Standard Operating Procedure

LOCAL SAFETY OFFICER: Prakriti Tayalia
ROOM: McKay 320, 322, 326A-B, 329, 330, 330A
P.I.: Eric Mazur

DATE: August 17, 2006

TYPE OF RESEARCH: Experimental condensed matter physics

PROTECTIVE CLOTHING THAT MUST BE USED FOR ALL WORK:

• Safety Glasses - Must be employed when working with any process that could throw off debris.
• Face Shields - N/A
• Rubber Boots - N/A
• Safety Goggles - Must be employed when working with any chemicals that could cause eye damage.
• Aprons - N/A
• Gloves - (Please specify type) Thick tan robber gloves must be worn when handling corrosive chemicals. Minimum of disposable polyethylene gloves must be worn for handling any chemicals. Cryogenic gloves must be worn when working with significant amounts of liquid nitrogen. 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 - Laser safety goggles must be worn when working with laser systems.
• Other - N/A

GENERAL HOUSEKEEPING RULES:

1. Chemicals should be stored on lab benches only when in active use. Otherwise, they should be stored in the appropriate safety cabinet.
2. In general, clutter should be avoided.

WASTE DISPOSAL RULES:

1. All glass should be disposed in the appropriate container; either in the broken glass box or in the contaminated glass box.
2. Everyone needs to take the training offered by EH&S pertaining to the disposal of hazardous waste.
3. The satellite accumulation area is located under the hoods in 330.

FUME HOOD USE:

1. Fume hood is located in Room 330.
2. Do not obstruct fume hoods or use them for passive storage.
3. All fumes hoods must be certified once per year.

CHEMICAL STORAGE:

1. Flammable liquids must be stored in the flammable cabinet.
2. We also have a cabinet for corrosives.
3. DO NOT store acids and bases in the same secondary containment tray.

SPECIAL TRAINING REQUIRED:

1. All lab personnel must take the laser safety training.
2. All personnel who work with chemicals must take training in the use and disposal of chemicals and Right-To-Know training.
3. In addition, training is available in machine shop safety and safety when using compressed gases.

CHEMICAL SPILL CLEAN-UP PROCEDURES:

1. Small spills should be cleaned up by those in the lab. The location of our spill kit is in 330.
2. For large spills, clear the area of personnel and call the University Operations Center (5-5560).

OTHER RELEVANT COMMENTS:

1. When a laser warning light is activated, do not enter that area unless you're told by the the laser operator that egress can be done safely.
2. Always "ask first" before attempting to take any action that might be hazardous.