LABORATORY SAFETY MANUAL

Site Map of Manual

Lab Safety Manual
1st Page

Chapter 1
Emergency Response

Chapter 2
General Safety

Chapter 3
Chemical Hygiene Plan

Chapter 4
Radiological Safety

Chapter 5
Biological Hygiene Plan

Chapter 6
Laser Safety

Chapter 7
Administrative Concerns

Chapter 8
Standard & Special Operating Procedures

Chapter 9
Facility Data

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Appendicies

Bibliography

Glossary

Index

On-Campus Contact Information

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1st Rule of Lab Safety

Haz-Waste No-No

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Updated December 1999

General Safety
Section 2.2 - Safety Equipment

G. Flammable-Liquid Storage Cabinets

Cabinets designed for the storage of flammable liquids should be properly used and maintained. Read and follow the manufacturer's information and also follow these safety practices:

1. Store only compatible materials inside a cabinet.
2. Do not store paper or cardboard or other combustible packaging material in a flammable-liquid cabinet.

3. The manufacturer establishes quantity limits for various sizes of flammable-liquid storage cabinets; do not overload a cabinet.

NFPA Guidelines and OSHA Standards on Flammable Liquids are utilized as standards for Worker/Fire Protection at Oklahoma State University. In all laboratory work with flammable liquids the requirements of 29 CFR (H)-(L), NFPA 30, and NFPA 45 should be consulted and followed. Oklahoma State University Environmental Health Services is the local authority having jurisdiction in these matters, and should be contacted for further assistance.

H. Safety Shields

Safety shields should be used for protection against possible explosions, implosions or splash hazards. Laboratory equipment should be shielded on all sides so that there is no line-of-sight exposure of personnel.

Provided its opening is covered by closed doors, the conventional laboratory exhaust hood is a readily available built-in shield. However, a portable shield should also be used when manipulations are performed, particularly with hoods that have vertical-rising doors rather than horizontal-sliding sashes.

Portable shields can be used to protect against hazards of limited severity, e.g., small splashes, heat, and fires. A portable shield, however, provides no protection at the sides or back of the equipment and many such shields are not sufficiently weighted and may topple toward the worker when there is a blast (permitting exposure to flying objects). A fixed shield that completely surrounds the experimental apparatus can afford protection against minor blast damage.