5.0 General Laboratory Procedures
5.1 Behavior in the Laboratory
5.1.1 Maintenance of all campus fire equipment and systems.
5.1.2 Horseplay and practical jokes are not permitted. Do not work alone at a potentially dangerous activity.
5.1.3 Laboratory visitors are to be escorted by a laboratory employee and are the responsibility of that employee.
5.1.4 Visitors shall observe all safety regulations required in the laboratory.
5.1.5 Only well understood reactions should be permitted to run unattended.
5.1.6 Lights should be left on and an appropriate sign should be placed on the door if equipment is left running unattended.
5.1.7 Provisions for containment of toxic substances in the event of a utility service failure (such as cooling water) for an unattended operation should be established.
5.1.8 Employees shall be made aware of the location and proper operation of laboratory safety equipment.
5.1.9 The use of radioactive sources and radiation producing equipment is regulated by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, state governments, and the OHIO University Radiation Safety Program. Policies and Procedures required by the OHIO University Radiation Safety Program must be followed.
5.1.10 All requests for using radioactive sources and radiation producing equipment shall be approved through Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) before any radiation source or radiation-producing instrument is brought into the laboratory.
5.1.11 Any experiments involving materials covered under the OHIO University Biosafety Program shall follow the Policies and Procedures of the Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC). These include etiologic agents, infectious materials, potentially infectious clinical materials, oncogenic viruses, invertebrate vectors of human disease, human blood products and other potentially infectious materials, recombinant DNA products, carcinogens and related materials that are known to cause or may be capable of causing infection or disease in humans. Research with a recombinant DNA-containing plant genome, including nuclear or organelle hereditary material or release of recombinant DNA-derived organisms associated with plants must also follow the Policies and Procedures of the IBC.
5.1.12 Researchers using human blood or other potentially infectious materials must also have a written Bloodborne Pathogens Plan.
5.1.13 Researchers who desire to use any toxins regulated by the "Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act" (also called the Agent Transfer Law) must contact EHS for procedures (OHIO University is not currently licensed for this).
5.2 Reduction of Exposure Risk
5.2.1 Skin contact with chemicals should be avoided.
5.2.2 Do not smell or taste chemicals.
5.2.3 Never pipette chemicals by mouth.
5.2.4 Use a vacuum or pipette bulb or mechanical pipette.
5.2.5 An apparatus, which may discharge toxic chemicals, must be vented into local exhaust devices.
5.2.6 Choose only those chemicals for which the quality of the available ventilation system is appropriate.
5.2.7 Use of potentially hazardous chemicals should be confined to the fume hoods. Open bench top use could require evaluation of employee exposures for compliance with OSHA Permissible Exposure Limits (PELs).
5.3 Prohibited Activities
5.3.1 Eating, drinking, handling contact lenses, smoking, and cosmetic application are not permitted in the laboratory
5.3.2 Food may not be stored in a refrigerator that already has chemicals stored in it.
5.3.3 No glassware or utensils, which are used for laboratory operations, shall be used for storage, handling or consumption of food or beverages.
5.3.4 Hands should be washed before and after using the restrooms and before eating.
5.3.5 Long hair and loose clothing shall be restrained to prevent it from becoming entangled in equipment.
5.3.6 Use of open-toed shoes is prohibited. Only substantial, closed-toe shoes may be worn in the laboratory.
5.3.7 Spills and accumulations of chemicals on work surfaces shall be removed as soon as possible using techniques which minimize residual surface contamination.
5.3.8 Do not permit recognized hazards to remain uncorrected. Areas of exposed skin, i.e. forearms, should be washed frequently if there is potential of contact with chemicals.
5.4 Lifting Heavy Objects
5.4.1 Lift heavy objects by bending at the knees. Use your legs, not your back. Never attempt to lift any load weighing more than 50 pounds by yourself.
5.4.2 Hold heavy objects close to your body.
5.4.3 Get help in handling objects that weigh more than 50 pounds.
5.4.4 Care should be taken when moving chemicals or other items due to the bump and spill potentials of hazardous chemicals in the laboratory.
5.4.5 Contact EHS if ergonomic assessment is desired.
5.5 Housekeeping
5.5.1 Lab areas are to be kept clean and uncluttered.
5.5.2 Contaminated glassware is not to be left out.
5.5.3 Spills are to be cleaned up immediately from work areas and floors.
5.5.4 Floors must be maintained dry at all times.
5.5.5 Doorways and walkways shall not be blocked or used for storage.
5.5.6 Access to exits, emergency equipment, and utility controls shall never be blocked.
5.5.7 Experiments and apparatus no longer in use should be cleaned up and dismantled prior to beginning new procedures to avoid clutter.
5.6 General Lighting
5.6.1 Adequate lighting should be provided based on the guidelines set forth in Table 1.
5.6.2 EHS may be contacted to help in the assessment of illumination levels.
Table 1 | Minimum Foot Candles
- Microanalytical, critical or delicate operations, close work, etc: 70 ft.
- General analytical, routine analytical, physical testing: 50 ft.
- Engine laboratories, equipment test areas, fume hoods: 80 ft.