1. Chris Brown/Jason Dzurisin March 7, 2007
Hellmann Lab Safety
Chris Brown/Jason Dzurisin
March 7, 2007

2. Roles and Responsibilities
Lab Manager’s Responsibilities:
Ensure lab members know and follow chemical hygiene rules.
Monitor procurement, use and disposal of chemicals used in the lab.
Provide Risk Management and Safety with an annual inventory of hazardous materials.
Lab Members Responsibilities
To plan and conduct all operations in accordance with the chemical hygiene procedures.
Develop good personal chemical hygiene habits.
Obtain information pertinent to equipment and material safety
Use personal protective equipment provided.

3. Hellmann Lab Chemical Hazards
Flammables
Ethanol
Isopropanol
Chloroform
Phenol
Isoamyl Alcohol
Acid/Base
Acids
37% Hydrochloric acid
Acetic Acid
EDTA
Bases
Sodium hydroxide pellets
Potassium hydroxide

4. Other chemicals Ethidium bromide Water Mutagenic
Suspect carcinogen and teratogen
Teratogenic = causes possible genetic birth defects
Water
Poses electrical hazard
Poses physical hazard (slipping, etc.)

5. Safety Considerations
Wear gloves at all times when doing bench work
Good general practice
Prevents absorption of chemicals through skin
Prevents contamination of samples
Wear lab coat when appropriate
Chloroform/Phenol

6. Safety Considerations
Spill Response
Stairway A, 1st floor
Acid, Base, Solvent kits
Procedures:
Inform Lab Manager
Close off and mark spill area
Lab Manager will treat spill
Contact Risk Management
Fire
Extinguisher: In lab, near exit
Pull alarm (outside lab)
Use extinguisher
Only if fire is ‘manageable’
If larger, evacuate the building

7. Safety Considerations
Cuts/Scrapes
First Aid kit in lab
Next to office
Inform Lab Manager
Eye contamination
Eye wash in lab
Tested every month
Squeeze handle
Keep eyes open
Body Contamination
Safety showers
In bathrooms just outside of lab
Pull handle…area will not drain
Take off contaminated clothing

8. GLP Guidelines MSDS Forms Label all handmade solutions with:
Contents
Initials/Name
Date
Bare minimum requirements under GLP rules
Unknown solutions will have to be discarded
MSDS Forms
Updated MSDS paper database in file cabinet
Better to know what you’re working with than not
“Right to know”

9. GLP Guidelines Keep hood as clean/organized as possible
Cluttered hood leads to reduced air flow
Uncapped or open chemicals can mix dangerously
Use certain chemicals in the hood
Chloroform/Phenol mixtures
Ethidium Bromide
BME: beta-mercaptoethanol

10. Other considerations
Keep gel boxes closed to avoid evaporation of buffer into workspace (health concern)
Keep all equipment off if not in use
When leaving:
Clean and organize workspace
Double-check all equipment is off
Make sure hood shade is down and light is off
Wash hands
“Check out” with remaining personnel
If last to leave, turn off all lights and ensure door is locked
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