SAFETY AT THE GEOPHYSICAL LABORATORY Its not just a good idea it’s the law

GeneralLaboratorySafetyRules:

Youarethepersonmostresponsibleforyourpersonalsafety.

Ifyouobserveothersaroundyouopera7nginanunsafemanneryouarerequiredtoinformthemoftheproblem.Iftheycon7nue,bringtheissueupwithyoursupervisorormembersoftheSafetycommi>ee.

Alllaboratoriesandfacili7esontheBroadBranchRd.campusarecontrolledareas.Accessto,andpermissiontooperatein,anylaboratorymustbegrantedbythePersoninchargeofthelaboratoryorfacility.

Specificsafetytrainingisrequiredpriortoworkinginanylaboratoryorfacility.

GeneralLaboratorySafetyRules(cont):

Priortoworkingwithanychemicals,studytheMSDSsheetstogainawarenessoftoxicity,reac7vity,andotherpoten7allydangerousproper7esofagivenchemical.

Ifyouhaveanyconcernsregardingthesafetyofspecificlaboratoryprocedure.Stopimmediatelyandconsultwiththelaboratorysupervisor.Ifsafetyconcernspersist,contacttheGLSafetycommi>ee.

Allchemicalwastemustbestoredinproperlylabeledcontainersun7lchemicalwastepick‐upisarranged.

Allcontainersinlaboratoriesmustbelabeledclearly,forexample,aflaskcontainingwatermustbelabeled“Water”or“H2O”.

GeneralLaboratorySafetyRules(cont):

Neverpouranychemicalsintosink‐drains.

ProperaSre,includingproperpersonalprotec7veequipment,isrequiredinalllaboratories.

Foodanddrinkarenotpermi>edinlaboratories,unlessotherwisestatedbythepersonresponsibleforthelaboratory.

ReportallaccidentsandnearaccidentstoGLSafetycommi>ee.

CheckspecificlaboratoryproceduresregardingworkingaloneinthelaboratoryaVernormalbusinesshours.

Understandemergencyproceduresandknowwheretofindemergencycontactinforma7onforeachcontrolledspace.

MaterialSafetyDataSheet

ComeswitheverychemicalyoupurchaseAlsoavailableontheweb,e.g.

h>p://www.sigmaaldrich.com/safety‐center.html

Ifyoudon’thaveoneanddonotknowhowtogetonecontacttheSafetycommi>ee

YouarerequiredtostudytheMSDSevery7meyouworkwithanewchemical

Safety Diamonds: All laboratories have them

0‐4(Hazardlevel)0=nohazard4=extremehazard

Blue:HealthHazard0=oliveoil,4=HCNRed:Flammability0=water,4=methaneYellow:Reac7vity0=LN2,4=TNTWhite:specificinfoe.g.nowater

HazardSigns:Ifyouseetheseoutsideofalaboratory:Noteandunderstandthem

Ifyoudonotunderstandthehazardsigndonotenterroom.

Alllaboratoriesshouldhaverelevanthazardwarnings.

CryogenSafety:liquidN2,Ar,andHe

FourTypesofHazards

1)  ExtremeFrostbite(‐195.8°C,‐320.4°F

2)  Asphyxia7on‐withoutwarning

3)  Explosion(1:694volumeexpansion)

4)  Fire(oxygenboilsat90.2K,nitrogenat77.2K)

NeverfillaLN2dewarwithatransferlineifyouhavenotbeenspecificallytrainedtodoso

OutcomeofaLiquidN2explosionatTexasA&M

GeneralInformaBonAboutX‐raysX‐raysareaformofelectromagne7cradia7on

X‐raysareanionizingformofradia7onIonizingradia7oncancausechangesinbiological7ssue.Thesechangescanleadtocell

death,celltransforma7onanddamagewhichcannotberepaired

Peoplearenotabletosenseradia7onInjurypossiblewithoutini7allyknowingit

ElectromagneBcspectrum

IonizingradiaBon

X‐rayinducedBssuedamage

IonizingRadiaBonisUsedatGLTheX‐raycrystallographylab(R108)usesX‐rayradia7onMössbauerspectroscopylab(G26A)usesgammaraysBeaware!

RadiaBonTrefoil

ThesesymbolsindicatethepresenceofradiaBonandarepostedonrelevant

laboratorydoors.

