Standard Operating Procedure

LOCAL SAFETY OFFICER: Melaku Muluneh
ROOM: McKay 203, 204, 207, 210, 211, 214
P.I.: Robert M. Westervelt

DATE: August 17, 2006

TYPE OF RESEARCH: Low-Temperature Solid State

PROTECTIVE CLOTHING THAT MUST BE USED FOR ALL WORK:

• Safety Glasses - Must be employed when working with any process that could throw off debris that would break non-safety glass (using the drill press or mill in Room 207 are examples).
• Face Shields - N/A
• Rubber Boots - N/A
• Safety Goggles - When soldering, working with potentially violent chemical reactions, although these should also always be done in the hood.
• Aprons - N/A
• Gloves - Vinyl gloves for standard work with "mild" chemicals, thick canvas gloves for work with cryogens. For other specific glove type vs. chemical, see http://www-safety.deas.harvard.edu under "Safety Committee Services." If there is any question, see Lenny Solomon.
• Steel-toed Shoes - N/A
• Respirators - N/A
• Laser Safety Goggles - Must be worn when working with (Class 4) laser in Room 214 (McKay).
• Other - Dust masks for common filing, sawing, sanding operations (primarily in Room 208, also when cleaving GaAs chips).

GENERAL HOUSEKEEPING RULES:

Keep clean and free of clutter.

WASTE DISPOSAL RULES:

1. All sharps (broken glass, old x-acto knife blades, etc.) must be disposed of in the sharps bottle (in Room 211).
2. Everyone needs to take the training offered by EH&S pertaining to the disposal of hazardous waste.
3. The satellite accumulation areas are located under the hood in Room 211.

FUME HOOD USE:

Do not obstruct fume hoods or use them for passive storage. All fume hoods must be certified once per year.

CHEMICAL STORAGE: There are three separate storage areas for chemicals:

1. Flammable liquids must be stored in the flammable cabinet in the hallway closet next to 211.
2. DO NOT store acids and bases in the same secondary containment tray.

SPECIAL TRAINING REQUIRED:

1. All lab personnel who work with chemicals must take training in the use and disposal of chemicals.
2. Lab members who work with the laser in McKay 214 must take the Laser Safety Training seminar (contact Lenny Solomon).
3. In addition, training is available in laser safety, machine shop safety, and safety when using compressed gases.

CHEMICAL SPILL CLEANUP PROCEDURES:

1. Small spills should be cleaned up by those in the lab.
   
2. Steve Shepard has the spill kit for our floor.
3. For large spills, clear the area of personnel and call the University Operations Center (5-5560).

OTHER RELEVANT COMMENTS:

1. Always "ask first" before attempting to take any action that might be hazardous.
2. We use gas cylinders on movable carts (designed for this purpose). No gas cylinders should ever be transported or stored while not firmly chained in to one of these carts or chained to a wall.