Laboratory Safety
The entire class will participate in laboratory safety training that will be facilitated by the UMass Environmental Health and Safety Department. Safety training will include Chemical and Laboratory Safety, Hazardous Waste Disposal and Fire Safety, and will be conducted in the laboratory setting (Goessmann 61). The instructor, TAs and laboratory staff will strictly enforce safety standards (especially safety glasses)! Failure to comply with safe practice standards will result in your dismissal from the laboratory. A safety committee comprised of the previous round’s group leaders will be responsible for enforcing safe practice in the laboratory (for the first round of experiments the safety committee will consist of the TAs and laboratory staff). If you have not done this in SDeptember, You will be required to do so through the EH&S website with the OWL programs for both Laboratory Sefety and Hazardous Wastes You will present the certificates in laboratory before you work in the laboratory.
Violations will be noted by the TAs and considered in the participation/safety component of the final grade. A Safety Assessment Form for Experiments (SAFE form) must be completed prior to working at a new experimental station and is available on the course website. The Safety Assessment Form (SAFE) provides a rapid means for identifying potential hazards in the Chemical Engineering Laboratory. SAFE acts as a useful reference, which displays possible hazards that can occur at each step in an experiment.
The first section of the form is used for identification of each experiment, which includes the name of the process. Space is provided for the person responsible for filling out the original SAFE form. Experimental procedure for a process may change, which could result in a change in the safety hazards associated with that experiment and make revisions necessary. There is space provided for the person that makes these revisions, as well as a revision number, revision date, and revision approval of the appropriate faculty. Dr. Conner or Les Blauhut are the designated persons to approve the revised SAFE form. The first section also contains a portion that includes the necessary personal protective equipment required for the laboratory. In most experiments, all equipment listed on this form (hard hat, safety glasses, ankle high "boots", long pants) are required, but there are exceptions for some experiments.
The second section of the form is divided into four columns. The first column contains a detailed sequence of steps for an experiment including start-up, run time and shut down. Potential hazards that can occur at each given step of the procedure are listed in the second column. The recommended procedure to prevent these hazards is listed in the third column, and any personal protective equipment required for a given step is listed in the fourth column.
The last section of this form contains the location of safety devices nearest the experiment, as well as an emergency shut down procedure. These safety devices include the nearest fire extinguisher, emergency eye wash and shower, emergency exit, first aid kit, drain and telephone.
The up-to-date SAFE form is to be posted adjacent to the relevant equipment and a copy to be submitted at the time of the oral preliminary report. The SAFE document must be updated with any revisions and submitted with the Final Report.
Safety Links
General Safety Information
Material Safety Data Sheets