Chemical and Building Safety at PandA

 

1) For the last year, at least, SRS (Safety and Risk Services) at UNM has required the Chemical Safety Officers (CSO's), the Radioactive Materials License holders, and the Building Coordinators (I am all three of these for this department's main building # 207, Campus Observatory # 208, Warehouse # 223, and Capilla Peak Observatory # 402, 402A, 402B, 402C, & 402D), to provide at least annual "area specific training" to all users of UNM buildings, labs and offices. John Gallegos and Mickey Odom  oversee these functions at Regener Hall, and John is the Chemical Safety Officer and Building Coordinator for that building. One of the requirements for this annual training is that a list of the participants be sent to SRS. Therefore, this gathering and the need for you to sign in on the log sheet at the door.

2) This gathering will be for the purposes of Chemical Safety, and general building safety measures. Introducing Grandon Goertz, and/or any others who are attending as the SRS representative(s). SRS web site

3) There is to be a UNM Building Coordinators annual meeting sometime this spring, at which there will be special emphasis placed on some new activities that will involve participation of all UNM Building Coordinators. "These activities will include involvement with UNM's Emergency Management Committee on emergency preparedness at UNM, and also, more stringent fire safety policies and procedures. Building Coordinators will soon be more active than ever before in these areas as well as inspections of buildings and labs throughout the campus." This is not my statement, but those of UNM SRS regarding ALL Building Coordinators. I will be announcing/posting (web site) whatever is covered at that spring meeting, and will have another meeting similar to today's if it is deemed necessary to cover all of the information or requirements presented there. Today's coverage of Building and General Safety, Chemical Safety, and Laser Safety items will be a brief run-down of some of the more important items which we are supposed to be already aware of, and performing. Please pass on as much information as you can, and receive today, to any co-workers, or personnel you have contact with in our buildings who may not have been able to attend today.

 

4) BUILDING SAFETY AND SECURITY (NOTE: Nothing is insignificant)

            A) The importance of keeping all hallways cleared and all doors closed

                        I) Rapid exits in case of fire or other need (earthquake, etc.)

                        II) Visibility throughout building

                        III) Firestorm/wind tunnel effect

                        IV) Security during and after hours, especially for women in the building

                        V) We are in a "Remote" area in many aspects

                        VI) Doors with closers are because they are REQUIRED

a) On lab doors, to contain fire, fumes, smoke, etc.

b) Hall and outside doors to prevent "Wind Tunnel" fire

c) DO NOT prop, or block open ANY doors with closers

 

            B) The importance of maintenance as a safety issue

                        I) Doors/windows which don't latch properly, or hard to pull/push closed

                                    a) Need for fresh air

                                    b) Need to close off outside air

                                    c) Security from a pursuing perpetrator

                                    d) Security from a "sneaking" perpetrator

                                    e) Security from theft (lesser, but at $5000 deductible????)

                                    f) Security from vandalism (Last year's broke glass cases)

                                    g) NOTIFY someone of problems. We can't fix what we know not!

                        II) Ceiling tiles broken or missing (access, fire, looks)

                        III) Door/Panic hardware sloppy or not working

 

            C) The importance of NOT allowing others access

                        I) Embarrasing to tell someone NO?

                                    a) Do you want to be responsible for anything someone else does?

                                    b) They will blame you, if they get caught.

                                    c) If they don't have a key, they are not authorized in the area

                                    d) If you don't know them, how will you identify them later?

                        II) Ask for a PICTURE ID before ANYTHING ELSE

                        III) Explain you are not authorized to grant access

                                    a) Offer to call the Campus Police (7-2241) to let them in

                                    b) Offer to call Elliott Bailey (249-2105, 281-3025)

IV) Any damage or harm done by someone you let in, could be on your conscience.

V) Would you do it in your own home????

 

            D) Perimeter/grounds security

                        I) Keep all gates closed and locked as required

                                    a) Driveway gate open ONLY 8:00am-8:30am M-F

                                    b) North walk-in gate open ONLY 7:30am-5:00pm M-F

                                    c) All other times found open YOU close them, PLEASE!

                                    d) NEVER leave the padlock un-locked hanging on the gate(s)

                                    e) Why not to go park and then come back to close the gate

                                                (Drive-ins, stolen locks, you forget to go back)

                        II) Report any suspicious activity, persons, appearances

                                    a) To Campus Police, Security, Elliott Bailey, Chair

                                    b) Gates left open, broken open, damaged

                                    c) Persons acting strange, erratic, guilty

                                    d) Windows/doors not appropriate

                                    e) You see someone enter, but have questions

                        III) Don't touch anything, or antagonize anyone (Call Police)

                                    a) Might be harmful to you and/or others

                                    b) Might compromise a crime scene

                                    c) LOOK VERY CLOSELY.

