Lab Safety

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.

Wellesley College Information:

Biosafety Manual
Registration Form
Amendment Form

Other Resources:

ABSA - Video - Working at Animal Biosafety Levels 1, 2, and 3 http://absa.org/restraining.html

ABSA - Risk Group Classification for Infectious Agents: Risk Group Database

Biosafety Links from ABSA

CDC's Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories (BMBL) 5th Edition

CDC's Primary Containment for Biohazards: Selection, Installation and Use of Biological Safety Cabinets - 3rd Edition

CDC's Laboraty Biosecurity - On-line Couse

NIH Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant DNA Molecules

Public Health Agency of Canada - MSDS for Infectious Substances

World Health Organization Laboratory Biosafety Manual

 

 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.

OSHA Laboratory Standard - Safety & Health Topics Page and Lab Safety Fact Sheets

OSHA Hazardous & Toxic Substances - Safety and Health Topics Page

American Chemical Society - Committee on Chemical Safety - Booklet "Safety in Academic Chemistry Laboratories, 7th Edition Volume 1 Accident Prevention for College and University Students"

American Chemical Society - Committee on Chemical Safety - Booklet "Safety in Academic Chemistry Laboratories, 7th Edition Volume 2 Accident Prevention for Faculty and Administrators"

American Chemical Society - Committee on Chemical Safety - Brochure "Safety for Introductory Chemistry Students Brochure"

Chemical Safety Board - Video on Lab Accidents entitled "Experimenting with Danger” is now available. See here for the news release by the CSB.

Lab Safety Supply Chemical Compatability Chart

Laboratory Chemicals Safety Summaries from Prudent Pratices in the Laboratory: Handling and Disposal of Chemicals by the National Research Council in 1995.

 

 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)

American Chemical Society Less is Better - for waste minimization concepts for labs

American Chemical Society - Laboratory Waste Management: A Guidebook

 

Other Important Information:

Animals - safety in the care of and use of research animals.

Science Center Rules for Working with Lab Animals
Animal Handler Medical Questionnaire
IACUC Committee
Rat Bites & Scratches Response Protocol
National Research Council's Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals - 8th Ed

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.

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 2007

Ergonomics. 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 - Formaldehyde

Fume 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)

Wellesley College Science Center Fume Hoods with Phoenix Controls Info Sheet1 and Info Sheet 2 showing Sensors and Flow Box Info

Links on Fume Hood Operation & Safety:

Laboratory Chemical Hood Users Guide - Univ. of Louisville

Fume Hoods and Biosafety Cabinets Safety Library - OSU EHS

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

Labels - Properly labeled containers are important in protecting your health and safety as well as first responders. It is also an OHSA requirement.

Labels on purchased chemicals must include:

1. The common name of the chemical
2. The name, address and emergency phone number of the company responsible for the product
3. An appropriate hazard warning

Signal words used to indicate degree of hazard are "DANGER", for the most serious hazard, "WARNING", for moderate hazard, and "CAUTION" to indicate a lesser degree of hazard.

Cornell EHS Label Program

Lasers - The Laser Safety Program at Wellesley College follows ANSI Z 136.1 and 136.5 "The Safe Use of Lasers" and the MA DPH Regulations. Copies of the written program and ANSI standards are available in the EHS Office.

Massachusetts Department of Public Health Regulations 105 CMR 121 : To Control the Radiation Hazards of Lasers, Laser Systems and Optical Fiber Communication Systems Utilizing Laser Diode or Light Emitting Diode Sources

DPH Radiation Control Program Registration Form for ANSI Class 3b or 4 Lasers

Wellesley College Laser Inventory Form for all ANSI Class Lasers

Recommended Vendors for Laser Safety Products

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.

UMass Lowell EHS Page for the Center for High-rate Nanomanufacturing

Wellesley College Review Form for Use of Nanotachnology in Labs

Personal Protective Equipment or PPE

When Not to Wear Gloves Poster

OSU's Chemical Guide - for info on Glove breakthrough time

North's Section Guide for Respiratory and Hand Protection

SHOWA BestGlove - What's the Best Glove for Me Guide

Select Agents & Toxins

Federal Register Notice dated March 18, 2005 on "Possession, Use, and Transfer of Select Agents and Toxins; Final Rule"

Select Agent List dated 11/17/2008

Shipping and Receiving of Hazardous Materials

Department of Transportation

UNH Shipment of Biological Materials Manual

Spill Response

Chemical Spills:
Small spills can be cleaned up by the user if prepared, trained and spill response equipment is readily available.

• Evaluate the situation (including a review of the MSDS)
• Notify manager/supervisor
• Secure the area
• Control and contain spill
• Clean up
• Decontaminate
• Ensure proper disposal of spill material

For large spills, unknown materials, or extemely hazardous materials, immediately secure & post the area. Contact Campus Police 24/7 at x 5555 and or EHS at x 3882 during work hours.

Large spills may require reporting to local, state or federal agencies. Contact EHS at x 3882 to ensure proper reporting.

American Chemical Society Guide for Chemical Spill Response Planning in Laboratories

Training

Safety in Biology Labs - Summer 2011

Safety in Chemistry Labs - Summer 2011

Animal Handler Orientation - 2010

Biosafety Student Training - 2008

 

Links:

Science Center - Animal Care Facility

Science Center: Lab Safety
/sciencecenter/facilities/safetymanual

OSHA Safety & Health Topics - Labs
http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/laboratories/index.html

Yale 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

NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards

American Cancer Society Known and Probable Human Carcinogens

Forms:

Lab Program Review

Wellesley College Review Form for Use of Nanotachnology in Labs

Template for Standard Operating Procedures

/sites/default/files/assets/departments/ehs/files/