5-Custodial Staff Laboratory Safety-PDF.pdf

Laboratory Safety for Custodial Staff

A supplemental training program developed by the Office of Institutional Risk and Safety Programs, for use by

UT Dallas Facilities Management

Office of Institutional Risk & Safety Programs Laboratory Safety

Overview

1. Introduction

2. Minimizing Risks in the Labs

3. Hazard Communication (HAZCOM)

4. Safe Laboratory Practices

5. Waste Management

6. Emergency Procedures

• Laboratory safety is the responsibility of all University personnel who enter teaching and research labs

• Custodial staff may be exposed to chemical, physical, biological, radiation, laser, and magnetic field hazards in labs

•Protection of every worker’s well-being is the top priority!

• Within the research and teaching environment, it is also critical maintain the integrity of the experiments and projects within these spaces

AKA your Risk & Safety Team!

• Our mission is to support safety success, and empower you to minimize risks and implement safe work practices

• Each lab has an assigned Safety Specialist

• Your direct supervisor is the main point of contact for safety-related issues.

• A supervisor can request information or assistance from the Safety Team:

safety@utdallas.edu

Office of Institutional Risk & Safety Programs mailto:safety@utdallas.edu

RAMPP

Safety is YOUR Responsibility – RAMPP up for Safety

R – Recognize hazards in your work area

A – Assess the potential risk for injury or illness

M – Minimize your exposure to hazards, or mitigate the risk

P – Prepare for emergencies

P – Perform safely each and every day

SAFETY

SUCCESS

DEPENDS ON YOU!

Your Responsibilities

• Complete required training (UT Dallas and/or company-specific)

• Be aware of hazards associated with lab spaces

• Know your role in responding to lab emergencies

• Be watchful and vigilant while in the lab spaces

• Follow building and workspace safety & security rules

• Understand special cleaning/work practices

• Follow the same practices as lab members, while in a lab space Always dress appropriately and wear the required protective equipment

No electronics use in labs No cell phones No music/earbuds

2. Minimizing Risk in the Labs

3. Hazard Communication (HAZCOM)

4. Safe Laboratory Practices

5. Waste Management

6. Emergency Procedures

Engineering Controls

• Built-in barriers placed between a hazard and a worker

• First line of protection – protects EVERYONE

• These include the following:

1. Fume hoods

2. Biological Safety Cabinets (BSCs)

3. Flammable storage cabinets

4. Emergency safety equipment

5. Restricted areas

• NO CLEANING of this equipment

Room Air

HEPA-

Filtered Air

Contaminated Air

• Hair pulled back and secured

• No loose clothing or jewelry

• Long pants/skirt and long-sleeved shirt

• Closed-toe shoes that cover the entire foot

Inappropriate - NO Appropriate - YES

Dressing for Lab Entry

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Safety Glasses and Gloves

• Safety glasses and gloves must

ALWAYS be worn in the laboratories – your Supervisor must provide this PPE to you at no cost

• Protect your eyes and skin from chemicals or biological agents that may be splashed, or those that could be present on lab surfaces

• Protect your eyes and skin when handling and removing trash

ALWAYS WASH YOUR

HANDS IMMEDIATELY

AFTER REMOVING

GLOVES

Do NOT wear used gloves outside the lab!

• Wearing used gloves outside the lab exposes others to chemicals or biological agents that may be on your gloves

• Throw away the pair of gloves you wore while inside the lab, before leaving the lab, and put a new pair on when resuming custodial work outside of the lab

• Never touch door handles with gloves that were worn inside a lab

2. Minimizing Risk in the Labs

3. Hazard Communication (HAZCOM)

4. Safe Laboratory Practices

5. Waste Management

6. Emergency Procedures

HAZCOM (Hazard Communication) Information about the identity of and hazard(s) associated with materials on the UT Dallas campus are communicated in an understandable and universal manner.

• Your supervisor must provide you with Hazard Communication training that is specific to your company or workplace, prior to your participation in this laboratory safety program.

• The Risk & Safety Team provides you with brief, additional hazard communication information specific to laboratories.

• Laboratories may contain the following material hazards:

1. Corrosives

2. Biohazards and Infectious material

3. Flammables

4. Oxidizers and Organic Peroxides

5. Compressed Gases

6. Cryogenic Liquids

Door Sign

• Most hazard warnings are summarized on the lab door sign

• The UT Dallas lab door sign includes, as applicable:

1. Required PPE

2. Special hazards

3. Biosafety level

4. Highest class of laser in area

5. Identity of radioactive material

6. NFPA diamond

7. GHS symbols

8. Emergency contact information

Universally Recognized Symbols

• A major component of HAZCOM is the necessity for communication of the dangers associated with particular work. This communication is done quickly and easily through the use of symbols.

