Laboratory Equipment

If your lab makes use of a 3-D printer, please submit information at the following link so ventilation can be verified for safe operations:  CLICK HERE

Access the following guidance using UK Linkblue username and password:

University of Kentucky Guidelines for the Use of 3D Printers.pdf

UL Safe Use of 3-D Printers

Scavenging System Safety Reminders

• Anesthesia machines should be certified at least every 2 years to ensure good working order. This certification date can be located on a certification vendor's sticker placed on the machine. If the machine's certification is missing or expired, find another machine to use and notify those in charge of the equipment. 

• Activated charcoal filters (scavenger cannisters) have finite life spans. The weight of each new scavenging cannister must be recorded before its first use. Before EACH use, the cannister's weight must be recorded, along with the date of use. Keep a log for this purpose next to the unit. In general, an increase in 50g from the original weight means the cannister should be replaced.

• To function properly, the scavenging cannister must be:
  1) Placed at a level below that of the machine
  2) Placed/suspended in an upright position, and
  3) Placed so that the holes on the bottom of the cannister are not blocked.

A log for use by the laboratory to document weekly flushes of eyewash hoses installed at the sinks can be accessed with UK Linblue credentials HERE.

General

The Kentucky Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has adopted a modified version of the 1990 American National Standards Institute's Standard for emergency eyewash and safety shower equipment. OSHA requires: "Where the eyes or body of any person may be exposed to injurious corrosive material, suitable facilities for quick drenching or flushing of the eyes and body shall be provided within the work area for emergency use." The following outline the University's technical standards and preferences to provide safety equipment to meet this mandate:
 

• Plans and drawings must show location of safety shower and eyewash units; specifications must be provided for review & approval.

Physical Requirements for Emergency Safety Shower

• Emergency safety showers shall be located in an immediately accessible area within the laboratory unit or other work areas where the user shall not have to pass through a corridor door to reach the unit.
• Emergency safety showers shall be identified with a highly visible sign and a green cross located as an integral part of the floor directly under the shower.
• Safety showers installed in remote locations must be provided with an audible warning buzzer and visual alarm the audible and visual alarms shall be different than those used for fire, but the devices need not be larger or louder than those for fire alarms. The buzzer and visual alarm will be located above the door of the room with the shower. If feasible, an alternative alarm method connecting flow valves electronically to a twenty-four hour per day, seven days per week monitoring facility is preferred.

Physical Requirements for Emergency Eyewash Equipment
 

• Emergency eyewash equipment shall ensure that a controlled flow of potable water is provided to both eyes simultaneously at a velocity low enough not to be injurious to the user following, as a minimum, the guidelines of ANSI Z358.1-1990.
• Emergency eyewash units shall be located in an immediately accessible area within the laboratory unit or other work area where the user shall not have to pass through a door to reach the unit.
• Emergency eyewash shall be identified with a highly visible sign and if floor or wall mounted, provided with a green cross located as an integral part of the floor directly under the eyewash or on the wall directly behind the eyewash unit.
• There shall be no sharp projections anywhere in the operating area of the unit.
• The unit shall be located to provide enough room to allow the eyelids to be held open with the hands while the eyes are in the water stream.
• The control valve shall be designed so that the water flow remains in the on position without the use of the operator's hand and must remain open until manually shut off. The valve shall be large enough to be easily located and operated by the user.
   

Emergency eyewash and shower equipment must be installed in every lab that is provided with a fume hood. Laboratories sharing a common suite or area not separated by closed doors may find one emergency shower is sufficient but each lab unit must be equipped with an approved eyewash.

The OSHA& ANSI-compliant eyewash stations requirements:

• Must be on the premises in any workplace near where eye-hazard chemicals are used (e.g., GHS-SDS Categories 1 or 2a) 
• Provide 15 minutes of continuous washing at a rate of not less than 1.5 liters per minute (0.4 gpm).  
• Temperature control systems that keep the rinse water "tepid," defined as between 60°F- 100°F (16°C- 38°C).
• The system must only take a single movement on the part of the user to activate it and continue flushing without the need for the user to do anything additional to keep the water on.
   

