Complete the safety orientation with the Faculty supervisor of your work area:
- Importance of safety in your work area
- Evacuation procedures and routes
- Location and use of safety equipment (eye wash, showers, etc.)
- Location and use of Personal Protection Equipment (PPE)
- Location of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
- Chemical handling and storage procedures
- Methods for disposing of laboratory waste
- Location of Safety Data Sheets (SDS)
- Other research lab safety your supervisor deems necessary
- Additional training for task specific duties from your supervisor (see the next list of topics)
We also have some specific training program that I or other designated personnel would cover:
- Autoclave
- Bloodborne pathogens
- Power and hand tools
- Small boats
- Centrifuge (as related to our large refrigerated units in a common core)
In addition to the check list above we use our on-line Learning Management System software (Canvas, similar to Blackboard) for:
Departmental Training Required Reading:
Departmental Safety Manual that incorporates the University Safety Manual
Michigan Tech Biosafety Manual
Hazard Communication Plan
Chemical Hygiene Plan
Emergency Guide
Finally we use Canvas to link to show:
On-line video topics including new employee orientation, a general lab safety orientation (who to call in an emergency, use of eyewashes/safety showers),
hazard communication and a link to some of the various videos produced by the Dow corporation.
Finally we also ask them to look up an SDS for the space they are working in using our subscription to MSDS-online.
I have a question that I'd like input from the DCHAS community on:
The quick version is:
What information about chemical safety do biologists need to know?
The longer version of the question is that I'm working with the KSC undergrad biology lab coordinator to develop introductory lab safety training for biology research students who work with a relatively limited suite of chemicals, some of which are flammables, others of which are significantly toxic, many of which are neither.
- For example, do these students need to hear about all of the GHS hazard classes in the 1.5 hours available for the training?
- What kind of information do they need about chemical resistance of lab gloves?
- How much detail do they need to understand best practices for chemical storage cabinets and use of other lab ventilation devices?
etc.
Thanks for any help with thinking this through.
- Ralph
Ralph Stuart, CIH, CCHO
Chemical Hygiene Officer
Keene State College
ralph.stuart**At_Symbol_Here**keene.edu
Previous post | Top of Page | Next post