Safety

Laboratory Safety Handbook

McMaster University has a general Laboratory Safety Manual that you can download the PDF file here.

Department Safety Reports:

This Department requires all those involved with experimental research to file annually with the Department office an up to date Safety Report. Before you commence any new experimental project, you must prepare a safety report. Forms are available from the Departmental Office. Failure to file a Safety Report may result in Laboratory privileges being revoked.

How to Write a Department Safety Report

Cover Page for Safety Report

Please see the list of available Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for general Departmental equipment that you would like to use.

Standard Operating Procedures SOP

The purpose of this report is to make you think carefully about all aspects of your planned experimental work, and how safe they are. We have had a number of incidents over the past few years which arose due to carelessness or ignorance. This would include these general hazards:

radiation hazards
electrical hazards
toxic materials
fire hazards
chemical hazards

In your report you must briefly outline your experimental procedures, so that the reader can assess the hazards. You must then outline the particular hazards for your experiments. Please consult the MSDS hazard sheets for the various chemicals you may need to use in your experiments. You must discuss the safety report with your supervisor and have him sign it. If your experimental program changes, you must revise your safety report.

Completed Safety Reports are filed by the Laboratory Manager, Ed McCaffery . Contact Ed if you believe there is any question concerning the status of your own Safety Report.

WHMIS Training

It is a legal reqirement that everyone working within a laboratory complete a standard WHIMIS training session. You should be contacted early in your stay at McMaster concening the timing of such sessions. In the event you are not specifically informed, it is important that you ensure you register fo a training session.

Site-Specific Training

It is the responsibility of each research supervisor (faculty member) to conduct "site-specific" training sessions to aquaint all those working in the laboratory of particular hazards which could be encountered with particular equipment and facilities.

Safety Guidelines

The following guidelines have been prepared to increase safety consciousness in the department.

Safety glasses are required in all designated labs within the department. You will see the posting at the door before entering the lab.
When doing any experiment which may be dangerous (CO, H2S, other gases, strong acids, mixing reducing and oxidizing agents, high voltages, etc.), discuss it with a technician; use face shields and gloves where appropriate and return them from where they were taken.
Throw away useless things such as old samples, material you don't need any more, garbage, computer printouts, empty boxes, etc. We have very little space and most of these things are fire hazards. [Each December, the Department declares a special "clean up" day, when experimental work is interrupted to permit all laboratories to be cleaned up and unnecessary materials removed for appropriate disposal.]
Label all containers you use; we pay over $300.00 for each unidentified substance to be discarded.
Put your own name (not initials) on things, not only your supervisor's name, and indicate what is in any bottle or beaker, to ensure that others are alerted to its presence. [The technicians have special labels to use on solutions etc. which you make up and place in bottles or beakers.]
Gas cylinders should have a label affixed. These are available in the store room.
Cylinders must be tied up (this is a law) since a cylinder might fall over and have the valve knocked off. This could turn into a serious explosion.
Use as few cylinders as possible; share with others in your room, keep reserves low, return empties, or one not used any more, promptly, even if it is full.
Gas carts should be pushed not pulled; wheels may collapse.
Shoe wear. In all department labs it is necessary to have only closed toed shoes [NO sandles].
If you break or spill something, blow fuses, etc., don't just leave it. Fix it and if you can't do this, tell a technician about it.
If anything is wrong with the plumbing or other things which are part of the building, call Service Manager ext. 24273, or Service Coordinator ext. 27482 if you get an answering machine and need emergency assistance call ext. 24229.
Do not work alone in experimental laboratories at night or weekends.
Contact lenses should not be worn when using solvents, etc. They concentrate behind the lens (no washing action by tears) and may damage the eye.
Pick up any spilled mercury. Use large trays under any experiment involving mercury. Sulfur dust may be used to cover inaccessible droplets. Slurries of sulfur and lime are also used. It is best to inform a technician immediately about any large mercury spill.
HF and bromine should be handled with extreme care. On contact with skin, they form ulcers which are very painful and may not heal for several weeks.
If you want to use the X ray equipment, ask Tom Bryner for instruction. Do not learn accumulated mistakes from other students.
In any emergency, call ext. 88.
When the fire alarm sounds, get out of the building.
Do not bypass safety features on equipment.
Your name and home telephone number should be posted on the door of the laboratory in which you have an experiment running, so that you can be reached in an emergency.
Hazardous chemicals used in experiments must be disposed of properly, not in the normal garbage. Make sure you are aware of disposal procedures for all chemicals you use. If unsure, ask! Never pour chemicals, solid or liquid, down the drain. Sewer effluent is monitored and violators will be subject to fines.

Incident Reports

Any injury or accident must be reported within 3 days by completing a Safety/Incident Report. There are two reasons for this requirement. First, if the injury results in medical costs or lost time, the expenses will not be covered unless the report is promptly submitted. This is especially important if there are more serious consequences to an initially small injury. Second, if the accident is due to faulty equipment or a dangerous procedure, an investigation can be launched to correct the problem. Completing the Safety/Incident Report will aid in obtaining all the necessary facts to prevent a future recurrence.

"After-hours" Safety

Related to safety is the security of the building. Please lock your door at 5:00 p.m. and use a key after that time. Do not block open the outside door; this is not doing your friend a favour, it invites theft of your valuable equipment. You may from time to time be given permission by your supervisor or the chair to borrow a piece of equipment and use it off campus. Examples of this might include the use of a microcomputer at home. Or you may need to undertake some experimental work at another university or institution. In this case, for your own protection, ask that your supervisor write a note giving you permission to take the equipment off campus.

Reporting Problems

Please report all problems with safety, security and working conditions to the Chair or to the departmental safety officer as soon as they arise. Remember, safety is a communal responsibility and we all need to take every precaution possible. A Formal "Incident Report" is required for all but the very minor occurences.

An opportunity to share Safety concerns is proivided at the weekly Departmental meetings, held through the major part of the year, from September to June.

Housekeeping and the Condition of Laboratories

The state of laboratories and office space is very important. These are too often left in an inefficient and unsafe condition and are not conducive to good research habits. Furthermore, some practices simply waste research funds, e.g. gas cylinders are not labelled with the content and date of arrival. The result is that errors occur and charges for the rental of the cylinders, 12 months in some cases, are charged to research grants. Research funds are precious. Poor planning of experiments, failure to check the best workshop practices, and careless work in the laboratory waste research funds. Please try to think out the most efficient way of conducting a series of experiments before you act and do not burden your supervisor with unexpected workshop, glass blowing or instrument charges. In a similar vein, use the department stores and chemistry stores in an honest manner sign out all materials used.

Annual "Clean-Up Day"

Each December, the Department declares a "clean-up day", on which all researchers are expected to devote their energy to cleaning up and clearing out their laboratories. Research is NOT conducted on this day! The Technical staff assist with disposal of unwanted equipment, chemicals and the like, and the laboratories are restored to a sense of order. The cooperation of everyone is expected on this day.