Lab researcher

SDSU Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry
Essential Laboratory Practices Policies

Issued Aug 17 2009.

I. Personal Protective Equipment

All faculty, staff, and students in all teaching and research laboratories where (1) experimental work is being done and/or (2) hazardous chemicals are stored must wear appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), consisting at a minimum of:

  • goggles or safety glasses, including side and brow protection, that meet ANSI Z87.1-2003 standards;
  • a full-length, flame-resistant lab coat or lab apron;
  • shoes or boots that completely cover the foot, or splash-resistant booties that cover the foot.
In the NMR, x-ray, and other analytical facilities, users must wear appropriate protection whenever handling or transporting samples.

Certain procedures may call for additional protection. Faculty are responsible for training students and for keeping written Standard Operating Procedures that detail appropriate PPE requirements for procedures that use particularly hazardous materials including but not limited to: liquid nitrogen traps, pyrophoric materials (i.e. alkyl metal solids and solutions), alkali metals, metal hydrides and other drying agents, as well as known. carcinogens.

II. Waste Disposal

Waste chemicals in all teaching and research labs must be disposed of promptly in labeled waste bottles.

  • Empty food containers must never be used to deposit waste chemicals. (In fact. food containers of any kind should not be present in the lab work area.)
  • Waste chemical bottles must be stored in a well-ventilated area such as a hood.
  • Bottle labels must be filled out completely from first use.
  • Once labeled, waste bottles must not be kept more than 9 months before EH&S is notified for removal (call 42853 or 46778).

The preceding represent basic policies to be applied in all laboratories and do not preclude further or more detailed requirements as deemed appropriate in individual courses or laboratories.