Fire Extinguishers

While Calvin Collage is ultimately responsible for the fire extinguishers, Calvin has contracted with a third party to inspect and maintane of all fire extinguishers in the Science Building.

Laboratory personnel should be adequately trained regarding potential fire hazards associated with their work. Fire extinguishers must be clearly labeled to indicate the types of fire they are designed to extinguish. The following codes as presented in NFPA 10 "Portable Fire Extinguishers" are:

• Class A -fires in ordinary combustible materials such as wood, cloth, paper, rubber, and many plastics.
• Class B -fires in flammable liquids, oils, greases, tars, oil-base paints, lacquers and flammable gases.
• Class C -fires that involve energized electrical equipment where the electrical conductivity of the extinguishing medium is of importance; when electrical equipment is de-energized, extinguishers for class A or B fires may be safely used.
• Class D -Fires of combustible metals such as magnesium, titanium, zirconium, sodium, lithium and potassium.

If an employee notices a fire extinguisher discharged or not fully charged, an extinguisher with the safety pin pulled out, an extinguisher obstructed from view, or one not hanging in its proper location, please notify the Environmental Health and Safety Officer at x6342.

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Ventilation Hoods

Laboratory Hoods

The following rules were adapted from:

Laboratory Fume Hood Recomended Practices, SEFA I - 1992, McLean, VA.

Work that involves hazards and noxious materials which are toxic, odoriferous, volatile or harmful shall be conducted within a laboratory hood. The primary purpose of a laboratory hood is to keep toxic or irritating vapors and fumes out of the general laboratory working area. A secondary purpose is to serve as a shield between the worker and equipment being used when there is the possibility of an explosive reaction. Lowering the sash of the hood is the best way to enhance both of these purposes.

• Hood ventilation systems are best designed to have an airflow of not less than 60 ft/min (linear) and not more than 120 ft/min (linear) across the face of the hood. Flow rates of higher than 125 ft/min can cause turbulence problems and are not recommended.
• Avoid creation of strong cross drafts (100 fpm) caused by open doors and windows, air conditioning and/or heating vents, or personnel movement. Drafts will pull contaminants from the hood and into the laboratory. 100 FPM is generally not perceptible (100 fpm is approximately 3 mph, a normal walking pace). Air conditioning and heating vents and personnel traffic all create airflows in excess of 200 FPM, often much higher. Therefore, laboratory activity in the hood area should be minimized while the hood is in use.
• DO NOT ADJUST BAFFLES unless you have been instructed to do so by your CHO. Do not remove baffles.
• When not in use, the sash of the hood should be kept closed. While performing work in the hood, the sliding sash should be kept at the height (usually 18 inches) designated to provide the minimum face velocity required (usually 100 f/m). This will ensure maximum velocity of air flow into the hood and out of the laboratory.
• Work should be performed as deeply within the fume hood as possible. Equipment, reagents, and glassware should be placed as far back in the hood as is practical without blocking the rear baffle. Solid objects placed at the face of the hood cause turbulence in the air flow.
• ONLY ITEMS NECESSARY TO PERFORM THE PRESENT EXPERIMENT SHOULD BE IN THE HOOD. The more equipment in the hood, the greater the air turbulence and the chance for gaseous escape into the lab.
• When instrumentation is utilized for a process inside a hood, all instruments should be elevated a minimum of two inches from the hood base to facilitate proper air movement.
• The purpose and function of a hood is NOT to store chemicals or unused items. The fume hood is not a storage cabinet.
• Hoods shall not be used as a means of disposing of toxic or irritating chemicals, but only as a means of removing small quantities of vapor which might escape during laboratory operations. If vaporization of large quantities of such materials is a necessary part of the operation, a means of collecting the vapor by distillation or scrubbing should be considered, rather than allowing it to escape through the hood vent. The collected liquid can then be disposed of as a liquid waste.
• Some hoods are constructed of stainless steel. These are usually "perchloric acid hoods" or "radioisotope hoods." Never use perchloric acid in a hood not designed for that use. Perchloric acid hoods have a wash-down feature which should be used after each use of the hood and at least every two weeks when the hood is not in use. Date of wash-down should be recorded by the laboratory.
• Always look to assure fan motor power switch is in the "on" position before initiating experiment. Note: Some hoods do not have individual "on/off" switches and remain "on" continuously.
• Do not use infectious material in a chemical fume hood.
• Exhaust fans should be spark-proof if exhausting flammable vapors and corrosive resistant if handling corrosive fumes.
• Controls for all services (i.e., vacuum, gas, electric, water) should be located at the front of the hood and should be operable when the hood door is closed.
• Radioactive materials may not be used in the hoods without prior approval of the Radiological Safety Officer.
• An emergency plan should be prepared in the event of ventilation failure or other unexpected occurrence such as fire or explosion in the hood.

Biological Safety Cabinets

Biological Safety cabinets are among the most effective, as well as the most commonly used, primary containment devices in laboratories working with infectious agents.

