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Environmental Health and Safety

Lab Preparedness

 Severe weather and scheduled or unforeseen closures can interrupt normal university operations. In the event of an emergency campus closure, only essential personnel are required to report to work. During severe weather, laboratory personnel should stop general operations and safely store and secure hazardous materials, equipment, and research data to minimize the risk of injury and property loss. Follow the emergency preparedness guidelines below to prepare for an extended laboratory shutdown.

Emergency Plans

  • Designate 2-3 “essential personnel” with clearly defined tasks in the event of a lab shutdown.
  • Outline a checklist for laboratory-specific shutdown procedures.
  • Keep an accurate Hazard Notice posted at the laboratory entrance, including:
    • PI name and contact information.
    • Lab Manager or Group Safety Officer name and contact information.
    • Current laboratory hazards (chemical, biological, radioactive, other hazards).

Hazardous Materials

  • Securely cap, properly label and safely store all containers of chemical, radioactive, and biohazard materials.
  • Securely cap, properly label and safely store all hazardous waste containers.
  • Remove chemicals from laboratory benches and open shelving and store them in appropriate chemical storage cabinets.
  • Segregate incompatible chemicals.
  • Store all chemical containers above floor level to protect against flooding.
  • Provide appropriate storage conditions for air-reactive, water-reactive and temperature-sensitive chemicals.
  • Secure compressed gas cylinders in the upright position.
  • Tightly secure valve caps on compressed gas cylinders that are not in use.
  • Ensure glove boxes are supplied with an adequate supply of required gases to maintain an oxygen-free atmosphere for water-reactive and air-reactive chemicals.

Equipment

  • Connect essential equipment to emergency power outlets.
  • Implement surge protection measures for equipment that must remain powered.
  • Safely power down and unplug non-essential equipment, when possible.
  • Keep all equipment above floor level to protect against flooding.
  • Cover all equipment with protective tarps or plastic sheeting.

Experiments

  • Develop emergency shutdown procedures and contingency plans for experiment that requires more than 24 hours to safely shut down and secure.
  • Arrange for care and protection of research animals, as applicable.
  • Secure all components of essential long-term equipment and ensure adequate supplies of power, water, gas, and other required resources to prevent interruption.
  • Stop non-essential and high-hazard experiment, turn off and unplug equipment, shut off gas supplies, and close main cylinder valves.

Research Data

  • Securely store and back up intellectual properties and research records, including laboratory notebooks, ledgers, CDs, and laptops.

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