Microlab Chemical Hygiene Plan(Safety Rules and Procedures)
Cal/OSHA (Title 8 CCR
Sec.5191) requires that all laboratories have a written Chemical Hygiene Plan
as a fundamental chemical safety plan for the laboratory. Chemical Hygiene
Plans are required to include laboratory specific hazard and safety
information. A hierarchy of engineering, safety equipment and safety equipment
and administrative controls are the basis for a chemical hygiene plan.
The
designated Safety Officer of the Microlab is Bob Hamilton. The Microlab
Chemical Hygiene Plan (CHP) is a component of the Department of Electrical
Engineering and Computer Sciences Injury and Illness Prevention Plan (IIPP).
Since 1992, the
The
following Microlab safety rules must be read, understood, and
practiced at all times. Use common sense when
thinking of safety. When working in the Microlab, think about your actions
and how they will affect other lab members, as well as yourself.
The rules
and procedures outlined here have evolved
from experience and are for the protection of
you and your fellow lab members. Failure to follow them can result in expulsion
from the Microlab. If you have any questions, feel free to ask a
staff member. There are no excuses for not following safety procedures.
Be aware of your own and
everyone's safety. If you see a lab
member practicing unsafe procedures, do not hesitate to walk up and
remind him/her of proper methodology. Safety violations
should be reported on the computer, of if you prefer, using
a report card next to the first aid kit in the lab hallway.
Lab members found violating Microlab safety rules or endangering themselves or others will have their lab access denied.
GENERAL
1.1.
Buddy System - The Cardinal Rule
NEVER WORK
ALONE. This rule is absolute and non-negotiable.
To find out if there are lab members working in the Microlab, check
the Wand:
From the login
terminal or a terminal within the lab you may simply type labwho or lw at
the login prompt.
If no one
is currently working in the Microlab, you must
wait and log in with, at least, one other lab member. To
facilitate the cardinal rule, the first lab member who logs on receives
the following message:
"Warning: All
other lab users are idle and may have gone home. It is against
lab policy to be in the lab alone."
To prevent
a lab member from being left in the Microlab alone, a lab
member who logs out leaving only one lab member in the Microlab receives this
message:
"Warning: You appear to
be the last user in the lab. Please notify anybody else left in
the lab that you are leaving. It is against lab policy to work alone."
If you are found working in the Microlab alone, access privileges will be suspended.
Once in
the lab, locate a lab member and inform them where you will be
working. Check up on each other regularly. If no one else is present, you must
leave the lab until you can find another lab member. It is a good idea to plan
ahead if you want to work in the evening or on a weekend. To
facilitate finding a lab partner for evenings and weekends, you
can use the Buddy Program on the Wand. Instructions for its use are
available on-line.
2.2.
Handling Emergencies After Hours
The
Microlab Emergency Response Plan is posted by the telephones. Follow the
procedures listed. Click here to see a
list of the phone numbers detailed in the Emergency
Response Plan. Follow up all calls for Injury, Fire or Crime with a call to a
staff member, in the order listed.
The nature
of the emergency will determine whether you will call 911, staff, or
both. For a fire or severe injury, call 911 to summon emergency medical help
before you call staff. For a facilities problem, such as a flood or a utility
problem that does not represent a danger to the lab members
but may result in damage to equipment, call the staff and Campus
Services. DO NOT call 911 for problems limited
to facility or equipment. Always call 911 when a potentially life-threatening
or severe injury situation might exist (injury, fire, gas leak, suspected bomb,
etc.).
Microlab has a Hazardous Material
Alarm (HAZMAT) to evacuate the Microlab in the event of an airborne hazard.
Activate HAZMAT by pulling the lever on one of the blue alarm pull boxes.
Instructions are printed on the pull boxes. HAZMAT IS A LOCAL ALARM ONLY – NOT A FIRE ALARM. Labmembers
must evacuate the Microlab if they hear the HAZMAT alarm, but may remain in
Cory Hall if no fire alarm has sounded. You may re-enter the Microlab after
staff determines the cause and declares a safe condition.
The HAZMAT
alarm is not connected to the Cory Hall FIRE ALARM system and does not signal
emergency service or the police. IN CASE OF FIRE, USE THE FIRE ALARM
PULL BOXES. If you activate a FIRE ALARM, follow up by activating HAZMAT – After
red, pull blue.
Activating
the HAZMAT alarm results in:
1) A loud
chirping noise as audio alarm and a stroboscopic light as visual alarm.
2) The shutdown
of corrosive and toxic gases at their source within the gas cabinets.
3) A signal to
an off-Campus alarm company, ADT, which has instructions to call key Microlab
staff.
In addition to hand-activated pull stations, the HAZMAT alarm is automatically triggered by the Microlab corrosive and toxic gas monitoring system.
Lab members should activate the HAZMAT alarm if they
suspect a corrosive or toxic gas leak.
4.4.
Safety Awareness
Please report safety problems
you encounter, on the wand using FAULTS. The equipment
name is safety. Safety problems may also be reported on the wand in:
In
addition, a Safety Suggestion Box is installed near the
first aid kit. Your ideas and observations will be appreciated.
Lab members must obey all DO NOT OPERATE
and LOCKOUT tags, and equipment locked messages. Do not try to
operate the equipment with these designations.
5.
Restrictions
a) Gowning
Sandals,
hi-heels or going barefoot is not permitted in the
Microlab. Shorts are permitted only if the visitor wears overalls (bunny
suit) for complete coverage. Wearing of contact lenses in
the lab is discouraged due to the hazard of trapping chemicals in or under your
lenses. Soft or hydrated contact lenses may contain up to 50% water
by weight and can become irritating if they absorb chemical
vapors. If you choose to wear contact lenses in the lab, you do so at your own
risk. For reasons of safety, radios or headphones are not
allowed in the Microlab. Personal headphones may be used at the reception
area workstations only.
Labmembers must wear
safety glasses while in the Microlab. Prescription
safety glasses are available through the Optometry Department in
Minor Hall and can be recharged to your contract. To make an appointment for
prescription eyewear, first obtain an Interdepartmental Order Charge (IOC) from
your grant administrator and then schedule an appointment with Cal Eye Care (http://www.caleyecare.com/).
Under certain circumstances, such as the presence of laser or UV sources,
further specialized eyewear may be required. Send an e-mail to Bob Hamilton if
you anticipate this need.
b)
Movement
Walk, don’t run. The Microlab can be crowded, boots are slippery and people are carrying sharp or corrosive things. This is especially important at sinks, which, often more than one person will be using at a time.
c) Food and Beverage
Consuming food or beverages in any part of the Microlab, including the lobby, is forbidden. Use the kitchen/coffee room across the hallway for this purpose.
d) Cell Phone Usage
Cell phone usage
is permitted in the Microlab in hallway, gowning and lobby areas only. Cell
phones must not be used in laboratory equipment areas or when operating
equipment. Lab members are reminded to be courteous to other members when using
a cell phone.
e) Music
Players
Music players and personal entertainment devices are
permitted in the Microlab in hallway, gowning and lobby areas only. These
devices cannot be used in laboratory equipment areas or when operating
equipment.
6.6.
First
Aid
Injuries, such as minor burns and cuts can be treated with the first aid kit located in the main hallway inside the lab. In addition, the Microlab Office, room 406 Cory Hall has additional first aid kit and stocks additional safety items. Please report all use of first aid items using the WAND under equipment problem - safety. Note: the first aid kit can be removed from the wall if necessary.
Injuries, which require treatment by a health care professional, must be documented. This includes filling out a Workman’s’ Compensation Report and an Occupational Accident, Injury or Illness Investigation Report. These forms are available in the Microlab Office and should be completed within 24 hours of medical treatment or on the Monday following a weekend.
Lab
members familiar with first aid should come to the aid of colleagues.
CHEMICAL SAFETY
1. Chemical Information and Reference Materials
Microlab
members use chemicals both stocked by the Microlab and those provided by members
themselves. Chemicals stocked in the Microlab are for use in the Microlab and
Cory Hall laboratories, and not for use in other departments or research
facilities. You can view the list of stocked chemicals on the wand:
Familiarize
yourself with any chemicals you plan to use in your research. Several
references are available in the lobby workstation area. Use a search engine,
such as www.google.com and http://www.ucmsds.com to secure Material
Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) and for additional information on chemicals and
materials prior to working with them. You may
also consult with the UCB Office of Environmental Health and Safety regarding
the properties and toxicology of your prospective chemicals. Contact EH&S
at 642-3188 or check www.ehs.berkeley.edu.
Be aware: The Microlab has special restrictions on the use of some chemicals
such as elemental mercury and
mercury compounds.
A Special Chemical is any chemical that is
not supplied and stocked by the Microlab. This includes but is not limited
to: new photoresists, solvents, proprietary wafer
cleaning solutions, plating solutions, adhesives, custom sputter targets and
evaporation source material. Lab
members must review their use of Special Chemicals with Microlab staff and have
all chemicals approved and labeled prior to bringing them into the Microlab. To
bring a Special Chemical into the Microlab follow the procedure below:
a.
Request a Special Chemical review
with Bill Flounders, Microlab Technology Manager. Order special chemicals
through your own department or company. Ordering a minimal quantity reduces the
disposal charge you will incur. You may arrange to have chemicals delivered
directly to the Microlab. Discuss delivery arrangements with Susan
Kellogg-Smith prior to ordering.
b.
Bring two copies of the Material
Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) to the Microlab office before taking your chemical
into the Microlab. If you lose the MSDS delivered with your chemical order, use
a search engine to retrieve a copy.
c.
Following approval of a Special
Chemical, secure an Approved Special Chemical label. Label your
container before taking it into the Microlab. To receive this label, you must
submit two copies of the MSDS and enter data about your chemical in the Special
Chemical Log. Please advise Microlab Staff when you expend or remove the
chemical, and do not intend to replace it.
d.
An unlabeled chemical container is
a general violation of Cal OSHA regulations and may result in a heavy fine for
each such container. Microlab staff will actively seek and dispose of any
special chemical without the Approved Special Chemical label or any other
unlabeled chemical containers in the Microlab.
e.
Chemicals are often passed from
one member of a research group to another, as lab members leave and new ones
join. Members of any research group passing on chemicals have the
responsibility to ensure that new labels are placed on the containers of any
such chemicals, giving new owner and contact information. Microlab staff will
dispose of any Approved Special Chemical if the listed owner has an extinct
account.
2. Protecting
Yourself
Prior to
working with chemicals, make sure to properly protect yourself. If you will
be working with acids, corrosive or other hazardous chemicals, you must
wear chemically rated gloves and a face shield. If you will be working
with large volumes of acids or corrosives, such as when filling a tank in a
wet process station with etchant, or mixing an etchant, you MUST wear an
apron. If gloves, aprons, or face shields aren't readily
available near your location, contact the office and the
necessary items will be provided.
The
surgical gloves you put on when you enter the
lab are for the protection of lab surfaces and
equipment, and are not of sufficient strength to protect against chemical burns
or solvents. Three types of gloves are commonly used in the lab:
a) Surgical
Gloves (latex, tan colored)
These
gloves are available in bins located by the door to the lab. They must be
worn at all times in the lab for the protection of lab surfaces from
contamination of oils and salts on your hands. Keep your gloves clean: Do not
touch your face with them. If you do, change your gloves.
Caution: A small percentage
of people suffer from latex allergies. The Microlab uses
powder-free gloves, which pose less risk for allergic reaction.
If you have or suspect a latex allergy, the Microlab can provide you
with an alternative glove. A more common problem with all gloves
is dermatitis from the moisture held against skin while wearing
gloves. If you have problems with dermatitis, please
report the problem in the Microlab office.
b) Triple
Polymer, Acid Resistant (tan colored)
These
gloves are chemically rated and must be worn whenever you work with etchants,
caustics or corrosives. You can obtain them from the office. Check them
regularly for wear and replace them when needed. If you anticipate immersion or
exposure of your gloved hands, you must leak-check
your rubber gloves. Do this by pressurizing them with a nitrogen gun, then
immersing them in water. Check for bubbles, a sure sign of a leak.
c) Plastic
Polyethylene Gloves (clear, affixed to paper sheets in blue baskets)
These are
available in strategic locations. Their purpose is to limit contamination
with processing materials. Some are attached to paper sheets. Put on
a fresh pair of these gloves over the surgical gloves each time you handle
contamination-sensitive equipment or
samples. An example is the loading of an evaporation boat or e-beam crucible.
Respirators
A
respirator is a half-face device used to protect one from
breathing hazardous fumes. By law and University regulation, you may use a
respirator while working with chemicals with a fume hazard if the chemical
cannot be used under a fume hood or with some other engineering or
administrative control. An example might be dispensing non-standard photoresists on a spinner by hand.
To procure
a respirator, you must make an appointment with
Occupational Health Service's Respiratory Fit Test Clinic at the
3. Transporting
Chemicals Through the Lab
Chemicals
for the Microlab are stored in special cabinets called C-lockers. Those located in the gowning area of
the Microlab are called the chem cabinets. A list of
chemicals is posted on the side of the C-locker next to the lab door.
After removing any item from the C-lockers make sure the doors are closed.
C-locker doors must always remain closed for safety reasons. If you cannot
locate a chemical listed on these inventory sheets, contact the
office.
Chemicals
in glass bottles must be transported through the lab with special protection.
Individual glass bottles must be placed in polyethylene safety carriers located
on the shelves across from the C-lockers. Remember to return these
safety carriers to the front of the lab when you are done with them.
Be sure to
check that there are no bottles of the chemical
you need in your area before bringing in and opening
new ones. Once you open a chemical bottle, never return it to a chem cabinet.
4. Working
with Chemicals
Always
work with chemicals at a fume hood or a wet process station!
Fume hoods and wet process stations are exhausted,
with face velocities greater than 100
feet/minute. Make sure that sashes are adjusted to the arrow settings. This assures proper exhaust
velocity.
Working with Gallium
Arsenide (GaAs)
III-V
compound semiconductor researchers should review the Material Safety Data Sheet
(MSDS) for Gallium Arsenide prior to working with this material. Gallium
Arsenide is ranked as a possible carcinogen if it is heated in air above
285ºC. Volatile arsenic oxides form at this temperature in air. In addition,
Gallium Arsenide is a hazard when ground, cut, or polished.
Grinding
or wet lapping must be done in a fume hood in 432c. These operations must
be done wet and residues must be
rinsed in sink432c. No dry grinding or lapping of GaAs is
allowed without hazard assessment by Bob Hamilton or the campus
office of Environment Health &
Safety.
Waste
substrates should be disposed of in the Heavy Metal Waste container
located in the Surplus Chemical Cabinet, located in room 432b.
Dry Chemicals
See Category
c on the WAND for dry chemical inventory. When measuring out chemicals
never pour a chemical back into its reagent bottle. This can contaminate
the remaining chemical in the bottle. When removing
dry chemicals, pour them out when possible. Scoop only when
necessary and use freshly cleaned spatulas.
If you pour out too much, instead of throwing the excess away,
you might want to store it in a clean, labeled container for
your use later.
Solutions
► When mixing acids with water, remember to ADD ACID TO
WATER and NEVER WATER TO ACID! An exception to this rule is the
wafer cleaning solution called Piranha. This
solution is a mixture of sulfuric acid and
hydrogen peroxide. Piranha solution is made by adding H2O2 to
H2SO4. When mixing several acids with water, add the
weakest one first.
WARNING: Two potentially serious accidents
have occurred in the Microlab with lab members working with hot
piranha solutions in beakers. The accidents were virtually
identical. Fortunately, no serious injuries occurred but both
accidents had the potential for severe injury.
These accidents occurred when lab members used wafer
holders made in a machine shop. In both cases the
material was assumed to be Teflon®, a flu
polymer, which is one of
the few plastics compatible with hot piranha. In both
cases users were wrong and the plastic reacted violently with hot piranha
splashing liquid onto researchers. Injuries could have been severe because
in each accident LAB MEMBERS FAILED TO WEAR THE REQUIRED
PROTECTIVE SAFETY EQUIPMENT, i.e. face shields.
► Use
appropriate containers for your solutions. Do not use
glassware for HF, as it will dissolve glass. Always place fuming
containers toward the back of the fume hoods where there is maximum exhaust. Do
not leave chemical processes unattended unless absolutely necessary. If you
must leave an area with a process in progress, make sure you
leave your process clearly labeled with your name, the
date, time, your expected time of return, where you can be reached (if you
will be gone more than 10 minutes) and the chemicals
involved.
► If you encounter a spill at a sink of an unknown solution,
first check the pH. The pH test strips can be found in plastic dispensers located in:
1)
Room 432C, in a container mounted on the side of the white cabinets opposite the dry chemical
storage cabinet.
2)
Near sink3 (GL2).
3)
By the Sun workstation in V1.
Color charts
with reading instructions are laminated and
posted by these dispensers. The pH test strips are calibrated to read from 0-14
pH.
If the spill solution is strongly acidic or strongly basic, use a sink deck hose to flush the solution into the sink. If it is near neutral or you have finished flushing, use a Techni-cloth to wipe and dry the surface. When finished, rinse the Techni-cloth and dispose of it.
5. Toxic Metals & Metal Dust
Toxic
metals and even some common metals such as copper and nickel have health risks.
When handling all metals, minimize the risk of ingestion and inhalation. Use
damp towels, the house vacuum cleaner or a portable HEPA vacuum to clean up
dust and debris. Portable OSHA-rated HEPA vacuum cleaners are available in 157,
188 and 432 Cory Hall. Avoid using N2
blow off guns.
General
Procedures for Handling Unreactive Hazardous
Materials:
►
Minimize quantities.
► Clear your work area before starting.
► Protect bench tops using disposable covering.
► Change gloves each time you change work venue. For example, if the phone
rings, take off your gloves before answering it. Do not re-use gloves, even if
they look clean.
► Confine the material as you work. Clean up stray material before it can
disperse: DO NOT WAIT till the job is done.
► Avoid chemical etching of contaminated parts where possible. The etch
solutions are typically a contact hazard in their own right and convert even
inert toxics into contact hazards.
► Mechanical cleaning should be down at low velocity, especially if the
work must be done dry. For MBE and MOCVD cleanup, use the HEPA vacuum cleaner
available in 157 Cory. Portable HEPA vacuums are also available in 188 and 432
Cory.
► Whenever possible, use water or 2-propanol to help confine dust.
6. Working
Chemical Storage
Chemicals
in use MUST be stored in chemical storage cabinets, bins or lockers. Chemical
bottles cannot be left on the floor areas of the Microlab. Glass bottles must be
in spill-proof storage containers. Violating the Microlab chemical use policy
may result in suspension of Microlab access.
Lab members occasionally find it
handy and economical to save chemical solutions for on-going use. Typically, the
solutions saved are precious metal plating baths where the value of the metal
is an incentive to conserve it. However, these solutions often contain highly
toxic cyanide.The Microlab requires lab members to
store plating and other working solutions securely in screw-top containers.
Screw-top containers also protect solutions against contamination. Plastic wrap
or aluminum foil covers are not acceptable. All chemical containers must be
labeled with the lab member’s login name, contact information and detailed
contents of the container. Microlab staff will dispose of any improperly
stored working solutions.
7. Personal
Hygiene
UCB
EH&S and Microlab recommend that lab users wash their hands after leaving
the Microlab, even if no known exposure has occurred. Remember that the
surgical gloves you must wear at all times while in the Microlab,
are intended to protect equipment and materials, not your hands.
Gloves are never to be worn outside
the cleanroom or when traveling from one laboratory
to another. Be sure to remove your gloves before leaving the Microlab or any
satellite laboratories. Gloves are a well documented mechanism of transferring
chemical contaminants. e.g. via office telephone
or elevator buttons. Telephones within the laboratory are handled with gloves
only.
8. Chemical
Disposal
When you
are through with your process, clean up completely. Proper disposal procedures:
► Acids
(including piranha), acetone and alcohols must be aspirated from
their containers. An aspirator has a Teflon® tube through which it
sucks a liquid from a container. All Microlab wet
sinks and fume hoods have an aspirator. The fresh water plenum flush
is automatically activated when an aspirator is turned on. The plenum flush
adds water to aspirated waste, further diluting it. The diluted waste solution
buffered to adjust the pH before it is sent down the waste system drain. NEVER
POUR ACID, ACETONE or ALCOHOL directly down a drain: Always use the aspirator.
Never mix solvents with acids when aspirating – This is a potentially explosive
combination!
► Organic solvents
(except acetone and alcohol) such as chlorobenzene
or TCA (trichloroethane) and photoresist,
should never be aspirated or poured down the drain. Solvents must be poured
into solvent disposal bottles located in specific sinks: sink2, sink4,
sink432a, and sink432c. Open the lid of the special funnel on the solvent
disposal bottle before pouring solvents into it and be sure to close the lid
afterward to prevent the escape of volatile organic compounds. Never pour acid for disposal into a
solvent waster bottle because an explosion may result. Make sure chemical
disposal bottles are not overfilled. When a chemical disposal bottle is
approximately 75% full:
1)
Loosely cap the bottle. DO NOT TIGHTEN
THE CAP. This prevents accidental pressure buildup from breaking the bottle.
2)
Remove the label from the
clipboard associated with the particular chemical disposal bottle. Enter the
summary of contents to the peel-off label and place on the bottle.
3)
Use a safety carrier located in
the front of the lab to transport the chemical disposal bottle to the yellow
Chemical Disposal Cabinet located in the rear of the old lab, R432.
4)
Pick up a replacement chemical
disposal bottle near the Chemical Disposal Cabinet.
► Chemicals
for disposal placed in the Surplus Chemical Cabinet in room 432b must be
labeled with contents and the login name of the lab member placing the
chemicals in the cabinet. Placing unlabeled chemicals for disposal in this
cabinet is a violation of lab policy, which may result in suspension from the
Microlab. You must fill out the Chemical Disposal Manifest Sheet located on top
of the disposal cabinet. Follow the instructions on the Chemical Disposal
Manifest clipboard when labeling waste. Place the ID number from the Manifest
Sheet on the disposal package (write-on labels are provided, if needed). The
bottles are picked up by the UCB Environment, Health and Safety Department.
Notify the Microlab office if the storage area is full.
► Bring
empty chemical bottles, plastic or glass, to the chem
room. Use a safety carrier if the bottle is glass. Rinse bottles thoroughly 3
times. Bottles that contained acetone, methanol, 2-propanol (IPA), ethanol, photoresist developers, and floor and lab cleaners, should
be rinsed in the black sink by the door. Bottles, which contained acids or
chlorinated solvents, should be rinsed at sink432c (432C white sink). Sink432c
is a certified fumehood and will prevent exposure to
volatile compounds while rinsing bottles. If you are unsure which sink to use,
use sink432c. Wear a face shield and chemical resistant gloves while doing so.
Once the bottle has been rinsed 3 times, scratch its label with a can opener,
which can be found attached to the cabinet near the black sink. The scratched
label indicates that the bottle has been properly rinsed.
► Clean glass bottles go in the recycle can located directly
outside the chem room door. Clean plastic bottles,
which have been emptied of buffered HF or peroxide, go in the recycle can
located farther down along the same wall. Bottles, which have been emptied of
silicon etch, which is mixed by lab staff, should be rinsed but not discarded.
Place properly rinsed bottles in the white chemical cabinet to the right of
sink432c.
9. Chemical
Exposure
► if you are exposed to chemicals, you must immediately remove
all affected clothing. Flush the affected areas with water for 15 minutes,
not less. Use the emergency shower and/or eyewashes as necessary. The
location of the safety showers and eyewashes are clearly marked with signs
and identified on a map that follows this safety section.
Memorize the locations of the safety shower and eyewashes.
► Contact a staff
member after you have flushed the exposed area with water. If exposure occurs
in the evening or on a weekend, contact a staff member listed on the Emergency
Response Plan posted by the phones. The Emergency Response Plan
is also available on the WAND, S Safety, and Trouble
& Prevention. All injuries occurring in the
Microlab must be reported to the office within 24 hours or on the
Monday following a weekend.
► Exposure
of the eyes requires flushing with water for at least 15 minutes. As
a precaution, all exposures to the eye will require a visit to an emergency
room for a check up. Contact a staff member as soon as possible for assistance
or call 911.
► If your eyes are exposed to a chemical while working at a
wet process station, utilize the DI water deck hose to flush
your eyes instead of trying to make your way to an eyewash station.
Hold your eyes open and flush continuously for 15 minutes. The
DI deck hoses will be your fastest response for
such an emergency when working at a wet process station or sink.
► HF burns
are particularly hazardous. An insidious aspect of HF burns is that there may
not be any discomfort until long after exposure. These burns are extremely serious
and may result in tissue damage as fluoride ions diffuse through tissue. If you
contact HF, flush the area well and be sure to work under and around
your fingernails. Under fingernails and cuticles are the main areas
people receive burns, having washed off the HF without washing under their
nails. If washed off within a few minutes of exposure, HF will
do no harm. Remember, HF may not produce any burning sensation
until after it has already done damage. You should have a physician examine all
HF burns.
First aid for HF burns to skin:
(1)
Remove contaminated clothing.
(2)
Flush with cold water for 15 minutes.
(3)
Gently massage calcium gluconate ointment into
skin.
There is a container of this material in the
Microlab First Aid Kit, in the main hallway, and by the sinks where HF is
used.
(4)
Report any HF burns to the office during work hours or call Bob
Hamilton at 644-3329.
(5)
Seek medical attention at
10. Chemical
Spills
In the
event of a chemical spill, the Microlab has an inventory of spill pillows
and spill blankets to clean up and contain wet chemicals. These
are located in
the main hallway, in the old lab and in our
spill cleanup kits. The material used in these pillows and blankets, is
selected for large moisture retention and its ability to neutralize acids.
During
normal working hours Microlab staff will clean up chemical spills. If you need
to clean up a spill after hours or on a weekend, obtain one of the spill kits.
There are two of these, one in the main hallway and one under the
telephone table in
the old lab. These kits contain the needed
materials to safely cleanup a spill. Instructions are on the Wand under:
Report all spills using the FAULTS program on
the wand under equipment problem - safety.
DISPOSAL OF HAZARDOUS OBJECTS
1. Broken
Glassware
Broken
glassware should be disposed of by depositing in the
galvanized pails designed for broken glass disposal. These pails are
located in the front of the old lab (432), in CY2
and TC service areas. Contact a staff member if you need help
disposing of broken glass. The galvanized pails protect the custodial staff
from accidental injury from broken glass.
2. Wafers
Check with
the Process Engineering Manager before throwing away whole wafers. Some can be
recycled or used as dummies for the svgcoat and/or
disco saw. Wafers and broken wafers are disposed of in the same pails
as broken glass.
3. Needles
and Razor Blades
Needles
and razor blades should be disposed of in the large pink plastic
containers provided throughout the Microlab. If these plastic containers are
full, contact the Microlab office and they will be emptied. Do not
dispose of needles or razor blades in the waste cans!
4. Broken
Thermometers
Because of
the danger presented by metallic mercury the Microlab no longer sells mercury
thermometers to lab members, but a few may still be in use. Broken mercury
thermometers should be disposed of in the heavy metal waste
container located in the Surplus Chemical Cabinet in 432b. Contact a staff
member for assistance if you break a mercury thermometer. Non-mercury thermometers do not represent a
toxic disposal issue.
COMPRESSED GASES
1. Handling
Gas Cylinders