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Safe working practices are critical to ensuring the well-being of individuals and of others working along side them. On this page are listed some general safety rules and procedures for laboratories as well as ones specific to equipment used in the engineering design courses. It is imperative that students and others working in laboratories take responsibility for following safe practices and ask for help when not certain how to proceed safely. You should also know what to do in case of an accident or other emergency. All accidents or emergencies must be reported immediately to the person running the laboratory and to Campus Police.
Do NOT try to resolve emergencies by yourself.
Acknowledgement: Adapted from Institute for Laboratory Safety Template | Who is Responsible for Safety? | |
You are responsible for a safe working environment for yourself and those around you.
The Institute is responsible for providing:
- Safe working conditions
- Safe equipment
- Training
- Maintain a clean, uncluttered work area
- Working alone after hours is bad practice I
- f you use chemicals or hazardous processes schedule this when others are around
- Set up a buddy system with others nearby on the floor/building
- Know the location of the nearest emergency exit and safety equipment (shower, eye wash)
- Report all accidents or near misses to Campus Police, your supervisor/Dept. Head & Stevens Safety Officer
- No smoking, food or beverages in the labs
- Required Personal Protection Equipment MUST be worn while in the lab
- Aisles & exits are free from obstruction
- Lab benches should be kept clean
- Do not use hoods for storage
- Work surface is protected from contamination
- Heavy objects are confined to lower shelves
- Glassware is free from crack, breaks or chips
- Broken glass containers are available & in use
| Personal Protective Equipment | |
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) MUST be worn when in the laboratory
- Eye protection
- Protective Clothing: Labs coats - sleeve covers for strong reagents
- Gloves when handling chemicals
- No open-toed shoes allowed in laboratories
- Primary & secondary containers are labeled with identity of material, expiration date & hazard warning
- Signs on storage areas are consistent with hazards within (i.e. biohazard, flammable)
- MSDS binders are available and all laboratory users know location of them
Only chemicals in use should be in the lab. All others should be in storage at the central chemical storage (see Frank Cannavale - Chemistry)
- Incompatible materials must be segregated
- Corrosives & flammables must be stored below eye level
- Safety carriers must be used to transport all chemicals
- Lab carts should have side rails
- Gas cylinders must be properly secured
- Cylinder caps must be in place when cylinders are not in use or transported
- Gas cylinders are labeled with their contents
- Empty gas cylinders are marked “EMPTY”
- Check hoses, tubing and regulators daily
- Do not drain dispose of liquid waste
- Separate waste streams by type (biological, chemical (organic/inorganic))
- Use approved containers for each waste stream
- Label all containers with approved labels
- Do not allow waste to accumulate on floors, in corners or under shelves
- Know the location of safety equipment
- Safety showers, eye wash stations & fire extinguishers
- Make sure safety equipment is not blocked
- Spill team list and emergency numbers must be posted in labs next to phones
| SSoE Design Lab Safety & Equipment Accountability | |
The following safety information relates to the several core engineering design laboratories, especially for E121, 122 and 231. However, the rules also apply when using the same or similar equipment in other facilities and under other circumstances. The facilities of E121/122 and E231 are NOT to be used outside of regular class sessions without express permission from the Design Laboratory Coordinator and proper supervision.
The core engineering design courses in Freshman and Sophomore are scheduled in laboratories which contain power tools (band saw, belt sander, drill press, etc.) and hand tools to be used for lab exercises and projects. It is important that each student understand the importance of maintaining a safe work environment and that proper care and accountability be made for all items. A safe work environment also includes the cleanliness of work surroundings. It is the responsibility of each and every student to ensure a clean and safe environment at all times.
Listed below are some basic safety practices that must be followed.
The section instructor and teaching assistant (T/A) are responsible to enforce compliance.
It is the instructor's obligation to dismiss students from class who refuse to abide by the safety rules, and endanger themselves and/or their classmates.
- Safety Goggles must be worn at all times for all machine and tool operations. Flying debris or machine failure can result at any time. Caution must always be observed.
- Secure loose hair, loose fitting clothing, jewelry, and any other items. All long sleeve clothing must be rolled up above the elbow. All neckties must be removed. These items may get caught within the machines, and can overpower a person causing physical injuries.
- Secure all work material before operating machinery. Certain machines require specific fastening of material, such as the drill press, which requires the work to be clamped in place. Be responsible and ensure that the work material is firmly fastened; otherwise you may create a flying weapon.
- Know the machine you are operating. These are industrial machinery and must therefore be respected. Before operating a machine, familiarize yourself with all machine controls, especially all safety features, and emergency stop.
- If you are unsure how to operate a machine, STOP and ask your instructor or T/A for assistance. They are there to help you do your work safely and correctly. If you are not absolutely sure of an operation, stop and ask.
- Stay alert and cautious when operating, or are near machines.
The machines are powerful and cause severe injury.
- No horseplay or games are allowed in the lab.
- Be aware of the location and use of fire extinguishers.
- Be aware of the location of first aid equipment.
- Dispose of scrap material properly and immediately.
- Return tools and ancillary equipment (i.e. drill bits) to their proper locations immediately after use.
- Clean/sweep the work area to remove waste material immediately after use.
Following are equipment specific safety practices that must be followed:
Band Saw
- Make sure guides are in place and adjusted to be approximately 1/8" above the work piece.
- Use the right blade for the job.
- Fine blades (18 teeth, 24 teeth) are used for thin material (1/8" or less).
- Course blades (6 through 16 teeth) are used for larger materials (1/4"and above).
Belt & Disk Sander
- Keep hands behind guards!
- Check for build-up on Disk/Belt before using. Notify your instructor or T/A so that maintenance can be performed.
Grinder
- Do not grind any soft material such as aluminum, brass, wood, or plastic. Soft materials will create a build-up on the surface of the wheel. Material build-up is very dangerous and could cause to wheel to shatter and fly apart.
- Make sure guards are no more than 1/16" from the wheel, any further, and it becomes likely that a work piece will be caught and pulled in by the wheel.
Drill Press
- Remove chuck key after tightening chuck.
- Fasten down work pieces securely, with either a vise or clamps (Not your Hands). All fastening tools must be removed from the machine after use.
- The following steps should always be applied. Failing to do so will make drilling much more difficult and dangerous:
- Layout hole locations.
- Punch hole location, using a punch and hammer.
- Drill. Apply a firm, controlled pressure to the handle, releasing periodically to break chips that form on the drill.
- If the hole you are drilling is large, use a pilot drill. That is, work your way up to the size drill you want by using a smaller drill first.
Any notable safety concerns should be brought to the attention of your instructor or T/A. Students who refuse to abide by the safety guidelines will be dismissed from the class.
Hand tools and supplies will be dispensed to students for project use. A student ID will be required to receive tools. The T/A will hold the ID until all tools are returned. It is the responsibility of each student to assure the proper use and accountability for all tools and supplies. The proper care of tools will assure that students are able to complete their tasks without impediments. Please report any damaged or missing items to the instructor or teaching assistant. Students who return toolboxes with missing tools will be charged replacement costs.
Be considerate of the next class and other groups in your class by maintaining the cleanliness of the area where you work. After your work activity, please ensure that your workspace is returned to a presentable functional condition; discard scrap to an appropriate container.
Cooperation on these items will be appreciated by the teaching staff and by fellow students.
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Environmental safety at Stevens |
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