1 Work Safe- Live to Graduate Basic Lab Safety for Georgia Tech Students Deborah Wolfe-Lopez Chemical Safety Coordinator Georgia Tech EH&S

2 A Few of the Basics *Right to Know Signs and labels *Safety Equipment *PPE *Health and Hygiene Housekeeping Working Alone Heating Equipment Chemical Hazards Transporting Chemicals Storing Chemicals Compressed Gases

3 Georgia Right to Know Law Public Employees Hazardous Chemical Protection and Right to Know Act of 1988 Ensures that you will be kept informed about the hazards of chemicals to which you may become exposed as a result of your employment and that you will have access to MSDSs for these chemicals It also places the responsibility on your employer to see that you are properly trained

4 Keep This Page To read the RTK law: To get quick access to some great MSDS sites: To take right to know training on line: To take chemical safety training on line: To take waste handling training on line: To Access the Georgia Tech Lab Safety manual

5 Things you should ask before you walk into a lab Check the emergency notification information on the door- is it up to date? Do you know how to get a list of all the chemicals in this room- not just the ones you are working with? Do you know how to get MSDSs for all the chemicals in this room- not just the ones you will be working with? Are you wearing eye protection?

6 EH&S Says: You must be wearing eye protection to walk into a lab. Yes, this means visitors too.

7 Question: What is the best kind of eye protection?

8 Answer: The kind you will actually wear As long as it meets ANSI Z and provides splash protection

9 FAQ Can I wear contact lenses in the lab? Yes, If you wear approved safety glasses with side shields or goggles over them What about my regular glasses? You must wear safety glasses with side shields or goggles over them

10 FAQ What about eye protection and lasers? This is dependent on the class of laser you are working with- contact EH&S for an individual hazard assessment Some chemicals make goggles necessary- follow your advisor’s advice in these cases.

11 Things you should do after you walk into a lab Locate emergency exits Locate fire extinguishers Locate emergency showers and eyewash stations

12 When to Take a Shower If you are splashed with a chemical in an area of your body which cannot be put under a sink faucet and flooded immediately- you must use an emergency shower

13 How to Take a Shower If your clothing is involved- remove it on the way to the shower- Yell for help Remain in the shower for 15 minutes Get someone to call the EH&S office Do not re-don contaminated clothing

14 Post Shower If you also got the chemical in your eyes, you must seek medical attention immediately afterwards

15 How to Use an Eye Wash Yell for help Hold your eyelids open with your fingers as you rinse your eyes Have your helper watch a clock for you to make sure that you continue to rinse your eyes for a full 15 minutes

16 Post Eyewash You must seek medical attention immediately afterwards

17 The Lab Ensemble, Stylish and Life Saving No shorts unless covered with a lab coat No open toed shoes or open weave shoes No canvas shoes Lab coat (preferable) or apron mandatory when handling splash-able chemicals Gloves required when handling chemicals

18 Gloves What You Don’t Know Can Kill You MSDSs are vague about “appropriate chemically resistant gloves” Look at MSDS for “S” or “Skin” notation –There is a good chance that a latex glove will not protect you from this chemical –Speak to your advisor or contact EH&S about appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

19 Respirators Outside of the university, respirator use is regulated by an entire section of the OSHA code Inside the university, respirator use is regulated by EH&S

20 EH& S Strives to make your workplace safe- without resorting to respirators Properly using a respirator is an involved process that involves medical clearance, fit testing and training If you think you need a respirator – call EH&S for a job hazard assessment

21 Thou Shalt Not Have Food or Beverage in the Laboratory No eating, drinking, smoking applying cosmetics, lip balm, fussing with contact lenses or even popping a stick of gum in the laboratory

22 Also After removing your gloves and before you leave the lab- wash your hands No food in laboratory refrigerators No washing food dishes in laboratory sinks

23 Georgia Tech Environmental Health and Safety Department Front Office………………… Spills/Waste- Ed Pozniak……………… Bio-Hazard- Lee Zacarias……………… Physical Safety- Alton Chin-Shue……… (Electrical Safety, Ergonomics, Lock-out-tag-out) Fire Marshal- Vic Rachael……………… Chem-Hazard- D. Wolfe-Lopez………… (Also Noise, Laser & Other Non-ionizing Radiation, Asbestos)