Lab Safety Plan - Hazard Controls

8. Hazard Controls

8.1Engineering Controls

8.1.1. Engineering controls are mechanical modifications that are designed to reduce the hazard at its source, along the travel path or in the vicinity of the worker.  Examples of engineering controls used in the laboratory are chemical fume hoods, canopy hoods, slotted hoods, general dilution ventilation, process enclosure, wet methods, spray paint booths, biosafety cabinets, local exhaust ventilation, shielding, downdraft tables, vacuum lines protection, gas cabinets, snorkels, air monitors, automatic shout offs, pressure relief valves, glove boxes, and perchloric acid hoods.

8.1.2. Never modify any laboratory engineering controls (ex. fume hoods) or create engineering controls before consulting with University Facilities Management and / or the Office of the Architects to ensure that proper building infrastructure and design is maintained.

8.1.2.2.   Chemical Fume Hoods

8.1.2.2.1. Fume hoods are common laboratory engineering devices that are used to protect workers from exposure to hazardous chemicals while working when properly maintained. When operating the chemical fume hood the following guidelines must be followed, which are outlined in 29 CFR 1910.1450.

8.1.2.2.2. Make sure the fume hood is turned on and its airflow is 80-120 (fpm) feet per minute as indicated by the air flow monitor or magnehelic gauge. If you suggest the fume hood is not working, contact the lab safety coordinator or Facilities Mechanical System Specialist, whose contact information is on the fume hood.

8.1.2.2.3. Make sure the sash is at the proper position, which is usually indicated by an arrow at 18” or lower while working in the fume hood.

8.1.2.2.4. Always wear proper protective equipment (e.g., lab coat, safety glasses and disposable  gloves) when working in the fume hood.

8.1.2.2.5. Keep the fume hood sash closed when it is not being used.

8.1.2.2.6. Store all materials inside the hood at a minimum of 6” from the air foil.

8.1.2.2.7. Elevate large pieces of equipment (e.g., centrifuges) above the base of the hood to prevent airflow blockages. 

8.1.2.2.8. The fume hood shall not be used for the storage of chemicals, unless this is the safest option, such as in the case of storing bromine.

8.1.2.2.9. Do not write on the sash window or post signs to prevent obstruction of the view of the materials inside the fume hood.

8.1.2.2.10. Do place heat-generating equipment (e.g., Bunsen burners or hot plates) near the rear of the hood to prevent air currents that may cause upward drafts.

8.1.2.2.11. Never modify the fume hood by removing panels or any other parts.

8.1.2.2.12. Never put your head in the fume hood, unless there are no chemical hazards inside the hood.

8.1.2.2.13. Never use any biological agents in a chemical fume hood.   Use a proper biosafety cabinet.

8.1.2.2.14. Do not block air foils with absorbent papers, containers, equipment and other materials.

8.1.2.2.15. Do not use chemical fume hoods for the use of perchloric acid or radionuclides unless it is specially designed for those applications.

8.1.2.2.16. Reduce electrical equipment or ignition sources in the fume hood while using flammable gases or liquids. Have only required equipment in the hood.

8.1.2.2.17. Never use canopy hoods for mixing or storage of chemicals.

8.1.2.2.18. If a fume hood alarms, malfunctions, or fails promptly stop work, close sash and contact the Principal Investigator or Lab supervisor and Facilities Mechanical Systems Specialist for Laboratories at 2-1990.

8.1.2.2.19. Chemical fume hoods are inspected annually in coordination with University Facilities Management and the date recorded on the fume hood.

8.2. Administrative Controls

8.2.1. Administrative controls are used in the workplace to reduce or limit the exposure to a specific hazard. This type of hazard control changes how work is carried out when elimination, substitution, or engineering controls is not achievable. Examples of administrative controls include training, procedures, policies, maintenance, housekeeping, signage, labeling, work hour restrictions, and experimental scale up requirements.

8.2.2. It is the responsibility of the Principal Investigator, then department and college to ensure that the appropriate practices and procedures (controls, personal protective equipment) are being utilized and documented to protect the lab workers from injury or overexposure during the use of hazardous chemicals, equipment and other procedures or processes that are conducted in the laboratory. EHS can assist with this process.

8.2.3. Safety in the laboratory setting requires a full team effort; understanding how to recognize hazards, assessing risk, and selecting appropriate control measures. The following are tools recommended by the American Chemical Society for use in hazard assessment. Each lab should choose a method suitable to their lab.  A detailed description is found in the Appendix.

