Laboratory Safety Presentation
What is the Purpose of Laboratory Safety Training? Regulatory Compliance Washington Industrial Safety & Health Act of 1973 – Empowered the state to enforce safety & health regulations, which must be at least as stringent as OSHA regulations Division of Occupational Safety & Health (formerly L&I) developed state regulations to implement safety & health rules. Regulations codified as Washington Administrative Code (WAC) Title 296. WAC 296-800 “Safety and Health Core Rules”, establishes 26 basic safety & health rules for all employers, such as: o Accident Prevention Programs o Personal Protective Equipment o First Aid o Hazard Communication WAC 296- 828 “Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories” specifies additional employer responsibilities to protect employees from hazards of chemical use Under these regulations, “Employer” = the University, Department, and PI. Any of these (or all of them) can be held civilly or criminally liable if employees are injured at work.
Purpose of Laboratory Safety Training Preventing Injuries What do these people have in common? They all died in laboratory accidents. Sheri Sangji Michele Dufault Dr. Karen Wetterhahn Graduate chemistry Professor of chemistry at Undergraduate physics researcher at UCLA major at Yale Dartmouth Died as a result of burns Died when her long Died of mercury poisoning, from improper use of hair became tangled in exposure resulted from use pyrophoric materials a lathe while working of improper PPE alone
University of California Center for Laboratory Safety Study Findings Academic laboratories commonly have significant, but poorly recognized, safety concerns Pressure to produce results can result in placing higher value on experimental outcomes than on research safety Need to innovate forces researchers to change experiments Hazards are not necessarily recognized by many researchers High turnover of researchers (post-docs and grad students) As a result, safety problems are common: Overcoming technical challenges is a higher priority than considering risk Formal risk assessments are typically not integrated Risk assessments are not repeated when protocols or inputs change Equipment doesn’t clearly state safety limitations Researchers don’t know safety standards, regulations, and best practices Publications typically don’t identify hazard concerns, so experiments replicating those studies don’t include protections Research equipment and processes can be too specialized for safety staff to adequately review According to the Chemical Safety Board: Over 120 accidents occurred in academic laboratories between 2001-2011. Significantly more than occurred in commercial & industrial research
Solutions Administration Responsibilities: Promote strong lab safety culture, and establish expectations Points of emphasis for WSU labs: o Storage of chemical wastes in appropriate, properly labeled containers o Evaluation of procedures for disposal of glass and sharps o Replacement of mercury containing devices o Removal of unnecessary equipment and containers from fume hoods o Access to emergency equipment o Ensuring that all chemicals are stored compatibly in appropriate locations, with secondary containment when needed EHS Responsibilities: Encourage communication of best practices and lessons learned Unit-level safety committees Develop anonymous incident and near-miss reporting system Campus Safety Concern Report Form Develop training and tools to help researchers maintain strong, proactive safety culture
Solutions PI Responsibilities: Provide everyday oversight and ensure implementation of safe work practices Provide specific training to address hazards of the laboratory and process Know what your students & researchers are doing – open communication Every Researcher’s Responsibilities: Ask questions – make sure you understand the process before proceeding When something changes, step back and see if it creates a new hazard, or requires new protections If something goes wrong, STOP . Find out why, and fix it before trying again. Ask for help. Peer review is a good thing. Remember – if something unsafe is happening, EVERYONE has the authority to stop it. Stop the work, and report unsafe behavior to your PI, lab manager, or EHS. Reports can be made anonymously through the Safety Concern Report on the EHS website.
How the Lab Safety Standard is implemented at WSUTC Accident Prevention Plan (WAC 296-800-140) Broad, department-level plan with general safety information for all staff. Laboratory Safety Manual (WAC 296-828) Accident Prevention Plan Developed and updated by the University, and applicable to all labs & lab staff General rules to provide foundation for safety in lab operations - MUST be supplemented by lab-specific CHP Chemical Hygiene Plan (WAC 296-828-20005) Lab Safety Manual Specific to each lab PIs must complete CHP to address/inform on the specific chemicals, procedures, and protective measures required in their lab(s) Chemical Identifies labeling requirements and location of SDSs Medical Evaluations – If a select hazard is present above certain levels Hygiene Plan Exposure Evaluation - If there is any respiratory hazard Standard Operating Procedures (WAC 296-828- 20005) Specific Procedures for specific lab activities SOPs Safety must be i ntegrated into SOPs Specifies what materials are needed, quantities, PPE, ventilation, waste(s) generated, etc. All of these must be written, readily available for all employees to review, and reviewed/updated annually. Increasingly specific training requirements exist at each level, and employees must be trained upon hire and before introduction of new hazards
Laboratory Safety Manual WSU Tri-Cities Lab Safety Manual is accessible on the EHS website. Its sections include information on all of the following: Basic Rules and Labels and Signage Procedures Chemical spills and Chemical Procurement, emergency response Storage, and Distribution Training Exposure Monitoring for Hazardous Waste Disposal specific chemicals Inspections Carcinogens – Listed & Material Data Safety Specific Sheets Air Contaminants WAC 296- Safety Equipment 841 Table 3 Housekeeping Safe use and maintenance of certain lab equipment Medical surveillance Ventilation Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Standard Operating Procedures Recordkeeping
Laboratory Safety Manual • Basic Rules and Procedures: • SDSs for all chemicals must be available • Appropriate Clothing and PPE must be worn • Containers must be labeled and properly stored No food/drink in lab – and no chemicals or • samples in offices! • Know exit routes, where emergency equipment is located, and how to use it • Know how to call for help • Use equipment properly Control contamination – wash hands before • leaving lab • This means REMOVE YOUR GLOVES!!!
Laboratory Safety Manual • Safety Data Sheets (formerly MSDS) • SDSs must be available for every hazardous chemical in inventory • Must be readily available to all employees, at all times • May be hard copy or electronic • Initial orientation must inform employees of the location of SDSs, and how to use them
Laboratory Safety Manual • Labs using some carcinogens and air contaminants must identify them and meet specific requirements for their use: • Listed Carcinogens: 4-Nitrobiphenyl Benzidine Alpha-Napthylamine 4-Aminodiphenyl 4,4'-Methylene bis (2-chloroaniline) Ethyleneimine Methyl Chloromethyl Ether Beta-Propiolactone 3,3'-Dichlorobenzidine (and its salts) Acetylaminofluorene Bis-Chloromethyl ether 4-Dimethylaminoazobenzene Beta-Naphthylamine N-Nitrosodimethylamine • Specific Carcinogens: Acrylonitrile Butadiene Cadmium 1,2-Dibromo-3 chloropropane Ethylene Oxide Inorganic arsenic Methylene Chloride Vinyl Chloride • Specific Air Contaminants: Asbestos Benzene Formaldehyde Hexavalent Chromium Lead Methylenedianiline Thiram
Laboratory Safety Manual • Housekeeping: • Do not restrict access to exits, controls, emergency equipment, etc. • Minimize the volume of chemicals stored. Do not stockpile chemicals, dispose of anything not being used • Control clutter, store equipment, glassware, and chemicals properly • Keep heavy items and liquids on lower shelves Dispose of all waste materials appropriately – do • not place liquids, chemicals, glass, or sharps in the garbage! • Nothing but soap & water down the sink
Laboratory Safety Manual • Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) • General rules for all labs: • Loose clothing, jewelry, and long hair should be confined Feet and legs should be covered – no sandals, open • toed shoes, shorts, etc • No food, drink, smoking, or cosmetics in labs • Remove PPE before leaving lab • Additional requirements based on specific hazards
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