Safety is our top priority in all laboratory environments. This site provides essential guidelines, emergency procedures, and resources to ensure a safe and productive learning experience. Whether you are a student, faculty member, or staff, you play a crucial role in maintaining lab safety. Use the links below to access important safety information. If you have any questions, contact the Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S) office.

General Lab Safety Guidelines

Basic Safety Rules:

• Wear Proper PPE: Always wear lab coats, safety goggles, and gloves when required. PPE helps prevent chemical exposure, burns, and injuries.

• No Food, Drinks, or Personal Items: Eating and drinking in the lab can lead to contamination and accidental ingestion of hazardous materials. Keep personal items in designated areas.

• Dress Appropriately: Wear enclosed shoes (top of the foot, toes, and heels covered), long pants, and avoid loose clothing to minimize risks of spills and burns.

• Supervision Required: Never work alone in the lab without an instructor or lab supervisor present to assist in case of emergencies.

• Follow Instructions: Always read and adhere to lab protocols and instructor guidelines before performing any experiment.

Chemical & Equipment Safety:

• Read Labels & SDS: Before using any chemical, read its label and Safety Data Sheet (SDS) to understand its hazards and handling precautions.

• Proper Storage: Store chemicals in designated cabinets according to their compatibility to prevent dangerous reactions.

• Safe Equipment Use: Only use lab instruments as instructed. Misuse of equipment can result in accidents and malfunctions.

Good Hygiene

• Never touch common surfaces or shared equipment (door handles or breaker bars, keyboards or mice, or work surfaces) with contaminated gloves.

• Wash hands after handling any hazardous materials and before leaving the lab.

• Keeping personal items separate from lab work. This will prevent spread of hazardous reagents and cut off a potential exposure route.

• Do not apply cosmetics while in the lab. Applying anything to your face, especially around your mouth or eyes, pose a significant risk of exposure.

• Dry and cracked skin can provide a route to exposure. Using lotion to keep the skin on your hands healthy can help prevent exposure.

Label Your Work Space

• All containers should be labeled with their contents. This is crucial so those working near you and anyone visiting the lab will know what hazards may be present. Ideally the hazards present should be included on any label.

• Any process with a particular hazard should also be labeled with that hazard.

Don't Work Alone

During normal operations one should never work alone in a laboratory setting.

• Additional eyes in a situation may notice hazards you can not initially see.

• Having other researchers around will also provide faster support in the event of an emergency.

• Notify your supervisor or instructor before entering the lab and upon departure.

• Communicate with neighboring labs so everyone knows when someone will be in the general area.

Stay Focused and Aware of Your Surroundings

• A lab can be a very busy environment. It is important to be aware of your surroundings and the work that is going on around you.

• Work with purpose. Labs can also be an environment filled with distractions. When working with hazardous material it is critical that you focus on what you are doing and try to eliminate distractions.

• Avoid using headphones. Listening to music while doing repetitive work can be relaxing but it eliminates one of your five senses used in situational awareness. If you can not hear what is going on around you it is possible to miss the sound of a glass container breaking or a warning from a colleague. To better hear what is around you try listening to music at lower volume, or with only one ear covered.

Emergency Procedures

Fire Response:

• Evacuate Immediately: If a fire alarm sounds, calmly leave the lab immediately using the nearest exit and do not use elevators.

• Use Fire Extinguishers: Only attempt to extinguish small fires if trained and it is safe to do so. Otherwise, evacuate and call 911.

• Know Fire Alarm Locations: Familiarize yourself with alarm pull stations and exit routes in case of emergency.

Chemical Spills:

Students should never clean up spills of hazardous chemicals. Contact your instructor in the event of a spill.

• Minor Spills: For small, non-hazardous spills use appropriate spill kits and protective gear to clean up safely.

• Major Spills: If a hazardous chemical is spilled, evacuate the area, alert others, and report it immediately to EH&S at (831) 479-5742.

Injury & First Aid:

• Minor Injuries: Apply basic first aid, such as rinsing minor burns with water or applying bandages to small cuts. Report all injuries to your instructor.

• Chemical Exposures: If chemicals come in contact with your skin or eyes, flush the area for at least 15 minutes with water in a sink or in the eye wash station. Large chemical exposures may require you to use the safety shower and remove any contaminated clothing.

• Serious Injuries: In case of severe burns, chemical exposure, or deep cuts, call 911 immediately and seek medical assistance.

Earthquake & Natural Disaster Response:

• During an Earthquake: Drop, cover, and hold under sturdy furniture or a lab bench. Avoid windows and heavy objects.

• After an Earthquake: Evacuate the building if necessary and check for injuries. Report damages to EH&S.

Chemical Safety & Hazardous Waste Management

• Check SDS Before Use: Always read Safety Data Sheets for information on chemical properties, hazards, and first aid measures.

• Segregate Chemicals: Store acids, bases, flammables, and oxidizers separately to prevent hazardous reactions.

• Dispose of Waste Properly: Use labeled hazardous waste containers for chemical disposal. Never pour chemicals down the drain.

• Report Leaks & Spills: If you notice any leaking containers or unsafe conditions, notify EH&S immediately.

Biological Safety & Infection Control

• Handle Biological Materials Safely: Use gloves and protective barriers when working with live cultures, blood samples, or biohazardous materials.

• Dispose of Biohazards Correctly: Place used pipettes, gloves, and biological waste in designated biohazard disposal bins.

• Prevent Contamination: Sterilize work areas before and after experiments and never cross-contaminate samples.