Environmental Health & Safety
Occupational Safety Unit
Safety in Laboratories
Do you work in a lab?
Many of our research personnel have advanced degrees in the biological sciences and are experts in their research field / test methods. However, many of the researchers may not be aware of the physical and health hazards of the chemicals. For example:
- Every year, laboratory researchers in the US are injured or their labs damaged/destroyed by improper storage or use of chemicals.
- Some chemicals, if stored alphabetically, could react if the bottles break or fall resulting in an explosion, fire, or the release of toxic gases.
- Some chemical containers have caps that have deteriorated sufficiently that intense odors are noted in the chemical storage cabinet.
- Chemical vapors released from leaking bottle tops have been known to discolor and/or remove paint from the metal cabinets they are stored in.
- Some chemicals vaporize out of the bottle and condense on the necks of bottles forming crystals when acids are stored in the same storage container.
- Some chemicals in bottles are such powerful oxidizers that even a few drops of the material on the bottom of the container can “eat” the finish off the wood shelving and oxidize the wood below.
- Some chemicals have expiration dates not because the chemicals have deteriorated; rather, they are sufficiently powerful that they can destroy the container they are stored in.
- Some chemicals break down in their bottle and can explode from building vibrations, if you try to move it, or if the container is opened.
- Some chemicals can penetrate disposable gloves in a short period of time.
- Individuals walking quickly in front of a chemical fume hood can “pull” chemical vapors from the hood and into the lab, causing exposures.
- Mold can grow on cardboard and wood in cold rooms, resulting in allergic reactions to sensitive individuals and biological contamination of research materials.
The Occupational Safety (OS) Unit recommends researchers review the precautions for the safe handling of chemicals and physical hazards posted at http://www.safety.rochester.edu/ih/ihalphaindex.html. Additional safety precautions can be found on Environmental Health & Safety’s website at http://www.safety.rochester.edu/ih/ihalphaindex.html. Read them, discuss them with your lab mates, bookmark them and implement the recommendations listed. If you implement these practices and those listed in the University’s Chemical Hygiene Program, http://www.safety.rochester.edu/ih/chp/chpindex.html, your lab should be in good shape. Don’t forget the required annual training for lab personnel at http://www.safety.rochester.edu/ih/ihlabhome.html.
Occupational Safety’s Laboratory Inspection Program is another way to ensure a high level of safety in labs. By looking at the physical conditions in a lab and checking the training lab personnel receive, especially new staff members, a higher level of safety can be maintained in your lab. It also gives you the opportunity to ask questions about the safe handling of chemicals.
QUESTIONS or COMMENTS?
Contact EH&S at (585) 275-3241 or e-mail EH&S Questions.
This page last updated 3/22/2013. Disclaimer.