Class I and II biological safety cabinets, when used in conjunction with good microbiological techniques, provide an effective partial containment system for safe manipulation of moderate and some high-risk microorganisms.

It is imperative that Class I and II biological safety cabinets are tested and certified in situs, any time the cabinet is moved, and at least annually thereafter. Certification at locations other than the final site may attest to the performance capability of the individual cabinet or model but does not supersede the critical certification prior to use in the laboratory.

As with any other piece of laboratory equipment, personnel must be trained in the proper use of the biological safety cabinets. Of particular note are those activities which may disrupt the inward directional airflow through the work opening of Class I and II cabinets. Aerosol particles can escape the cabinet in various ways. Among these are repeated insertion and withdrawal of workers' arms in and from the work chamber, opening and closing doors to the laboratory or isolation cubicle, improper placement or operation of materials or equipment within the work chamber, or brisk walking past the cabinet while it is in use. Strict adherence to recommended practices for the use of biological safety cabinets is as important in attaining the maximum containment capability of the equipment as is the mechanical performance of the equipment itself. Always decontaminate the hood using procedures adopted by the laboratory after each use or at the end of the work day.

Specialized Local Ventilation

Some instruments such as atomic absorption spectrophotometers (AA's) or inductively coupled argon spectrometers (ICP's) emit small quantities of hazardous materials during use. To prevent excessive accumulations of these materials, each of these instruments should be provided with an individual ventilation exhaust duct (as required by the manufacturer and ASHRAE). Gas chromatography equipment using thermal conductivity detection should be kept in a hood or have a vent over the column outlets.

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Safety Showers

If all protective measures fail and an employee receives a chemical splash to their body, then safety showers should be provided throughout the laboratory for immediate and thorough washing of the body.

• Students and Staff should familiarize themselves with the location of the nearest safety Shower. Lab Assistants should indicate the location of the showers, and explain the purpose and operation to the students at the begining of the semester.
• Students and Staff should be familiar with the operation of the safety showers.
• Safety showers are designed to flood the entire body in the event of a clothing fire or a major spill of a chemical. In either case, an employee should simply stand under the shower and activate the shower. Flood the affected area for a minimum of 15 to 30 minutes.
• In the case of a corrosive liquid spill, the employee should remove the affected portion of clothing to reduce potential contact. Removal of clothing should be done while the individual is under the activated shower.
• The Environmental Health & Safety Officer or Department Chair should be notified as soon as possible if a student or staff memeber is required the use of the safety shower.
• Safety showers are tested annually by the Environmental Health & Safety Office.

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Eyewash Fountains

If all protective measures fail and an employee receives a chemical splash to their eyes, then eye wash fountains should be provided throughout the laboratory for immediate and thorough washing of the eyes.

• Students and Staff should familiarize themselves with the location and operation of the nearest eyewash fountain. Lab Assistants should indicate the location of the eyewash fountains, and explain the purpose and operation to the students at the begining of the semester.
• Always flood the eyes for at least 15 to 30 minutes to be sure there is no residue of the corrosive liquid. Flush from the eye outward; this will prevent contaminants from one eye to enter the other eye.
• After thorough washing, the Environmental Health & Safety Officer or Department Chair should be notified as soon as possible if a student or staff memeber is required the use of the safety shower. Subsequent medical care for the affected person should be seriously considered. This is because serious damage may have already occurred before the eye was thoroughly rinsed and/or the damage may not be immediately apparent.
• The location of the eyewash station shall be identified with a highly visible sign.
• Eyewash fountains should be tested weekly by laboratories for proper operation and to prevent formation of bacteria.
• Eyewash fountains are checked annually by Environmental Health & Safety Office for proper location and operational status.

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Personal Protective Equipment

• Employers must conduct a hazard assessment to determine if hazards present necessitate the use of PPE.
• Employers must certify in writing that the hazard assessment was conducted.
• PPE selection must be made on the basis of the hazard assessment. The affected workers must be properly trained on the use of the PPE.
• Defective or damaged PPE must not be used.
• Established training requirements for employees using PPE must be established. This should include requirements for employees to demonstrate an understanding of the training.
• Employer must certify in writing that training programs were provided and understood.

A variety of laboratory personal protective equipment is commercially available and commonly used in laboratories. However, for the equipment to perform the desired function, it must be used and managed properly. Laboratory supervisors and/or the chemical hygiene officer will determine a need for such equipment, monitor its effectiveness, train the employees, and monitor and enforce the proper use of such equipment.

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Eye Protection

Eye Protection Eye protection is mandatory in all areas where there is potential for injury (i.e. all laboratories where chemicals are used). This applies not only to persons who work continuously in these areas, but also to persons who may be in the area only temporarily, such as maintenance or clerical personnel. All eye protective equipment shall comply with the requirements set forth in the American National Standard for Occupational and Educational Eye.

The type of eye protection required depends on the hazard. For most situations, safety glasses with side shields are adequate. Where there is a danger of splashing chemicals, goggles are required. More hazardous operations include conducting reactions which have potential for explosion and using or mixing strong caustics or acids. In these situations, a face shield or a combination of face shield and safety goggles or glasses should be used.

