Lab Safety Requirements

E.P.A. Information Class

Every graduate student and anyone working in a laboratory must complete an E.P.A. information class offered by Environmental Health and Safety (EHS). This class outlines safety procedures dealing with solvents in your lab. Contact EHS at 865-6391 to schedule a time for your class.

After completion of the class, you will be provided a form that needs to be given to Sue Ellen Bainbridge in Room 158 Fenske Lab that will go in your file. A copy of that form also must be kept in the Lab Safety Notebook in your lab; as well as a copy to David DeCapria in Room 127A Fenske Lab.

Eye Protection

Every student working in a laboratory or any person visiting a lab must wear eye protection. Each lab is responsible for eye protection for visitors. If you wear prescription glasses, the department will purchase your first pair. Contacts should not be worn in a laboratory. Listed below are some safety practices each lab should follow:

1. Wear safety glasses at all times. (ear protection when needed)
2. Keep all solvents capped, clearly labeled and stored in a chemical storage cabinet. Fume hoods are not recommended for storage.
3. Keep isle ways clear, fire hydrants free of obstruction and easily obtainable.
4. Always secure gas cylinders with cylinder clamps or wall chains.
5. Do not drape power cords across floors.
6. Only use reinforced tubing for air and water use.
7. Keep windows clear of posters (blinds up during working hours).
8. Practice good housekeeping.

Lab Safety Notebook

Each working lab must have a safety notebook. This notebook needs to be charted weekly on the solvents being used in that lab. EHS does an annual check on the labs and the notebook.

Emergency Contact Information

Each lab must have an information sheet on the door listing all persons working in that lab complete with advisor's name and phone number and each student's phone number where they can be reached in case of any lab emergency.

If you have any questions on lab safety or need any equipment pertaining to lab safety, contact David DeCapria at 863-4800.

Other Resources

• RTECS® - Link updated 5/17/07
  Registry of Toxic Effects of Chemical Substances is a database of toxicological information. Information used to be compiled, maintained, and updated by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, now I believe this is available only with a license.


• TOXNET
  A cluster of databases on toxicology, hazardous chemicals, and related areas. CCRIS, DART/ETIC, EMIC, GENE-TOX, HSDB, IRIS, and TOXLINE are accessible, free of charge, via TOXNET.


• Where to find MSDS on the Internet
  An up-to-date site featuring 85+ free resource for Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) sites on the Internet.

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