Control Measures and Equipment

Laboratory Design: Each laboratory should have:

1. An appropriate general ventilation system with air intakes and exhausts so as to avoid the intake of contaminated air that exceeds PEL/TLV levels.
2. Adequate, well-ventilated storage areas.
3. Laboratory hoods and sinks.
4. Access to safety equipment including eyewash fountains, safety showers, and fire extinguishers. Respiratory protection, a fire alarm and telephone for emergency use should be available nearby.
5. Arrangements for waste storage and disposal.

Ventilation:

Laboratory ventilation should:

1. provide a source of air for breathing and for input to local ventilation devices,
2. not be relied on for protection from toxic substances released into the laboratory, and
3. provide four to 12 room changes per hour.

Laboratory-type hoods should:

1. be used for work with hazardous chemicals, especially toxic chemicals that have low air concentration limits, or that have high vapor pressures,
2. provide 2.5 linear feet of space per person for every 2 workers that spend most of their time working directly with hazardous chemicals,
3. provide a hood face velocity of 80-120 fpm,
4. not be used as storage areas for chemicals, apparatus or other materials,
5. not to be used to evaporate solvents (except small quantities of volatile materials)

Work inside the hood should be conducted at least six inches from the front edge of the hood.

Hood sashes should be lowered at all times except when necessary to raise them to adjust the apparatus inside the hood.

The hood fan should be kept "on" whenever a chemical is inside the hood, whether or not any work is being done in the hood.

Do not allow solid objects to enter the hood's exhaust duct. Hood ducts and fans should be inspected semi-annually by maintenance personnel at frequent intervals to be sure they are clean and clear of obstructions.

Fume hoods should be maintained in satisfactory operating condition at all times. Performance levels should be monitored annually or whenever a change in local ventilation devices is made. Any hood with inadequate performance should be repaired immediately.

Canopy hoods and snorkels should be provided as needed. Each canopy and snorkel should have a separate duct.

Exhaust air from vacuum pumps and glove boxes should be vented directly into the building exhaust system.

Cold rooms should have provisions for rapid escape in the event of electrical failure.

Safety Equipment:

All laboratories should be equipped with eyewash fountains and safety showers. These should be located so that they can be reached from any point in the laboratory.

Access to eyewash fountains and safety showers should not be restricted or blocked in any way.

Fire extinguishers should be type tri-class ABC and should comply with the guidelines set forth in the University Comprehensive Safety Plan.