Lab saftey

Common labratory emergencies

nclude chemical spills, fire or explosion, electric shock, and personnel injuries

most happen from what

poor planning or lack of attention.

general emercengy procudere

Keep yourself safe first and remain calm.

Call local emergency responders or a safety department (i.e., Environmental Health and Safety (EHS)), when possible, to report the emergency.

Inform people nearby of what happened and pull the emergency alarm

chemical spills

the most common accidents

chemical spill onto surrounding

Identify the area of the chemical spill and inform your laboratory co-workers of the spill. Evacuate the location and areas surrounding the spill, when necessary.

Identify the spilled chemicals and the amount of chemical that has spilled. Depending on the hazardous properties and quantities of the spilled chemicals, proper actions need to be taken. Refer to the chemical's safety data sheet (SDS) for hazard assessments.

minor spills (less than a gallon)

Wear proper PPE first before taking any action. Care should be taken to avoid bodily exposure to chemicals.

If possible, modify the spill source to avoid further issues.

If possible, turn off any nearby heat or ignition source if the chemical is flammable.

Avoid breathing any vapors from spilled chemicals. This applies especially to chemicals that are toxic and volatile.

Locate the spill kit and use appropriate kit tools to confine and contain the spill area.

Use suitable adsorbent to cover the spill and neutralize the spill, if the chemicals are acidic or basic in nature.

Collect the residues and place them into in a suitable container.

Report to EHS to dispose of any chemical spill waste.

Refill the spill kit.

major spills( more than a gallon)

Secure and evacuate the spilled area immediately.

Make sure all nearby personnel are aware that a major spill has occurred.

Call emergency responders or EHS for help.

Never attempt to clean up a major spill even when wearing PPE.

If possible, without exposure to the spill, shut down the power to any heat source if the spilled chemical is flammable.

Help the emergency personnel identify the spilled area when they arrive.

Chemical spills onto the body

Wash off all chemicals spilled on a body immediately using a safety shower for at least 15 min. If clothes are saturated with spilled chemical, remove clothing immediately.

If the spill splashed into eyes, use an eyewash right away for at least 15 min. Open the eyes to allow complete washing. Only attempt to remove contact lenses after eye washing has commenced.

If the spilled chemical is a strong acid, wipe out the residues first before washing to avoid excessive or painful burning.

Remove contaminated clothing immediately to avoid further exposure to chemicals.

Call local responders or EHS for emergency assistance and alert people in the vicinity of the spill.

Fire or Explosion

n case of a lab fire or explosion, ensure your safety first and call emergency responders immediately for help.

Evacuate the building safely and pull fire alarms or notify nearby people, if possible.

Don't use elevators. Use stairs and locate the nearest exit.

If possible, shut down the electric power before evacuating.

Use a wet towel to cover the mouth and nose, if there is heavy smoke.

In case of a small fire, use a proper fire extinguisher and make sure an easy exit is available if you fail in extinguishing the fire. Here we listed the types of extinguisher and discussed the circumstances in which each extinguisher type should be used.

types of fire

Class A: Ordinary combustible solids such as paper, wood, clothes.Class B: Flammable liquids such as gasoline, petroleum oil and paint and flammable gases such propane, methane and butane.Class C: Electrical equipment such as appliances, motors.Class D: Combustible metals such as sodium, aluminum and potassium.Class K: Cooling oil and greases such as animal or vegetable fats.

types of entinguisher

Water and Foam: for Class A fires only. Not suitable for class B or C fires. Water and foam extinguish fire by reducing the heat and the foam helps to separate oxygen from the objects.

Carbon Dioxide: for Class B and C fires. Not effective for Class A fire. Carbon dioxide extinguishes fire by separating oxygen from the object and removing heat.

Dry Chemical: multipurpose dry chemical works for Class A, B and C and ordinary dry chemicals works for Class B and C only. Dry chemical extinguishes fire by interrupting the chemical reaction.

Wet Chemical: for Class K fire only. Wet chemical extinguishes fire by removing heat and separates oxygen from fuel elements.

Clean agent: for Class B and C. Clean extinguishers used halon or halocarbon agents to interrupt the chemical reactions.

Dry Power: for Class D only. Dry power takes away heat and separates oxygen to extinguish fire.

Personal Injuries

Assess the situation before taking any actions.

Ask the person what happened to them first, if they are conscious. Look for possible signs of injury if the person is unconscious and/or unresponsive.

Call local emergency responders immediately if the person is in danger.

Don't move the injured personnel unless imminent danger is present.

If an individual has received an electrical shock, shut down the power first, if possible. Do not touch the person with bare hands. Use non-conductive material such as wood, glass, or rubber to pull the person away from the electric contact.

If bleeding from minor cuts, flush with water to avoid contamination and treat with first aid supplies. If cuts are more serious, call for medical assistance.

Initiate first aid to help, if possible.