BERC Lab Safety Procedures

  • Know the emergency safety numbers.
  • Study the experiment protocol, as well as the Lab Safety Manual (LSM). Know how to deal with safety problems before you enter the laboratory.
  • Know where the eyewash stations, fire extinguisher, spill control/clean-up supplies, first aid kit, emergency exits are located.  
  • Know the use of all the laboratory safety equipment.
  • No eating, drinking, smoking, or applying cosmetics in the lab.
  • Wear a lab coat in the lab.
  • Do not wear open-toed shoes or shorts.
  • Wear eye protection at all times in the lab. 
  • Wear gloves for protection against potentially dangerous materials.
    • Do not wear them outside of the lab or touch lab door handles wearing gloves.
  • Wash hands after handling chemicals, specimens or variable materials.
  • Wash hands after removing gloves and before leaving the lab.
  • Do NOT share security codes.
  • Do NOT share your lab keys.
  • Keep all equipment and work areas clean. Avoid clutter on the laboratory desk.
    • There should be a minimum of 3 feet of walking space between aisles.
    • Keep curing light cart close to counter when not in use so that the cord is not blocking the aisle.
  • Keep doors and windows to laboratory closed at all times. 
  • Keep fume hood sashes closed at all times when not directly working at the fume hood.  Do not write on the fume hood sashes. 
  • Know the location of the printed MSDS in lab 5101 for the most hazardous materials.  Other MSDS for nonhazardous chemicals are on the R Drive in the folder “Material Safety Data Sheets.”
  • Do not taste chemicals. Never smell any vapor or gas directly.
    • Read material safety data sheets in the lab prior to using every new chemical. 
    • Do not pipette by mouth.
  • When new chemicals are received, fill out the “New Chemicals List” located on the door of Lab 5101C with the name, quantity, location, and CAS number of chemical.   
  • Store hazardous materials by hazard class, not alphabetical order. Store flammable liquids in approved flammable cabinets.  After removing materials from the flammable materials storage units, make sure handles are turned downward in the locked position. 
  • Tell your instructor if a reagent is low. Do not put the empty bottle back on the shelf.
  • Cap the sharps and place them in approved waste containers.
  • Keep all waste containers closed/capped when not in immediate use.  
  • Report broken instruments or equipment immediately.

Report all accidents to your instructor.  If your instructor is not available and the accident occurred in the Bioengineering Research Center labs report to Dr. Charles Ye immediately at 785-864-1746.