Laboratory & Facilities Equipment
Fire Extinguishers and Blankets
General Use:
- Biological safety cabinets create a safety barrier between materials and user as well as protect the materials from being contaminated.
Types:
- Air flow is ductable outside the lab.
- If the cabinet is unducted then it is not to be used with volatile chemicals.
- Airflow is recirculated through the hood.
- Designed to be used with small amounts of hazardous chemicals.
- Airflow is ducted through the hood and out of the lab, airflow is recirculated though the hood.
- No air is recirculated through the hood.
- Designed to contain biological and chemical hazards.
- A positive pressure plenum that is surrounded by a negative pressure plenum to prevent contamination in the lab.
Cautions:
- Chemicals can destroy air filtration systems, reducing the air quality and safety of the system.
- Improper use may lead to contaminants in the lab.
General Use:
- Biological specimens and preparations
- Chemicals that are heat sensitive
- Drugs
- Inappropriate use of refrigerators include:
- Routine storage of chemicals
- Mixed storage of toxic chemicals and chemicals for living conditions
- Storage of food or drink for consumption is never acceptable in a lab refrigerator; food must not be stored in the laboratory
Cautions:
- Never store explosives in a refrigerator that is not explosion proof.
- Never store consumable goods in a chemical or biological refrigerator.
For more information on the Laboratory Protocol of using refrigerators, click here.
General Use and Rules:
- Laboratory centrifuges are used when separation of solid suspension and liquid are necessary. Centrifuges spin at a very high speed.
- Anchor the centrifuge to the location where its vibration will not cause bottles or equipment to fall.
- Always close the lid during operation.
- Do not leave the centrifuge until the full operating speed has been attained.
- Stop the centrifuge immediately and check the counter-balance load if vibration occurs. Check swing-out buckets for clearance and support.
- Regularly clean rotors and buckets with non corrosive cleaning solutions.
Caution:
- Unbalanced centrifuges may cause spills, mechanical failure or serious injury.
General Use and Rules:
- Glassware is the most common
piece of equipment used in labs; it also creates the most injuries.
- Care should be taken even when the action is routine.
- Dewar flasks and large vacuum vessels should be taped or otherwise screened or contained in a metal jacket to prevent flying glass in case of an implosion.
- Household Thermos bottles have thin walls and are not acceptable substitutes for lab Dewar flasks.
- Any glass equipment to be evacuated should be designed with heavy walls.
Caution:
- Dropped glass may create projectiles.
For information on how to properly clean glassware, click here.
General Use and Rules:
- Compressed gas cylinders are used when alternate sources of gas are needed.
(a) Handle cylinders of compressed gases as high-energy sources and therefore and potential explosives.
(b) Restrain cylinders of all sizes, whether empty or full. Use straps, chains, or a suitable stand to prevent them from falling.
(c) When storing or moving cylinders, have the protective caps securely in place to protect the valve stems.
(d) When moving compressed gas cylinders, strap them to properly designed, wheeled carts to ensure stability.
(e) Do not expose cylinders to temperatures higher than about 50 C. Some rupture devices on cylinders will release at about 65 C. Some small cylinders, such as lecture bottles, are not fitted with rupture devices and may explode if exposed to high temperatures.
(f) Never use cylinders if their contents cannot be identified positively.
(g) Never lubricate, modify, force, or tamper with cylinder valves.
(h) Use toxic, flammable, or reactive gases in fume hoods only.
(i) Cylinders awaiting use should be stored outdoors, protected from the weather.
(j) Never direct high-pressure gases at a person.
(k) Do not use compressed gas or compressed air to blow away dust or dirt the resultant flying particles are dangerous.
(l) Be aware that rapid release of a compressed gas will cause an unsecured gas hose to whip dangerously and also may build up a static charge that could ignite a combustible gas.
(m) Do not extinguish a flame involving a highly combustible gas until the source of gas has been shut off; otherwise, it can reignite causing an explosion.
(n) Close the main cylinder valves tightly when not in use.
(o) Promptly remove the regulators from empty cylinders and replace the protective caps at once. Label the cylinder to show that it is empty.
(p) Never bleed cylinders completely empty. Leave a slight pressure to keep contaminants out.
(q) Use the appropriate regulator on each gas cylinder. The threads on the regulators are designed to avoid improper use. Adaptors or homemade modifications can be dangerous; never use these devices.
(r) Do not put oil or grease on the high-pressure side of an oxygen, chlorine, or other oxidizing agent cylinder. A fire or explosion can result.
(s) Always wear safety glasses when handling and using compressed gases.
(t) Observe the following special rules when working with acetylene cylinders
- Always store acetylene cylinders upright. They are partially filled with liquid acetone, which can be discharged instead of or along with acetylene.
- Do not use an acetylene cylinder that has been stored or handled in a non-upright position until it has remained in an upright position for at least 30 minutes.
- Ensure that the outlet line of an acetylene cylinder is protected with a flash arrester.
- Never exceed the pressure limit indicated by the warning red band of an acetylene pressure gauge.
- Use the correct kind of tubing to transport to the gaseous acetylene. Some tubing materials such as copper form explosive acetylides.
Cautions:
- A rupture of a gas cylinder will cause serious damage.
- Gas cylinders need to be securely fastened.
- Gas pressure regulator must be used on all cylinders as a control and a backup on the on/off valve on the cylinder.
General Use:
- Sinks should be used for washing dishes obtaining water and proper disposal of chemicals deemed "safe" by laboratory supervisor. Never dump chemicals down the drain if you are unsure.
Note:
- Lab drain water and supplies are separate from potable drinking water supplied in a non-lab area, such as a restroom.
Fire Extinguishers and Blankets
General Use:
- Fire extinguishers and blankets are to be used only when they can safely put out fires.
Types:
Fire blanket:
- Used to put out a fire on a person but never use it to put out a chemical fire on a person.
- Used to keep a person warm and covered after using the safety shower.
- Will put out an equipment fire without possibly destroying more equipment.
Fire Extinguishers:
- Class A – Use on ordinary combustibles like paper or wood.
- Class B – Used on flammable liquids.
- Class C – Used on electrical fires.
- Class D – Used on metal fires.
Cautions:
- Never use a fire extinguisher on a metal fire unless it is a Class D fire extinguisher.
- Sand will smother the fire; other fire extinguishers will accelerate the oxidation of the metal.
NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance)
General Use:
- The NMR is a super-conduction magnet that can detect different isotopes. It is cooled by two jackets, the outer being liquid nitrogen and the inner being liquid helium.
Cautions:
- Remove all metal, including keys, credit cards cell phones before working with the NMR.
- People with pacemakers or metallic joins should not be in the NMR room the magnet would reach critical temperature release of nitrogen and hydrogen would be released into the room displacing oxygen.