Lab Safety Plans and Information
Lab Safety Plan
The Lab Safety Plan is to be reviewed by all research members prior to beginning work in the lab. More specific plans are listed below.
Biological Safety
Chemical Safety
Engineering Safety
Laser Safety
Radiation Safety
Biological, Chemical, Laser, and Radiological Exposure
- Wash needlesticks and cuts with soap and warm water
- Flush splashes to the nose, mouth, or skin with water
- Irrigate eyes with clean water, saline, or sterile irrigants
- Immediately seek medical treatment
- Contact your supervisor and the EHS office at 336.758.3427. Complete the Needle Stick/Bodily Fluid Exposure form with your supervisor and return the completed form to EHS.
Eye exposure – rinse eyes at Eyewash Station for 15 minutes. Call 911 or seek medical attention.
Body exposure – Remove contaminated clothing and use Safety Shower and rinse body for 15 minutes. Call 911.
For all chemical exposures, use the Chemwatch First Aid database for appropriate actions and advice to treating physician.
The major risk to laser users is damage to the eye from exposure to a laser beam. The level of damage depends on the wavelength and power of the beam, as well as factors of beam divergence and diameter and the exposure duration.
Seek immediate medical attention if your eyes are exposed to the beam, or if thermal skin damage occurs due to beam exposure.
Treat external or skin contamination by washing with mild soap and copious amounts of lukewarm water (cold water will shrink pores and seal material, hot water will open pores to contaminate more skin). Be mindful of the chemical composition of the contaminant as well; this could pose more of a health issue than the radiation.
- Avoid organic solvents or abrasive soaps that make the skin more permeable to the radioactive material.
- Wash for 2-3 minutes.
- For contaminated hands, give special attention to areas between the fingers and around the fingernails.
- Repeat no more than 3 or 4 times if contamination persists.
- If this procedure fails, repeat washing using a soft hand brush.
When contaminated glassware/sharp instruments lacerate the skin, immediately rinse the wounded area thoroughly under a stream of lukewarm water.
Immediately notify Radiation Safety following ingestion or swallowing of radioactive material.
Laboratory Guidelines for Severe Weather
Both tornadoes and severe thunderstorms exhibit high velocity winds that are capable of throwing objects hundreds of yards, with the potential for broken windows, flying glass, and downed trees and power lines. Be alert to changing weather conditions, especially in spring and summer months, when tornadoes and severe thunderstorms are most prevalent.
If a tornado alert is issued for the campus, the University Wake Alert System will notify all faculty, staff and students. Immediately shut off any open flames and turn off all non essential electrical items.
Evacuate the lab into the hallway and close the lab door as you leave. If time permits, go to the lowest floor and innermost part of the building and wait for instructions.
Winter weather ice or snow storms generally provide advanced warning prior to arrival. Winter storms have the ability to cause power outages and make roads impassable for periods of time.
Prepare the laboratory prior to the arrival of a winter storm. The lab should be secured as if it were to be unoccupied for at least three to four days. This means that only absolutely essential items may be powered on, and must be able to operate safely without attention for at least three to four days.
No experiments or operations should be left that will require attention by lab personnel, as travel may be impossible.