MSDSs
The Laboratory Safety Page is designed to give general information for preparing yourself to work in a lab by dressing appropriately and being aware how to use safety equipment. It also contains descriptions and methods for conducting certain basic lab procedures. The prudent lab practices and University policies included below are taken from the University's Chemical Hygiene Plan, a requirement of OSHA's Laboratory Standard.
At NU, two documents constitute the Chemical Hygiene Plan: the core program document called Chemical and Biological Safety in Laboratories (CBSL) and the laboratory-specific Safety Plan. The CBSL was developed by ORS and the Safety Plan is completed by each lab's individual principal investigator. Both should be available in your lab.
A primary resource in the development of the CBSL was the National Research Council's "Prudent Practices in the Laboratory, Handling and Disposal of Chemicals." The comprehensive information in this book can be found at http://www.nap.edu/books/0309052297/html/. Refer to this reference for more details about specific safety issues in the laboratory.
The first three main topics on this page are direct links to portions of the CBSL and the First Aid Kit Policy and Guidelines for Laboratories. The fourth grouping of information demonstrates the various fact sheets of the Safety Profile. And, finally, we offer you information pertaining to signs and labels you can order from ORS at no charge and training videos you may borrow from our library.
- Personal Hygiene
Simple procedures, required of NU employees and visitors, that are a start to safety in laboratories.
Personal Protective Clothing and Equipment
Policies and procedures to guide you in maintaining a primary barrier
to chemical or biological contamination of your skin, eyes, and lungs.
After engineering controls, proper lab garb is your most direct defense
against personal exposure.
- General Laboratory Protocol
- General rules and methods for maintaining a clean lab and preventing the spread of contamination outside the lab environment.
- Housekeeping
- Cleaning Glassware
- Laboratory Animals
- Relocating or Closing a Laboratory
- Transportation of Hazardous Materials
- Laboratory Doors
- Visitors to Laboratories
General Laboratory Techniques
Descriptions of three classes of equipment and the work practices necessary
to ensure their safe use:
- engineering controls that can minimize or control exposure to hazardous agents
- safety fixtures used in emergencies
- typical tools used in experimentation which can present physical hazards.
- Laboratory Ventilation
- Chemical Fume Hoods (summary)
- Chemical Fume Hood Handbook
- Safety Showers
- Eyewash Fountain
First Aid Kits - Laboratory Sinks and Drain Traps
- Electrical Equipment
- Static Electricity
- Centrifuges
- Vacuum Pumps
- Drying Ovens and Furnaces
- Syringes and Scalpel Blades
- Facility Cleaning and Maintenance
- Glassware
- Assembling Apparatus
- Eliminating Mercury Thermometers
Fire Extinguisher Policy - Special Precautions Against Ultraviolet Light
Safety Profile
The laboratory-specific component of the University's Chemical Hygiene
Plan and a training resource for lab personnel.
- Emergency Response Training Fact Sheet
- Chemical Safety Fact Sheet
- Compressed Gas Cylinders Fact Sheet
- Highly Reactive Materials, High-Pressure Reactions, or Vacuum Systems Fact Sheet
- Biological Safety Fact Sheet
Signs and Labels for Laboratories
Request a lab survey to determine what additional signs and labels are needed in the lab.
Training
Please visit the ORS Training section of this website to see the courses available.
Internal ORS Links: What's New | Emergency Response | Administration | Biological Safety | Chemical Safety | Hazard Communication | Laboratory Safety | New to NU? | Radiation Safety
External ORS Links: Northwestern Home | Vice President for Research | Big 10 EH&S Links | Risk Management | Employee Safety Handbook
ORS - Evanston • 2145 Sheridan Road • Tech NG71
• Evanston, IL 60208
ORS - Chicago • 303 E. Chicago Avenue • Ward B106 W223 •
Chicago, IL 60611
Phone 847/491-5581 or 312/503-8300 • FAX 847/467-2797 or 312/503-0547
e-mail researchsafety@northwestern.edu
Last Revision 05/16/2007
© 2007 Northwestern University. World
Wide Web Disclaimer and University
Policy Statements.