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Laboratory SafetyLaboratory Support Site - contact showard@wellesley.edu for access
Programs:
Biological Safety. Wellesley College's Biosafety Program serves to protect faculty, staff and students from exposure to biohazardous materials, to guard against the release of biohazardous materials that may harm humans, animals, plants or the environment, and to protect the integrity of experimental materials. Responsibility for oversight of the program resides with the Science Center Office and the Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC). All recombinant DNA studies, pathogenic organisms, and bloodborne pathogens must be registered with the IBC.
ABSA - Video - Working at Animal Biosafety Levels 1, 2, and 3 http://absa.org/restraining.html
CDC's Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories (BMBL) 5th Edition
NIH Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant DNA Molecules
Chemical Safety. The OSHA Lab standard applies to all employees working with hazardous chemicals in the laboratory. The Chemical Hygiene Plan addresses how to safely work with hazardous chemicals to prevent occupational exposure in the laboratory. Responsibility for oversight of the program resides with the Science Center Office.
Radiation Safety. The Radiation Safety Committee is responsible for ensuring that all users of ionizing radiation are in compliance with existing regulatory requirements, such that any resultant radiation exposures are as low as reasonably achievable (ALARA). These objectives are accomplished through a radiation safety program that includes protocol review, continuous accountability of materials and devices, radiation safety training, laboratory waste processing and personnel dosimetry. Responsibility for oversight of the program resides with the Science Center Office.
Waste. Wellesley College is committed to pollution prevention and the management of hazardous and solid wastes in compliance with applicable regulations. It is Wellesley’s goal to (a) reduce these wastes; (b) reuse or recycle them, when possible, and (c) manage them safely, and in accordance with the law. Waste is managed by the EHS Office and the Science Center Safety Officer. Information on disposal can be found on the EHS website.
Satellite Waste Training Video. Run time: 2.51
Provided by the Campus Consortium for Environmental Excellence (C2E2)
Important Information:
Bloodborne Pathogens: The purpose of this Plan is to minimize and/or eliminate employee occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens. An occupational exposure, for the purpose of this standard, means reasonably anticipated skin, eye, mucous membranes, or parenteral contact with blood or other potentially infectious materials (OPIM) that may result from the performance of an employee's duties.
Controlled Substances
Emergencies
Information on Accidents, Injuries, and Chemical Release
- Police Department: x5555 or 2121 for non-emergencies
- Health Services: x2810
- EH&S: x3882
Department of Homeland Security's CFAT rule imposes comprehensive federal security regulations for high-risk chemical facilities which includes institutional research facilities.
Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards
Chemicals of Interest- Appendix A published Nov 2007Ergonomics. Ergonomics is the scientific study of human work and considers the capabilities and limits of the worker during interaction with tools, equipment, work methods, tasks, and the working environment. It is, “fitting the task to the person and not the person to the task”. The EHS Office manages this program.
Fire Safety
Fire Safety and Emergency Evacuation information.Formaldehyde
OSHA Safety and Health Topic - FormaldehydeFume Hoods A laboratory fume hood is a three-sided enclosure with an adjustable front opening. It is designed to capture, contain, and exhaust hazardous fumes generated inside its enclosure. Fume hoods accomplish this by exhausting air through the hood face to the outside of the building. Fumes are then drawn away from the worker's breathing zone. Because exposure to volatile chemicals is one of the top health and safety hazards to laboratory workers, a fume hood operates as a principle safety devise in a laboratory setting. (Info from http://ateam.lbl.gov/hightech/fumehood/students/su00/Fox/FHSafety.htm)
Links on Fume Hood Operation & Safety:
Laboratory Chemical Hood Users Guide - Univ. of Louisville
Fume Hood Information - Cornell University
Fume Hoods and Biosafety Cabinets Safety Library
Gas Cylinders Brochure on safe handling and storage of compressed gas cylinders.
Scott Specialty Gases - Technical & Safety Data
Check out the MythBusters: Air Cylinder Rocket on YouTube to watch a cylinder go straight through a block wall!
Guidance on Working with Honey Bees
How to Protect Yourself - Personal Protective Equipment, Engineering Controls and Adminstrative Controls
Lasers
Material Safety Data Sheets . A Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) is designed to provide both workers and emergency personnel with the proper procedures for handling or working with a particular substance. MSDS's include information such as physical data (melting point, boiling point, flash point etc.), toxicity, health effects, first aid, reactivity, storage, disposal, protective equipment, andspill/leak procedures.
Medical Screening & Surveillance. Medical screening is a method for detecting disease or body dysfunction before an individual would normally seek medical care. Medical surveillance is the analysis of health information to look for problems that may be occurring in the workplace that require targeted prevention. Working with some lab chemicals (ie. formaldehyde) or equipment (lasers) may require faculty, staff or students to be involved in these programs.
Nanotechnology EPA defines nanotechnology in their Final Nanotechnology White Paper as "Research and technology development at the atomic, molecular or macromolecular levels, in the length scale of approximately 1 - 100 nanometer range; creating and using structures, devices and systems that have novel properties and functions because of their small and/or intermediate size; and the ability to control or manipulate on the atomic scale." Click here for access to the EPA paper.
OSHA's Safety & Health Topics on Nanotechnology
International Council on Nanotechnology.
"ICON is an international, multi-stakeholder organization whose mission is to develop and communicate information regarding potential environmental and health risks of nanotechnology, thereby fostering risk reduction while maximizing societal benefit."CDC & NIOSH Approaches to Safe Nanotechnology. Managing the Health and Safety Concerns Associated with Engineered Nanomaterials. March 2009.
Wellesley College Review Form for Use of Nanotachnology in Labs
Select Agents & Toxins
Shipping and Receiving of Hazardous Materials
UNH Shipment of Biological Materials Manual
X-Rays
Links:
Science Center: Lab Safety
http://www.wellesley.edu/ScienceCenter/Safety/letter.htmlOSHA Safety & Health Topics - Labs
http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/laboratories/index.htmlMaterial Safety Data Sheet Info: http://www.pp.okstate.edu/ehs/links/msds.htm
Mt. Holyoke College - Lab Safety http://www.mtholyoke.edu/offices/srm/labsafety.shtmlYale Univeristy's Office of Environmental Health and Safety - Lab Safety http://www.yale.edu/oehs/lab.htm
Princeton University's Laboratory Safety http://web.princeton.edu/sites/ehs/LabPage/index.html
American Chemical Society - Committee on Chemical Safety - Booklet "Safety in Academic Chemistry Laboratories, 7th Edition Volume 1 Accident Prevention for College and University StudentsForms: