Research Laboratory Safety

Contents
Preface
Acknowledgements
Notes to the Instructor
Part I: Introductory Material
	1 Introduction
		1.1 Accidents in the research laboratory
			1.1.1 Vladimir Likhonos: eating explosives
			1.1.2 Karen Wetterhahn: a deadly droplet
			1.1.3 Michele Dufault: hair is a hazard
			1.1.4 Louis Slotin: A slipped screwdriver
			1.1.5 Preston Brown: Ignoring safety protocols
			1.1.6 Sheri Sangji: a spontaneous fire
		1.2 Factors contributing to laboratory accidents
			1.2.1 Reason’s Swiss cheese model
			1.2.2 Accident “causes”
			1.2.3 Unsafe conditions versus unsafe behavior
		1.3 Hazards in the laboratory
			1.3.1 Types of hazards
			1.3.2 Main risks in laboratories
	2 Ethical responsibilities
		2.1 Who requires protection?
		2.2 Ethical responsibility to others in the lab
		2.3 Penalties for ethical violations
	3 Assessing and controlling risk
		3.1 Distinguishing hazard from risk
		3.2 Simple methods for estimating risk
		3.3 A semiquantitative method for risk estimation in the laboratory
		3.4 Risk assessment exercises
	4 Hazard and risk controls
		4.1 The hazard control process
			4.1.1 Hazard identification
			4.1.2 Risk screening
			4.1.3 Hazard analysis
			4.1.4 Hazard control
		4.2 Classifying hazard controls
			4.2.1 Functional classification of hazard controls
			4.2.2 Traditional hierarchy of controls
			4.2.3 Creativity in hazard control
		4.3 Exercises: Hazard control
Part II: Hazard classes and control methods
	5 Hazard identification methods
		5.1 Brainstorming, mind-mapping, and other creative methods
		5.2 Checklists
		5.3 Reference books
		5.4 Regulations and standards
		5.5 Real-life hazard identification
		5.6 Exercises: Hazard identification
	6 Physical hazards
		6.1 Mechanical hazards
		6.1.1 Pinch points
		6.1.2 Guards and interlocks for mechanical hazards
		6.1.3 Shear points
		6.1.4 Run-in points
		6.1.5 Wrap points
		6.1.6 Clobbering
		6.2 Sharps
		6.2.1 What is a sharp?
		6.2.2 Sharps handling
		6.2.3 Sharps disposal
		6.3 Heat
		6.3.1 Common laboratory sources of heat
		6.3.2 Heat-protective apparel
		6.3.3 Using torches, burners, and other open flames in the lab
		6.4 Cold (including cryogen safety)
		6.4.1 Common laboratory sources of low temperatures
		6.4.2 Safe procedures for maintenance of refrigerators and freezers
		6.4.3 Cryogenic temperatures
		6.5 Pressure and vacuum
		6.5.1 Compressed gases
		6.6 Electricity and magnetism
		6.6.1 Electricity
		6.6.2 Magnetism
		6.7 General environmental hazards
		6.7.1 Trips, slips, and-falls
		6.7.2 Lighting
		6.7.3 Noise
		6.7.4 Security hazards
		6.8 Case study: Chemistry experiment
		6.9 Exercises: Physical hazards
	7 Chemical hazards
		7.1 Routes of exposure to chemical hazards
		7.2 Chemical properties contributing to hazard
		7.2.1 Reactivity
		7.2.2 Volatility
		7.3 The chemical fume hood
		7.4 General hazard classifications and precautions
		7.4.1 Experimental protocols for chemical handling
		7.4.2 Flammables and oxidizers
		7.4.3 Corrosives
		7.4.4 Toxics
		7.4.5 Physical hazards from chemicals
		7.4.6 Reactive chemicals
		7.5 Communicating chemical hazards
		7.5.1 NFPA 704 “fire diamond”
		7.5.2 Transportation labeling
		7.5.3 The Globally Harmonized System
		7.5.4 The Safety Data Sheet
		7.6 Case studies
		7.6.1 Chemistry experiment
		7.6.2 Biology experiment
		7.7 Exercises: Chemical hazards
	8 Biological hazards
		8.1 Lab-acquired infections
		8.2 Assessment of biological infection risk
			8.2.1 Agent hazards
			8.2.2 Laboratory procedure hazards
		8.3 Biosafety levels
			8.3.1 Biosafety level 1 (BSL—1)
			8.3.2 Biosafety level 2 (BSL—2)
