Environmental Health and Safety

Injury and Illness Prevention Program

General Code of Safe Practices, Laboratory and Lab Support Employees

List and enumerate Codes of Safe Practices for the jobs or areas named:

1. Employees assigned to work in a laboratory or lab support area shall read and familiarize themselves with safety related documents which pertain to their jobs, including:
   • The Chemical Hygiene Plan
   • Radiation Safety Manual
   • Biosafety Manual
   • Specific laboratory guidelines or procedural documents
   • Hazard Communication Standard
   • Injury and Illness Prevention Plan
   • Emergency Preparedness Manual
   
   
   
2. Where possible, all experiments involving potentially hazardous materials shall be performed inside a laboratory hood (biological or chemical).
   
   
3. Hoods should not be used for the storage of equipment or chemicals. When possible, the hood shall be used for one experiment at a time.
   
   
4. Do not obstruct or impede access to emergency deluge showers or eye wash units.
   
   
5. All facets of the Hazard Communication Program must be complied with, including:
   • Container labeling
   • Employee training
   • MSDS acquisition and familiarization
   
   
   
6. Compressed gas cylinders shall be securely fastened (by steel straps or welded chain) to an immovable object, e.g., a wall. Cylinders with regulators must be individually secured. Those with safety caps may be secured in groups of up to three.
   
   
7. Trussed handcarts must be used for transporting gas cylinders from storage into the lab or support area.
   
   
8. Employees shall not roll cylinders or handle them by their valve.
   
   
9. Compressed gas cylinders not in use (not equipped with a regulator) must have the safety cap in place.
   
   
10. Employees must be aware of the location and correct method of use of the hazardous materials spill kits.
    
    
11. Hazardous materials shall be stored according to their physical state, compatibility with other materials and hazard classification in order to prevent the possibility of fires or other reactions.
    
    
12. Flammable liquids shall be stored away from ignition and radiant heat sources. Aggregate quantities over ten gallons shall be stored in an approved flammable storage cabinet.
    
    
13. Quantities of hazardous materials shall be kept to a minimum. Only order quantities that can be readily used in 2-3 months. Chemicals shall not be left on the benchtop when not in use.
    
    
14. Chemicals shall be stored on the lowest shelves or below eye level. The shelves shall have proper seismic restraints to prevent toppling.
    
    
15. Employees are urged to review the MSDS and other references relevant to the hazardous materials with which they may potentially be exposed.
    
    
16. Employees must wear safety glasses, goggles or shields when there is a possibility of splashing or an eye injury.
    
    
17. Lab coats shall be worn in laboratories.
    
    
18. Gloves shall not be worn outside the labs unless transporting material from one location to another, in which case, one hand shall be gloved.
    
    
19. Respirators must be worn when the possible exposure exceeds the PEL or TLV and the exposure cannot be controlled by engineering designs or administrative controls. Other uses may be deemed appropriate, as recommended by Environmental Health and Safety.
    
    
20. Employees shall clean up spills immediately and report them to the Biosafety manager. Refer to the MSDS and Emergency Preparedness Manual for the correct methods and action.
    
    
21. Hazardous waste shall be handled in accordance with state, federal and local regulations and the SDSU standard operating procedures.