SAFETY IN THE LABORATORY

Goal of a Safety Program: Risk Reduction Reduce the presence of hazards Reduce the risk of inevitable hazards with good lab design Educate Establish GLPs for handling hazards Use personal protective equipment

PERSONAL PROTECTION IN THE LABORATORY General Dress Clothing…appropriate for the lab task Hair…long hair is tied back Jewelry…is appropriate for task Shoes…closed toed on lab days!

Personal Protective Equipment “PPE” Protective Clothing Lab Coats…creates a barrier between you and the experiment Sleeves…recommended for reduced skin exposure to chemicals Aprons…protection from chemical splashes Shoes/Booties…may be needed if leaving an environment that is infectious or entering a sterile environment

Eye and Face Protection Goggles…AT ALL TIMES; should be appropriate for the task Safety Glasses Splash goggles Face Shield

Hand Protection Glove types vary and each will protect against one or more: Provide protection against Corrosive or toxic chemicals Biological contaminants Sharps Extreme temperatures

Types of Gloves Thin-walled gloves that still provide dexterity…This is what we use! Make sure they are latex free if you are sensitive Thermal gloves for high temperatures Cryogenic gloves Rubber gloves for dishwashing Puncture-resistant gloves for handling animals

Masks and Respirators Surgical type mask: Filters dust and large aerosols Shields face from minor splashes Little protection from infectious agents Respirators: Breathing device Designed to reduce airborne hazards by manipulating the quality of the air. Must be trained

Categories of Laboratory Hazards Physical Hazards Chemical Hazards Biological Hazards

Hazard Classification

Material Safety Data Sheets What are they? Informational document prepared by the manufacturer or importer of a hazardous chemical which describes its physical and chemical hazards and its physical hazards and recommended precautions for storage and handling and disposal What is the purpose of an MSDS? To provide info on health and physical hazards Where are they? Notebook in the Prep Room or online

Types of Chemical Hazards Toxic Corrosive Flammable Reactive Specific hazards are listed with each lab handout. If you are unsure of how to handle / dispose of ANY chemical ask your instructor

Routes of Chemical Exposure Inhalation…requires a fume hood or exceptional ventilation Absorption Skin and Eye contact Goggles and gloves must be worn Eyes must be rinsed for 15min at eyewash station if exposure occurs A deluge shower is available in many of the chemistry rooms Ingestion…NEVER!

Measures of Chemical Toxicity LD 50 = Lethal Dose-50% Amount that will cause death in 50% of test animals Given in g or mg/kg of body weight LC 50 = Lethal Concentration -50% Toxicity for inhaled chemicals Chemical concentration in air that will kill 50% of test animals Expressed in ppm or mg/m3 TLV = Threshold Limit Value Airborne conc. healthy workers can be exposed to with no adverse effects PEL = Permissible Exposure Limit Legal limits set by OSHA for worker exposure

Minimizing Hazards Preparing a Work Area Using Chemical Fume Hoods Limit Exposure Store Chemicals Properly Handle Waste Properly Knowledge

Minimizing Hazards REPORT ANY INCIDENT TO THE INSTRUCTOR!!! No Food or Drink in the Lab Follow instructions CAREFULLY If you are not familiar with something then do not use it…ASK INSTRUCTOR! Read labels Never taste, smell, etc! Wash hands after experiment! READ the lab before performing, paying special attention to the safety section. Place books, backpacks on tables away from the Lab bench during experiment REPORT ANY INCIDENT TO THE INSTRUCTOR!!!

Responses to Chemical Hazards Notify the Instructor of a problem Make others in the vicinity aware Handling Chemical Spills Assess the situation Evacuation if necessary Clothing removal, done correctly Chemical Spill Kits

Biological Hazards Biohazard Microorganisms All used in this class are rated as BSL 1…non-pathogenic (but you never know!) Cell lines Pathogen Ability to cause disease Infectious Ability to invade a host

Minimizing the Risks of Biohazards Biosafety Levels BSL1: Not associated with disease in healthy adults E.coli, yeast, most plants BSL2: Associated with disease that is treatable or vaccine available Salmonella, Clostridium BSL3 and BSL4: Severe lethal human diseases M. tuberculosis, Ebola

Minimizing the Risks of Biohazards Standard Microbiological Practices (Table 30.3) Limit access Wear PPE No eating or drinking Hand-to-mouth and hand-to-eye MUST be avoided No mouth pipeting Minimize aerosols Disinfect work surface before and after lab Decontaminate all live materials / DNA/ RNA before disposal

Minimizing the Risks of Biohazards Laboratory Design Biological Safety Cabinets Bioaerosol Prevention Use of Disinfectants and Sterilization Bleach, ethanol, etc. Handling Biohazardous Waste Sharps containers, autoclave bags, autoclave

Safety Equipment Fire Extinguishers…Front right Eye Wash…Front left Safety Shower…S3 & S4 Fume Hoods…S3 & S4 Biosafety Cabinets…don’t have one Sharps Container…back left Fire Blankets…front left