Safety Regulations

University of Detroit Mercy
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
SAFETY REGULATIONS

The American Chemical Society Committee on Professional Training clearly states in its Guidelines for Bachelor’s Degree Programs (Section 7.3 Laboratory Safety Skills) that degree programs must train students in the aspects of modern chemical safety appropriate to their educational level and scientific needs. Programs must promote a safety-conscious culture in which students understand the concepts of safe laboratory practices and apply them.

Read the following safety regulations before beginning any work in your Department Laboratory courses. Instruction in laboratory safety is important because professionals are expected to understand personal/property protection and good lab techniques. In efforts to avoid personal injuries, injuries to others and destruction of property, the instructor for online laboratory courses reserves the right to inquire on the proper laboratory safety techniques employed by students in their personal facilities. The instructor will provide specific instructions on the disposal of the waste and it is the sole responsibility of the student to implement the safety measures and waste disposal procedures provided by the instructor.

Unsupervised laboratory usage is regulated by the College of Engineering and Science Safety Committee and associated policies. Indicate that you have read and understood the following statements by uploading the signed and dated copy as a pdf attachment to the Blackboard site as required by the instructor. A scanned copy, pdf copy, or a picture are allowed files to upload to Blackboard.

STUDENTS WITH KNOWN CONDITIONS (i.e., RESPIRATORY PROBLEMS, ALLERGIES, PREGNANCY, ETC.) SHOULD CONSULT WITH THE INSTRUCTOR FOR SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS.

The University and faculty members are not responsible for any chemicals or health issues due to inappropriate use of chemicals without an approval of the instructor or as instructed to students.

Any student is highly encouraged to contact their faculty member as soon as possible to discuss an alternative to an activity if he/she is in a compromised situation beyond their control.

PERSONAL AND PROPERTY PROTECTION

A. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): provides a barrier of protection against chemicals and biological materials

1. Eye Protection: Safety goggles must be worn over the eyes at ALL times when performing the laboratory activity. These goggles may be purchased from the Chemistry Main Office (C113) or in a customized package by the instructor. Any other googles purchased using an alternative source must be approved by the instructor for usage. Soft contact lenses are not to be worn while performing the laboratory activity under any circumstances, even under goggles.
2. Hand Protection: Appropriate gloves are supplied in a customized laboratory kit for the students. These function as both aqueous and organic barriers. In particular circumstances, students may utilize alternative gloves upon approval by the instructor.
3. Foot Protection: Close-toed shoes should be worn while completing the laboratory activity even in a personal setting. It is highly recommended for protection and avoidance of unnecessary contact with chemicals that present a skin contact irritation or where the potential for physical hazards such as dropping pieces of equipment or broken glass are present. 
4. Hair, Clothing and Jewelry Protection
   1. If possible, wear a full and protective clothing when working with chemicals even in a kitchen-based chemistry ingredients.
   2. Always confine long hair, loose clothing, scarves (any type), and jewelry. c. All students must maintain a proper length of nails to allow them to perform required experiments and abide by wearing gloves properly.
   3. Always remove lab coats, scrubs, gloves, and other PPE before at the end of the experiment.
   4. Work in a secured and protective space away from others to assure everyone’s safety.
   5. All used portions of chemicals must be disposed of and not return to the original containers.
   6. All glassware and other equipment utilized during the laboratory experiment must be completed cleaned and dried prior to a second usage.

