Standard Operating Procedure

LOCAL SAFETY OFFICER: Eileen Ekstrom
ROOM: ESL 305, 208
P.I.:  Colleen Hansel
DATE: August 22, 07
TYPE OF RESEARCH: Environmental Microbiology and Chemistry
PROTECTIVE CLOTHING THAT MUST BE USED FOR ALL WORK:

• Safety Glasses – Must be worn when working with any process that could throw off debris.
• Face Shields - UV blocking face shields must be worn when working with an open UV source (cutting bands on the Gel Doc in 228, changing the lamp in the microscope in 228).
• Rubber Boots – N/A
• Safety Goggles – Must be worn when working with harmful solvents or corrosives outside of the fume hood.
• Aprons – Should be worn if working with large quantities of harmful solvents or corrosives.
• Gloves -When working with chemicals or other materials that warrant the use of protective gloves (such as work with cryogens), proper glove selection is critical. At the Safety Committee web site (http://www-safety.deas.harvard.edu) under "Safety Committee Services" can be found a listing of glove type vs. chemical. If there is any question, see Lenny Solomon.
• Steel-toed Shoes – N/A
• Respirators – N/A
• Laser Safety Goggles – N/A
• Other – N/A

GENERAL HOUSEKEEPING RULES:

• Chemicals should be stored on lab benches only when in active use.  Otherwise, they should be stored in the appropriate safety cabinet.
• In general, clutter should be avoided.
• Be respectful of others when using shared facilities and clean up after yourself.
• Do not eat or drink in the laboratory.

WASTE DISPOSAL RULES:

• All glass and plastic pipets should be disposed of in the broken glass box.
• Sharps should be disposed of in the sharps containers.
• All biohazard waste must be disposed of in a special biohazard container.  The container is sealed when 2/3 full and placed in the bioharzard waste area in the basement of ESL.
• The satellite accumulation area is located in the middle cabinet under the fume hood in room 305.  All hazardous waste requires secondary containment.
• When a waste bottle is filled, the Hazardous Waste Tag must be dated and EH&S must be called at once for waste pick-up.  The number to call is on the green SAA sign posted in the area.

FUME HOOD USE:

• Do not obstruct fume hood.
• All fume hoods must be certified once a year.

CHEMICAL STORAGE:

• Flammable liquids must be stored in the solvent cabinet under the fume hood.
• Aqueous acids should be stored in the acid cabinet on the left under the fume hood.
• Aqueous strong bases should be stored in the base cabinet in the middle under the fume hood.
• Solid salts should be stored in the chemical cabinet.

SPECIAL TRAINING REQUIRED:
1.  All lab personnel who work with chemicals must take training in the use and disposal of chemicals.

CHEMICAL SPILL CLEAN-UP PROCEDURES:

• Small spills should be cleaned up in the lab.
• The location of our spill kit is in Room 301.
• For large spills, clear the area of personnel and call the University Operations Center (5-5560)

OTHER RELEVANT COMMENTS: N/A