Laboratory

E,H&S will coordinate with Facilities Services to schedule certification of all biological safety cabinet and/or laminar flow hoods.  

If you’re equipment is not working, please contact E,H&S.

Laboratory chemicals on the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Chemical of Interest List may not be purchased via P-Card. All other laboratory chemicals purchased via the P-Card must be on the laboratory's Chemical Inventory List as required in the University's Laboratory Safety Manual.

For each P-card holder purchasing laboratory chemicals, this form, which authorizes chemical purchases on the P-Card, must be signed by the Department Chair and maintained by the department as described in the Record Retention Schedule.

To request approval to purchase lab chemicals on your P-Card, your supervisor must fill out the form below.  

Chemical Purchases P-Card Authorization

• Assume that any unfamiliar chemical is hazardous and treat it as such.
• Know all the hazards of the chemicals with which you work. For example, perchloric acid is a corrosive, an oxidizer, and reactive. Benzene is an irritant that is also flammable, toxic, and carcinogenic.

• Never underestimate the potential hazard of any chemical or combination of chemicals. Consider any mixture or reaction product to be at least as hazardous as – if not more hazardous than – its most hazardous component.

• Never use any substance that is not properly labeled.  It may not be what you think it is!
• Date all chemicals when they are received and again when they are opened. 
• Follow all chemical safety instructions, such as those listed in Safety Data Sheets or on chemical container labels, precisely.
• Minimize your exposure to any chemical, regardless of its hazard rating, and avoid repeated exposure.
• Use personal protective equipment (PPE), as appropriate for that chemical.
• Use the buddy system when working with hazardous chemicals.  Don’t work in the laboratory alone.

Proper chemical storage is as important to safety as proper chemical handling. Often, seemingly logical storage ideas, such as placing chemicals in alphabetical order, may cause incompatible chemicals to be stored together.

For more information on general storage guidelines, separating and storing hazardous chemicals, refer to Section 7-Chemical Storage Guidelines in the Lab Safety Manual located in your laboratory or can be found in the Origami and other Resources page on this website.

• Only trained personnel should attempt to clean up spills. Cleaning up chemical spills is dangerous and should only be performed by professionally trained persons.
• Clear all persons from the area who are not directly involved in the cleanup.
• Obtain a Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for the chemical that was spilled.
• Place all cleanup materials in a sealed container and contact EHS for disposal.
• If unsure, contact EHS immediately.

• In case of an emergency, contact the University Police Department (UPD) by dialing 361-825-4444 so they can assist with the emergency.
• If an ambulance is needed, alert UPD.
• If fire alarm sounds or when there is a fire, instruct the class to shut off any ignition sources, evacuate the class calmly and orderly to a location outside of the building and stay at least 100 feet from the building until an “ALL CLEAR” is given by UPD.

• Ethics Point: 1-888-501-3850. This anonymous tip line may be called to report risk (generally unsafe conditions) or misconduct (waste of campus resources, fraud, etc.) on campus.
• University Police Department (UPD): 361-825-4242.
• Environmental, Health & Safety (E,H&S): 361-825-5555.

• Employees must report accidents to their supervisor who will submit a new incident report in Origami.  Employees can not submit their own report.

Chemical fume hoods will be tested by a qualified vendor on an annual basis. Fume hood certification reports will be sent to the designated laboratory contact. Fume hoods that pass testing will have a  certification sticker affixed to them, indicating the date of testing.  If a fume hood does not pass testing requirements, a sign will be posted on the fume hood indicating that it is not to be used. 

Fume hoods should and will be tested at least annually. Fume hoods should also be tested in the following circumstances:

• When an employee requests an inspection.
• After major repair work.
• After a fume hood is moved.

Fume hood testing includes measuring the velocity of airflow through the face of the hood as well as a general inspection of the hood’s condition (sash, lighting, noise level, etc.).  If you suspect a problem with your fume hood, contact Facilities Services.

NOTE:  Signs indicating a fume hood is inoperable may only be removed by E,H&S personnel. 

• General – Assigned to new or newly relocated employees by their administrative location (adloc) in TAMU-CC TrainTraq before they work with or handle hazardous chemicals.
• Work Area Specific – Provided by individual’s supervisor (PI, laboratory manager, etc.)

Before using any chemical, read the appropriate Safety Data Sheet (SDS).  An SDS is a document that details information about chemicals and with the container label is a good source of information for chemical safety.

Each person working with chemicals should have access to the SDS for all chemicals they use.  “Access” may be:

• A current hard copy kept in a work area file or binder.
• An electronic copy.

 Safety Data Sheet lookup.

For information on Institutional Review Board, Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) and Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC), visit the Research Compliance website.

