R3 Lab Manual
II. Safety
A. Protocols
- Safety glasses should be worn at all times in the laboratory. A face shield should be used whenever
there is the possibility of a flying projectile. Exceptions to this rule may include working at the
computer terminals or reading in a "quiet" corner.
- Shoes should be worn at all times in the laboratory. Surfer slippers and sandals do not provide adequate protection.
- Long pants should be worn in the laboratory. However, this rule may not be enforced during unusually hot weather.
- Nothing should block the eye wash fountain / shower area.
- Clutter should be reduced to a minimum by returning unused tools, etc. to their proper places and cleaning glassware
promptly after an experiment.
- For the safety and peace of mind of those who handle or may come in contact with our rubbish, it must be sorted as follows:
- Any glass, including Vacutainers, broken glassware, disposable pipets, old reagent bottles, etc. should be emptied, rinsed and disposed of in the "broken glass" box.
- All plastic reagent bottles should be thoroughly rinsed before disposal in the rubbish can.
- Needles and syringes should be cut prior to disposal to render them useless.
- Whole paper that is printed or used only on one side should be reused, or used to make notepads. It should be separated from scrap or unusable paper and placed in the appropriate box under the printer stand.
- Empty aluminum cans should be collected in the appropriate lined box and recycled.
- Food should not be consumed in the laboratory.
- Clothing, bags and other personal items must be stored in personal drawers or in the storage room and not be left on top of, under or around tables, consuming workspace.
- Safety and the continuing improvement of our operations and procedures are everyone's concern and responsibility. Recommendations from each member of the laboratory concerning means by which our laboratory practices can be improved will be welcomed at any time!
B. Chemicals
- Each member of the laboratory must read and understand the complete contents of the Chemical Hygiene Plan (CHP), which is located above the chemical storage cabinets. Note especially the chapters which deal with standard operating procedures.
- Every experimental proposal form should include a few lines which list the hazardous chemicals involved, the hazardous procedures and the safety precautions to be taken beforehand and in case of an accident. The person carrying out the experiment should state that he has read and understood the appropriate Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS). All the MSDS are present in the laboratory and located above the flammable cabinets.
- Each member of the laboratory must read and understand the UH Chemical Waste Disposal Procedures as they are listed in Appendix IV of the CHP. In addition to this, there are 3 bottles located in the cabinets labeled H-2a and H-2b assigned for the disposal of chemical waste: 1) Hydrocarbons, 2) Acids/Bases, 3) Miscellaneous. Each bottle is accompanied by a list which has to be filled out carefully and completely when disposing any waste in one of the bottles. The lists are kept in the CHP. This is necessary as the UH will dispose of our waste only when it is properly labeled. UH will not handle unknowns. If there is any doubt about the disposal of wastes, consult the R3L Chemical Stock Officer, the R3L Safety Officer, or the UH Chemical Hygiene Officer.
C. Glasses (As described in C&E News)
Of the four types of lenses commonly used in sunglasses, daily wear glasses and industrial glasses – glass, allyl resin plastic, high-index plastic and polycarbonate – polycarbonate eyeglasses have the highest impact resistance, according to a study by Paul Vinger of Tufts Medical School, Medford, Mass. [J. AM. Med. Assoc., 277, 142 (1997)]. Polycarbonate lenses were the only ones that showed adequate resistance to all the forms of projectiles tested. Polycarbonate currently costs between $20 and $75 more per pair.
D. Gloves
The disposable gloves used in R3Lab are not latex; they are 100% nitrile. Check the Manufacturer’s Web site for ratings of the gloves based on chemical resistance when using a chemical other than acetone, ethanol, phenol, and furfural. The gloves in the R3L don’t have a high ranking for continued exposure to acetone, however, they should be suitable for protection from splashes, etc.
Hawaii Natural Energy Institute
1680 East-West Road, POST 109
Honolulu, HI 96822
Phone: (808) 956-8890
Fax: (808) 956-2336
Email: hnei@hawaii.edu
Please read the Website DISCLAIMER.
This page was last updated on Monday, October 21, 2002
[GRAPHIC VERSION]
d