21 Laboratory Safety Manual Environmental Health and Safety Laboratory refrigerators and freezers must not be used to store food or beverages intended for human consumption. Affix an appropriate label to the refrigerator/freezer door (Caution: For Chemical Storage Only, No Food or Drink). Prior to defrosting freezers used to store radioactive materials, a survey of the frost must be conducted to determine radioactive material content. To avoid the spread of contamination and minimize personnel exposure, carefully melt or remove contaminated frost and collect the water as radioactive waste. Safety Showers An easily accessible, drench-type safety shower shall be available within ten seconds travel time of each area where corrosive or toxic liquids are used or stored. In some buildings, laboratories may need to rely on safety showers outside the laboratory. During development of an Emergency Action Plan, personnel must identify safety shower locations and verify proper function by contacting the building area mechanic. Ensure that safety shower locations are unobstructed and marked with a sign (typically green/white, available from EH&S) posted at eye level below the shower. Annual safety shower testing is performed by Facilities Planning and Management (FP&M). Spill Kits Aproperly stocked spill control kit shall be available in each laboratory. Spill kits are available at Central Stores or safety equipment suppliers. Ensure that the spill kit location is marked with a sign (available from EH&S). In lieu of purchasing a kit, personnel may choose to assemble a kit. A guide for spill kit assembly can be found here. The spill control kit must contain appropriate neutralizers for acids and bases stored in the laboratory. Maintenance, Inspection, and Disposal Maintenance All equipment used in the laboratory must function properly and safely. To ensure this, laboratories must maintain equipment according to a manufacturer’s specifications or established guidelines, and perform routine inspections for common problems: corrosion, damaged electrical cords, excessive contamination, leaks, worn parts, and ensure that alarms, guards, interlocks, or other safety devices have not been disconnected or disabled.
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