• You will find signs used to identify the following hazards:

1. Biological

2. Radiation

3. Physical

Biohazards

• Biohazards are defined as:

Biological organisms or their products (such as toxins) that pose a threat to human health.

• The biohazard symbol is to be placed on the following if biohazardous material is stored or worked with in that area:

1. Entry to the laboratory

2. Biohazardous material storage equipment e.g. refrigerator and freezer

3. Containers used to transport or ship material

4. Waste containers

Radiation Hazards

• There are two types of radiation hazards: ionizing and non-ionizing

• Ionizing radiation is identified by the radioactive symbol.

X-ray producing equipment can also produce ionizing radiation.

Laser radiation Radio frequency/ microwave radiation

• Non-ionizing radiation is identified using different symbols:

Physical Hazards Physical hazard symbols indicate the hazard itself.

Examples include:

1. High voltage

2. Hot surface

3. Blade hazard

Hot surface Blade hazardHigh voltage

Globally Harmonized System (GHS) GHS pictograms are used to communicate chemical hazards.

Physical

Health Environmental

Explosive Compressed Gas Flammable Oxidizing Corrosive

Irritant Corrosive Toxic Health Hazard Environmental Hazard

National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) NFPA 704 Diamond

Provides criteria for assessing health, flammability, reactivity, and other special hazards of a material.

The severity of the hazard is communicated with a number rating system of 0 to 4, with

4 being the most severe.

1 0

W Symbols are included to communicate special hazards.

4 = Can be lethal 3 = Can cause serious or permanent injury 2 = Can cause temporary incapacitation or residual injury 1 = Can cause significant irritation 0 = No hazard

Health Hazard

4 = Will vaporize and readily burn at normal temperatures 3 = Can be ignited under almost all ambient temperatures 2 = Must be heated or high ambient temperature to burn 1 = Must be preheated before ignition can occur 0 = Will not burn

Flammability Hazard

4 = May explode at normal temperatures and pressures 3 = May explode at high temperature or shock 2 = Violent chemical change at high temperature or pressure 1 = Normally stable. High temperatures make unstable 0 = Stable

Instability Hazard

W = Reacts violently or explosively with water SA = Simple asphyxiant OX = Oxidizer

Special Hazard

NFPA 704 Diamond

1 0

W

2. Minimizing Risk in the Labs

3. Hazard Communication (HAZCOM)

4. Safe Laboratory Practices

5. Waste Management

6. Emergency Procedures

• Do not leave lab doors propped open, leave doors unlocked, or tamper with the locking mechanism Lab doors are fire-rated and propping open the door negates this protection

Closed doors prevent unauthorized entry

• Custodial staff members are responsible for ensuring any door which is opened for cleaning access is returned to the same secured state in which it was found (previously locked doors must be fully re-locked)

Laboratory Access

You are responsible for protecting yourself and acting safely

• Clean sinks, benches, countertops, or chemical storage areas within laboratories

• Work alone in a laboratory

• Bring unauthorized people into a lab

• Eat, drink, or chew gum in the lab

• Apply cosmetics (including lip balm)

• Handle contact lenses

• Reuse gloves

• Touch door handles from inside the lab while wearing gloves

• Leave doors open, propped, or unlocked

• Read and understand hazard warning signs and labels

• Perform custodial duties in labs ONLY during the hours of 7:00 AM–11:00 PM

• Remain in direct communication with another staff member at all times

• Be 100% alert at all times in the labs – no cell phone or music/earbud use

• Dress appropriately to be in a lab

• Wear PPE (glasses and gloves)

• Wash your hands after removing gloves, and before leaving the lab

• Consult with the Risk & Safety Team for unique custodial tasks

Do NOTDo

2. Minimizing Risk in the Labs

3. Hazard Communication (HAZCOM)

4. Safe Laboratory Practices

5. Waste Management

6. Emergency Procedures

Waste Regulation

• Waste is regulated from “cradle to grave” (generation to ultimate disposal)

• The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) regulate hazardous waste in Texas

• Mop water contaminated with certain chemicals MAY BE considered regulated waste – consult with the Risk & Safety Team for identification of special circumstances

• Many different types of waste containers are present in the labs:

1. 4 L glass bottles

2. 5 gal polyethylene carboys

3. 6.5 gal plastic buckets

4. Biohazard boxes

5. Sharps containers

6. Smaller plastic/glass bottles

7. Biohazard bins

8. Broken glass boxes

Waste Containers

Custodial staff disposal: YES Waste Containers: Trash Bins – General Trash

• These waste bins are for collection of uncontaminated, regular waste/trash

• The bins have a CLEAR plastic bag liner

• Custodial staff should remove the entire bag when emptying these trash containers and dispose of as directed by Facilities Management procedures.

