Lab Inspection Guide

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How to Prepare for a LSU Laboratory Inspection
Office of Occupation Environmental
Safety September 2005
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• Hazard Communication
• Protective equipment
• Fume Hoods and Glove Boxes
• Housekeeping
• Emergency Response
• Chemical Storage and Usage
• Physical hazards
• Hazardous waste
• Bio Hazards

The following training covers the topics listed
on the laboratory inspection form. The inspection
form is located online at the OES web site
www.oes.lsu.edu
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Section 1 Laboratory Postings
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Laboratories must place signs on each entrance
door to the lab. Life Safety Box Postings
Required Generated by ChemTracker Inventory
System Contains Visual Hazard Guide Guide
to Hazard Quantities Chemical Storage
Map Hazardous Materials Inventory Notificatio
n Sheet
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Labs that employ biohazards must include the
biohazard rating for the lab. Contact the
biosafety officer at 8-4658 to be assigned a
level.
BIOHAZARD
Radioisotope users must also place a radiation
hazard sticker on the door sign. Call 8-2747 to
obtain the sticker.
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All refrigerators, ovens, and microwaves must
have LABORATORY USE ONLY stickers attached.
Household refrigerators should also have a
CAUTION DO NOT STORE FLAMMABLE SOLVENTS IN THIS
BOX sticker. The storage of flammable liquids
in household refrigerators is prohibited.
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Emergency numbers and information should be kept
in an easily accessible location. Several
emergency numbers are listed on every door
caution sign. Additional emergency numbers that
may be needed should be placed by the laboratory
phone.
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Section 2 Chemical Storage
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Chemicals should be stored in compatible groups.
Oxidizers should never be stored with flammables,
acids should never be stored with bases, and
toxics should be stored by themselves. Chemicals
from different groups that are still compatible
can be stored together.
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Primary Hazard Color Code Flammables Red
Toxics/Health Blue
Reactives/Oxidizers Yellow Contact
Hazards White General Gray, Green,
Orange
Many labs color code bottles to aid in segregated
chemical storage. The assignments given above
are standard for most labs and are based upon
chemical manufacturers color code designations.
Liquids should also be stored away from solids.
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Hazardous chemicals (particularly corrosives)
should never be stored above the shoulder height
of the shortest person in lab. When necessary,
only non-hazardous chemicals should be stored on
upper shelves.
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Acids and bases must be stored separately in
chemical resistant secondary containers to
prevent the spread of corrosives should a spill
occur.
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All chemicals must be properly labeled as to the
contents. Any labels that are illegible or have
fallen off should be replaced.
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Secondary chemicals containers should be labeled
with the contents and the date on which the
reagent was made. Labels that are loose or
illegible should be replaced. All containers
(including those that just hold water) must be
labeled as to their contents.
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Many chemicals such as anhydrous (diethyl) ether,
tetrahydrofuran, and 1,4-dioxane readily form
potentially explosive peroxides. These chemicals
must not be stored in the lab beyond the
recommended period.
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The most dangerous peroxide forming chemicals are
potassium metal, isopropyl ether, sodium amide,
and potassium amide. These chemicals must not be
stored in lab for longer than three months.
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Flammable liquids (NFPA flammability rating of 3
or 4) should be stored in a flammables cabinet.
No more than two 60 gallon capacity cabinets are
allowed per lab.
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The allowable volume in lab is 20 gallons/100 sq
feet for fire separated labs and 10 gallons/100
sq feet for non-fire separated labs. The maximum
volume that may be stored in any lab is 120
gallons.
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Up to 35 gallons of flammable liquids may be
stored in the lab outside of the flammable
cabinet.
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Of the 35 gallons of flammables that are allowed
to be stored outside of the flammable cabinet, 25
gallons must be stored in two gallon or smaller
safety cans. The rest must be in five gallon or
smaller containers.
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Spark sources such as variacs and power strips
must be stored outside of any fume hood where
flammable solvents are employed.
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Flammable liquids, other chemicals, and wastes
must not be stored on the floor in glass
containers due to the potential for breakage.
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Flammable liquids that require refrigeration must
be kept in either a flammable storage or an
intrinsically safe refrigerator. They must never
be stored in a household refrigerator due to the
potential for explosions.
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Waste containers must be labeled as HAZARDOUS
WASTE. Waste containers must remain closed at
all times except when waste is being added.