B. Personal Chemical Hygiene: habits which are essential to prevent chemical exposure

1. Chemical Exposure
   1. Definition: ingestion, inhalation or injection of chemicals
   2. Some chemical exposure can result in immediate effects (acute exposure) while other effects may not be seen for some time despite repeated exposure (chronic exposure).
2. Do not eat, drink, chew gum, or apply cosmetics in a lab or other area where chemicals are used or stored for your experiment Students are recommended to store any provided chemical kits with proper labels in a safe and out of reach areas to assure the safety of everyone sharing the common spaces. All wet laboratory activities must be completed near a sink for proper disposal and easy access to water source.
3. In accordance with the Michigan Clean Indoor Air Act and the City of Detroit Smoking Pollution Control Ordinance, smoking is prohibited while completing this activity to assure safety for all. This includes vaping and electronic cigarettes.
4. Do not ever try starting a siphon or pipette by mouth, doing so can result in ingestion of chemicals or inhalation of chemical vapors. Always use a pipette aid or suction bulb to start a siphon.
5. Always wash hands with soap and water after removing gloves and after you have completed your experiment or using items such as the phone or computer, turning doorknobs, or using an elevator.
6. If chemical contamination occurs:
   1. Notify the instructor.
   2. Remove contaminated laboratory coats, gloves, other PPE and clothing immediately. Failure to do so could result in chemical exposure. 
   3. After removing contaminated PPE, be sure to wash any affected skin areas with soap and water for at least 15 min.
   4. If you get a chemical in your eye, immediately wash with lots of water only for at least 15 minutes. Use your water fountain or distilled drinking water, then consult a physician.
   5. Use cold water only for chemical or thermal burns; do not apply ointment or cream.
   6. Report to the Health Center if any symptoms develop after leaving the lab. Take your lab notebook and text to aid the physician in making a quick, accurate diagnosis.

C. Emergency Preparation

1. First Aid: Contact 911 and/or consult with a physician as soon as possible for any emergency in case of severe medical condition. Students are instructed to use chemicals at significantly diluted concentrations or house-hold ingredients. Follow the safety sheets for proper use of these ingredients and be responsible.
2. Spills: Report all spills to the instructor so that the appropriate (Acid, Caustic or Solvent) spill kit can be used.
3. Safe Chemical Use
   1. MSDS: Material Safety Data Sheets are located online and it is the responsibility of the students to review the MSDS sheets available online prior to working with the chemicals.
   2. Container Warning Labeling and Toxicity: Students should be familiar with general hazard symbology and common NFPA “diamond” signs.
   3. Storage/Segregation: Students are to dispose of all chemicals upon the completion of the experiment and no storage of chemicals in personal refrigerators is allowed.
   4. Ventilation: Work in a well-ventilated area to avoid exposure to any minimal fumes from household-based ingredients.
4. Common Chemical Hazards: Treat all compounds as hazardous (toxic, corrosive, flammable) unless you know them to be otherwise. Students should be familiar with the following chemical hazard ratings – explosive, flammable/combustible liquid, flammable solid, dangerous when wet, oxidizer and organic peroxide, peroxide-forming compounds, poisons, corrosives.
5. Waste: All experiments are designed with very diluted concentrations of chemicals with minimum exposure to students. Ingredients used in common kitchen chemistry are safe to be disposed down the drain in the small quantities instructed by the faculty. Faculty members are not responsible for misuse of the chemicals beyond the instructions provided in the laboratory activity. All broken glass must be disposed off safely in a proper container before using the public disposal container in a complex. Sharps must be displaced in a sealed glass container prior to disposal in public container. NEVER pour toxic materials down the drain.

LABORATORY TECHNIQUES

A. Practicing Experimental Methods

1. Read and understand background materials prior to experimenting.
2. Do not perform unauthorized experiments. Do not remove any chemicals or mix any chemicals without proper instructions.
3. Never work on a laboratory activity in a personal setting without proper notice to a responsible personal via email, text, or close vicinity.
4. Avoid the presence of underage individuals when performing the laboratory activity including pets to assure the safety of others.

B. Specific Laboratory Skills

1. Do not force glass tubing into rubber stoppers. Protect your hands with a towel when inserting tubing into stoppers and use a lubricant.
2. When working with electrical equipment, observe caution in handling loose wires and make sure that all equipment is grounded before touching it.
3. View reactions from the side, keeping glass and goggles between you and the reactants. Do not look into the open mouth of a test tube or reaction flask. Point the open end of the tube away from you and other laboratory workers.
4. KEEP THE BENCH CLEAN AT ALL TIMES. Order and neatness minimize accidents.
5. Report any questions or concerns you have to your lab instructor. You are highly encouraged to reach out to your instructor prior to the experimenting if you have any concerns.

A culture of Safety requires all members of a community play a role in upkeep. If you observe unsafe practices by a student, TA, and/or Instructor, first address that individual with your concern.  If an issue with a student or TA is not resolved directly, communicate your concern to the Instructor.  If an issue with an Instructor is not resolved directly, report your concern to the Chair of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry as soon as possible.