Biology Laboratory Safety

Biology Laboratory SafetyGeneral Safety Module

This presentation is designed to train students in General Biology Laboratory Safety

It will coverTypes of hazards that might be encounteredPreventive safety measures, including good laboratory practicesWhat to do in case of an emergencyYour rights & responsibilities as a student at Northern Michigan University2What YOU doAs part of your training you will Independently work through & comprehend training materials in this presentationConfirm that you have viewed the safety presentationTake a quiz on the material in this presentation. You must answer all questions of the quiz correctly to participate in your Biology course.3You may also be asked to complete a short course on a specific hazard, e.g., chemical safety, field work safety, biohazard training, etc. Your instructor will inform you of these requirements

Documentation of your training for each specific course will be kept by the University for seven years.Every student has the Right to Know*Hazards they may encounter while pursuing their education *Measures to take to protect themselves.

According to the Chemical Hygiene plan, employees and students are required to obtain site-specific training for the hazards that will be present in their respective areas.

5Science laboratories pose a variety of hazards.

NMU & the Biology Department take laboratory safety very seriously & are committed to providing a safe learning environment.

6Types of HazardsPhysicalFalling, heat burns, sharp equipment, glass

ChemicalChemicals may be toxic, caustic or present other hazards

BiologicalMicrobes, toxic plants, wild or captive animals

BEING VIGILANT & EDUCATED ABOUT HAZARDS ARE YOUR BEST SAFETY MEASURES! 7Eating food, drinking beverages, or applying cosmetics in the laboratory is strictly forbidden No exceptions!

Dress appropriately for the lab that is to be conducted.

**Open-toed or perforated shoes are not allowed in the laboratory.

** Long hair should be confined when working in the lab

Follow all written & verbal instructions carefully.

EyewearUse of contact lenses in the laboratory is at the students discretion, but is discouraged. (If you wear contact lenses you should indicate this to your instructor.)

Safety glasses or other eye protection may be required for some courses, particularly those using chemicals or where physical hazards may be encountered

9Accident PreventionSafety equipment found in all laboratories includes:Fume hoodEye wash stationsSafety showersBiological Safety Cabinets (tissue culture laboratory only)TelephoneKnow the location of the safety equipment & its proper use.

PreventionPersonal Protective Equipment (PPE) isequipment designed to protect you from physical, chemical and biological hazards

Examples include: gloves, eye protection, lab coats, life vests, etc.

Appropriate PPE will be clearly explained & provided for each laboratory exercise.

11PreventionSafety Data Sheets (SDS formerly referred to as Material Safety Data Sheets, or MSDS) are important sources of safety information & are issued for each chemical substance

SDS for all hazardous substances are available at NMU & may be accessed at the web site below.Your instructor shall provide more detailed instructions on obtaining & interpreting Safety Data Sheetshttp://publicsafety.nmu.edu/Departments/PublicSafety/SiteSections/EmployeeSafety/MSDSBinder.shtml

12PreventionSDS provide detailed information about chemicals including:Composition, information on ingredients (Section 2)Hazards identification (Section 3)First aid measures (Section 4)Accidental Release measures (Section 6)Handling & Storage (Section 7)Exposure controls, personal protection (Section 8)Stability & reactivity (Section 10)Toxicological information (Section 11)13SDSs for products known to be on campus are located in the online database maintained by Public Safety at http://publicsafety.nmu.edu/Departments/PublicSafety/SiteSections/EmployeeSafety/MSDSBinder.shtmlTo look up new SDS, log on to the above website with these passwords. This will direct you to a site with over 2.7 million SDSs:Add userid: nmumsds Password: msdsPreventionChemicals stored in secondary containers (containers other than the original container & without the original label) must display a National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Hazardous Material Classification label as well as the name of the substance and the responsible party.These labels provide information about health & other hazards of a chemical. Your instructor will give you more information on these labels as required.324NFPA-type label15Colors represent kind of hazardRed = fireYellow = reactivityBlue = healthWhite = specific hazardPrevention324Numbers show degree of hazard0 = Minimal1 = Slight2 = Moderate3 = Serious4 = SevereNFPA-type labelWaste Disposal Proper UseNormal trash: scrap papers, pop bottles, plastic bags, used gloves

Biohazard Waste:anything contaminated with biological material. Eg: bacteria, blood Broken glass:broken or chipped glassware

Waste Disposal Improper UseNormal trash: No liquidsNo biohazard bags that are not enclosed in black bagsNo sharps

Broken glass:Do not use this container for paper towels or other trash that can go into normal trash.Transporting chemicals and other laboratory materialsWhen transporting chemicals or other materials between laboratories, make sure that they are carried in a secondary container Solutions, dry chemicals, microplates, etc. should be carried in a tubSlides should be placed in a slide box

Test tubes or vials should be in a rack that is carried in a tub

A cart should be used to transport bulky materials. If using a cart, materials should still be in a secondary container.Make sure you have at least one ungloved hand to open doors etc. remember that lab gloves are to be considered potentially contaminated at all times19Fire Alarm ProcedureIn the event of a fire alarmTurn off all equipmentCap all containersGather personal belongingsExit building in an orderly fashionDo not return to the building until the all clear has been given by your instructor and/or Public Safety.

