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Personal Safety/Hygiene
- Use chemical hoods whenever possible and always when required.
- Safety goggles/glasses with side shields shall be worn at all times in the laboratory. This applies to everyone entering the laboratory. Visitor glasses should be made available.
- Laboratory coat/apron/scrubs shall be worn in the laboratory. If scrubs or apron are worn, sleeve protectors must also be worn.
- Gloves must be worn as needed. Glove type must be selected based on the chemicals used.
- Other protective equipment/apparel must be worn whenever specified by the MSDS or product label. Chemical hoods provide respiratory protection and replace the requirement for respirator use. If you feel that a respirator is needed, contact EHS.
- Wash hands before leaving laboratory.
- Launder clothing worn in laboratory separately from other clothing. Do not take laboratory coats/scrubs, etc. home to launder. Equipment for laundering lab coats, scrubs, etc. is available in Room 7l, P&AS Building. See Appendix M of the Chemical Hygiene Plan for details on obtaining a key and use of the facility.
- Do not wear lab coats, scrubs, gloves, etc. out of the laboratory unless transporting chemicals to another lab/location.
- Never use your mouth to pipette chemicals.
- Food/Beverage may not carried into, stored or consumed in laboratories where hazardous chemicals are stored or used. Likewise, for gum, cigarettes, medications, etc.
- Avoid having long hair, loose sleeves/cuffs, rings, bracelets, etc. in close proximity to open flames or operating electrical machinery.
- Keep exposed skin covered. Shorts, skirts, open-toed or perforated shoes, high-heeled shoes, may not be worn in the laboratory. Substantial leather shoes should be worn in laboratories.
- Use borosilicate glassware for laboratory work. If dichromate/sulfuric acid glass cleaner is used in your laboratory, make sure that cleaning is confined to the fume hood (toxic chromyl chlorides are released from the dichromate/sulfuric acid solution). If possible, switch to using a non-chromate containing cleaning solution (e.g. NoChromix).
- All machinery under repair and adjustment should be properly locked out and tagged prior to servicing. All service work should be done by authorized personnel.
- Do not work with hazardous materials while alone in a laboratory. Do not work alone in a laboratory after hours (8am-4:30pm).
