Standard Operating Procedures

D. Standard Operating Procedures

D1. General

Follow all safety instructions carefully. Use equipment only for its desired purpose.
Become thoroughly acquainted with the location and use of safety equipment such as safety showers, fire blankets, eyewash fountains, fire extinguisher, and exits.
Know the safety rules and procedures that apply to the work being done. Determine the potential hazards and precautions before undertaking any operation.
Be alert to any unsafe conditions and work practices and call attention to them immediately, so that appropriate corrections can be made as soon as possible.
Horseplay, practical jokes, or other behavior which might confuse, startle, or distract other workers in the laboratory is forbidden.
Be certain all chemicals are correctly and clearly labeled. Post warning signs when unusual hazards, such as radiation, laser, use of carcinogens, or highly toxic chemicals exist.

A. Eyes

Everyone in the laboratory including visitors MUST wear appropriate eye protection at all times, even when not performing a chemical operation. All protective eye wear used in the laboratory must meet the ANSI Z87.1 standard.

Regular prescription eye glasses (with or without sideshields) are not allowed as a substitution for safety glasses or splash goggles. Faculty and staff may obtain prescription safety glasses (with side shields). See our Prescription Safety Glasses Program for more information. Students and Faculty and staff who don't obtain prescription safety glasses must wear safety glasses (for impact hazard) or goggles (for splash hazard) designed to go over their prescription glasses.

Full face shields with safety glasses or goggles underneath will be worn when conducting an operation that may result in a violent reaction.

Contact lenses can be worn without increased risks in most laboratory environments. Contact lenses will not be substituted for appropriate eye protection. In other words, if the use of contacts is allowed by the laboratory supervisor, approved eye protection will also be worn. Contact lens wearers will be identified prior to beginning any laboratory operations. Laboratory supervisors who allow contact lens use and the contact lens wearers must be familiar with emergency procedures. Faculty and staff who wear contact lenses should consider obtaining a pair of prescription safety glasses.

B. Clothing

Clothing will offer protection from splashes and spills, should be easily removed in case of an accident, and should be fire resistant. HIGH HEELED OR OPEN TOED SHOES, SANDALS, AND FLIP-FLOPS WILL NOT BE WORN in the laboratory. SHORTS, SHORT DRESSES, MINISKIRTS, TANK TOPS, AND HALTER TOPS ARE ALSO PROHIBITED. Long hair and loose clothing will be constrained. Jewelry such as rings, bracelets, and watches will not be worn.

C. Gloves

Gloves are an important part of personal protection when used correctly. Check to make sure there are no cracks, breaks, or small holes prior to use. Gloves will be removed before handling telephones, doorknobs, writing instruments, and notebooks to prevent the unintentional spread of chemicals. Gloves will be changed on a periodic basis depending on the nature of work and the chemicals used. Glove material must be appropriate for the chemicals being handled and the operation being performed. A chemical resistance chart that lists the material or materials that you are using should be consulted.

See also Personal Protective Equipment for chemical handling.

D3. Personal Hygiene

Do not prepare, store, or consume food or beverages in the laboratory.
Do not apply cosmetics in the laboratory.
Wash hands and lower arms before leaving the lab even if gloves were worn. Do not use solvents to wash skin. Solvents remove the protective oils from the skin and cause drying, redness, and irritation.
Never wear or bring lab coats or aprons in areas where food is stored or consumed.
Never pipette or siphon by mouth.
Food will not be stored in a refrigerator used for chemical storage. Refrigerators used for chemical storage will clearly labeled "Chemicals Only - No Food". Conversely refrigerators used for food storage, which will be located outside the laboratory area, will be labeled "Food Only -No Chemicals."

D4. Housekeeping

In the laboratory and elsewhere, keeping things clean and neat generally leads to a safer environment. When housekeeping standards fall, safety performance inevitably deteriorates. Therefore:

Work areas will be kept clean and free from obstructions. Keep isles free of chairs, boxes, equipment, and waste receptacles.
Lab benches and floors will be cleaned regularly and kept free of clutter.
Hazardous chemicals on the floor or above eye level.
Access to emergency equipment, exits, control panels, and outlets will be kept clear at all times.
Drawers and cabinets will be closed when not in use.
Full hazardous waste collection containers will be removed from the laboratory.
Unneeded or unwanted reagents will be returned to the division stockroom.
Spilled chemicals will cleaned up immediately and disposed of properly.

