The Departments of Plant Pathology and Nematology

The Departments of Plant Pathology and Nematology

Laboratory Operating Procedures

Rules for Laboratory Safety

General Rules

1.  Know the location of all exits for the laboratory and the building. Each exit way in the building will have a lighted exit sign on at all times.

2.  Know the location and use of safety showers, eyewashes, and first-aid kits.

3.  Know where the fire extinguisher and fire alarm pull boxes are located and how they operate.

4.  Know the location of the nearest phone which can be used in an emergency. Critical phone numbers should be posted nearby.

5.  Know the potential hazards of the materials, facilities, and equipment with which you work. If you are uncertain, ask your supervisor or contact Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S), 752-1493.

6.  Use the proper safety equipment for your procedure. This could include a fume hood, glove box, biosafety cabinet, shielding, or other protective equipment.

7.  Wear eye protection in the laboratory when working with reactive or corrosive materials. Splash goggles are required for certain wet chemical work or work with dusts or powders.

8.  Use caution when wearing contact lenses in the laboratory. Anyone wearing contact lens in the laboratory should be aware of the additional risks. Refer to SafetyNet #5 - Safety Guidelines For Staff Who Wear Contact Lenses.

9.  Wear other personal protective gear where laboratory or experimental conditions dictate. This includes lab aprons, lab coats, gloves, gauntlets, glass blowers’ goggles, face shields, dust masks, respirators, and other equipment.

10.  Wear clothing that protects the body against spills, dropped objects, and other accidental chemical contact. Clothing that fully covers the legs and feet is strongly recommended. Minimum protective clothing for handling hazardous materials includes safety glasses, appropriate chemical resistant gloves, laboratory coat and closed-toe/heel shoes. Shorts and open-toed shoes when handling hazardous materials and bare feet are prohibited.

11.  Long hair should be tied back or otherwise confined. Secure ties or other articles of clothing or jewelry that might become entangled in equipment.

12.  Eating and drinking must be limited to the designated “clean area” location. Food must not be kept in refrigerators or cold rooms with chemicals or other hazardous materials, but in designated “clean” refrigerators.

13.  Do not pipette by mouth. Use only mechanical pipetting devices.

14.  Follow written protocols or instructions. Perform only experiments authorized by your supervisor. Do not take potentially hazardous shortcuts to procedures.

15.  Do not horseplay in the laboratory.

16.  Report all accidents and injuries immediately to your laboratory instructor or supervisor.

Refer to SafetyNet #19 - General Safety Guidelines for Chemical Laboratories, for additional information.

Personal Hygiene

1.  Wash promptly with cold water whenever a chemical or hazardous material has come in contact with the skin.

2.  Avoid inhalation of hazardous materials.

3.  Wash well with soap and water before leaving the work site (lab, shop, etc.).

4.  Do not smoke or apply cosmetics in lab areas.

5.  Launder protective clothing on a regular basis and especially after being contaminated due to a spill, etc. Additionally, do not launder protective clothing at home. A laundry service is provided for by the Dept. for soiled lab coats. The bin is located in the Hutchison Hall media room #372.

Protective Clothing and Equipment

1.  Proper protective clothing must be worn at all times when handling reactive or corrosive chemicals such as lab coat or apron, gloves, goggles, and/or face shield. (Refer to SafetyNet #19 - Safety Facilities and Protective Equipment section).

2.  Always follow the safety requirements as outlined in the laboratory Standard Operating Procedure (SOP).

3.  Follow guidelines for the Selection of Chemical-Resistant Gloves, when determining the proper protective glove wear to use in your experiment (SafetyNet #50).

4.  Refer to the Radiation Safety Manual, Section V(5) for requirements pertaining to radioactive materials.

Housekeeping

Refer to SafetyNets: (1) #19 - Chemical Storage and Handling section, (2) #42 - General Guidelines for Management of Laboratory Chemicals (3) #13 - Guidelines for Chemical Spill Control, (4) #56 - How to Monitor Your Lab for Radioactive Contamination, (5) #37 - Radioactive Spills, Splashes, and Decontamination.

