1. Video – “Hazard
Alert – Lab Spills” – 11 minutes
2. Lab Inspection
Reports
The following teams presented their inspection reports:
(2) Advanced Sensors Lab (ASL; McKay 113)
Anderson
Wofsy Lab
3. Follow-up Reports:
4. Lab Inspection Schedules
--Expired HF antidote
--Lengths of copper pipe on floor; trip hazard.
--Instrument panels off of evaporator; should be replaced.
Overall, the lab could use some housekeeping and maybe a spring(or winter)
cleaning.
Even so, pathways were mainly unobstructed.
Rm 129
-The multiple lasers in this room could use some organization with regard
to safety goggles being in more obvious locations and extra notice of where
the lasers actually are.
-Should there be curtains around the optical benches with lasers?
-There were some unlabeled bottles with bright liquid in them (laser dye?)
and some anonymous white jugs.
-About 10% of the chemical bottles had only the chemical symbol on them
when they should also be labeled with the chemical name.
-A gas cylinder that was being used looked like it was stored on a movable
cart. Is that okay?
-In the flammables box, there was no secondary containment. Is this
needed?
-It looked like there were some chemicals being stored in the fume hood.
Laser room
-There was a vacuum pump with no secondary containment.
129A
-May want to keep the doors closed for fire containment.
-The pump next to the door could use a change of kitty litter.
-No secondary containment on vacuum pump near crane.
126/A -Nothing to report.
125 -Nothing to report.
124B
-No visible emergency medical kit.
-Door partially blocked by bench.
132
-Fire extinguisher last checked 2002.
-There were only two chemicals in there but we noticed there was
no chemical
waste disposal.
-Missing a safety placard on the door.
Basement
The lab the is not being used with the two huge lasers
-There were some chemicals but no satellite accumulation area.
-If no one is working in there, perhaps the chemicals should be cleared
out.
SB04
-Could use some cleanup, scrub the floor, sweep up oil absorbent.
-Clear out the junk that is cluttering the floor.
G28A
-Vacuum pump in middle of room had no secondary containment
-Ditto with the small pump on the bench.
-Side egress was slightly blocked by piles of boxes.
-We did not see any hazardous waste disposal, no satellite accumulation
area.
-Under the sink there was nitric and sulfuric acid but no warnings.
-Did not see any radiation detection equipment even though the placard
on the door indicated radioactive materials.
-The lab is overflowing with gas cylinders. Not a violation of anything
but it seemed a little out of control.
-Curtis Mead, Liz Main, Kasey Russell
McKay 3rd Floor:
--303and 304 – making a rack for laser goggles, didn’t know if they needed a
light (they have a sign – Lenny said they do need a Laser light.
--314, 318 – organized hood, got rid of all the old bottles
--320, 322,326, 328 – laser goggles are inside the door, and guest goggles are kept in another room. They are in the process of moving back into some of their labs, and cutting a hole in the wall in 326. They will replace the response guide.
class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.25in'>Lenny said
to make sure that everyone knows which laser goggles to use in different
circumstances
Cruft and Maxwell/Dworkins – just recently posted, so they have until next month to respond.
McKay Cleanrooms – report still needs to be submitted electronically
The following teams have not scheduled a lab inspection:
Team 4 - McKay 4th Floor
Team 5 - McKay 5th Floor
Most of the groups have not yet completed the form on ChemTracker. This must be completed by the end of the month. If you do not have any of the chemicals on the list, then email Lenny your group’s name to say that you reviewed the list, and do not have any of the chemicals. If the website is not working, then call Amy Johnson at x51823. Again, Lenny as well as EH&S stressed that this must be
done by the end of the month.
Mike talked about the recent news that happened in Tennessee. A liquid
oxygen dewar was not properly secured. Some happened to cause the dewar
to fly up and hit a police car. He stressed the need to treat vessels with caution. Everyone should review what they are storing in the hallways and assess if it's necessary to store it there. The hallway is an escape route out of the building in case of an emergency, so make sure things are stored properly and that the hallways are not blocked.
There was an incident about 3 years ago at Harvard where a Helium dewar ruptured in a hallway and parts shot up into the ceiling causing some damage.
Lenny stated that if any cryogen dewar is frosted over, one should call the supplier immediately to get it removed from the building. They both stressed the importance of having cylinders properly strapped down so that if you are moving one, the others nearby will still be stable.
Mike then talked briefly about nanoparticles and that the City of Cambridge
may add new regulations regarding the handling and working with such substances. EH&S has formed a task force to study labs that handle nanoparticles. Remember that EH&S is a to those who have any
questions.
7. Old Business – none
8. New Business – none
Send comments or suggestions to
solomon@huarp.harvard.edu
Last Updated: Tue Jan 15 16:10:45 2008 © 2003 President and Fellows of Harvard College