• Plastic safety glasses should be issued to employees who do not require corrective lenses.
• For employees requiring corrective lenses, safety glasses ground to their prescription are available in a safety frame. Safety glasses that fit over the prescription glasses are available for all other staff or students. Contact Environmental Health Services for additional information about availability. Please note that the wearing of safety glasses does not excuse the employee from the requirement of wearing safety goggles.
• It is recommended that contact lenses not be permitted in the laboratory.

Visitors shall follow the same eye protection policy as employees and students. If they do not provide their own eye protection, it is the laboratory's responsibility to provide adequate protection. It should be the responsibility of the employee conducting the tour to enforce this policy. After use safety glasses/goggles used by visitors should be cleaned prior to reuse.

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Clothing

The proper selection of clothing by employees and students can greatly affect the safety of the wearer.

• Due to the potential for ignition, absorption, and entanglement in machinery, loose or torn clothing should not be worn unless wearing a lab coat.
• Dangling jewelry and excessively long loose hair pose the same type of safety hazard, therefore, they are not allowed.
• Finger rings or other tight jewelry which is not easily removed should be avoided because of the danger of corrosive or irritating liquids getting underneath the piece and producing irritation.
• Lab coats should be provided for protection and convenience to employees. They should be worn at all times in the lab areas. Due to the possible absorption and accumulation of chemicals in the material, lab coats should not be worn in the lunchroom or elsewhere outside the laboratory.
• Where infectious materials are present, closed (snapped) lab coats and gloves shall be worn.
• Shoes shall be worn at all times in the laboratories. Sandals, open-toed shoes, and shoes with woven uppers, are not allowed because of the danger of spillage of corrosive or irritating chemicals.
• Care should be exercised in protective clothing selection; some protective clothing has very limited resistance to selected chemicals or fire.
• Consult the MSDS for a chemical to find out the recommended clothing or PPE for a particular chemical. (Examples are latex, nitrile, or PVC gloves, or aprons.)

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Aprons - Rubber or Plastic

Some operations in the laboratory require the handling of relatively large quantities of corrosive liquids in open containers. To protect clothing in such operations, plastic or rubber aprons should be supplied. Always wear long-sleeved and long-legged clothing under the appron.

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Gloves

It is recommended that the correct gloves be used to protect the worker from accidental spills or contamination when handling chemicals. The gloves should be removed and discarded as soon as possible should become contaminated they. There is no glove currently available that will protect a worker against all chemicals.

Protection of the hands when working with solvents, detergents, or any hazardous material is essential in the defense of the body against contamination. Exposure of the hands to a potentially hazardous chemical could result in burns, chafing of the skin due to extraction of essential oils ("de-fatting"), or dermatitis. Skin contact is also a primary pathway for chemical entry into the body. In addition, the skin could also become sensitized to the chemical and once sensitized, could react to lesser quantities of chemicals than otherwise would have any effect. It is well documented that primary skin irritations and sensitizations account for significantly greater numbers of lost time incidents on the job than any other single type of industrial injury.

Proper selection of the glove material is essential to the performance of the glove as a barrier to chemicals. Several properties of both the glove material and the chemical with which it is to be used should influence the choice of the glove. These properties include: permeability of the glove material, breakthrough time of the chemical, temperature of the chemical, thickness of the glove material, and the amount of the chemical that can be absorbed by the glove material (solubility effect). Glove materials vary widely in respect to these properties; for instance, neoprene is good for protection against most common oils, aliphatic hydrocarbons, and certain other solvents, but is unsatisfactory for use against aromatic hydrocarbons, halogenated hydrocarbons, ketones, and many other solvents.

Selection

Gloves of various types are available and should be chosen for each specific job for compatibility and breakthrough characteristics. An excellent information is Guidelines for the Selection of Chemical Protective Clothing published by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) or information provided by glove manufacturers. Another source of information for the selection of gloves is the chemical's MSDS .

For concentrated acids and alkalis, and organic solvents, natural rubber, neoprene or nitrile gloves are recommended. For handling hot objects, gloves made of heat-resistant materials (leather or Nomex) should be available and kept near the vicinity of ovens or muffle furnaces. A hot object should never be picked up with rubber or plastic gloves. Special insulated gloves should be worn when handling very cold objects such as liquid N2 or CO2. Do not use asbestos containing gloves.

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Respirators

Respirator use should be only used as a last option, their use should avoided if at all possible (and is usually not required if adequate precautions are taken). Where possible, engineering controls (fume hoods, etc.) should be utilized to minimize exposure. If respirators are worn because OSHA PELs are being exceeded or other reasons, a respirator program must be established in accordance with OSHA 29 CFR 1910.134 (Respiratory protection). This regulation requires special training, fit testing, recordkeeping and medical monitoring. Your Chemical Hygiene Officer should be consulted for additional information and guidance.

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