Accident ProcedureReport any accident (spill, breakage, etc.) or injury (cut, burn, etc.) to the instructor immediately, no matter how trivial it may appear.

21Chemical Spill ProcedureReview all SDSs prior to using hazardous materials for PPE, First Aid and disposal protocols. In the event of a chemical spill on you or a coworker flush with running water for at least 15 minutes. If appropriate, remove contaminated clothing & use the safety shower. If chemical is splashed into eyes, use the eyewash station & flush for at least 15 minutes. Check the SDS if this occurs with an unfamiliar chemical where water flushing may not be recommended.

In the event of a chemical spill on the benchtop or floor, but not on another person, contact the instructor and get specific instructions on how to proceed.22Biohazard AwarenessA variety of materials can be classified as biohazards (materials that hold some risk for production of disease) includingContaminated cells & tissues, including blood productsLive organismsEnvironmental samples, including soil samplesSecretions & excretions

Biohazards are classified into Risk Groups & are controlled according to this classification23Biohazardous Agents by Risk Groups (RG)Agents = any infectious entity or any molecule produced by them capable of producing disease in humansRG1Agents that are not associated with disease in healthy adult humans RG2Agents associated with human disease that is rarely serious or forwhich preventive or therapeutic interventions are often availableRG3Agents that are associated with serious or lethal human disease for which preventive or therapeutic interventions may be available. The agent is of low risk for the communityRG4Agents that are likely to cause serious or lethal human disease for which preventive or therapeutic interventions are not usually available. The agent is of low risk for the community.At NMU, we are approved to work with RG1 and RG2 agents for research purposes. However, students could be exposed to RG3 agents from the environment.24Routes of transmission of biohazardous infectious agentsOral Ingestion Eating, drinking, smoking Broken skin Needle-stick Cuts Scratches Bites Mucosa Splash of liquids Handling eye contact lenses Applying make-upUpper respiratory tract Inhalation of aerosols, spores, etc.25Blood and Other Potentially Infectious Material (OPIM) Apply "Universal Precautions" : Treat all human blood and certain human body fluids as if known to be infectiousOther Potential Sources of InfectionEnvironmental Samples: soil, plants, water samples, animals, etc. Apply NMU Precautions" :Treat all environmental samples as a potential health hazard26International Biohazard Symbol Universal SymbolCommunicates potential exposureRed or orange

Any container with biohazard potential must be labeled with this symbolBiohazard disposal Any materials that may constitute a biohazard should be disposed of appropriately

Disposal methods vary for different materials includingcontaminated glasscultures and fluidsother organics

Special disposal materials are required for biohazard disposal

Contact your instructor for guidance in cleaning up any potential biohazard, including human bloodEmergency PreparednessEmergencies can happen, soDo not work alone in the lab.Know where emergency phone numbers are posted.Review SDS.Know where to go & what to do in an emergency.Know location of closest safety showers and eyewashes.

29Emergency ResponseIn case of an accident, you may need to use an eyewash or safety shower.Be sure you know where these items are located, and how to use them.

Pull down on the appropriate lever to activate the eyewash or safety shower located in each laboratorySome eyewashes are located behind sinks. Pull out the hose and squeeze the spray lever to activate.Emergency ContactsFire, medical or chemical emergencies call 911

Public Safety 227-2151

Biology Main Office 227-2310A note about 911If you call 911 from a cell phone, campus or off-campus phone, the call will be routed to the local or regional 911 system

We recommend using a Campus phone for 911 (if possible) when you are on campus since it will result in a more precise location being reported to the authorities.32Your ResponsibilityYour responsibility extends beyond your own personal activities. Each person who uses a laboratory is expected to take appropriate action when an unsafe condition exists. You may need toCorrect a potentially hazardous situation yourselfReport the situation to those qualified or authorized to correct the hazardIntervene when another person is creating a hazard for themselves or others.33You always have the right to ask questions of, or report hazards to - either directly or anonymously without fear of reprisal- ANY of the following:Your lab instructor &/or the course instructorDepartment Head & Chemical Hygiene Officer Dr. John Rebers (jrebers@nmu.edu) Public Safety (227-2151)34NextComplete the PRESENTATION REVIEW ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Then complete the QUIZ that follows the confirmationYou must achieve a perfect score on the quiz to successfully complete your safety training. You may retake the quiz as many times as necessary.Failure to complete your safety training will result in your exclusion from the laboratory portion of your courseAfter the quizRemember to complete any additional Safety Training modules (and their quizzes) required for your course.

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