Flex Lab Safety Policy Statements

This document describes safety policies specific to the Flex Lab, introduced by the Flex Lab Safety Committee and enforced throughout the building. These policies are in addition to the general safety rules found in the Purdue Chemical Hygiene Plan (CHP) and the rules applicable at University level. More stringent rules, for a specific work area that all users would be subject to, may be put in place by concerned faculty.

1. Chemical/biological/produced materials are not allowed in offices (not even small samples).
2. Coats, bags/backpacks are not allowed in the labs - store them in your offices. Undergraduate students and short-term visitors performing research in the Flex Lab, who do not have an office space assigned, should get a locker to store their belongings. Please contact David Harmon (FLEX 1056A, Tel: 4-0184) who will assist you in this regard.
3. Food and drinks are not allowed in the labs.
4. Headphones, including earbuds are not to be worn in the lab, unless they are used as personal protective equipment.
5. Lab spaces are to be kept clean & tidy.
6. Safety glove use outside of labs (stricter rules may apply at faculty discretion):
   1. Chemical resistant safety gloves may be worn outside of labs only in designated areas of the building. These areas will be clearly marked by signs, which identify them as “One glove policy” areas.
   2. When using chemical resistant safety gloves within the “One glove policy” areas, one hand MUST remain ungloved to open and close doors and the other hand may be gloved. Doors may be opened with bare-hands only (i.e. use of a lab coat sleeve to open doors is not acceptable).
   3. Chemical resistant safety gloves may NOT be worn in public areas, including offices, conference rooms, classrooms, stairwells, elevators, computer labs, lounges, restrooms, the atrium, catwalks, and other areas not designated as “One glove policy” areas.
7. Transporting material between labs:
   1. All material must be transported in sealed primary containers (both hazardous and nonhazardous chemical/biological/produced material).
   2. Secondary containment must be used when transporting hazardous material between labs. The secondary containment, such as a bucket, tray, or cart, must be capable of containing at least 1.5 times the volume of the material transported.
   3. Transportation of hazardous material between floors must be done only in the freight elevator with the use of appropriate secondary containment.
   4. Hazardous (flammable, acidic, caustic, bio-hazard etc.) material handling must be defined in the lab specific CHP and in standard operating procedures (SOPs).
   5. Transportation of hot/cold material requires a written SOP.
8. Lab coats should not be worn/stored in offices.
9. The use/storage of bicycles and the use of skateboards inside the building is prohibited.
10. All near misses and safety incidents must be reported internally to the lead graduate student (Safety Officer) and PI of the lab, and then to the Safety Committee Chair (currently Dr. Thomas Everett).