Emergency Information - Reporting Accidents

In the event of an accident requiring immediate attention (e.g., bodily injury, fire, major chemical spill):

Dial the Boston University Police (353-2121).
Report clearly the nature and location of the accident.

The police are qualified to deal with emergencies, but you must be available to give them as much information as you can about the nature of the accident. We must file an accident report on every incident that occurs in our teaching and research laboratories. You must report all accidents, whether serious or minor, to your (teaching) laboratory supervisor, to the Chemistry Office or to the Chemistry Safety Officer, Corey Stephenson crjsteph@bu.edu (617-358-5089).

Safety Training

All persons—research students and post-doctorals, teaching fellows, faculty, staff—who work in, frequent or supervise laboratories should be aware of basic laboratory safety practices and procedures for handling and disposing of hazardous materials. In fact, it is a University requirement that all such persons attend a Laboratory Safety and Hazardous Waste Management lecture every year. These lectures are given on a monthly basis by the Office of Environmental Health and Safety (OEHS) http://www.bu.edu/research/compliance/oehs/index.shtml. For further information, contact Audrey Sestak (audreys@bu.edu) or Adam Hartnett (ahartnet@bu.edu) both at 617-353-4094 at OEHS, or Corey Stephenson crjsteph@bu.edu (617-358-5089) the Chemistry Safety Officer.

Hazardous Waste Disposal

The rules for hazardous waste disposal are designed to protect persons who work in and visit laboratories and to avoid contaminating the environment in general. Two rules in particular should be kept in mind:

Chemicals may not be put into sinks and flushed down the drain
Hazardous materials (chemicals, broken glass, needles and other sharp objects) may not be put in regular waste baskets.

Rule 1 is to protect the environment, since all waste flows into the Metropolitan Boston sewer system and flows to Deer Island where it is treated. The sludge from this operation is recycled and certain chemicals, particularly heavy metals, can make the recycled material unusable. Rule 2 is to protect the custodians who pick up the trash and are sometimes injured by sharp objects.

Every laboratory has, or should have, specific areas or receptacles for hazardous waste:

Satellite accumulation area for chemicals (used solvents, chemical waste, unwanted reagents) to be disposed of
Broken glass boxes specially designed to receive broken glass, pipettes, and other glass objects.
Sharps receptacles for syringe needles, pipette tips (including plastic tips) and other small, sharp objects.
Biological waste http://www.bu.edu/ehs/biosafety/biowaste_pickup_request.html

It is the responsibility of each researcher to learn the details of how waste is to be disposed of by attending the Laboratory Safety and Hazardous Waste Disposal lectures mentioned above, or by consulting his/her research advisor. Pick up of chemical waste is done on a regular basis by contractors hired by the OEHS; special chemical pickups can be arranged by calling Paul Kelly pkellyjr@bu.edu (617-353-1993) or by going to the web (Link).

Radiation Safety

All individuals handling radioactive materials, x-ray equipment, certain lasers, etc. are required to receive individual training before working with such materials or equipment. Information on radiation safety training can be obtained at http://oehs-ehsa.bu.edu:7042/webapp/buconnector/radschedule.aspx or by sending email to the Director of Radiation Safety, Ron Slade rslade@bu.edu.

Safety Issues (Non Urgent)

If you have any questions about safety situations that do not seem to be urgent, e.g., how to dispose of something that has been sitting around a lab for a long time, please contact the Chemistry Safety Officer, Richard Laursen laursen@bu.edu (617-353-2491). Remember that visits to BU (sometimes triggered when calling 353-2121) by the Fire Department, Bomb Squad, etc. are very expensive—and sometimes unnecessary—so it is important to use common sense and not to over-react. If Dr. Laursen cannot be located and you are still concerned, contact George Lima glima@bu.edu (617-358-1027) at the OEHS.

Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)

Information on the properties, hazards, etc. of chemical substances.

Where to Find MSDS on the Internet, with links to 85 web sites
http://www.ilpi.com/msds/index.html

MSDS for Microorganisms
http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/msds-ftss/index-eng.php

Oxford University MSDS
http://msds.chem.ox.ac.uk/

Laser Safety

University of Illinois Laser Safety Information
http://www.drs.illinois.edu/rss/lasers/

Biological Safety

National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences Biological Safety Database
http://www.niehs.nih.gov/odhsb/biosafe/bio.htm

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registery
http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxfaq.html

NIH "Health and Safety" database
http://www.niehs.nih.gov/odhsb/home.htm

Compressed Gas Safety

Compressed Gas Association
http://www.cganet.com/

Scott Products Gas Handling Systems
http://www.scottecatalog.com/ScottGas.nsf/(EquipmentMain)?OpenAgent

Safety Equipment Suppliers

Lab Safety Supply
http://www.labsafety.com/

Best Glove Manufacturing
http://www.bestglove.com/site/default.aspx