Finally, hazardous waste must be placed in an
appropriate container and stored in a manner that
is compatible with other wastes.
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Gas cylinders must be securely anchored
individually. They should also have a status
label that indicates if the cylinder is full,
empty, or in use. The practice of using a single
chain to anchor several cylinders is dangerous
and unacceptable.
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Gases such as carbon monoxide, chlorine,
fluorine, phosgene, hydrogen fluoride, nitric
oxide, sulfur dioxide, and hydrogen sulfide that
have an NFPA health rating of 3 or 4 must be kept
in a continuously ventilated mechanical enclosure
such as a fume hood.
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Excess cylinders should be stored in an approved
storage area outside of the lab. Flammable gases
must be stored at least 20 feet away from oxygen
and oxidizing gases.
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Section 3 Emergency Equipment
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All laboratories where flammables are stored or
used should have a fire extinguisher. Facility
Services inspects extinguishers yearly to ensure
that they are ready if needed. Special Class D
extinguishers should be kept in all labs that use
reactive metals such as sodium, potassium, or
magnesium.
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The location of each safety shower and eye wash
should be clearly posted. The area around
showers and eye washes must be left unobstructed.
Laboratory personnel should inspect eyewashes
weekly.
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Each lab should have a first aid kit that is
properly stocked. It is up to laboratory workers
to decide what items are or are not needed for
the first aid kit. A hydrofluoric acid treatment
kit should be included if you use HF in your
laboratory. Contact OES for more information on
HF kits.
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All laboratories that employ hazardous chemicals
must have a chemical spill kit that is capable of
handling any spill in lab.
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Laboratories that use large volumes of acids,
caustics, or solvents may need to keep
specialized spill control materials on hand.
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An inexpensive spill kit can be made with kitty
litter and other items such as gloves, safety
glasses, a broom, and a dust pan. Kitty litter
is an excellent all purpose absorbent and should
be kept in labs where high volumes of solvents
are stored.
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Section 4 Laboratory Equipment
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The belts on all mechanical pumps must be guarded
to prevent injuries from items becoming trapped
under the pump belt.
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All laboratory equipment must be properly
grounded. Two-prong (ungrounded) adapters should
never be used.
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All laboratory power cords should be doubly
insulated. Cords that are frayed or have exposed
wiring should be replaced immediately.
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In lab, UL 1449 rated power strips (surge
suppressed) are permitted for use with computers
and computerized equipment only. Check for a UL
sticker on the bottom of the strip.
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Non-UL rated outlet boxes are not permitted in
the lab. When additional outlets are required,
they should be installed by the Physical Plant.
Extension cords are allowed for temporary use
only.
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Lights Conditions Open (unconnected)
Ground Open Neutral Open Hot Hot and Ground
Reversed Hot and Neutral Reversed Correct wiring
Inexpensive circuit analyzers can be purchased at
most hardware stores and can be used to determine
if an outlet is wired correctly.
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Laboratory Conditions and Record Keeping.
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Sinks should be kept clean and free of glassware.
Hand washing items such as soap and paper towels
should be kept on hand.
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Laboratory aisles should remain uncluttered from
equipment storage etc.
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Laboratory doors should be kept closed at all
times to prevent the spread of flames should a
fire occur. Doors with magnetic closure devices
may be left open while the lab is occupied. Lab
doors should remain closed when fume hoods are in
operation in order to duplicate the conditions
under which the hood was certified.
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Food items should never be consumed in the lab
due to the potential for contamination. Food
consumption is permitted in locations that are
segregated from the lab and designated as
non-chemical areas.
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Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) should be
worn at all times when working with hazardous
substances. Safety glasses should be worn at all
times in lab. Either a splash guard or splash
proof goggles should be used when working with
corrosives such as acids and bases. Shorts and
open toed shoes should never be worn in lab.
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The following records must be maintained in the
laboratory 1. Training records for
Right-To- Know and Waste Management
courses, 2. MSDS for all hazardous
chemicals 3. An inventory of all chemicals
stored in your laboratory.
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Keep your radar active for hazards!!
Pat West OES Training Manager 578-0534 Jerry
Steward Chemical Safety Manager 578-4314 Matt
Philpot Biological Safety Manager 578-4658 Tom
Walsh Industrial Hygiene 578-5645