Safety is an important aspect of all of
our daily lives. In the laboratory and industrial settings, safety has special
requirements. These include safe design, safe operation, and safe practices. To perform
laboratory operations safely requires a certain amount of "common sense" in
combination with technical knowledge. This guide attempts to provide some of both. The
Reference Section gives further information. The reader is referred to the University
Safety Office for any unanswered compliance questions. Occupational exposure to hazardous
chemicals in laboratories (29 CFR 1910.1450) was promulgated under the Occupational Safety
and Health Act.
These recommendations evolved in part
from a laboratory safety manual prepared for the Chemical Engineering Department, NMSU, in
1987 by Dr. Richard Long. That document was based on earlier work by Mr. George Whitmyre,
Laboratory Coordinator, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Delaware. He
prepared his work in cooperation with a number of industrial safety consultants. Mr.
Whitmyre agreed in writing to allow Dr. Long to develop a guide based on this work to meet
our special requirements at NMSU. Some portions of this reference manual have been taken
verbatim from Prudent Practices, National Research Council with written permission.
This manual will be updated as changes in the law require it.
This document has been reviewed and
approved by the AD HOC Subcommittee of the University Safety Committee and the Safety
Office. The contributors provided their expertise in helping to assure both proper and
workable procedures which satisfy regulatory requirements. The contributors include:
Professors A. Burr, Physics; C. McCarthy, Biology; B. McCaslin, Agronomy and Horticulture;
W. Mueller, Chemistry; R. Long, D. Rockstraw, Chemical Engineering; L. Matthews,
Engineering Research Center, J. Kemp, Plant Genetic Engineering Laboratory and Mr. E.
Chavira, Physical Plant Department; Ms. A. Griffin, Student Health Center; Sgt. S. Lopez,
University Police and Dr. K. Doolittle, Mr. G. Esparsen, Mr. G. Munsell and Mr. T. Pattni
of the Safety Office. Drafts and final version were painstakingly prepared by Ms E. C.
Avila, Ms. A. Glover, Ms. G. Jacquez and Ms. B. Pacheco. Format review was provided by Ms.
C. Baca, Ms. A. Toineeta and Mr. P. Suchocki. This effort was initiated by Dr. Averett S.,
Tombes, Vice President for Research and Economic Development, NMSU.
Richard L. Long Jr.
Chairman
University Safety Committee
October, 1995 |
