CONTROL
MEASURES AND EQUIPMENT
Chemical safety is achieved by continual awareness
of chemical hazards and by keeping the chemical under control by
using precautions, including engineering safeguards such as hoods.
Faculty, students, and staff should be familiar with the precautions
to be taken, including the use of engineering and other safeguards.
Laboratory supervisors should be alert to detect the malfunction
of engineering and other safeguards. All engineering safeguards
and controls must be properly maintained and inspected on a regular
basis, and not overloaded beyond their design limits.
Ventilation (Hoods)
- Always work in a hood when working with toxic chemicals that have
low air concentration limits or that have high vapor pressures.
- Fume hoods should provide 100 linear feet per minute of air flow.
- There should be a label on each hood verifying that the airflow
has been checked within the last six months. If there is any doubt
that a hood is working properly call the Science Center Office (x3136)
and mark on the hood "Out of Order".
- Laboratory personnel should understand and comply with:
- A fume hood is a safety backup for condensers, traps, or other
devices that collect vapors and fumes. It is not used to "dispose"
of chemicals by evaporation.
- The apparatus inside the hood should be placed on the floor
of the hood at least six inches away from the front edge. Large
apparatus should be placed on "legs" at least two inches off
the work surface to allow for adequate airflow through the hood.
In the event of hood failure, personnel should remove materials
if necessary and consult the Laboratory Supervisor for any other
steps to be taken.
- Fume hood sashes should be lowered at all times except when
necessary to open them to adjust the apparatus that is inside
the hood.
- The hood interior should never be used as a storage area for
chemicals, apparatus, or other materials. This can adversely
effect the hood's ability to contain toxic gases or vapors.
Flammable Liquid Storage
- Large volumes of flammable liquids in the stockroom (one gallon
size) should be stored in an approved flammable liquid storage cabinet
or in the chemical storage room in the stockroom. All flammable
materials should be ordered in plastic coated bottles when available.
- Large volumes in individual laboratories should be stored in secondary
containers in approved cabinets under the hood.
- For safety and to minimize disposal costs, order the smallest
practical amounts of hazardous chemicals.
Eye Wash Fountains and Safety
Showers
- All laboratories must have quick and easy access to safety showers
and eyewashes. Be sure that access to eyewashes and safety showers
is not restricted or blocked by storage objects.
- Personnel in the laboratory must be aware of the location of these
devices.
- The functioning of eyewash fountains and safety showers are verified
periodically by Physical Plant or the Chemical Hygiene Officer.
Promptly report any unit that is not functioning properly to the
Science Center Office (x3136) for repair.
Personal Protective Equipment
If personal protective equipment is required, it is included in the
Standard Operating Procedure for that chemical. The type and level
of equipment can be determined with the aid of the Chemical Hygiene
Officer. Any use of personal protection equipment should only be considered
after the options of reducing the hazards by engineering controls
such as the use of hoods or experimental design are reviewed and implemented
where possible.
Respirators
If there is a need to wear a respirator, the following procedures must be followed:
- Obtain a medical approval form from Metrowest Medical Center-Natick
Campus or your personal physician and submit it to the Chemical
Hygiene Officer. Completed forms are filed in the Science Center
Office.
- The Chemical Hygiene Officer will arrange for the proper selection,
fit testing, and training before use of a respirator can begin.
(This will take some advance time to schedule. The actual time to
complete the requirements is less than 30 minutes.)
- There will be an annual review of respirator use.
Eye Protection
The use of eye protection shall be determined by the laboratory supervisor
and the Chemical Hygiene Officer.
Protective Clothing
The use of protective clothing, including gloves, shall be determined
by the laboratory supervisor and the Chemical Hygiene Officer.
- The Standard Operating Procedure for a particular chemical shall
include whether protective clothing is required. Standard
Operating Procedures
- Protective clothing shall be chosen, with the aid of the Chemical
Hygiene Officer.
- Contaminated protective clothing shall be decontaminated if possible
or disposed of properly. This includes packaging the clothing in
containers or bags and calling the Chemical Hygiene Officer for
assistance.
- Open-toed shoes or sandals should not be worn in laboratories.
- Contaminated lab coats should not be worn.
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