Prior Approval

Employees must obtain prior approval from their supervisors to proceed with a lab task whenever:

1.  The standard operating procedure is being significantly modified.

2.  A new lab procedure or test is to be carried out.

3.  There is a failure of any of the equipment used in the experiment or process.

4.  The toxic limit concentration could be exceeded or that other harm is likely.

Spills and accidents

For spills of one pint or more of a hazardous substance or any amount of an extremely toxic substance, call 911, from a cell (530) 752-1230. For smaller amounts, follow the general guidelines in SafetyNet #13 - Guidelines for Chemical Spill Control.

Other SafetyNets to be included in this section are:(1)#11 - Guidelines for the Safe Use of Formaldehyde;(2) #37 and #56 for Radioactive Spills, and (3)#16 - Guidelines for Mercury Spill Control.

PROCEDURE-SPECIFIC SAFETY PROCEDURES

Procedures for Toxic Chemicals

The MSDSs for many of the chemicals used in the lab will state recommended limits, OSHA or CAL/OSHA mandated limits, as guidelines for exposure. When such limits are stated, they will be used in determining the safety precautions, control measures, and safety apparel to be used. A Standard Operating Procedure must reflect the necessary precautions that are to be taken.

Refer to SafetyNet #33 - Hazardous Substances Information and Training.

Procedures for Flammable Chemicals

Refer to SafetyNet #19- Flammable Material Storage and Handling section.

Procedures for Reactive Chemicals

Refer to SafetyNet #42 - Guidelines for Chemical Storage and SafetyNet #23 - Peroxide Formation in Ethers and Other Chemicals.

Procedures for Radioactive Materials

Refer to the “Radiation Safety Manual” and the “Safe Handling Of Radioisotopes” booklet.

Procedures of Corrosive Chemicals and Contact-Hazard Chemicals

1.  A corrosive chemical is one that: a) fits the OSHA definition of corrosive in Appendix A of 29 CFR 1910.1200; b) fits the EPA definition of corrosive in 40 CFR 261.22 (has a pH greater than 12 or less than 2.5); or, c) is known or found to be corrosive to living tissue.

2.  A contact-hazard chemical is an allergen or sensitizer that: a) is so identified or described in the MSDS or on the label; b) is so identified or described in the medical or industrial hygiene literature; or, c) is known or found to be an allergen or sensitizer.

Proper handling of these materials shall be outlined in a Standard Operating Procedure. Proper labeling and storage must be included in the Standard Operating Procedure.

CONTROL MEASURES AND EQUIPMENT

Safety while using hazardous materials is achieved by continual awareness of hazards and by keeping the material under control by using precautions, which include but are not limited to, engineering controls (fume hoods, glove boxes, laminar safety cabinets). All engineering controls must be properly maintained, inspected on a regular basis, and never beyond their design or limits.

Ventilation

1.  Refer to SafetyNet #19 - Lab Hoods section.

2.  The number of air changes per hour shall be 6 to 10 for each lab or area where hazardous material are used or stored.

3.  The lab ventilation systems shall be designed to separate clean and (potentially) hazardous areas with no recirculation of lab air.

4.  Recirculation of air shall be limited to office-type situations with a minimum of 20 cfm fresh air make-up per person.

Flammable-Liquid Storage

Refer to SafetyNet #19 - Chemical Storage and Flammable Material Storage and Handling sections (use parts as needed).

Eyewash Fountains and Safety Showers

1.  Eyewashes and showers installed shall meet the ANSI Z358.1 Standard.

2.  Eyewashes and safety showers are to be inspected to see that they are accessible and in good working order.

Respirators

1.  Employees are to wear respirators whenever engineering controls are impractical or ineffective or work practices warrant the use of such personal protective equipment. Contact EH&S for approved respirator training and fitting.

Refer to EH&S Respirator Protection booklet. (Must meet 29 CFR 1910.134 requirements).