 8.2.3.1.Risk Rating & Assessment

8.2.3.2. What-If Analysis

 8.2.3.3. Job Hazard Analysis

 8.2.3.4. Checklists

 8.2.3.5. Standard Operating Procedures

8.2.3.6.  Control Banding

8.2.4.Hazard Assessment documents can be shared between research groups or can be obtained from the Hazard Assessment repository.

8.2.5. Housekeeping

8.2.5.1. All laboratories should maintain a clean and clutter free environment to reduce the risk of exposure, injuries and accidents. This includes routine cleaning of benches, fume hoods, refrigerators, cabinets, chemical storage cabinets, sinks and trash cans.

8.2.5.2. Keep all chemical containers closed when not in use.

 8.2.5.3. Clean up all chemical spills immediately.

 8.2.5.4.  Keep all emergency equipment and devices (fire extinguishers, eyewash stations, emergency showers, electric power panels, fire alarm pull stations and spill cleanup kits) free of clutter for easy access.

8.2.5.5. A minimum of a three-foot clearance should be kept around emergency showers and electric panels.

8.2.5.6. All emergency exits must be clear of obstacles (e.g., bottles, boxes, equipment and electrical cords).

8.2.5.7. Combustible materials (e.g., paper, boxes) are not permitted to be stored in corridors, stairways, boiler rooms, mechanical or electrical equipment rooms.

8.2.5.8. Combustible material storage must be stored 24” below the ceiling in laboratories that do not have sprinklers. In laboratories that have sprinklers all storage of materials must be kept 18” below the head of the sprinkler.

8.2.5.9. A step ladder should be used for reaching all overhead storage.

8.2.5.10. Keep all aisles clear of obstructions.

8.2.6.  Signage

8.2.6.1. All laboratories are required to post a laboratory entrance door sign that displays the lab owner contact information, hazards, personal protective equipment requirements, emergency response information and special hazards and fire hazard information. Contact EHS at 2-4347 to get sign template information.

Note: The laboratory hazard sign must be reviewed and printed annually in KSSP.

 8.2.6.2. Wall and floor signs should be posted to communicate hazards, equipment and conditions that could potentially lead to an exposure, injury, or incident.

8.2.6.3. Any experiment involving hazardous materials that will be left unattended during the day or will be continuing overnight, must complete and post a “Unattended Experiment Notice” on the main entrances to the laboratory. See the Appendix for the form. 

 8.2.7. Labeling

 8.2.7.1. All primary containers must be labeled according to GHS requirements. This includes the signal word, pictograms, manufacturer information, precautionary statement, hazard statement and chemical name.

• Signal word indicates hazard level. "Danger" is used for the most severe instances, while "Warning" is less severe.
• Pictograms identify hazardous products grouped by chemical, physical, health and environmental risk.
• Manufacturer information identifies the company name, address and telephone number.
• Precautionary statements describe general preventive, response, storage or disposal precautions. These statements are found on the chemical safety data sheet (SDS).
• The hazard statement describes the nature of the hazardous product and the degree of the hazard. These statements are found on the chemical safety data sheet (SDS).
• A chemical name identifies the product.

8.2.7.2 The primary container label must not be removed or defaced until the container is empty. If the manufacturer label is damaged or becomes illegible, then the container should be relabeled in accordance with GHS requirements.

8.2.7.3. All primary containers must be labeled with a barcode to identify that chemical in the chemical inventory system. 

 8.2.7.4. All secondary containers must be labeled with the chemical name (in English), signal word, hazard statement, pictograms and date of transfer or preparation.

• Secondary containers: one to which a chemical or chemical product is transferred or the container in which a new chemical product/reagent is made and stored.
• Immediate Use containers: containers which are only expected to last one work shift and are not intended to leave the control of the person who filled them.

8.2.7.5. All primary and secondary containers that are stored in common use storage areas such as refrigerators, flammable cabinets, corrosive cabinets, and chemical storage rooms must have the lab worker’s name on the container or have some other way of identification.

 8.2.8.  Working Alone

8.2.8.1.  Laboratory personnel should avoid working alone when conducting research, especially if experiments involve hazardous substances and procedures. If workers need to work alone in the laboratory, then guidelines should be established to specify what procedures are permissible and approved by the Principal Investigator or laboratory supervisor.