Custodial staff disposal: YES Waste Containers: Broken Glass/Glass Disposal Boxes

• When box is ready for pick-up:

1. Lab members will securely tape the box closed

2. Lab members will mark as “TRASH”

• Custodial staff should pick up boxes marked as “TRASH” and dispose of the entire box as directed by Facilities Management procedures.

DO NOT empty the box

• These boxes are for the collection of clean glass only

• The box will be lined with a thick plastic bag

• Do not pick up broken glass with your hands Use a broom and dustpan

Segregated Recycling – Bottles, Cardboard, other collected Recycling materials

• Chemical bottles and metal containers in these bins have been cleaned and are not contaminated.

• Cardboard, plastic, and other recyclable materials may be collected by Custodial staff.

• Some recycling containers are fitted with blue plastic liners.

Custodial staff disposal: YES

These bins come in different colors, so look for the recycling sign

Custodial staff disposal: NO

Waste Containers: Biological Waste

• Biohazardous waste is collected in red/orange containers and bags within the laboratories

• This waste will be handled and disposed of by laboratory members or hazardous waste program staff

• Red/orange bags in laboratories should never be handled by custodial staff

Waste Containers: Sharps

• Laboratory members dispose of sharps in a hard-walled, closable container, i.e., a sharps container

• Sharps containers are used for the collection of sharps waste only

• This waste will be handled and disposed of by hazardous waste program staff

• Sharps containers in laboratories should never be handled by custodial staff Container for biohazardous sharps

X

Intro Bio Lab SLC 2.215

Acetic acid

Water 85-90%

10-15%

07/10/18

Waste Containers: Chemically Contaminated Solid Waste

• Chemically contaminated glassware/solid waste is disposed of in a 6.5 gal black plastic bucket, lined with a plastic yellow bag

• This waste will be handled and disposed of by hazardous waste program staff

• Black containers and yellow bags in laboratories should never be handled by custodial staff

2. Minimizing Risk in the Labs

3. Hazard Communication (HAZCOM)

4. Safe Laboratory Practices

5. Waste Management

6. Emergency Procedures

Emergency Procedures

ALL accidents, incidents, suspected health exposures, “near miss” events, observed spills, and injuries related to custodial work in a laboratory must be reported to your

Supervisor immediately.

Supervisors will notify the Risk & Safety Team via Incident Report Forms

Office of Institutional Risk & Safety Programs https://risk-safety.utdallas.edu/risk-and-insurance-programs/workers-compensation/

For emergencies requiring an ambulance/immediate, serious medical attention call 911 When reporting an emergency, provide the following information:

1. Type of emergency

2. Location of the emergency

Tell the operator: “The University of Texas at Dallas” then the building and room number

3. Condition of injured individuals

4. Specials hazards present at the location

Chemical, biological, electrical, mechanical, etc.

Office of Institutional Risk & Safety Programs

Emergency Aid

• For self-treatment of minor injuries, first aid kit supplies can be used

• If you would like to seek medical assistance:

1. Call 972-883-2222 for dispatch of the University

Emergency Medical Response (UEMR) team Fast and direct medical care for anyone on campus

2. Undergraduate Students Student Health Center (SSB 4.700), 972-883-2747

3. Hospitals and ER clinics should only be visited for serious injuries or if the Health Center is closed

First Aid and Basic Life Support

Safety Shower, Eyewash, and Drench Hose

• If chemicals are spilled/splashed on you, use the appropriate emergency equipment for 15 minutes

• It is most effective to remove all clothing when using the emergency shower

• Hold your eyes open when using the eyewash or drench hose

• A drench hose can be used as a safety shower as well as an eyewash since the hose can be pulled up and over the top of you

• Eyewashes/drench hoses should be activated once a week to clean out particulates and ensure functionality

Large Spills In the event of a large chemical or biological spill:

1. Evacuate spill area and close door Keep all others out of the spill area

2. Inform your Supervisor

3. Follow your Department’s established emergency procedures

4. Reference the laboratory door sign to contact appropriate Risk & Safety Team member (see business card)

QUESTIONS?

Remember to always be safe!

Questions should be discussed with your direct Supervisor, or you can reach the

Facilities Management team through their website:

https://facilities.utdallas.edu/contact/

For further information, please visit the Lab Safety website:

https://risk-safety.utdallas.edu/research-safety-programs/

Office of Institutional Risk & Safety Programs Laboratory Safety https://facilities.utdallas.edu/contact/ https://risk-safety.utdallas.edu/research-safety-programs/ https://risk-safety.utdallas.edu/research-safety-programs/