West Virginia University Laboratory Training Module 3' General Laboratory Safety

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West Virginia UniversityLaboratory Training
Module 3. General Laboratory Safety
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Topics to be covered

• Contacting the Safety Department
• Incident Reporting
• Electrical Safety
• Laser Safety
• Centrifuge Safety
• Housekeeping
• Personal Protective Equipment
• Cryogenic Liquids

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1. Contacting the Safety Department

• The Health Sciences Center Safety Department is
  located at g139 of the Health Sciences Center.
• If at any time you feel there is any type of
  safety related issue please contact the safety
  department

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2. Incident/injury Reporting

• Incident reporting is the most effective way for
  the safety department to gage the effectiveness
  of its safety program. Therefore, by reporting
  all incidents no matter how insignificant they
  may seem will aid the safety department in
  ensuring a safe working environment for you and
  your coworkers.

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Hurt at WorkYou've carefully thought out all
the angles.You've done it a thousand times.It
comes naturally to you.You know what you're
doing, its what you've been trained to
do your whole life.Nothing could possibly go
wrong, right ?
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Think Again!
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How do I report an Incident/Injury?

• Supervisors or Principal Investigators are
  responsible for completing Incident / Injury
  report forms. If the supervisor or principal
  investigator does not possess this form, one may
  be printed from WVUs Environmental Health and
  Safety home page at http//www.wvu.edu/ehs

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3. Electrical Safety

• All areas on the West Virginia University campus
  at some points utilize electricity. The goal of
  electrical safety is to educate you on the
  importance of the hazards involved with
  electricity and the precautions and some simple
  rules to follow to avoid becoming a victim of
  those hazards.

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Hazards

• The hazards associated with electricity come from
  the direct contact that results in current flow
  through an inappropriate conductor, the human
  body, or from excessive heating by current flow
  through a conductor with a greater resistance
  than expected. In basic terms the hazards are
  electrocution or fire. Most electrical accidents
  result from unsafe equipment, unsafe environment,
  and unsafe work practices.

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Shock and Electrocution

• Direct contact with electricity can cause
  electric shocks that can result in death by
  electrocution. The human body is a good
  conductor and when the body is exposed to
  electric current the muscles and nerves of the
  human body are electrically stimulated. The
  muscles will attempt to contract at the same
  frequency as the electric current. The muscle of
  the diaphragm will clamp and you will stop
  breathing and the heart will go into fibrillation
  and stop beating. Death is most likely to occur
  in the 100 to 300 mA current range.

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Effects of electric current in the human body

• Below 1 milliampere Not perceptible.
• 1mA Tingle.
• 5mA Slight Shock.
• 6-25mA women Painful Shock and Let- go
  range.
• 9-30mA men Let-go range (Individual cannot
  let go).
• 50-150mA Extreme pain, Death possible.
• 1000-4300mA Death Likely.
• 10,000mA Cardiac arrest, Death.

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Electrical Fires

• The most common cause of laboratory fire is worn
  or damaged power cords. An exposed cord can burn
  or heat objects in contact with them to their
  flash point.

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Electrical Fire Prevention

• Take the time to do it right the first time
• When needed request electrical repairs and
  changes that are necessary
• Never try to fix electrical equipment.
• Keep water and electricity separated
• Do not stretch electrical cords across aisles or
  doorways.
• Do not use extension cords as a substitute for
  wiring additions or changes.
• Do not use electrical equipment that has worn or
  damaged power cords.

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Electrical Fire Prevention

• FUSESBefore removing any fuse from a circuit,
  be sure the switch for the circuit is open or
  disconnected. When removing fuses, use an
  approved fuse puller and break contact on the hot
  side of the circuit first. When replacing fuses,
  install the fuse first into the load side of the
  fuse clip, then into the line side.
• Lockout/TagoutElectrical power must be removed
  when electrical equipment is inspected, serviced,
  or repaired. To ensure the safety of personnel
  working with the equipment, power is removed and
  the equipment must be locked out and tagged out.

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Personal Protective Equipment

• Employees who work directly with electricity
  should use the personal protective equipment
  required for the job which may include rubber
  insulating, gloves, hoods, sleeves, matting,
  blankets, line hose, and industrial protective
  helmets.

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4. Laser Safety

• A laser should be isolated from areas where the
  uninformed and curious would be attracted by its
  operations. Doors should be closed or locked to
  keep out unqualified personnel. Signs should be
  posted to keep out unqualified persons.

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Work Area Safety Practices

• The illumination in the area should be as bright
  as practicable in order to constrict the eye
  pupils of users.
• The laser should be set up so that the beam path
  is above or below normal eye level (below 4.5ft
  or above 6.5ft.).
• Where practical, the laser system or beam should
  be enclosed to prevent accidental exposure to the
  beam.
• The potential for specular reflections should be
  minimized by shields and by removal of all
  unnecessary shiny surfaces.

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Work Area Safety Practices continued

• Windows to hallways or other outside areas should
  be provided with adequate shades or covers.
• The main beams and reflected beams should be
  terminated or dumped. This is required for any
  accessible laser for which the MPE limit could be
  exceeded.
• Electrical installation must meet electrical
  safety standards. The active laser shall not be
  left unattended unless it is part of the
  controlled environment.
• Good housekeeping should be practiced to ensure
  that no specular reflector is left near the beam.
• Warning devices should be installed for lasers
  with invisible beams to warn of operation.

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Laser Use Safety Practices

• Avoid looking into the primary beam at all times.
  
