Eyewash stations are necessary safety equipment utilized in the event of exposure to your eyes or face. An eyewash station is activated by pushing a handle (eyewash station designs can vary). Eyewash stations are required to have a minimum flow rate of 0.4 gallons per minute. The eyewash station should have a controlled flow to both eyes simultaneously at a velocity low enough to be non-injurious. The eyewash station will remain on until intentionally turned off. The water should be at a tepid temperature (above 60 °F (16 °C) and below 100 °F (38 °C)). To turn off the eyewash station, push the lever back into its original position to stop water flow. In the event of an exposure to your eyes or face, flush the area or your eyes for 15 minutes. Avoid placing electrical equipment near the eyewash station. Annual inspections and testing are completed by RMS. This inspection evaluates the basic mechanical functionality of each station. Any deficiencies are repaired by UNT facilities maintenance staff.

Any areas that store or use hazardous materials (especially corrosive materials), are required to have an eyewash station. If an eyewash station is NOT present in your laboratory or an area where chemicals are used, notify RMS immediately. Eyewash stations should be accessible within 10 feet of unimpeded travel distance from the corrosive material hazard.

Laboratory personnel are responsible for monthly activations of all eyewash stations in their laboratory or area. This will keep the system free of sediment and prevent bacterial growth from reducing performance. If an eyewash is not functioning properly (i.e., water velocity is too high or too low, temperature is too cold or too hot, not turning on) please contact Facilities and submit a work order.

If lab personnel get a hazardous chemical splashed onto their face or eyes, activate the eyewash station for 15 minutes or until emergency response have personnel arrive and begin treatment. Have someone around call 911, or if you are by yourself, call 911.

• It is important to NOT work alone, as in situations such as splashing a chemical into your eyes - it will be very difficult to navigate and locate an eyewash station while temporarily blinded.
• When using an eyewash station, hold your eyes open in the water for 15 minutes while rolling your eyes around (make sure your hands are clean and you have removed contaminated gloves).
• If you have contacts, rinse your eyes for a few minutes before taking the contacts out and then go back to rinsing your eyes for an additional 15 minutes.
  • If someone else is in the lab with you, have them set a timer for 15 minutes.
  • If possible and can use voice activation with a cell phone and you are alone, try to set a timer for 15 minutes.

Safety Showers

Safety showers are necessary safety equipment utilized in the event of a larger scale exposure. A safety shower is activated by pulling down on the handle (safety shower designs can vary). Approximately 20 gallons of water per minute comes out of the safety shower when activated. The safety shower will remain on until intentionally turned off. To turn off the safety shower, push the lever back into its original position to stop water flow. The water should be at a tepid temperature (above 60 °F (16 °C) and below 100 °F (38 °C)). In the event of an exposure and your clothing is contaminated with chemicals, remove them, and activate the safety shower and flush the area that was exposed for 15 minutes.  Avoid placing electrical equipment near the safety shower. Annual inspections and testing are completed by RMS. This inspection evaluates the basic mechanical functionality of each station. Any deficiencies are repaired either by RMS staff or by UNT facilities maintenance staff.

Any areas that store or use hazardous materials (especially corrosive materials) are required to have a safety shower. If a safety shower is NOT present in your laboratory or an area where chemicals are used, notify RMS immediately. Safety showers should be located within 10 seconds or 55 feet of unimpeded travel distance from the hazard.

If lab personnel are exposed to a hazardous chemical, use the safety shower for 15 minutes or until emergency response have personnel arrive and begin treatment. Have someone around call 911, or if you are by yourself, call 911. Remember to remove all contaminated clothing from the area exposed to the hazardous chemical. Others in the lab should evacuate to allow for privacy. During this time, others in the lab can help by calling 911 and directing the emergency personnel to the lab or area, alerting the PI or supervisor, and alerting RMS to the incident.

Fire Extinguishers

A fire extinguisher must be present in or near each laboratory area. The extinguisher must be appropriate for the classes of fires possible in a particular laboratory. Each fire extinguisher on campus is inspected on an annual basis by the Facilities Services. If you or your laboratory would like to be trained to use a fire extinguisher, please contact RMS.