                                    d) WRITE down as much as possible right away

            E) Lighting, both inside and out

                        I) Lights are for convenience as well as safety

                        II) Failed outdoor lighting should be reported

III) Hallway lighting should be ON during working hours, especially on ramps, stairs and in dark areas.

                                    a) Joel turns on in the morning

                                    b) Custodians turn off at about 1:00am

                                    c) YOU should turn on if found off in daytime for SAFETY

                                    d) Rooms, labs, restrooms, turned OFF when not used for economy

 

5) CHEMICAL SAFETY:

A) What will designate your lab, office, or storage space as an area that will be considered a Chemical use area for inspections, eyewash stations, hazardous spill kits, etc.?

I) Any hazardous or unknown chemicals, whether liquid, powder, or solids found or being used in your room(s) during any of the SRS annual Building/Laboratory inspections or any other time SRS personnel are passing through an area and they notice/find any suspicious or known hazardous chemicals in use. Please note, that as with most of us, if an item LOOKS inappropriate (un-contained, un-labeled, wrong type of container) we are much more likely to stop and question it. If it is properly labeled, contained, and in its manufacturer's container, we are less likely to stop and question it, but most seriously, it is then, probably, "as it should be" for maximum safety anyway.

II) Notify Elliott Bailey or SRS that you have begun to use a hazardous material in your area and we will assist in getting the area to conform with current rules and regulations.

 

B) What are some current problems in our area with conforming to standards, rules, and regulations?

                        I) MSDS, what are they, where are they, who should use them, why?

                                    a) Material Safety Data Sheets

                                    b) Room 190, Operations web pages, other Universities webs

                                    c) Anyone with a question about a chemical or known material

                                    d) Instruction, warning, protective measures to use, dangers of

II) Personnel using hazardous chemicals without training

a) Your supervisor should provide training BEFORE you use a chemical

b) Elliott Bailey can arrange training BEFORE you begin using a chemical

III) Personnel using hazardous chemicals in labs not designated, labeled, or equipped for that use

            a) Chemicals may be used in any lab that is equipped for that use

b) Elliott Bailey has signs for posting in labs

            c) SRS will provide any signage needed

d) The department, SRS, or your project, should supply all protective or safety equipment required for the chemicals you are using.

IV) Personnel not familiar with the chemicals they are using

a) You should never use any chemical you have not been trained to use

b) If lacking training, demand it before using any chemical

V) Improper or no postings in and around areas using hazardous chemicals

            a) Elliott Bailey has signs for posting in labs

            b) SRS will provide any signage needed

VI) Chemicals not in original manufacturers containers AND not properly labeled by UNM/SRS standards

a) Unless absolutely necessary, do not move the content of a manufacturer's packaging into an un-labeled container. Always label a new container with a label supplied by Elliott Bailey or SRS BEFORE transferring any content to it. Label guides are posted in the labs, in Elliott's office, and on the bulletin board in the hallway outside Elliott's office.

b) Use separate containers supplied by Elliott Bailey or SRS for contaminated (used) chemicals, also properly labeled with the SRS WASTE chemicals labels and containers. Recycle or have SRS dispose of any un-used chemicals regularly.

VII) Areas where chemicals are being used, not kept neat and clean and in a safe, instructive, and orderly manner for all who enter the area.

a) All areas of chemical use shall be kept neat and clean and free of any chemical residue. This includes both the area (room, bench, table, floor, etc.) as well as all the containers and equipment contaminated with the chemicals

b) Any instructive signs or postings required for a chemical, or chemical use area, should be conspicuously posted at the area of use

c) Any hazards to walking, or moving about the chemical use area should be removed, and especially in all areas where there are spill kits, eyewash stations, fire extinguishers and the like. For example, imagine yourself at your workstation and you suddenly and accidentally splash a chemical into both eyes which blinds you, yet you need to get immediately to the nearest eyewash station (blinded). Could you? Do you know where that is? Do you know where the nearest spill kit is, and could you get to it rapidly enough to stop a spill from spreading?

d) A chemical inventory MUST be provided inside of each lab and to SRS for each lab, updated in both, whenever changes occur.