RadiaBondoselimits

AreaAnnualDose

(Rem)

Wholebody 5

Hands,arms,skinofwholebody

50

TypicalX‐raybeams

BeamDoserate(Rem/min)

Primarybeam 400,000

Diffractedbeam 80

AnnualradiaBondoselimitiseasilyexceededbyexposuretoX‐raybeam.

IonizingRadiaBon

GLX‐raySafetyPolicy

•  AllX‐raylaboratoriesarecontrolledspaces.•  AllusersmusthavespecifictrainingtoworkintheXRDlabandoperateequipment.

ALARAstandsforAsLowAsreasonablyAchievable.

Itisanindividualworker’sresponsibilitytoperformtaskstokeepradia7onexposureaslowaspossible.

Worker’sareresponsibleforknowingallhazardsandsafetypracBcesthatrelatetotheequipmentinuse.

AtGL,wearecommiUedtoALARA

GLX‐raySafetyPolicy

•  X‐raylaboratoryusersarerequiredtowearradia7ondosimetrybadgestomonitorexposure.–  ContactTimStrobeltoobtainbadge

•  Minimizeexposuretoradia7onby:–  Decreasing7me–  Increasingdistance–  Increasingshielding

•  Instrumentsaredesignedwithshieldingandsafetyinterlockstominimizeexposure–nevertamperwithordisablethesemechanisms.

•  Pregnantworkersmustdeclarepregnanciesbeforeworkingnearradia7on.

don’t look into the laser beam with your remaining eye 

LaserSafetyattheGeophysicalLaboratory

Donotenteranylaserlaboratoryifdonothavespecifictrainingforthatlabunlessyouareguidedbyaqualifiedlabpersonnel.

laserclasses:

1………………..safe2………………..max.1mW3R………………max5mW(lowrisk)3Band4……eyewearrequired

OD(LB)valueOD3meansreduc7onbyfactor1000 OD4……………………………………..10000

D……referstoCWlasersoraveragePowerDensity(exposure7me>0.25s)

I…….referstolaserswithpulselengthsbetween1msand0.25s

R……referstolaserswithpulselengthsbetween1nsand1ms

M…..referstolaserswithpulselengthslessthan1ns

DIR1000‐1300LB5:ThiseyeweardeliversLB5protec7onforD,IandRtypebeamsacrossthewavelengthrange1000‐1300nm.

SAFETYISSUESWITHCOMPRESSEDGASES:

•ALLTANKSMUSTBESECURED!•ALLTANKSREQUIREAGASPRESSUREREGULATOR•IFYOUPURCHASEITYOUNEEDTOLABELTHETANKWITHYOURNAMEANDTHEDATEITWASRECEIVED•WHENTHETANKISEMPTYITISYOURRESPONSIBILITYTOSEETHATITISRETURNED.•LECTUREBOTTLESOFTENCANNOTBERETURNEDANDMUSTTHEREFOREBEDISPOSEDOF=$$$

WHENPURCHASINGCOMPRESSEDGAS…

*Askques7onsofthesupplierswhenpurchasinggaseousmaterials‐especiallywithregardstowastedisposalandtheircylinderreturnpolicy.Onlypurchasecylindersfromcompaniesthatwillacceptthecylinderbackfordisposal.Thecostofdisposalforgascylindersisdependentuponthematerial,butevennon‐hazardouscylinderscanbecostlytodispose.*Don'tpurchasealargercylindersizethannecessary,excessreactantcanbeaproblemfordisposal,increasestherisktoalargerareaifaccidentallyreleased,ismoredifficulttostoreinaven7latedareaifrequired,andtakesupmoreroominthehoodoronthefloor.*NFPAsetslimita7onsonthenumberofcylindersthatshouldnotbeexceededinalaboratory.Donotacquiremorethan:•three10"x50"flammablegasoroxygencylindersand•three4"x15"cylindersoftoxicgases(suchasarsine,chlorine,fluorine,hydrogencyanide,nitricoxide)•NFPAallowsfortheuseofliquefiedpetroleumgascylinderswithinthelab,however,Texaslawsstatethatnoliquefiedpetroleumgases(i.e.,C3orC4suchasbutanes,propanes,etc.)maybekeptwithinanoccupiedbuilding(TexasRailroadCommissionrules).