• Recordkeeping requirements
• Emergency response requirements

Exemptions-Research laboratories are exempt from the WACI requirements under THCA, however, TAMU-CC requires that all laboratories submit a chemical inventory.

• Primary container labels – Must have the original manufacturer’s label, which includes the chemical name, hazards, and manufacturer’s information.
• Secondary container labels – Must identify the chemical as it is on the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) and the hazards.

Exemptions – Research laboratories are exempt from the secondary container labeling requirements under THCA.  However, TAMUCC requires that all containers be labeled to somehow identify the contents.

4 - Can cause death or major injury despite medical treatment

3 - Can cause serious injury despite medical treatment

2 - Can cause injury. Requires prompt medical treatment

1 - Can cause irritation if not treated

0 - No hazard

4 - Very flammable gases or liquids

3 - Can ignite at normal temperatures

2 - Ignites with moderate heat

1 - Ignites with considerable preheating

0 - Will not burn

4 - Readily detonates or explodes

3 - May detonate or explode with strong initiating force or heat under confinement

2 - Normally unstable, but will not detonate

1 - Normally stable. Unstable at high temperature and pressure.

0 - Normally stable and not reactive with water.

Oxidizer - OX

Acid - ACID

Alkali - ALK

Corrosive - COR

Use No Water - W

Radioactive – (see image below)

The Texas Department of State Health Services (TDSHS) and the Texas Commission on  Environmental Quality (TCEQ) regulate the disposal of    biohazardous materials.  Biohazardous materials include organisms or substances derived from biological materials or organisms that may be    harmful to humans, animals, plants, or the environment.  Biohazardous waste includes any waste materials that contain biohazardous materials, such as

• Waste (including blood) from and bedding or litter used by infectious animals 
• Bulk human blood or blood products and waste materials contaminated with human blood
• Microbiological waste (including pathogen-contaminated disposable culture dishes and disposable devices used to transfer, inoculate, and mix pathogenic cultures)
• Biological pathogens
• Sharps
• Any recombinant (rDNA) materials and products of genetic manipulation

Biohazardous waste mixed with hazardous chemical or radioactive waste must be labeled prior to disposal.

There are strict safety requirements regarding segregation, labeling, packaging, treatment (including documentation), and transportation of biohazardous waste.  The guidelines below should be followed:

• Do not mix biological waste with chemical waste or laboratory trash.
• Segregate hazardous biological waste from nonhazardous biological waste.
• Clearly label each container of untreated biohazardous waste and mark it with the Biohazard Symbol.
• It is recommended to label nonhazardous biological waste as "NONHAZARDOUS BIOLOGICAL WASTE." 

Broken glassware and containers must be disposed in the broken glass box only if there is no chemical residue in them. Glassware with chemical residues shall be treated as chemical waste.

Labeling

Your waste will not be removed if not labeled properly.

All containers of hazardous waste must be labeled properly as soon as the first drop of waste is put into a container. Do not wait until the container is full to apply a label.

 Satellite Accumulation Areas

• No more than 55 gallons of any single waste may be accumulated.
• No more than one quart of any single extremely or acutely hazardous waste may be accumulated.
• Waste must be stored in the same room it was generated in, or in another room under the control of the same Principal Investigator (PI). All rooms where waste is accumulated must be close to each other and on the same floor.
• Labs operating as satellite accumulation areas (SAAs) may accumulate or hold waste for up to nine months. It may take up to a month to have waste removed after submitting a pickup request, so you should submit your request before eight months have passed.

Storing Waste and Store Time Limits

For EH&S to safely manage waste, your label must include the following:

• The date the waste began accumulating.
• Contact information for the generator of the waste (name and phone number).
• Location of the waste (building and room).
• List of all waste components, including the concentration of each (totaling 100%).
• Hazard(s) of the waste (e.g. flammable, corrosive, reactive, toxic).

To request waste removal from your laboratory fill out the Waste Removal Request form.

Empty containers with a volume of less than five gallons can be disposed of in regular trash only if the labels are defaced, and the containers must be rinsed a minimum of three times, making sure the washings are collected and disposed of as chemical waste.

• Never dispose of chemicals improperly. Improper disposal includes:
  1. Pouring chemicals down the drain.
  2. Leaving uncapped chemical containers in the fume hood to evaporate off the chemical; and
  3. Disposing of chemicals in the regular trash.
• Collect waste in a leak proof container that is in good condition, that can be securely closed, and that is appropriate and compatible for the given chemical.

When the waste container is ready for disposal, it should be labeled as Hazardous Waste.  These labels may be affixed or attached to the container.  Fill out the label following the guidelines below:

• The words “Hazardous Waste” must be used for chemicals requiring disposal.
• List all chemical components, including water, with an approximate percentage of the materials in the container.
• Use full chemical names or common names. Chemical formulas or abbreviations are not acceptable.
• Indicate the percent concentration of potentially explosive materials such as picric acid and nitro compounds.
• Place additional hazard information on the label
• Attach the label to the container.

