Standard Operating Procedure

LOCAL SAFETY OFFICER: Dave Vader
PRIMARY USERS: I. Cohen, P. Lu, V. Gordon, R. Christianson, J. Conrad, M. Gardel
ROOM: McKay 517
P.I.: David A. Weitz

DATE: August 21, 2006

TYPE OF RESEARCH: Office Space and Microscopy
HAZARDS: Class IIIB Laser

RESTRICTIONS:

• Do not use dangerous chemicals in this room. Chemicals that you can use in here:
  1. water
  2. soap
  3. fluorescein dye
  4. methanol
  5. microscope oil
• Any other chemical preparations must be done in a different room.
• Do not use a hotplate in this room.

PROTECTIVE CLOTHING:

• Check the MSDS section on protective clothing for each chemical in use. The MSDS are on the web at (http://www.uos.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/msds/msds_bl.pl) and are also kept in the drawer next to the sink in 531.
• Laser Safety Goggles - The confocal laser is safe as long as the optical fibers are left untouched. Must be worn when working with open Class III or IV laser systems. Alignment procedures are to be done when no one else is present in the room.
• Gloves- Must be worn when opening the confocal box.
• Safety Glasses - Must be used when working with any process that could throw off debris or any chemicals that could cause eye damage. However these should not be needed as you are not allowed to do any chemical prep in this room.

GENERAL HOUSEKEEPING RULES:

1. ALL sample vials must be labeled with contents, owner's name, and a date. ALL microscope slides that are not labeled with the owner's name will be thrown out when we see them.
2. Boxes containing new (unused) microscope slides and coverslips should be left closed, to keep them clean.
3. Be respectful of other people when using shared facilities and clean up after yourself.
4. Returned borrowed tools ASAP to the tool chest from which they came.
5. Any glassware should be cleaned and hung to dry and/or put away before leaving the room.
6. Clutter should be avoided.

WASTE DISPOSAL RULES:

1. All glass should be disposed in an appropriate Broken Glass Waste Box.
2. ALL sharps (including razor blades and syringes) are considered a biohazard and must be disposed of in an appropriate Sharps Collection container.
3. Satellite Accumulation Areas (SAA) are located in rooms 531 and 513. All hazardous waste requires secondary containment and should be stored in the SAA. Do not store incompatible chemicals (i.e. acids and bases) in the same secondary containment tray.
4. All chemical waste must have a university provided Hazardous Waste Tag on it. The tag should be properly filled out with all of the information except the date when the container first has waste put into it. Writing on the container itself is not acceptable. 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 6-3322 and is printed on the green SAA sign posted in the SAA area.

CHEMICAL STORAGE: No chemicals should be stored in McKay 517.

SPECIAL TRAINING REQUIRED:

1. All lab personnel who generate Hazardous Waste must have current Hazardous Waste Disposal* training which includes the initial "live" training by Cate Thomas and annual "online" refresher training which is located through http://www.uos.harvard.edu.
2. All persons working with lasers should have Laser Safety* training.

   *All of the above mentioned training is offered through the DEAS Safety Committee. Contact the local safety officer for more details.

CHEMICAL SPILL CLEAN-UP PROCEDURES:

1. Small spills should be cleaned up by those in the lab. There is a Spill Kit (big yellow box) located near the elevator.
2. For large spills, clear the area of personnel and call the University Operations Center (5-5560).

OTHER RELEVANT COMMENTS:

1. Do not attempt to use ANY equipment which you are not trained to use.
2. Basic medical kit is near the elevator.
3. The eyewash is located by the sink and the safety shower is near the cold room.
4. If you have any questions ASK your local safety officer.