When working with flammable substances (or water-reactive or pyrophoric materials that can easily ignite), consider the proper control measures to work with these substances safely including but not limited to, wearing a fire resistant/chemical resistant lab coat, using fire resistant gloves, working in an inert atmosphere glovebox with pyrophoric or water reactive materials, and being trained on using a fire extinguisher.

In all cases, if you or your lab is faced with a fire (no matter the size), if you feel uncomfortable handling it - evacuate the lab, pull the fire alarm, and call 911 and RMS.

It is required for all labs to have a fire extinguisher, five lbs., dry chemical type (at least 10BC rating) suitable for class ABC fires except in areas containing machinery with integrated circuits. Placement should be at the exit of each room, or as required permanently attached to a wall, cupboard or similar.  There should be approximately one extinguisher located every 30 feet with discretion used in sharing between one or more rooms. Please refer to 29 CFR 1910.157 and/or Fire Prevention Code regulations to verify compliance with requirements. Area around the fire extinguisher should be kept clear of all items and the fire extinguisher should be clearly marked.

If the lab works with combustible metals or metal alloys, it is required to have a Class D fire extinguisher. Class ABC cannot be used for combustible metal fires. All laboratory personnel should be familiar with the location, use, and classification of the extinguishers in their laboratory.

Class D fire extinguishers can be quite large and heavy, consider acquiring a cart for Class D fire extinguisher so that lab personnel can use one with ease.

Some other safety equipment that your lab might have:

• Fire blankets - if your lab has a fire blanket, consider utilizing the stop, drop, and roll method prior to using a fire blanket. NEVER use a fire blanket if not trained to do so. NEVER wrap someone in a fire blanket while they are standing, this can create a ‘chimney like' effect and draw more in air while pushing the flames higher on the body.
• Safety cans - flammable chemicals > 4 gallons should be kept in UL approved safety containers having a spring loaded cap and a flame arrester.
• Safety Pumps - must be used when dispensing from containers larger than five gallons.
  • NOTE: Safety pumps with flame arrestors are required when dispensing flammable materials from a metal container to a metal container.

Spill Kits

Each laboratory should have a spill response kit available for use. Lab spill kits can either be purchased from a vendor or created by lab personnel. The spill kit needs to accommodate the largest container of each type of hazard present, and be appropriate for the specific hazards present in the lab, such as acids, bases and solvents.

All labs should have a general spill kit inside of the lab. A general spill kit includes:

• Small broom and dustpan (scoop)
• Trash bag (30 gal, 3 mil) or bucket
• Gloves
• Universal spill absorbent
• 1:1:1 ratio of unscented kitty litter, sodium bicarbonate, and sand
• Can also purchase a commercial version

A corrosive spill kit (either for acids or bases) will also include:

• Heavy neoprene gloves
• Sodium Bicarbonate (for acid spills)
• Sodium Bisulfate (for base spills)

A mercury spill kit will also include:

• Absorbent sponges
• Mercury Absorb Powder
• Pump
• Scoop
• Gloves
• Safety glasses
• Baggies
• Labels

A hydrofluoric acid spill kit will also include:

• Polyethylene container
• Calcium carbonate
• Calcium gluconate gel (2.5%) to treat possible exposure

In all cases, if a spill kit is used, all contents should be treated as hazardous material and disposed as hazardous waste. If a spill occurs and a spill kit is used, please contact RMS, report the spill incident, and submit for a hazardous waste request pick-up for all of the contents used in the spill kit. For more information about spills: see Guide for Chemical Spill Response.

First Aid Kits

All labs should have a first aid kit in the lab that is easily accessible. First aid kits should include (OSHA 1910.266):

• Gauze pads (at least 4 x 4 inches).
• Two large gauze pads (at least 8 x 10 inches).
• Box adhesive bandages (band-aids).
• One package gauze roller bandage at least 2 inches wide.
• Two triangular bandages.
• Wound cleaning agent such as sealed moistened towelettes.
• Scissors.
• At least one blanket.
• Tweezers.
• Adhesive tape.
• Latex gloves.
• Resuscitation equipment such as resuscitation bag, airway, or pocket mask.
• Two elastic wraps.
• Splint.
• Directions for requesting emergency assistance.

A first aid kit should be available for each separated room for the lab if the lab has multiple rooms or spaces.