Standard Operating Procedure

LOCAL SAFETY OFFICER: Dave Vader
PRIMARY USERS: Everyone in the group
ROOM: McKay 531
P.I.: David A. Weitz

DATE: August 21, 2006

TYPE OF RESEARCH: Office space and Chemical Preparation Room
HAZARDS: Corrosive, Flammable, Toxic chemicals, compressed gas cylinder, UV lamp

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 this room.
• Safety Glasses - Must be used when working with any process that could throw off debris or any chemicals that could cause eye damage.
• Face Shields - Must be employed when working with any potentially violent reactions or when working with glassware that is under pressure or vacuum.
• 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 there is any question, see Lenny Solomon or your local safety officer.

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. Any glassware should be cleaned and hung to dry and/or put away before leaving the room.
4. Clutter should be avoided.
5. Please close the boxes containing the pipette tips after use.
6. The needles and syringes should always be signed out and kept locked at other times.

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 (this room) and 513. All hazardous waste requires secondary containment and should be stored in 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.

FUME HOOD USE:

1. Fume hoods are for active use only. Do not leave chemicals or other materials in the fume hoods. All chemicals and materials in fume hoods must be labeled with your name, the date, and the substance.
2. All fumes hoods must be certified once per year. If you suspect a problem with a fume hood or notice that it is overdue for inspections tell your local safety officer who will call EH&S for an inspection.

CHEMICAL STORAGE:

• Chemicals should be stored in the appropriate safety cabinet (yellow cabinet for flammables, cabinet under the fume hood for acids/bases and the cabinet near the centrifuge for other chemicals). No chemical should be left in a fume hood unless actively in use.

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 lab personnel who work with compressed gases should take the Compressed Gas Safety* training.

   * All of the above mentioned training is offered through the DEAS Safety Committee.

CHEMICAL SPILL CLEAN-UP PROCEDURES:

1. Small spills should be cleaned up by those in the lab. There is a Spill Kit (big yellow boxes) 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. Be careful when you use the UV lamp. Do not expose yourself to the radiation.
3. Please maintain the log for the centrifuge and the sign out sheet for the syringes and needles.
4. Basic medical kit is near the elevator.
5. The eye wash is located by the sink and the safety shower is near the cold room.
6. If you have any questions ASK your local safety officer.