Please contact the University of Kentucky Occupational Health and Safety Department for questions related to these guidelines at at (859)-257-2924.

Explosion-proof refrigerators are designed for use in an area where flammable vapors or gases may be present in the environment around the unit. They have sealed electrical equipment and junction boxes that eliminate ignition sources outside and inside the unit.  They must also be hard-wired into the buildings electrical system using approved methods. These units are usually quite expensive. Typical laboratory operations would not warrant an explosion proof refrigerator.

Flammable-safe refrigerators have specially designed interior parts to prevent flammable vapors or gases from contacting internal ignition sources. They are not approved for use in an environment where flammable vapors or gases may be present, because ignition sources on the exterior of the refrigerator may not be vapor-tight. These units are connected to an electrical outlet using a standard cord and plug assembly.

A chemical glovebox is a controlled environment work enclosure providing a primary barrier from the work area.  The operation is performed through sealed gloved openings to protect the worker, the ambient environment, and/or the product. 

Gloveboxes are critical for synthetic chemical processes and uses of pyrophoric, water-sensitive, or other highly reactive chemicals.

Glovebox Safety

Safe and prudent practice for glovebox users include performing daily checks to verify the operational condition of the glovebox. These checks include but are not limited to: 

• Integrity of gloves and seals 
• Condition of window, with focus on the areas of connection to the rest of the box 
• Vacuum pump lines, oil level, and pump filter
• Pressure gauges and indicators are functioning within acceptable ranges 
• Security of compressed gas cylinder lines and regulator fittings

• Condition of scrubber filters, if applicable These checks are to be noted in a user log, ideally located near to the relevant glovebox

   

Safety Reminders:

• Conspicuously label the glovebox with information about the type of permitted activities including any appropriate hazard warnings. 
• Be aware of the properties of chemicals shipped into the glovebox (water content, solvents, boiling point/evaporation rate). Know when a purge may be necessary. Evaluate the potential for unintended generated side products. 
• Jewelry on hands and wrists shall be removed before entering the glovebox. 
• Be mindful when entering the glovebox and use slow movements. Not only does this help preserve the gloves, it avoids over pressurization of the cabinet. 
• Keep gloves clean by wiping down after every use and/or by using disposable gloves. 
• All users shall be knowledgeable and trained on emergency response to power failure, loss of compressed air or leak, and compromised glove (and repair).

PI/Lab Supervisors are responsible for the following:

• All users shall receive documented training on the safe operation of the specific glovebox in use in the laboratory as well as the planned procedures within. Training documentation shall be kept in the Laboratory’s Lab Safety Manual (Chemical Hygiene Plan) and may be requested upon inspection of the laboratory. 

• Ensure daily checks are recorded in a log to be kept near the glovebox for user access. Maintenance, troubleshooting and service records for the glovebox shall also be retained. Ensure use of the glovebox is ceased when malfunctioning or repairs are needed.

   

Best practices also include:

• The Owners Manual for the glovebox is made available to all users 
• Include a record of the dates compressed gas cylinders are changed in the user log book
•  Performance of annual testing of the gloves or replacement of gloves 
• Regular periodic regeneration of catalysts 
• Regular scheduled inspection by a professional vendor

For more information, see Glovebox Safety.

Background of UV

Ultraviolet radiation (UV) is a form of non-ionizing radiation emitted from natural and artificial sources. The UV spectrum ranges from 100-400 nanometers and is located between visible light and X-ray on the electromagnetic spectrum. The ranges of non-ionizing UV can be charted into three regions:

Most natural UV from sunlight should be avoided by use of personal protection such as a hat, sunblock, and sunglasses. However, UV radiation from laboratory equipment is in a more concentrated form which poses a greater threat to personnel. If no personal protection equipment is used, tissue damage may occur in only a few seconds.