Under no circumstances shall any hazardous waste be disposed of by pouring down the drain. TAM-UCC strictly follows a no drain policy on hazardous chemicals.

For further information on waste disposal call E,H&S Department at 825-5555.

E,H&S is responsible for the following:

1. Develop and approve appropriate safety policies.
2. Recommending changes to improve the safety environment and/or correct safety concerns.
3. Ensure employees with the appropriate chemical or biohazard exposure are assigned Texas Hazard Communication, Texas Precursor Chemical, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), and /or Bloodborne Pathogens training. 
4. Develop and provide safety-related training.
5. Investigate reported laboratory accidents, especially those resulting in injury, to evaluate for trends. Recommend action with the purpose of reducing the likelihood of another accident.
6. Provide technical guidance on matters of laboratory safety.
7. Assist laboratory personnel in the development of a Plan of Action for responding to incidents in the laboratory.
8. Assist laboratory personnel in evaluating, preventing, and controlling hazards.
9. Oversee the adoption and implementation of all TAMU-CC environmental, health and safety policies.

Arms and hands are vulnerable to cuts, punctures, burns, bruises, electrical shock, chemical spills, and amputation.  Forms of hand protection available to employees include but are not limited to:

• Disposable exam gloves
• Chemical resistant gloves (rubber, nitrile, neoprene, etc.)
• Non-asbestos heat-resistant gloves
• Metal-mesh gloves for meat cutters
• Kevlar or Dynema gloves for cut-resistance
• Bite-resistant gloves

Always wear the appropriate hand and arm protection. Double your hand   protection by wearing multiple gloves when necessary (e.g., two pairs of disposable gloves for work involving biological hazards). For arm protection, wear a long-sleeved shirt, a laboratory coat, chemical-resistant sleeves, or gauntlet-length gloves.

Follow these guidelines to ensure arm and hand safety:

• Inspect and test new gloves for defects.
• Always wash your hands before and after using gloves.
• Wash reusable chemical-protective gloves with soap and water before removing them.
• Do not reuse disposable gloves. Turn disposable gloves inside-out as you remove them to avoid contaminating your hands.
• Do not wear gloves near moving machinery; the gloves may become caught.
• Do not wear gloves with metal parts near electrical equipment.

Hazards that threaten the torso tend to threaten the entire body. A variety of protective clothing, including laboratory coats, long pants, rubber aprons, coveralls, and disposable body suits are available for specific work conditions, including the following:

•  Rubber, neoprene, and plastic clothing protect employees from most acids and chemical splashes.
• Laboratory coats, coveralls, and disposable body suits protect employees and everyday clothing from contamination by chemicals, biological materials, dirt, and grime, etc.
• Welding aprons provide protection from sparks.
• Chain mail aprons provide protection for meat cutters.

Launder reusable protective clothing separate from other clothing. Do not launder protective clothing at home or in any public facilities outside of the university. A laundry service that specializes in biological or chemical contaminants may be used.

Employees must wear protection if hazards exist that could cause eye or face injury.  Eye and face protection should be used in conjunction with equipment guards, engineering controls, and safe practices.

 NOTE: Unless it is documented that there is no potential for eye injury to occur,    ssafety glasses are required in laboratories. Chemical splash goggles should be worn when handling chemical materials.

Always wear adequate eye and face protection when performing tasks such as grinding, buffing, welding, chipping, cutting, pouring chemicals or pipetting.  Safety glasses or goggles should be worn in case of impact hazard.  Chemical splash goggles provide the most effective eye protection against chemical splashes as well as protection against impact.

Follow the information below regarding eye protection:

• If you wear prescription glasses, goggles or other safety protection should be worn over the glasses.
• Safety glasses with side-shields provide protection to eyes and are four times as resistant as prescription glasses to impact injuries.
• Goggles protect against impacts, sparks, chemical splashes, dust, etc., but not all goggles provide the same type of protection. There are specific goggles for:
• Wood-working or other impact hazards
• Chemical splash hazards
• Laser hazards
• UV hazards
• Welding hazards
• A face shield is designed to protect the face from some splashes or projectiles but does not eliminate exposure to vapors.

Laboratory Registration should be completed annually and/or upon assignment of lab, studio, or clinic space.

*Even if chemicals or other hazardous materials are not used in your lab, you are required to fill out the laboratory registration, just select "No Inventory" under the Chemical Inventory section.

Chemical Inventory should be completed by anyone in charge of areas where hazardous materials and other chemicals and chemical products are stored.

Department administrators are responsible for ensuring that their departments have accurate and current inventories and their associated safety data sheets.