*Make sure you have adequate ven1la1on to bring in and work with toxic gases. These materials will require constant local ven1la1on to ensure the safety of the personnel. Adding ven1la1on is not usually a straight forward task ‐ it usually takes considerable money and 1me to have installed, so plan accordingly. 

Befamiliarwiththeguidelinesonsafetransportofhighpressurecylinders:

*whenthecylinderisnotinusethevalveprotec7oncapmustbeinplacetoprotectthevalve;*neverdrag,slideorrollthecylinder‐getacylindercartortruckanduseit;*alwayshavetheprotec7vecapcoveringthevalve‐nevertransportwiththeregulatorinplace;and*makesurethecylinderissecuredtothecartduringtransport.

ADROPPEDGASCYLINDERISPOTENTIALLYDEADLY,PARTICULARLYIFTHEVALVESTEMISNOTPROTECTEDWITHCAP!!!

SpecialprecauBonsarealsorequiredwhenstoringcylinders:

*cylindersmustbesecuredatall7mestoafixedloca7on‐awall,thelabbench,etc.;*theymustbesecuredatapointapproximately2/3ofitsheight,usingappropriatematerial‐chain,plas7ccoatedwirecable,commerciallyavailablecylinderstraps,etc.;*aswithanyhazardousmaterial,youmaynotstoregascylindersinpublichallwaysorotherunprotectedareas;*cylindersshouldbesecuredindividually,i.e.,onerestraintpercylinder;and*cylindersmustbesegregatedinhazardclasseswhileinstorage,attheminimum,oxidizers(suchasoxygen)mustbeseparatedfromflammablegases,andemptycylindersshouldbeisolatedfromfilledcylinders.

BeforethecylinderisfirstusedthefollowingprecauBonsshouldbetaken:

*makesurethecylinderisequippedwiththecorrectregulator.Alwaysusetheregulatordesignedforthematerialinuse,andbeespeciallycarefulthatundernocircumstancesisgreaseoroilusedonregulatororcylindervalvesbecausethesesubstancesmaycauseanadverse,dangerousreac7onwithinthecylinder.

*thecylindershouldbeplacedsothatthevalvehandleatthetopiseasilyaccessibleatall7mes.

*openthevalveslowlyandonlywiththeproperregulatorinplace‐thevalveshouldbeopenedalltheway.Neverleaveavalvepartwayopen‐eitheropenitallthewayorcloseitalltheway.

*thevalveshouldneverbeleVopenwhenequipmentisnotinuse,evenwhenempty;airandmoisturemaydiffusethroughanopenvalve,causingcontamina7onandcorrosionwithinthecylinder.

*ifusingatoxicorirrita7nggas,thevalveshouldbeopenedonlywhilethecylinderisinaworkingfumehoodandevenso,itwouldalsobeprudenttodirectthevalveandpoten7algasflowawayfromlabpersonnel.

Whencylindersareinuseconsiderthefollowing:

*neverheatthecylindertoraisethepressureofthegas‐thismaydefeatthesafetymechanismsbuiltinbythesupplier.

*keepthecylinderclearofallsparks,flamesandelectricalcircuits.

*neverrelyonthecolorcodingtoiden7fythegas!Differentmanufacturersmayusedifferentcodingsystems.

*neverrefillacylinder‐mixingofresidualgasesinaconfinedareamayresultinaseriousanddevasta7ngreac7on.

*don'tuseoxygeninplaceofcompressedair.

*don'tusecopperfiSngsortubingonacetylenetanks‐explosionmayresult.

*wearsafetyequipmentappropriateforthehazardpoten7alofthematerialyouareworkingwith.

Ifaleakisdetected,considerthefollowingopBons:

*ifthecylindercontainsaflammable,inertoroxidizinggas,removeittoanisolatedarea,awayfromincompa7blematerials.Allowittoremainisolatedun7lthegashasdischarged,makingcertainthatappropriatewarningshavebeenposted.

*ifthegasiscorrosive,removethecylindertoanisolated,well‐ven7latedarea,awayfromincompa7bles.Thestreamofleakinggasshouldbedirectedintoanappropriateneutralizingmaterial.Becarefulofanyreac7onproductthatmaybeformedastheleakinggasandneutralizingmaterialreact!Beespeciallycau7ousthatthereactantisnotallowedtobesuckedbackintothecylinderwherefurtherdangerouschemicalreac7oncouldoccur.