8.2.8.2.  Lab personnel that should never work alone include high school students and  undergraduates, unless they are experienced in the lab setting, have the proper training, and have approval by the primary investigator(PI)

8.2.8.3. Examples of activities where working alone would be permissible include: Office work such as writing papers, calculations, computer work, and reading. Housekeeping activities such as general cleaning, supply or equipment organization. Note: No large quantity of chemicals should be moved after normal business hours.

• Modification or assembly of laboratory equipment can be done if there is no chemical, electrical or physical hazards present.
• Lab functions that are outlined in SOP’s that have been approved to be safe and do not involve hazardous materials.

8.2.8.4.  Examples of activities where working alone requires a buddy system include:

• Experiments that require the use of toxic or other hazardous chemicals.
• High pressure equipment experiments
• Experiments that require large amounts of cryogenic material.
• Experiments that use unstable or explosive materials
• Class 3B or 4 laser experiments
• Transfers of large quantities of flammable, corrosive, toxic and other hazardous materials.
• Hazardous compressed gas cylinder exchange

8.3. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

8.3.1. All individuals working in the laboratory environment must wear closed-toed shoes and long pants.

8.3.2. All lab workers that work in laboratories that use hazardous chemicals must wear a lab coat, safety glasses / goggles and disposable gloves at a minimum.

8.3.3. Personal protective requirements should be outlined in the Departmental Chemical Hygiene Plan (DCHP), Laboratory Chemical Hygiene Plan (LCHP) and in the Standard Operation Procedures (SOP’s).

8.3.4. The type of PPE required must be based on a completed risk assessment of the hazards, exposure and the controls in place to protect lab workers during experiments or procedures. The Laboratory Hazard Assessment Tool (LHAT) can be used or workers can contact EHS at 330-672-4347 for assistance.

8.3.5. The Principal Investigator is responsible for ensuring that the appropriate PPE is used at all times.

8.3.6. Each laboratory is responsible for providing a sufficient supply of personal protective equipment for all workers.

8.3.7. All personal protective equipment should be inspected and cleaned on a routine basis to assess if there are any defects or potential problems. Each lab should outline in their laboratory chemical hygiene plan a description of PPE maintenance.

8.3.8. Never launder PPE at home, always use the facilities on campus if accessible or a commercial laundromat or contracted laundering service

8.3.9. Eye Protection

8.3.9.1. Safety glasses with side shields must be used to provide the minimum protection for regular use to minimize the risk of eye injury.

8.3.9.2. Eye protection is required in any laboratory irrespective of whether the individual is performing a “chemical operation,”.

8.3.9.3. Regular prescription glasses and contact lenses do not provide adequate protection against eye injury. Safety glasses should be worn over prescription glasses. Prescription safety glasses can also be purchased to perform your work.

8.3.9.4. Eye protection should be cleaned on a routine basis with water, lens cleaning towelettes or microfiber cloths. Appropriate storage of glasses in pouches is recommended to protect glasses from damage (e.g. scratches)

8.3.10. Skin Protection

8.3.10.1. Skin protection must always be used when working with substances, chemicals or materials that are corrosive or easily absorbed by the skin.

8.3.10.2. Skin protection includes protective clothing, shields, gloves, aprons, lab coats and other protective equipment that shield or provide a barrier between the hazard and the body.

8.3.10.3.   Skin protection should be selected based on the type of work. Selection of the appropriate protection can be determined using the Ansell Guardian Protection Guide at Ansell Guardian Partner Body Protection Guide or https://www.ansellguardianpartner.com/. Contact EHS at 2-4347 if assistance is needed.

8.3.11. Respirators

8.3.11.1. Work that may generate dust, fumes, mists, gases, vapors, or aerosols, and /or expose workers to extreme temperatures or oxygen deficient environments may require the use of a respirator.

8.3.11.2. If a half mask, full mask or air supplied respirator is needed you must contact EHS at 2-4347 to get enrolled into the Kent State University Respiratory Protection Program before using the respirator. For more information contact EHS at 2-4347 or visit the EHS website.

8.3.12. Hearing Protection

8.3.12.1. If the noise or sound level in the work environment exceeds 85 decibels (dB) over an 8 hour day then hearing protection is required. The worker must be enrolled in the Kent State University Hearing Protection Program. For more information contact EHS at 2-4347 or visit the EHS website.

8.3.12.2. Examples of hearing protection may include earmuffs, earplugs or semi-insert earplugs.

8.3.12.3.  Headphones and earbuds are not sufficient protection for these environments and should not be used.