Standard Operating Procedure

LOCAL SAFETY OFFICER: Dave Vader
PRIMARY USERS: B. R. Dasgupta, M.T. Valentine, G. Cristobal
ROOM: McKay 519, 523
P.I.: David A. Weitz

DATE: August 2006

TYPE OF RESEARCH: Office space and Laser Light Scattering
HAZARDS: Class IV Laser (Radiation), Toxic and flammable chemicals (toluene, methanol, acetone).

PROTECTIVE CLOTHING THAT MUST BE USED FOR ALL WORK:

• 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 - 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.
• Safety Glasses - Must be used when working with any process that could throw off debris or any chemicals that could cause eye damage.
• Aprons - Should be worn when working with corrosives such as strong acids or bases.
• Gloves - Must be worn when working with any chemicals or 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 you have any question, please get in touch with your local safety officer or Lenny Solomon.

GENERAL HOUSEKEEPING RULES:

1. Be respectful of other people when using shared facilities and clean up after yourself.
2. Returned borrowed tools ASAP to the tool chest from which they came.
3. Used slides should be disposed off in the glass containers.
4. Clutter should be avoided.
5. All prep should be done in the proper prep rooms.

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.

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. Keep the black curtain drawn when using the laser and observe laser warning lights.
2. Do not attempt to use ANY equipment which you are not trained to use.
3. Basic medical kit is near the elevator.
4. The eye wash is located by the sink and the safety shower is near the cold room.

5. If you have any questions ASK your local safety officer.