Laboratory equipment emitting non-ionizing ultraviolet wavelengths

Typical laboratory equipment with the capacity to emit non-ionizing UV wavelengths includes:

     · Biological safety cabinets (BSCs)

     · Transilluminator boxes

     · UV crosslinkers

     · Photoreactors

     · Handheld or stationary UV curing lamps

     · LED lights in the 245- 808 nm range

Exposure and Hazards of UV

Exposure to UV light poses a serious threat to both the eye and skin. Corneal and skin burns are the most common injuries from unprotected use of UV emitting devices.

Eye injury can occur due to very brief exposure or with just a flash of intense UV. Being at the cutaneous level, the cornea of the eye is also very susceptible to UV radiation and is extremely vulnerable because of its lack of thickness. UV exposure can cause lesions of the cornea and ultimately cause photokeratitis (inflammation). Symptoms are described as a sensation of sand in the eye that may last for several days. Other symptoms of an overexposed eye may occur within a few hours and include sensitivity to light, unexplained tearing, and a burning or painful sensation in the eye.

Erythema, or sunburn of the skin, usually proceeds via photochemical and thermal reactions into the dermal skin layers and can occur within a few seconds of exposure to concentrated UV. Prolonged and repeated exposure to ultraviolet light also causes premature dermal aging and cancer of the skin.

Exposure can result in symptoms comparable to normal sunburn and include redness, swelling, pain, blisters and peeling on the burned area. Severe sunburn can lead to headache and nausea like conditions. Variables for this intensity are mostly genetic factors but can be exaggerated by photosensitization from certain foods or drugs.

Laboratory Safety Precautions

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Always wear PPE such as safety glasses/face shields, and lab coats (long sleeves) and gloves when using UV light.  Clear polycarbonate safety glasses are a great choice for eye protection. Polycarbonate lenses are highly impact resistant and provide built-in UV protection, which means they block harmful ultraviolet rays without needing any additonal coatings. 

Label Equipment Properly: Overexposure of UV radiation almost always occurs because of inadequate education with regard to hazards when using UV emitting equipment. All equipment should be obviously and specifically labeled pertaining to UV emission. Properly labeled equipment decreases the likelihood of an accident involving exposure to the eyes and/or skin. To obtain UV Hazard labels, contact the UK Department of Research Safety at labsafety@uky.edu or (859) 323-6777.

Do Not Use UV as the primary means of decontamination (i.e., biological safety cabinets): “The NIH does not recommend or support the use of ultraviolet (UV) radiation in laboratories. Although UV is effective against most microbes, it requires an understanding of its abilities and limitations. The 253.7-nm wavelength emitted by the germicidal lamp has limited penetrating power and is primarily effective against unprotected microbes on exposed surfaces or in the air. It does not penetrate soil or dust. The intensity or destructive power decreases by the square of the distance from the lamp. Thus, exposure time is always related to the distance. The intensity of the lamp diminishes over time. This requires periodic monitoring with a UV meter. The intensity of the lamp is drastically affected by the accumulation of dust and dirt on it. The bulbs require frequent maintenance. In addition, there are safety hazards associated with the use of UV that require personal protective equipment or other safety devices to protect users. UV lights in biosafety cabinets require the cabinet be decontaminated prior to performing maintenance on the system. Past experience has proven that good techniques in conducting experiments are highly effective in preventing contamination. The use of UV radiation does not eliminate the necessity for using good practices and procedures." *

If installed, UV lamps should be cleaned regularly to remove any film that may block the output of the lamp. The lamps should be evaluated regularly and checked with a UV meter to ensure that the appropriate intensity of UV light is being emitted. Replace the bulb when the fluence rate is below 40 uW/cm2. Unshielded UV lamps must be turned off when the room is occupied to protect eyes and skin from UV exposure. If the cabinet has a sliding sash, close the sash when operating the UV lamp. Most new BSCs use sliding sashes that are interlocked when operating the UV lamp to prevent exposure.

*https://www.ors.od.nih.gov/sr/dohs/safety/laboratory/BioSafety/Pages/decontamination.aspx