 

e) Fume Hoods are NOT FOR STORAGE of chemicals or equipment. These items hamper the effectiveness of the operation of the hood, and MUST be removed if not in use. Minimize the size and quantity of ANYTHING within the fume hood during operation to maintain the tested air flow capacity. Use hoods with the door open NO FARTHER than the test arrow indicator for best results. No highly flammable chemicals such as gasoline are to be used in any department fume hoods.

VIII) Signs of personnel eating and drinking food in areas of possible chemical contamination and of using chemicals in areas of eating and drinking

a) Can you have chemicals along with food and drink in the same room? How, appropriately?

b) Yes, BUT, proper separation of the eating and drinking area from the chemicals must be maintained and adhered to. See SRS for current guidelines.

c) Refrigerators, freezers, microwaves, etc. must be labeled for either NO FOOD OR DRINK, or for NO CHEMICALS ALLOWED. NEVER, will both be allowed in the same appliance and all appliances in a chemical use room must be labeled either one way or the other.

d) Application of cosmetics (including lipstick, lip balms, chapstick, carmex, etc.) in areas where chemicals are present is considered equivalent to eating or drinking in those areas, and is NOT ALLOWED.

e) Hands should ALWAYS be washed after using ANY chemicals and long hair or loose clothing should be confined while using or handling chemicals.

 

6) LASER SAFETY:

A) Lasers are rated by class. Class I, Class II, Class III, Class IV, and so on…Where Class IV is more dangerous than Class III and so on…

B) Who should be concerned about laser safety? Optics Students, Laser Lab Personnel, and anyone entering a lab with a laser symbol on the door. We will be asking all lab Faculty to ensure that a laser symbol is affixed to ALL Laser lab doors within the next month.

C) Should labs be secured (locked)? YES. When and why? At all times a laser is in operation, or is going to be put into operation, and for best safety, at ALL times.

D) What are the dangers? High Voltage, and Eye Damage.

E) Which labs are serious concerns, which are not so serious? The Optics labs, Rooms 112-114 are not currently considered dangerous. Keep in mind that they could be, with the introduction of any new or upgraded lasers. Rooms 140, 142, 177, B04, B06, B11, B13, and B15, are generally considered dangerous. Room 138 supplies the High Voltage for labs 140 and 142 and is VERY dangerous only due to the High Voltages generated.

F) When should/should you not, enter a lab marked with any laser symbol? NEVER enter any marked laser lab without knocking and obtaining permission first, unless you know for a fact there are no lasers running in that lab. Under NO CIRCUMSTANCES should you EVER enter any laser lab which has a flashing or rotating colored light in the hallway outside the lab. This light means that a harmful laser is now RUNNING. DO NOT ENTER. These labs should all have contact information posted on the outside of the lab in case of emergency entrance required.

G) SRS Laser Safety, is now headed by Jim DeZetter at SRS

H) Laser Faculty within our department are: Dr. J. C. Diels, Dr. W. Rudolph, Dr. M. Sheik-Bahae. Consult with any of these Faculty for any laser questions.

 

7) RADIATION SAFETY:

A) Posted labs allow no one to enter under the age of 18 unless pre-approved by SRS and no radioactive materials are allowed in the lab from the approval until after a visit.

            B) Users must receive training and be one of the department's approved users

C) No sources are allowed in any radioactive materials lab without an approved user present, unless locked in an approved source lock-box.

            D) NO FOOD OR DRINK is allowed in the marked labs at ANY time.

            E) No chemicals shall ever be mixed with radioactive materials

F) Radioactive materials shall NEVER be left out of the containment box (shielded) or in an experiment without a certified user present unless a special note is attached to the (closed and locked) lab door exterior stating that a source is in use, and ONLY certified Radioactive Materials Handlers may enter the room.

G) Refrigerators, freezers, microwaves, must be labeled NO FOOD OR DRINK ALLOWED. NEVER will any food or drink be allowed in a Radioactive materials labeled room.

H) Radioactive Materials labels are NEVER to be removed by anyone other than SRS.

 

8) ELECTRICAL SAFETY:

            A) No extension cords may be used for more than 90 days

B) Nothing may be placed on the floor or in front of, any electrical switch, breaker, or disconnect box or panel for 3’ in front of or 2’ to either side of the unit

C) No multiple plug strips may be “chained” one-to-another

 

9) FIRE SAFETY:

A) Do you know where the fire alarm pull stations are located?

B) Do you know where all fire extinguishers are located?

C) What does the fire alarm sound like?

D) Where is the nearest exit from your office or lab?

E) What is the phone number to call in case of fire?  911