Some General Safety Guidelines

Eye Protection:
All people in the academic laboratory including the T.A.'s must wear safety goggles at all the times in the lab rooms, even if not performing any experimental work. Students must be informed of this on the first day of lab and any late addition must also be informed. Safety glasses and/or goggles may be purchased or rented at the stockroom. Goggles may be purchased from any store as long as the goggles are of the approved type. No one is allowed to participate without proper eye protection.

Appropriate Lab Apparel:
Proper body protection is required in the laboratory. Shorts, miniskirts, bare midriffs, sandals, or open toe shoes should not be worn. If a student is not dressed appropriately for the lab the T.A. should send them to the stockroom to rent or purchase a lab coat, apron, or shoe cover.

Trash Disposal:
Each lab has 3 trash containers for normal non-regulated waste such as paper towels, latex goves, plastic, etc. Each lab also has a broken glass box for broken glass disposal Regular trash should not be discarded in the broken glass box. Matches an other burnt items shoud be places in the ceramic crocks designated for this purpose. These rules are a matter of safety and governmental regulation. The T.A. shoud instruct the students in the proper use of all waste receptacles.

Chemical Waste Disposal:
Disposal of certain waste is regulated by the Resourse Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) of 1976, the RCRA requirements for waste disposal are administered and enforced by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). All university personnel must follow the waste disposal guidelines issued by the EPA. In the teaching laboratory, hazardous chemical waste must be stored in a chemical waste bottle properly labeled "WASTE". Each waste container also receives an NMSU Waste/Material Tracking Form and is filled out by the waste generator. Please contact the storeroom for any questions concerning the proper disposal of chemical wastes.

Cleaning Up:
It is a matter of safety to maintain a clean working area. Chemical residue left on bottles and counters may inadvertently contaminate the skin and/or clothing of other people. Therefore it is important to clean up your own workspace and common areas after each lab session.

Frequently inform the students of the following: 1) Do not put waste chemicals down the sink drain or in the garbage cans. 2) The sinks and the broken glass boxes are not to be used as a trash bucket. 3) Take special care not to spill or slop when getting on or around the scale. (This may affect your experimental results.) 5) Place used matches and used wood splints in the ceramic crocks only...Do not put waste paper in them. 6) Clean up after yourself.

Unattended Lab Sessions:
Absolutely no students are ever to be in a lab room without a T.A. present. Each lab room is provided with a phone line directly conected to the stockroom facility. If any lab equipment or chemical solution is needed during a lab session, the T.A. should contact the stockroom using this telephone line. The storeroom presonnel will be there to assist you promptly.

Do not enter the lab room early without your T.A. If a T.A. is late for the lab, do not start working ... notify the stockroom and substitute supervision will be provided.

A student who misses a lab session will need to make it up within one week or risk of getting a zero for that lab. An excused absence may be obtained from the professor ahead of time.

Laboratory Accidents:
All laboratory accidents, no matter how minor, should be reported to the T.A. and the stockroom immediately.

Clean-up of spills(chemical spills, water leaks, mercury spills, etc.) that do not require immediate evacuation can be generally handled by stockroom personnel.

Students involved in a laboratory accident may choose to obtain or decline medical treatment. Regardless of this decision a written report of each accident must be submitted to the stockroom personnel by the T.A. Forms for this procedure are available in the stockroom.

Refer to "Outline for Accident Response" for more complete emergency information.

Lost & Found:
Lost and Found boxes are located in the stockrooms (room 103 and room 192) ask the stockroom personnel about lost calculators, books keys, etc. Do not leave personal items unattended in lab classes.

Outline for Accident Response:

Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) are available for all chemicals used in the department and provide information to identify health hazards, and adequate treatment in case of contamination. Inform yourself before an accident occurs. MSDS's are available in printed form and electronic versions at the Chemistry & Biochemistry Stockroom.

Service Emergencies: Evacuate in case of fire or other immediate danger, move to a safe secure area. Provide aid to injured victims, designate an individual to call 911 or activate the fire alarm, NMSU Fire Department will respond and provide first aid.

Poison Control Center: 1-800-432-6866
Hospital Emergency Room: 521-2286

Accidents not requiring evacuation: The Teaching Assistant (TA) remains with the class, calls the stockroom and/or designates a student to contact the stockroom. Possible scenarious include: Chemical spills, Contamination, Chemical Splashes, Inhalation, Ingestion, Cuts Abrasions, Burns.

Contact with Acid/Base: Remove contaminated clothing, flush are with large amounts of water, use eye-wash or shower as appropriate. Do not attempt to neutralize chemicals on the body.

A) Minor Accidents, student requires medical attention:
The stockroom should be contacted, and will provide transportation to location for medical treatment. The treatment facility may require an MSDS for information on hazards and treatment, so be prepared to FAX this information. The TA completes an Accident Report Form, and gives this to the Stockoom. The Stockroom completes subsequent paperwork:

Injured Students will be taken to the Student Health Center during the hours of 8:00-11:30am & 1:00-4:30 pm.
Phone: 646-1512
Fax: 646- 6428