Vapor Protection

Do not use odor as a means of determining inhalation exposure. Engineering controls, along with an approved Standard Operating Procedure which identifies the hazards involved and the necessary control measures, must be followed.

Procedures for Handling Controlled Substances

1.  Carcinogens are controlled by the UC Davis Chemical Carcinogen Safety Committee. A written safety protocol must be submitted to EH&S prior to the purchase and/or use of the material. (Refer to SafetyNet #32 - Chemical Carcinogens, Guidelines for Writing Safety Protocols).

2.  Biohazards and recombinant DNA usage is controlled by the UC Davis Biosafety Committee. A written safety protocol must be submitted to EH&S prior to the start of research activities. (Refer to Biohazard Safety Manual).

3.  Radioactive materials are controlled by the UC Davis Radiation Use Committee. A written safety protocol must be submitted to EH&S prior to the purchase and/or use of the material. (Refer to Radiation Safety Manual, Section II, License Requirements).

4.  Reproductive Toxins and acutely hazardous materials must be handled according to recommended safety protocols and/or requirements spelled out in the MSDS.

5.  Carcinogens, biohazardous material, radioactive materials, reproductive toxins, and acutely hazardous materials will be used only in designated areas. The storage of these materials will also be controlled as well as the amounts you may have on hand according to your license (RUA< CUA< BUA).

WASTE STORAGE AND DISPOSAL

Refer to the following SafetyNets: (1) #9 - Guidelines for Disposal of Radioactive Waste; (2) #61-How to Maintain an Inventory for Radioactive Materials in the Laboratory; (3) #8 - Guidelines for Disposal of Chemical Waste and #43 - Identification and segregation of Chemical Waste; (4) #3 - Guidelines for Disposal of Biological Waste, Biohazardous Waste, and Sharps Containers; (5); (6) #53 - Detoxification of Ethidium Bromide Solutions.

RECORDS AND RECORDKEEPING

1.  All employees, including student workers and interns, must be properly trained prior to the start of work. This training must be documented and records kept in the department files. Immediate supervisors may retain a copy for their files.

2.  In case of an accident, illness, or injury on the job, a report must be filed with the department and the Workers’ Compensation Unit.

3.  Some records, including medical records, must be retained for a specific period of time such as thirty years after leaving or retiring from work.

4.  Employee complaints or notification of hazardous or potentially hazardous conditions must be kept on file. The complaint, along with the report of corrective action taken, should be attached.

5.  Safety meetings must be documented as to who attended, the subject(s) discussed and, if applicable, any new procedures issued or existing ones modified.

EMPLOYEE INFORMATION AND TRAINING

Refer to: (1) SafetyNet #33 - Hazardous Substances Information and Training; and (2) Section 290-27 of the P&P Manual - UCD’s Hazardous Substances Communication Program.

Additional references regarding training can be found in the following SafetyNets: (1) #39 - Safety Training Tips; (2) #45 - Glossary of MSDS Terms; (3) #40 - Health and Safety Hazards: A Student’s Right to Know; and (4)#54 - Pregnancy and the University Workplace; (5) #64 - Guidelines for Evaluating Safety Performance.

Include in this section Video Display Terminals - SafetyNet #65; Ergonomics - SafetyNet #17; Electrical Safety - SafetyNet #20; Cryogenic Liquids - SafetyNet #58; etc.

EMERGENCY MEDICAL CARE

In a medical emergency, call 911 immediately, from a cell phone call (530) 752-1230. Give the location of emergency, your phone number and name. Do not hang up until instructed to do so.

All injuries must be reported to your supervisor. The supervisor will arrange transportation to the Employee Health Center or Sutter-Davis Hospital if after hours. Refer to SafetyNet #52 - Emergency Medical Care.

***A complete list of SafetyNets are kept in the Illness and Injury Prevention Program in room 361of Hutchison Hall (Mailroom) and on the Internet at http://ehs.ucdavis.edu/sftynet/

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