Essentials of Laboratory Safety

Instructor: Mr. Wayne Wood
McGill University
Environmental Safety Office
Chancellor Day Hall, room 615
Telephone: 398-4563
[email protected]
www.mcgill.ca/eso
Essentials of Laboratory Safety
Before Lab Work, Get to Know:
Hazards of materials & agents and their prescribed safety procedures
Also Get to Know:
Emergency spill procedures, use of adsorbents and disinfectants
Designated escape route and alternate
Location of fire ext., eye wash, shower, first aid, and spill kits
Downtown Campus
Before Lab Work, Get to Know:
Emergency telephone numbers and reporting procedures
For emergencies requiring internal assistance call:
3000
Downtown Campus

For emergencies requiring external assistance call:
9-1-1
From a McGill telephone.
If using a cell or payphone call
398-3000 immediately after calling 911.
(Macdonald Campus)
Before Lab Work, Get to Know:
Emergency telephone numbers and reporting procedures
For all emergencies call:
7777
While Working in the Lab:
Shoes with full coverage and good grip soles
Restrain long hair, loose clothing and jewelry
Use appropriate eye, skin, and hand protection
Eye protection
Protects against risk of flying objects or dust particles, splashes of hazardous materials or harmful rays

Safety Glasses
Unbreakable lenses of plastic or tempered glass
For light-to-moderate work
Can be prescription lenses
Do not interfere with contact lenses
Goggles
Work with significant risk of splash of chemicals or projectiles
Can be worn over prescription glasses
Face Shield
Work with significant risk of splash on face or possible explosion
Face shield protects face adequately but not eyes
Hand Protection
Protects against risk of cuts, abrasions, burns, or exposure to hazardous materials.
Requires selection of the appropriate chemical resistant gloves
While Working in the Lab:
Follow universal precautions



Handle unknowns as if they were hazardous
While Working in the Lab:

Handle volatiles in a chemical fume hood

Contain bioaerosols in a biological safety cabinet
While Working in the Lab:

Use mechanical transfer devices

While Working in the Lab:
Authorized persons only
Identify EVERYTHING!
No food, beverages, tobacco products, or application of cosmetics
Close Calls
1
10
600
30
Disabling injury
Minor injuries
Property damage incidents
Report all:
Accidents
Injuries
Fires
Spills
Close calls
While Working in the Lab:
Before Leaving the Lab:
Turn off:
Gas
Water
Power supplies
Vacuum lines
Compression lines
Heating apparatus
Before Leaving the Lab:
Identify and package waste, dispose properly
Lock/out and tag/out defective equipment
Decontaminate work surfaces and equipment
Before Leaving the Lab:
Return unused equipment, apparatus, etc.
Leave lab coat in the lab
Wash
Close and lock door
Evaluating Lab Hazards
Regular review of the types of hazards:
chemical
physical
biological
ergonomic
mechanical
Minor Variation in Procedure
Weekly Lab Checks
Eye wash (purge)
Fire extinguisher
First Aid Kit
Fume Hood
Tubing, pressurized connections
Chemical storage