Permeation/Degradation Resistance Guide (Fischer 8ed)
Doesn't give numerical values of diffusion coefficients, but gives you an idea of which glove materials are acceptable to use
CAMEO Chemicals: Database of Hazardous Chemicals
Can enter chemicals for given experiment and predicts compatibility or potential hazards
PubChem: An NIH chemical library for finding authoritative info
Can find suppliers, references, material properties, etc.
As a rule of thumb, do you know how most safety officers know whether or not a lab will have safety violations or not?
They usually just check how disorganized or cluttered the lab space is: boxes scattered on the floor, table tops are full of miscellaneous materials, or fume hoods are full of items that shouldn't be in there.
General Lab Safety Rules and Reminders
Gloves and safety glasses are mandatory when working in the lab.
Lab coats are mandatory when working in the hood.
Syringes, needles, and (razor) blades should be put into a sharps container.
Capillary tubes, broken glassware, TLC plates, and glass pipettes should go into a glass waste container.
Used silica gel, decolorizing carbon, solid chemical trash, and other solid powder should go into an appropriate separate solid waste container.
Water solutions go the sink. Organic solutions go to the halogenated or non-halogenated RED waste containers.
Acid/Base baths should be prepared in appropriate containers (HDPE) and must not be left for extended period of times.
Strong acidic water solutions should be neutralized before going to the sink. Do not dump pure water solutions into non-halogenated waste containers.
Document the amount of waste on appropriate forms. Move full waste containers to the chemical storage room, if applicable.
All flammable cabinets should remain closed and should not contain any non-flammables.
Maintain the cleanliness of the fume hoods. No combustibles, excessive glassware, or broken glassware.
Remove squeeze bottles when you are not working with them in the hood.
All chemicals should be labeled, especially inside the fume hood! This includes the chemical identity, relevant contact (initials/name), and/or date.
Keep items 6-inches away from sash for your protection. Equipment shouldn’t block the baffles in the back of the hood.
Place cords to equipment inside fume hood such that the cord enters the hood under the black edge airfoil.
Don’t use broken heat plates, even for just stirring.
Secure glassware connections with appropriate clamps.
Clear the floor of trip hazards.
Maintain a clean work area. Politely remind your labmates to do the same.
Keep the sinks clean.
No chemicals or needles in the student office areas.
Unattended experiment forms should be completed and posted on lab door and/or relevant fume hood.
Empty garbage cans or set out for collection.
No food or drinks in the lab.
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse