Chemical and Environmental Safety

Environment, Health and Safety Department, 30 East Campus Mall, Madison, WI 53715-1227
Phone 265-5000

Improving Your Laboratory's Chemical & Environmental Safety

How To Work With Chemicals In An Environmentally Sound And Safe Way
An Introduction to university chemical and environmental safety services for faculty and principal Investigators.

We're Here to Help

The Chemical Safety and Disposal Guide (the Guide) details our services. Every laboratory should have one; please call us for a free copy. The Guide will help you work with chemicals safely, maintain compliance with safety and environmental laws, and illustrate ways to minimize risks to your associates and the environment.

We work closely with the University Chemical Safety Committee, which is appointed by the Chancellor and is comprised of faculty and staff. This Committee sets campus policy on safe and environmentally sound management of chemicals.

In An Emergency, Dial 911

In an emergency that cannot be handled by an individual, dial 911 immediately. University Police and Security (P&S) will tell you what to do and, if appropriate, will contact the Fire Department. The Madison Fire Department cleans up serious chemical spills on campus.

Protect Your People

There are several ways to protect your personnel from exposure to toxic chemicals. The first step is safety training to understand chemical hazards and protective measures. Review questions are at the end of each part of the Guide. Also, the Safety Department offers free Welcome Week Laboratory Health and Safety Training at the beginning of each semester; call for the time and place of the next session. We also can offer group safety training--call us!

Protection of You and Your Staff

To protect your laboratory workers, make these standard lab practices:

• Use a fume hood whenever possible with volatile and airborne chemicals
• Use gloves and other personal protective equipment
• Require use of safety glasses at all times in the laboratory--it's State law!
• Wash hands often
• Dispose of all chemicals safely
• To prevent accidental ingestion, forbid eating, drinking or use of tobacco products in labs

We'll Help You Survive OSHA

University laboratories are subject to an OSHA inspection by the State Department of Industry Labor and Human Relations. To comply with OSHA laws you need to:

• Write a Chemical Hygiene Plan for your laboratory (see Appendix C of the Guide)
• Maintain a binder with Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs) for each chemical used in your laboratory
• Fully label all chemical containers and keep labels of incoming chemicals intact
• Carcinogens, reproductive toxins (mutagens and teratogens) and acutely toxic chemicals require special precautions, as described in the Guide

Call the Environment Health & Safety Department if you need assistance for OSHA compliance.

Prevent and Prepare for Accidents

Even if no one is injured, a laboratory fire can be devastating for your research program. Labs are often full of flammable liquids and ignition sources. You can prevent a catastrophe by following these practices:

• Store flammable liquids in specially-designed cabinets
• Limit volumes outside of these cabinets to what is required for a day's work
• Learn to use a fire extinguisher--the Environment, Health & Safety Department offers free workshops; call for times and places
• Post your lab entrance with a "Laboratory Emergency Information" poster (available from the Environment, Health & Safety Department) to inform firefighters of possible hazards and ensure a prompt response.

Chemical spills can also hamper research. Mercury spills from broken thermometers are far too common. Your staff should know how to confine and clean up a spill, and have a spill kit available. See the Guide or call us for more information.

We'll Help You Pass an EPA Inspection

Your laboratory may be inspected by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for hazardous waste storage and disposal.

For waste organic solvents, the Environment, Health & Safety Department will supply you with a collection carboy at no charge. Keep solvent containers tightly capped to prevent evaporation and worker exposure, and to minimize the risk of a spill. Chemical disposal by evaporation is a violation of federal law.

Some chemicals can be safely disposed of in the normal trash and sanitary sewer, as described in Part G of the Guide. For materials that cannot be disposed of in the normal trash, sanitary sewer or in a carboy, call the Environment, Health & Safety Department for a pickup. Hazardous glass and sharps also merit special disposal precautions. Refer to the Guide for specific procedures. All chemical disposal services are available from the Safety Department at no cost to you.

To prevent pollution and minimize waste, remember: buy less, store less and use less. Keep containers of volatile chemicals tightly capped to reduce air emissions. Part F of the Guide will give you other ideas.

Call Environment, Health & Safety For:

• A Chemical Safety and Disposal Guide
• If you have chemical wastes to dispose of
• A Laboratory Emergency Information poster
• Any Material Safety Data Sheet
• Other chemical safety information
• Notification of our next Laboratory Health and Safety Training program

Important Phone Numbers