*ifthematerialistoxic,thecylindershouldberemovedtoanisolated,well‐ven7latedarea,butonlyifthisispossiblewhilemaintainingpersonalsafety.Itmaybenecessarytocallforageneralevacua7onofthefacilityandthecylinderapproachedonlybytrainedemergencyresponsepersonnelwearingprotec7veapparelandself‐containedbreathingapparatus(SCBAs).

*iftheleakisatthejunc7onofthecylindervalveandcylinder‐DONOTtrytorepair!Instead,contactthesupplierandaskforresponseinstruc7ons.

Aaerthecylinderisnolongerneeded,thefollowingstepsshouldbetaken:

*nevercompletelyemptythecylinder;alwaysleavearesidualgaspressureof30psi.

*iftheresearchexperimentisoverandthecylinders7llcontainshazardousmaterial,thecylindershouldbesubmi>edfordisposalorarrangementsmadeforitstransfertoacolleaguethatwillusethematerial.

*donotkeephazardousmaterialsinthelabbeyondthe7metheyareneeded.Cylindershaveafinitelifeexpectancy.Thisisespeciallytrueforcylinderscontainingcorrosivematerials.Ifyouarenotusingit‐getridofit!

*ifthecylinderisempty,replacethecapandremoveittothestorageareaforemptycylinders.Markit"MT"orlabelinsomeotherfashionthatwillalloweveryonetoknowitsstatus.YOURARERESPONSIBLEFORMAKINGSURETHEEMPTYCYLINDERISRETURNED

***Remember‐thegreatestphysicalhazardrepresentedbythecompressedgascylinderinthelaboratoryisthetremendousforcethatmaybereleasedifitisknockedover!***

BioHazard–Level1BiohazardLevel1:BacteriaandvirusesincludingBacillus sub1lis, canine hepa11s, Escherichia coli, varicella (chicken pox), as well as some cell cultures and non‐infec1ous bacteria. At this level precau1ons against the biohazardous materials in ques1on are minimal, most likely involving gloves and some sort of facial protec1on. Usually, contaminated materials are leG in open (but separately indicated) waste receptacles. Decontamina1on procedures for this level are similar in most respects to modern precau1ons against everyday viruses (i.e.: washing one's hands with an1‐bacterial soap, washing all exposed surfaces of the lab with disinfectants, etc.). In a lab environment, all materials used for cell and/or bacteria cultures are decontaminated via autoclave.

ForwardcontaminaBon‐bringingincontaminaBon.

Becomingcontaminated–handwashing,don’tborrowglassware.

Donotworkinlabunlesstakenthesafetycourse.Adheretopostedsafetyrules.

DonotusecultureselsewherewithoutinsBgaBngthecorrectsafetyprocedures–Talktome.

Labcoat,gloves,safetyspecs(ifnecessary)masks(ifnecessary),WASHYOURHANDS.

ALLBACTERIAAREDANGEROUSCONCENTRATED/GROWINGINTHEWRONGPLACE.

Reportcutsimmediately.

Reportspillsandusespillkitsimmediately.

Useredautoclavebagsandphlebotomyboxesforcontaminatedmaterials

Donotenterlabunlessinvited.

FireSafety

•  Ifyouhearthefirealarm…..–  Immediatelystopwhatyouaredoing

– Calmlyproceedtoexitthebuildingthroughthenearestexit

– Remindanyoneyouseetoexit– Rendezvousinthecenterofcampus– Checkaroundforothersinyourgroupthatyouknowareworkingtodayandno7fyseniorstaffand/orfirepersonnelifyouno7ceanyonemissing

FirePreven7onandAwareness

•  Typicalhazardsinalab:– Paper– Flammableliquids– Compressedgases– Electrical

•  Knowwherethenearestfireex7nguisherislocated– Whattypeisit?

•  Firealarmbox?Fireblanket?Safetyshower?

Intheeventofafire…..•  Assistanypersonimmediatelyindanger

– STOP,DROP,ROLL– Fireblankets,safetyshowers

•  Fightorflee?– Small,contained,non‐toxicfireswithclearegressonly!!

– Properex7nguisheriscloseathand– P‐A‐S–S

•  Evacuateandclosedoorsbehindyou(butdon’tlockthem)