			8.3.3 Biosafety level 3 (BSL—3)
			8.3.4 Biosafety level 4 (BSL—4)
		8.4 Biological laboratory work practices
			8.4.1 General laboratory practices
			8.4.2 Personal protection
			8.4.3 Pipetting, syringing, and other sample-transfer methods
			8.4.4 Equipment use
			8.4.5 Storage, inventory, and labeling
		8.5 The biological safety cabinet
			8.5.1 A BSC is not a chemical fume hood
			8.5.2 The “laminar flow hood” or “clean air hood” is not a BSC
			8.5.3 Using a BSC
		8.6 Case studies
			8.6.1 Biology experiment
			8.6.2 Civil/environmental engineering experiment
		8.7 Exercises: biological hazards
	9 Radiation hazards
		9.1 Ionizing radiation
			9.1.1 Types of ionizing radiation
			9.1.2 Sources of hazard from ionizing radiation
			9.1.3 Control of ionizing radiation
		9.2 Non-ionizing radiation
			9.2.1 Ultraviolet radiation
			9.2.2 Infrared radiation
			9.2.3 Radiofrequency (RF) radiation
			9.2.4 Laser light sources
		9.3 Case studies
			9.3.1 Chemical engineering experiment
			9.3.2 Medical experiment
			9.3.3 Exercises: radiation hazards
Part III: Hazard analysis techniques
	10 The Checklist technique
		10.1 Strengths, weaknesses, and suitability
		10.2 Sources of checklists
		10.3 Example checklist: Quick laboratory inspection
		10.4 Evaluating recommendations from hazard analyses
		10.5 Exercises: laboratory inspection
	11 The Job Hazard Analysis technique (JHA)
		11.1 Strengths, weaknesses, and suitability
		11.2 Technique
		11.3 Example JHA
		11.4 Exercises: Job Hazard Analysis
	12 The What-If? technique
		12.1 Strengths and weaknesses
		12.2 Suitability
		12.3 What-If? Technique
			12.3.1 Scoping
			12.3.2 Team assembly
			12.3.3 What-If?
			12.3.4 Causes
			12.3.5 Consequences
			12.3.6 Controls
			12.3.7 Current risk
			12.3.8 Recommendations
			12.3.9 Revised risk
		12.4 Example What-If? Study: Multi-axis press
			12.4.1 Nodes
			12.4.2 Team assembly
			12.4.3 What-if #1: What if a hydraulic actuator fails?
			12.4.4 What-if #2: What if a hydraulic line fails?
			12.4.5 What-if #3: What if the hydraulic pump develops a leak?
		12.5 Exercise: What-if? technique
Part IV: Practical applications of hazard control
	13 Controlling hazards in a laboratory procedure using JHA
		13.1 Reproducing a procedure from the literature
		13.2 Exercises: Using procedures taken from a research paper
	14 Evaluating risks in an experimental apparatus using What-If? technique
		14.1 Case study: What-If? technique
		14.2 What-If? technique study on an experimental apparatus
	15 Designing an experiment from scratch
		15.1 Hazard controls are ex post facto solutions
		15.2 The only set factor in an experiment is the objective
		15.3 Inherently safer design principles
			15.3.1 The history of ISD
			15.3.2 ISD design principles
		15.4 Case studies in laboratory ISD
			15.4.1 Lab ISD case study: Impact testing of steel
			15.4.2 Lab ISD case study: The “Rainbow Experiment”
		15.5 Exercise: Inherently safer design of a hazardous experiment
Part V: Appendices
	16 Laboratory safety checklists (abbreviated)
	17 Checklist reviews for common laboratory operations
		17.1 Delivering gas from a compressed gas cylinder
		17.2 Flame-sealing a glass tube with an oxyacetylene torch
		17.3 Using a biological safety cabinet
	18 Writing experimental protocols and Standard Operating Procedures
		18.1 Types of “SOP”
		18.2 General advice on writing protocols
		18.3 Writing protocols for hazardous materials handling
		18.4 Writing protocols for experimental procedures
		18.5 Writing protocols for use of hazardous equipment
	19 Annotated bibliography of laboratory safety references
References
Index