Chemical Engineering Safety

Safety Committee

To view the minutes from the Chemical Engineering Safety Committee meetings, please contact Dr. Gabriela Nagy in Forney G051.

Training

• Training Offered by REM
• The material presented during the ISP info session held on May 27, 2015, can be accessed here.

ChE Safety Awareness Training

ChE Initial Safety Awareness Training is required for all new employees including faculty, staff, research associates, students and visiting researchers. Initial safety training is tailored for each individual’s role in the department. For the Spring 2023 semester the in person training sessions, which are part of the initial training, are offered in FRNY 2142 on the following dates: 

Date	1/20	2/03	2/17	3/03	4/07	4/21	5/05	5/19
Time	1:30 pm	10:30 am	1:30 pm	10:30 am	10:30 am	1:30 pm	10:30 am	1:30 pm

 

Safety training requirements for lab-based research in ChE

1. Complete the “Purdue - University Lab Safety Fundamentals” online training course with Vivid Learning Systems (https://purdue.vividlms.com/). You need to complete all required sections including quizzes, and take the test. Save a copy of the “Record of Completion” Certificate received upon completion of the course.
2. Read the Lab Specific Chemical Hygiene Plan (CHP) for the lab(s) you’ll work in, and complete the Lab Specific CHP Certification (page 81 in the Purdue CHP template). Save a PDF copy
3. Have lab specific safety training, including training on all relevant Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) with the lab safety officer of the group.
4. Have Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) training with the safety officer (or PI) for the lab you’ll work in. This needs to be documented by completing the PPE Certification of Training Form
5. Complete any specialized training, as identified by your PI/Research Supervisor.
6. Review the Building Emergency Plan (BEP) for FRNY Building
7. Attend an in-person training session with the ChE Safety Committee Chair, currently Dr. Gabriela Nagy. Check above for latest dates and location.

Complete the ChE Safety training sign-in sheet to log the completion of your safety training. You will need the following documents:

• “Record of Completion” Certificate received upon completion of “Purdue - Lab Safety Fundamentals” online training course
• PDF copy of the signed Lab Specific CHP Certification

Safety training requirements for office workers and non-lab based (computational) research in ChE

1. Complete the Hazard Communication Awareness Training online module and log the completion of training or REM’s website. Save a PDF copy of the automatic email received as proof of completion
2. Review the Building Emergency Plan (BEP) for FRNY Building
3. Attend an in-person training session with the ChE Safety Committee Chair, currently Dr. Gabriela Nagy. Check above for latest dates and location.

Complete the ChE Safety training sign-in sheet to log the completion of your safety training. You will need the following documents:

• PDF copy of the email received as proof of completion of Hazard Communication Awareness online training

Safety training requirements for undergraduate student researchers

• Undergraduate student researchers please consult this document to learn more about the safety training you need to complete before starting research in our School.

ChE Annual Safety Refresher Training 

Annual Safety Refresher Training is required during the month of February each year for all employees including faculty, staff, research associates, graduate students and visiting researchers. Complete the following training modules, as applicable, and log the completion of training:

1. Complete the  ChE specific Annual Safety Refresher Training module (including the quiz) relevant for your role in the School and save a PDF copy of the email received upon completion of training. 
2. Complete the Lab Specific Chemical Hygiene Plan (CHP) training by reviewing your lab’s CHP and all relevant SOPs (if applicable).
   • Complete the  Lab Specific CHP Certification (page 81 of the Purdue CHP) and save a PDF copy
3. Review the Building Emergency Plan (BEP) for FRNY Building

Complete the  ChE Safety training sign-in sheet to log your training.  

Log your training after you complete all the steps above; you will need the following documents:

• PDF copy of the email received upon completion of ChE specific Annual Safety Refresher Training
• Completed Lab Specific CHP Certification for the lab(s) you work in (if applicable)

Safety Policies Specific to Forney Hall

• Safety Policies Specific to FRNY Building
  These policies are in addition to the safety rules applicable at University level and to those found in the Purdue Chemical Hygiene Plan. More stringent rules, for a specific work area, may be put in place by our Faculty.

