Lab - Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)

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General Regulations:

  • No person may work in the laboratory alone.

  • Leave the space in better condition than you found it.

  • Upon the conclusion of each lab, work areas must be clean and organized; tools and materials must be put back in their proper locations, and equipment must be properly shut down.

  • On a fire/gas alarm, exit immediately in safe locations like the lawn in front of the building.

  • Food and beverages are not allowed in Labs. Food and beverage may be consumed in the common room or in sitting areas.

  • Attire: People in the lab must wear clothing that covers their feet, toes, legs, and torso. Loose items that could get into equipment or chemicals should not be worn in the lab (e.g., ties and scarfs). Long hair should be tied back.

Personal Protective Equipment:

  • Safety Glasses must be always worn while working with chemicals.

  • In tinkering lab and workshop, safety glasses must be worn when working.

  • Nitrile gloves are to be used for routine protection when working with chemicals that may cause slight irritation on skin contact. For chemicals that pose a greater risk, and for high-temperature applications, an appropriate type of glove be used.

Chemical Hygiene & Safety:

  • All new chemicals brought into the lab must first be checked-in with the lab assistant and there must be an accompanying safety datasheet (SDS) for the chemical.

  • Read SDS of the chemical(s) to be used prior to conducting an experiment.

  • Do not pour any chemicals (water & soap aside) down a drain without the lab assistant’s approval.

  • All substances in the lab, even water, must be clearly labeled with 1) what it is; 2) its concentration, if applicable; 3) your name, and 4) the date it was placed in the container.

  • Chemical waste must be labeled as described above in an appropriate container; check with the lab assistant on container type to ensure it will not be dissolved or build up pressure.

  • Chemical solutions intended to be used later must be in a sealed container; if it is to be stored past the lab period, the lab assistant must first be consulted and give approval.

  • If any spill occurs, immediately notify the lab assistant for instructions.

Tools & Equipment:

  • You may not use any equipment or tools in the tinkering lab until you have had proper training on the equipment (this applies to everything from the hot glue guns to the lathe machine, even if you’ve used similar equipment before). Ask the lab assistant for training details.

  • Alert the lab assistant to any broken equipment.

  • Broken glassware should be swept up and placed in the broken glass container.

  • Any new equipment brought into the lab must first have a relevant safety evaluation done by the lab assistant.