In the lab, safe behavior and appropriate PPE are
key to preventing personal exposure to hazardous materials. However, in the event that your eyes
or skin are exposed to hazardous chemicals or biohazardous materials, you should know what to
do. The purpose of this video is to demonstrate: how to use the safety eyewash station in
the event a material gets in your eyes, how to use a sink to rinse skin in
the event of a small skin exposure, and how to use the safety shower in
the event of a l
arge body exposure. Note that safety showers and eye wash stations
may look different at different campuses. You will see the equipment at your campus
during your Lab Safety Site Orientation. For true splash protection, only wear safety
goggles marked with the ANSI Z87+D3 designation, and wear goggles for the
entire time you are in the lab. Also, never touch your eyes while in the lab, as
your hands may be contaminated with a chemical. In the event that a chemical or hazardous liquid
does
get into your eyes, proceed immediately to the nearest eye wash station. It may be
difficult to see, so ask someone for help. Most eye wash stations have a lever
or handle to activate the water flow. Activate the water flow and place
your eyes directly into the water. You will need to hold your eyelids open, and
let the water wash your eyes for 15 minutes. It will not be comfortable to hold your eyes
open in the water for that long, but it is necessary to flush out the hazardous material,
and it is well worth it to save your eyes! Have someone call security and check the SDS
for the material that was splashed in your eyes. Ensure that security documents the
incident with an Incident Report afterward. Consult a doctor if any irritation or ill
effects remain after 15 minutes of flushing. It is possible that you will spill a chemical
or hazardous material on your skin in the lab, especially if you are not wearing
protective sleeves or a lab coat. Depending on your campus or cou
rse,
lab coats may or may not be required. In the event of a small splash to your
arms or hands, you should remove your lab coat and go to the nearest sink to flush
your skin with water for fifteen minutes. Have someone check the SDS to determine
if any further action is required based on the chemical or hazardous material, and
always alert security to any exposure of a chemical or hazardous material to document
the incident with an Incident Report. If a chemical spill occurs over
a large
portion of the body, it will be necessary to use the safety shower. Move immediately to the shower and
begin removing contaminated clothing. If you are in the lab with someone who
needs to use the shower, assist them. Let the water flow for 15 minutes to fully rinse
your skin to remove the hazardous material. Now is not a time for modesty, you will want to
remove all the hazardous material from your body. Have someone check the SDS to determine if
any further action is required based on th
e chemical or hazardous material, and alert
Security that an exposure has occurred. If you are an instructor and a student needs
to use the shower, ask the rest of the class to turn off their equipment and evacuate the lab.
Taking appropriate safety measures such as safe lab behavior and wearing appropriate PPE goes
a long way to prevent exposure to hazardous materials. In the event exposure does occur, you
should be prepared to rinse the affected area immediately using appropriate safety eq
uipment.
Be sure to check the Safety Data Sheet, or SDS, of the chemical involved in the exposure
to see if additional care is needed. Also contact Security to complete
an incident response form, and to receive assistance if needed.
If you have any questions regarding the use of safety shower and eyewash equipment, please reach
out to your campus’ Lab Manager or Lab Supervisor.
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