The Co-Provosts and Vice Presidents requested that the Deans and Associate Deans distribute the laboratory safety commitment to those responsible for laboratories within their collages and ask them to post it in a prominent location within their laboratories by March 11, 2016. Posting this document demonstrates the laboratory’s commitment to successful implementation of the five focus areas by the year’s end, December 31, 2016.

• Store chemical waste in appropriate, properly labeled containers.
  
  Increasingly, chemical wastes that generate gasses have contributed to waste container explosions (e.g. Nital – Nitric Acid and Alcohol etchants). Please store wastes generating gasses in containers with vented lids. It may be necessary to leave the lid partially or fully removed until the material is no longer generating gas, with the container placed in secondary containment. EH&S will work with you to provide appropriate containers.
  All waste containers must be labeled with the full, written chemical name (no abbreviations), the percent waste chemical composition(s) and primary hazard (e.g. corrosive or flammable), and have the words “Dangerous Waste”. EH&S will provide free adhesive labels for your containers.
• Evaluate procedures for handling glassware, needles, scalpels, microtomes, and other sharp objects.
  Cuts or punctures from broken glassware, needles, scalpels, microtomes and other sharp objects are the most common research laboratory injury. Please identify potential sharps hazards and provide cut and puncture resistant gloves or contact EH&S or ORA to identify additional options to prevent injury from sharps and broken glass.
• Replace mercury containing devices.
  Mercury spills are the most frequent chemical release contaminating WSU research laboratories. Mercury spill cleanups interrupt research. Mercury spill cleanup and waste disposal is expensive. While some research may require the use of mercury, we encourage substituting other types of equipment and materials whenever possible. Please contact EH&S to exchange mercury thermometers for alcohol thermometers and to explore the replacement of mercury manometers.
• Remove unnecessary equipment and containers from fume hoods to minimize negative impacts on air flow.
  
  Storing unnecessary equipment and containers in fume hoods affects the air flow, potentially resulting in employee exposure to hazardous air contaminants. Please limit the equipment and chemicals in fume hoods to those necessary to support work. Remove and appropriately store equipment or chemicals not actively involved in work. Please do not store materials in fume hoods within six (6) inches of the sash opening. Please close the sash when not actively manipulating materials within the hood.

• Maintain access to emergency equipment (e.g. eyewashes, emergency showers, fire sprinklers, fire extinguishers).
  Please do not store materials where they prevent access or proper function of emergency equipment. Eighteen (18) inches clearance is required below fire sprinkers (minimum). Please contact EH&S for assistance evaluating the need for new/additional emergency wash facilities.

The Office of EH&S and ORA are available to provide training and technical assistance to departments, safety committeees, instructors and principal investigators. Safety committees can assist by providing recommendations for improvement in the focus areas, and distributing information, as WSU policy and State rules require that each department’s employees have access to a safety committee.

EH&S, ORA, and safety committee membership will evaluate improvement in the focus areas while performing regular work in research, teaching, and clinical laboratories.
Please visit the Laboratory Safety, Laboratory Safety Manual, Office of Research Assurances, Biosafety, and Radiation Safety websites for addtional laboratory safety information.

Please contact EH&S (335-3041), ORA (335-7183), Biosafety Office (335-7195), Radiation Safety Office (335-8916) or your safety committee for more information on the five focus areas and WSU’s safety commitment.