Mineral Physics Institute: Laboratory Safety

In case of an emergency, or if you need an ambulance, contact:

• University Police at 911 from a campus phone or
• (631) 632-3333 from your cell phone.

Last Modified July 15, 2014

Environmental Health & Safety Training

For training courses offered by Environmental Health & Safety,

• go to Blackboard,
• Log in
• Click on the Courses tab at the top of the page
• select Environmental Health & Safety from the Course Catalog on the right side of the page.

The courses that apply to most MPI researchers are:

• ELS 002 - Lab Safety - Chemical Hazards
• ENV 001 - Hazardous Waste Disposal
• EOS 029 - Machine Shop Safety

Hazard Review for Developing a Safety Protocol

In order to enhance laboratory safety at MPI, we need to develop written safety protocols, which are also known as "Standard Operating Procedures" or "SOPs".

The following information is derived from the Stony Brook University Environmental Health and Safety Hazard Reviews and Safety Protocols web page.

Principal Investigators and Lab Supervisors are required to prepare written safety protocols to ensure compliance, avoid fines and penalties, and prevent accidents. The written safety protocol must be made available to everyone working on the procedure with specific training to ensure that everyone gets the information they need to conduct their research safely.

A hazard review is a process that is used to determine if there are potential hazards and risks involved with a procedure.

Hazard

A hazard is the way in which an object or a situation may cause harm. A hazard exists where an object, substance or situation has a built-in ability to cause an adverse effect. It is the intrinsic toxic properties of the chemical or biological material.

Exposure

An exposure is the potential of the lab worker to be affected by the hazard. The amount of material used, dispersion potential (volatility, dustiness), operating temperature, frequency of use, and safety controls available must be determined.

Risk

Risk is the chance that an adverse effect will occur, and is determined by the hazard and the exposure.

Developing a Safety Protocol

• A written safety protocol, also known as a "Standard Operating Procedure", is required by the OSHA Laboratory Standard.
• It includes the safety requirements developed in the risk assessment.
• It is used to ensure that everyone in the lab knows and understands the hazards, risks and protective measures needed to perform the procedure.
• The information from your hazard and risk assessment is used to develop safe operating parameters. Process limits allows you to conduct research and change variables (i.e., substituting solvents, changing concentration or quantity, increasing temperature, etc.) without having to conduct a new hazard review and write a new safety protocol. These limits are critical when scaling up a procedure.
• There is no required format for this written protocol, but the EH&S Safety Protocol templates can be used.

Safety Protocol Information

• List all chemicals, biological materials and equipment needed for the procedure. Be specific on biological strain: E. coli could be BSL 2 (O157:H7) or BSL 1 (K12). Include chemical concentrations, catalog numbers, equipment names, model numbers, etc. Remember that liquid nitrogen, dry ice and compressed gases are hazardous materials.
• List hazards of chemicals and biological material used in the procedure.
• List all Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) needed for the procedure. Be specific on type of gloves or eyewear needed.
• List safe operating parameters (concentration, quantity, temperature, pressure, etc.)
• List any special emergency equipment needed (i.e., eyewash, spill kit, dry sand/Class D fire extinguisher, HF antidote, effective disinfectant).
• List waste disposal requirements (chemical, biological waste, sharps containers).
• Describe any anticipated problems that may occur while performing this procedure, the course of action to be taken, including the job title to consult/report to if problem occurs.

Helpful Web Sites and Documents

SBU > EHS > Laboratory Safety

SBU > EHS > Hazard Reviews and Safety Protocols

• Lab Safety Inspection Checklist
• Machine Hazards

SBU > EHS > Training

• ELS 002: Laboratory Safety - Chemical Hazards
• ENV 001: Hazardous Waste Management
• EOS 029: Machine Shop Safety

Searchable Stony Brook University MSDS Database

Stony Brook University Laboratory Safety Council

OSHA Laboratory Standard

Stony Brook University EHS Standard Operating Procedures Form

American Chemical Society: Safety in Academic Chemistry Laboratories

Stony Brook University Chemical Hygiene Plan

Dow: Taking laboratory safety to a new level (Video)

MPI Home Page