D5. Unattended Operations

Reactions that are left to run unattended overnight or at other times are prime sources for fire, floods, or explosions. Plan for interruptions in electrical, gas, or water service. Equipment such as power stirrers, hot plates, heating mantles, and water condensers will not run unattended without fail-safe provisions. Unattended operations will be checked regularly. Appropriate signs will be posted indicating that a laboratory operation is in progress. The sign will include any hazards associated with the operation and a telephone number of the person(s) to be contacted in an emergency.

D6. Working Alone

No one will work in a laboratory building alone. If a laboratory supervisor determines that an employee or student can work alone in a laboratory room, arrangements will be made for frequent contact with someone in the immediate area. Contact will be maintained with campus safety during work outside of normal hours.

D7. Security

All laboratories will be locked when unattended and not in use to protect employees, students, equipment, supplies, and the public.
Locked storage cabinets will be utilized for expensive, hazardous, or sensitive items.
All suspicious persons or actions will be reported to Campus Safety immediately at ext. 7333.

D8. Glassware

Careful handling and storage procedures are necessary to avoid damaging glassware.

Damaged or broken glassware will be discarded. Broken glass will be placed in designated containers. Broken glass collection containers will be labeled, "CAUTION - Broken Glass" to prevent injury to custodians and garbage handlers.
Adequate hand protection will be worn when inserting glass tubing into rubber stoppers or corks, or when placing rubber tubing on glass connections.
Glass apparatus under vacuum will be handled with extreme care to prevent implosion. Glassware under vacuum will be taped or shielded and only glassware designed for vacuum use such as Dewar flasks will be used for that purpose.
Glassware will be cleaned at the laboratory sink or in a laboratory dishwasher. The use of strong oxidizer agents such as nitric, chromic, or sulfuric acid will be minimized.
Proper hand protection will be worn when handling broken glass.
Glassware or bottles used in laboratory operations will not be used to prepare or store food or beverages.

D9. Systems Under Pressure.

Reactions under pressure will be carried out in apparatus that is designed to withstand the full pressure of the system.
All pressurized apparatus will have appropriate relief devices.

D10. Compressed Gases

Gas cylinders will be strapped or chained securely to a wall or bench top.
Gas cylinders will be capped when not in use.
Flammable compressed gases will be stored away from heat, oxygen, and sources of ignition.
The appropriate regulator will be used.
Gas cylinders will not be bled completely empty.
Empty gas cylinders will be labeled as such and separated from full ones.
Gas cylinders will be transported using gas cylinders carts specifically designed for this purpose.

D11. Chemical Storage

A. General

Every chemical container in the laboratory will have a definite storage place and must be returned to that location after each use. Containers will not be left on bench tops overnight.
Do not store chemicals on desks, bench tops, or in hoods that are used for chemical manipulations.
Storage trays or secondary containers will be used to minimize the spread of material should a container break or leak.
Chemicals will be stored by hazard class, not alphabetically. At the very least acids will be separated from bases and flammables will be separated from oxidizers.
Chemical containers will be inspect periodically. Worn or faded labels will be repaired. Unneeded or unwanted items will be donated to the surplus chemicals inventory, and deteriorated or unusable chemicals will be disposed.
Chemical containers will be dated when opened. The receiving date will recorded in ChIM.

B. Toxic Substances

Chemicals known to be highly toxic will be stored in well ventilated areas in chemically resistant secondary containers.
Only minimum working quantities will be present in the work area.
Containers of suspected carcinogens or acutely toxic chemicals will carry a label such as the following: "CAUTION - Carcinogen or CAUTION - Highly Toxic."

C. Peroxide Forming Chemicals

Specific chemicals that can form dangerous concentrations of peroxides on exposure to air include cyclohexene, cyclooctene, decalin (decahydronaphthalene), p-dioxane, ethyl ether anhydrous, diisopropyl ether, tetrahydrofuran, and tetralin (tetrahydronaphthalene). A more extensive list is located at Appendix C.

The quantity peroxide forming chemicals purchased will be limited to the minimum quantity required. Unused material will not be returned to the original container.
Containers of peroxide forming chemicals will be dated when opened, tested after 6 months, and disposed of before their expiration date.
Peroxide forming chemicals will be store at the lowest possible temperature consistent with their freezing point to prevent decomposition, but will not be allowed to freeze.

Last modified: June 11, 1998