General
Laboratory
Protocols
Staying safe means that
you…
Read labels on containers of
chemicals
Read Material Safety Data Sheets
(MSDS)
Handle chemicals with care
Use correct protective clothing and
equipment
Remember emergency procedures
Chemical Labels
Every container of chemicals is labeled by the
manufacturer.
The label will tell you
Name of chemical
Name, address and emergency phone number of
manufacturer
Physical and health hazards
Precautionary measures
First-aid instructions
Proper handling/storage instructions
Health Hazards on
a Chemical Label
Carcinogen • Corrosive
Highly toxic agent • Sensitizer
Toxic agent • Hepatotoxin
Reproductive • Nephrotoxin
hazard • Neurotoxin
Irritant
Typical Precautionary Measures
on a Label
Do not breathe vapors
Use in well-ventilated areas
Keep container closed when not in
use
Avoid contact with skin
Wash thoroughly with soap and
water after handling
Keep away from sparks, heat, and
flame
Do not store near combustible
materials
Store in tightly closed container
Remove and wash contaminated
clothing promptly
Keep from contact with clothing
and other combustible materials
Common Signal Words
on Labels
Danger – Can cause immediate
serious injury or death
Warning – Can cause potentially
serious injury or death
Caution – Can cause potentially
moderate injury
Special Symbols Used on Labels
Helps you recognize kind of
hazard a chemical could
present if you are not careful
Toxicity
Corrosivity (acids and bases)
Ignitability (flammable solvents and
certain solids)
Reactivity (sodium and various water-
reactive reagents)
9 Common Symbols
on Labels
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Color and Number Coded Label
Systems
NFPA-type label
Material Safety Data Sheets
(MSDS)
Provides more detailed information about a chemical,
including
Composition, information on ingredients (Section 2)
Hazards identification (Section 3)
First aid measures (Section 4)
Accidental Release measures (Section 6)
Handling and Storage (Section 7)
Exposure controls, personal protection (Section 8)
Stability and reactivity (Section 10)
Toxicological information (Section 11)
MSDS (cont’d)
Hazards Identification
Inhalation: Respiratory tract (lungs) through inhalation
Ingestion: Digestive tract through eating or smoking
with contaminated hands or in contaminated work areas
Absorption through the skin or eyes: Dermatitis or
damage to the liver, kidney, or other organ systems
Injection: Percutaneous injection of a toxic substance
through the skin
MSDS (cont’d)
Specific possible health hazards:
Acute poisoning (rapid assimilation of
substance, i.e., carbon monoxide)
Chronic poisoning (prolonged exposure,
i.e., lead poisoning)
Cumulative poisons (numerous chronic
exposures, i.e., heavy metals)
Substances in combination
(synergistic effect, i.e., exposure to alcohol and
chlorinated solvents)
MSDS (cont’d)
Potential Health Effects
Eye irritation
Nausea
Dizziness
Skin rashes
Headache
Existing medical conditions
possibly aggravated by exposure
MSDS (cont’d)
Emergency/first-aid procedures to
follow
Accidental Release Measures
What to do if substance spills and leaks
How to correctly dispose of substance
Equipment/procedures for cleaning up
spills and leaks
MSDS (cont’d)
Handling and Storage
How to handle and store
substance safely
Any other precautions
(i.e., grounding containers
during transfer of
flammables)
MSDS (cont’d)
Exposure Controls, Personal
Protection
Respirator
Gloves
Eye protection
Protective clothing
Ventilation
Special work and hygiene
practices that should be
followed
Handle Chemicals with Care
Dispose of chemicals, broken glass, and
other waste in approved containers
Clean up broken glass and spills
immediately
Keep the lab clean and neat
Store incompatible chemicals in separate
storage areas
Chemical Storage
Labs have established separate storage areas for
Flammable and combustible organic liquids and
solvents
Acids
Dry poisons, salts, and oxidizers
Bases
Chemicals are stored in
Chemical storage cabinets
Flammable storage refrigerators (No food)
Chemical storage refrigerators/freezers (No food)
On shelves with retaining barriers
Storage Fundamentals
Identify incompatible chemicals – check the
Material Safety Data Sheet
Isolate and separate incompatible materials
Isolate by storing in another area or room
Degree of isolation depends on quantities,
chemical properties and packaging
Separate by storing in same area or room,
but apart from each other
Storage of Flammable and
Combustible Liquids
Storage must not
limit the use of exits,
stairways, or areas
normally used for the
safe regress of people
Storage must be in:
closed metal containers
inside a storage cabinet,
or
safety cans, or Inside storage room
an inside storage room
Storage Cabinets
Not more than 60 gal of Class
I and/or Class II liquids, or not
more than 120 gal of Class III
liquids permitted in a cabinet
Must be conspicuously
labeled, “Flammable - Keep
Fire Away”
Doors on metal cabinets must
have a three-point lock (top,
side, and bottom), and the
door sill must be raised at
least 2 inches above the
bottom of the cabinet
Use correct protective clothing and equipment
Eye Protection
Safety glasses – flying particles, chemical splashes,
dust
Splash goggles – corrosive liquids, solvents, powders
Face Shields – high pressure systems
Respiratory Protection – normally not needed at LUC
Skin and Body Protection
Gloves – see the MSDS
Aprons and lab coats – strong acids and bases
Shoes – always worn in lab, closed toe and closed heel
Hearing Protection – normally not needed at LUC
Do not
Use damaged glassware
Store chemicals near heat, sunlight, or other
substances with which they might react
Store materials on floors or other places where
people could trip over them
Leave equipment unattended when its operating
(unless it is designed to do so or you have an
SOP)
Put custodians and fellow workers in danger
If Overexposed to a Hazardous
Substance
Get medical help immediately!
Inform your lab supervisor
Check MSDS for first-aid instructions.
Some general guidelines are
Eyes: Flush with water for 15 minutes
Ingestion: Follow label and MSDS
instructions
Skin Contact: Stand under emergency
shower and remove contaminated
clothing immediately
Inhalation: Get to fresh air and get
prompt medical attention
Other Emergency Procedures
Fire: call 911, activate building fire
alarm; safely use fire extinguisher on
small fires
Hazardous Chemical spill (over 1 pint):
evacuate the room; close door; call
911; consider evacuation of building
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Emergencies can happen, so
• Avoid working alone in the lab
• Know where emergency phone numbers are
posted
• Review MSDS
• Know where to go and what to do in an
emergency
• Know the location of the closest safety
showers, eyewashes, and fire extinguishers
Chemical Hygiene Plan (CHP)
Outlines specific work practices for all work
involving hazardous substances in the lab
• Gives procedures to follow when working
with hazardous chemicals
• Provides details on how your chemical exposure
will be monitored and limited
• Assures that you have the right personal protective
equipment (PPE)
• Specifies that some hazardous tasks to be
approved in advance by the PI
Useful and helpful websites regarding safety:
[Link]
.shtml
[Link]
[Link]
[Link]
[Link]
http: / / [Link]/ MSDS/
1. Why is it important to follow safety
33
instructions during a laboratory
experiment?
2. What are some specific safety
equipment items you must wear in
the lab, and why are they
necessary?
3. What steps should you take if an
accident (eg. Inhalation of
hazardous chemicals) occurs in the
laboratory?
4. How can you ensure that your
laboratory workspace is safe and
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