• Avoid looking at the pump source.
• Before operating the laser, warn all personnel
  and visitors of the potential hazard, and ensure
  all safety measures are satisfied.
• Be very cautious around lasers that operate at
  frequencies not visible to the human eye.
• Do not wear bright, reflective jewelry or other
  objects.
• Use proper eye protection when working with a
  Class III, or Class IV laser.
• Clothing such as gloves and covers for the
  forearms may be required to protect the skin if
  laser intensity and wavelength warrant such
  protection.

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5. Centrifuge Safety

• Always inspect the centrifuge prior to use. This
  will ensure that you are not harmed and equipment
  is not damaged.
• Always follow the manufacturers instructions for
  operation and maintenance.

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Centrifuge Safe Operating Procedures

• Lids shall be closed at all times during
  operation.
• The operator shall not leave the centrifuge until
  full operating speed is attained and machine
  appears to be running safely without vibration.
• If vibration occurs the centrifuge should be
  stopped immediately and load balances checked.
  Swing-out buckets should be checked for clearance
  and support.
• Rooms where potentially hazardous biological,
  radioactive materials, toxic or other hazardous
  chemicals are centrifuged must be identified by
  the appropriate warning signs.

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Centrifuge Safe Operating Procedures Continued

• Plastic centrifuge tubes should be discarded
  after one cycle of ultracentrifugation.
• Nitrocellulose tubes should be used only when
  transparent and flexible (fresh). They must never
  be heated because of explosive possibility.
• Rotors and cups should be cleaned and disinfected
  after each use with non-corrosive cleaning
  solutions (mild detergent and distilled water are
  recommended). Test tube brushes must not be used
  for cleaning the cup cavities. All traces of
  detergents should be removed prior to air drying.
  

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6. Housekeeping

• By maintaining a neat, orderly work area, you
  will greatly reduce hazards in the lab.

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Good Housekeeping Practices

• Put items back where they originated from
  promptly when you are done using them.
• Stay organized! Do not let papers and materials
  accumulate.
• Maintain clean counters and floors.

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Lab Hygiene

• There is a definite relationship between
  housekeeping and safety!

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Lab Hygiene

• Individual Items to Look For
• 1.Excessive amounts of chemicals in work areas -
  Hoods and bench tops.
• 2. Old, outdated, unused equipment and chemicals
  cluttering up the work area
• 3. Floor Storage
• 4. Blocked exits / equipment / controls
• 5. Visual assessment of hoods and other safety
  equipment
• 6. Are special hazards marked?

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7. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

• Anything that is used to protect a person from
  exposure
• Latex or Nitrile gloves, goggles, CPR mouth
  barriers, aprons, respirators

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PPE Rules to Remember

• Always check PPE for defects or tears before
  using
• If PPE becomes torn or defective remove and get
  new
• Remove PPE before leaving a contaminated area
• Do not reuse disposable equipment

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8. Cryogenic Liquids

• Because of the extremely low temperatures of
  cryogenic liquids and their vapors, direct skin
  or eye contact can result in severe damage to
  tissues similar to burn injuries.

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Handling Procedures for Cryogenic Liquids

• Face shield and/or safety goggles to protect
  eyes.
• Suitable dry gloves to protect hands. Gloves
  should be loose fitting so that quick removal is
  possible if liquid should splash into them. Even
  with gloves, contact with cold liquids should be
  for a very brief time.
• Suggested protective clothing may consist of,
  depending on hazard, rubber aprons, overalls
  without pockets or cuffs, and hightop shoes to
  protect against skin contact in the event of a
  splash or spill.

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Cryogenic Liquid Ventilation

• Cryogenic liquids should be stored and handled in
  well- ventilated areas to prevent excessive
  buildup of gas concentration. These should never
  be used in closed environmental chambers.

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Transfer of cryogenic liquids from storage vessel

• Attach a 1 to 3 foot length suitable hose that
  has a phase separator in place to the control
  valve located on the top of the storage vessel.
• All transfers must be made into an appropriate
  container. Any funnelsused must be stainless
  steel. If the receptacle is glass, it should
  beshielded to protect the person making the
  transfer from possible implosive fragmentation of
  the flask.

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Transfer of Cryogenic Liquids from Storage Vessel
continued

• Do Not Use A Household Thermos. They are not
  designed for holding cryogenic liquids and will
  fail.
• Withdraw liquid slowly at first because the
  interior of the flask may still be at room
  temperature and rapid boil off will occur.

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Disposal of Cryogenic Liquids

• Evaporation in a well-ventilated area, from a
  well-anchored and approved container is the best
  method of disposal of cryogenic liquids.

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Oxygen (b.p. -183oC)

• Oxygen can be condensed out of the air by
  cryogenic fluids which boil at a sufficiently low
  temperature (e.g. nitrogen, b.p. -195oC). For
  this reason care must be exercised in disposing
  of the final residue of an open container of
  liquid nitrogen since it may be oxygen rich.

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Emergency/First Aid Procedures for Cryogenic
Liquids

• Rapidly rewarm contact area by immersion in warm
  water (100-110oF), with body heat, or warm air.
  DO NOT USE AN OPEN FLAME FOR THIS PURPOSE. (NOTE
  this procedure is the opposite of the procedure
  for a burn injury which is to rapidly cool the
  contact area).
• Do not rub or massage the affected area.
• Prevent infection by cleansing with mild soap and
  water.
• Notify supervisor and then proceed to the
  Emergency Room.

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Hey, Jeff, wheres your lab coat and whats in
the mystery beaker?