Laboratory Safety Requirements

• Safety Training (see ChE Safety Awareness Training above)
• Responsibilities of Safety Officers
• Guidelines for safety training of new researchers in ChE laboratories
• Chemical Hygiene Plan
  Every Purdue ChE laboratory is required to maintain a work-specific Chemical Hygiene Plan. The template above can be used as a starting point for creating a work area specific Chemical Hygiene Plan, which should be updated as necessary, but at least annually.
• Safety Data Sheets (SDSs): printed or electronic copies
  Every laboratory is required to maintain up-to-date printed or electronic copies of SDSs for all the chemicals that are used/stored in the laboratory. SDSs are typically available on vendor websites. Printed copies of SDSs are preferred, but electronic storage of these documents is also acceptable, as long as the guidelines below are followed:
  • ​Guidelines for storage of electronic copies of SDSs
• Chemical Inventory Form
• Hazard Assessment/Appendix A3: Location/Template
  The Hazard Assessment should be reviewed and updated annually or when new hazards are introduced to the laboratory.
• Laboratory Door Posting
  The Door Posting should be updated annually or when personnel changes occur in the laboratory.
• Eye washes should be flushed weekly.
• The area beneath safety showers marked by green and white tape should be kept clear at all times.
• Safety Gloves Selection Guide:
  • OSHA Personal Protective Equipment – Table on Page 26 – 29
  • Office of Environment, Health & Safety, University of California, Berkeley
• Integrated Safety Plan Self-Audit Checklist
• Guideline for Use of Hydrogen and Flammable Hydrogen Gas Mixtures
• Gas Cylinder Handling Procedures for FRNY Building
  • Gas Cylinder Transport Safety Video 2014

Emergency Preparedness

• Building Emergency Plan (BEP) for FRNY Building
• Classroom Emergency Plans – College of Engineering
• Emergency Procedures – Purdue
• Emergency Procedures Handbook

Accidents Do Happen at Universities

• UCLA – December 2008
• Georgia Tech – June 2010
• Yale University – April 2011

Workplace Injury Information

• What to do in case of an incident:
  • What to do if it happens to you?
  • Safety Incident/Near Miss Report
  • First Report of Injury Form (under Injury)
• Worker's Compensation: Steps to Take if You Are Injured or Become Ill on the Job
• Where to Seek Medical Treatment
• Transportation
• REM Injury Portal

Safety Resources

• Purdue University Radiological and Environmental Management (REM)
  (An organization that provides expertise in the areas of environmental, health and safety issues. First stop for Purdue EH&S information.)
• Guidance Document: Minors in Research Laboratories or Animal Facilities
• U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB)
  (An independent federal agency that investigates chemical accidents. Excellent source for accident information and videos.)
• Center for Chemical Process Safety (CCPS)
  (CCPS is an organization within AIChE that identifies and addresses process safety needs within the chemical, pharmaceutical, and petroleum industries.)
• Safety and Chemical Engineering Education (SAChE) Program
  (A cooperative effort between the Center for Chemical Process Safety (CCPS) and engineering schools to provide teaching materials and programs in process safety.)
• Dow Lab Safety Academy
  ("Dow Lab Safety Academy” is a digital learning environment that shares Dow’s outstanding industrial safety culture and practices in a quick and accessible format. Here you can access dozens of videos featuring lab safety guidelines, and a collection of useful safety resources.)

Safety Updates

• #21: FRNY Compressed Gas Cylinder Handling Procedures (April 2016)
• #20: FRNY Compressed Gas Cylinder Handling Procedures (November 2015)
• #19: FRNY Compressed Gas Cylinder Handling Procedures (October 2014)
• #18: UCLA fatality incident trial update
• #17: Indiana Mosquito Borne Diseases
• #16: Tippecanoe County Tornado Data
• #15: Nanoparticle Safety and Health Guidelines
• #14: Compressed Gas Cylinder Safety
• #13: Lead Content in Purdue Water
• #12: Slips, Trips and Falls
• #11: Purdue and West Lafayette Police Educate and Enforce New Crosswalks
• #10: Tornado Data for West Lafayette, IN
• #9: UCLA Fatality Investigation
• #8: Recent Bomb Threat
• #7: Emergency Shower Safety Incident at UCLA
• #6: Cell Phone Safety
• #5: Labeling and Waste Issues
• #4: E-mail and Cell Phone Weather Alerts Available
• #3: Hydrogen Fluoride and Hydrofluoric Acid
• #2: Emergency Preparedness
• #1: Hazardous Materials Movement by University Employees