SAFE LABORATORY PRACTICES. SOP

STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE

SUBJECT :                                             SAFE LABORATORY PRACTICES.

DEPARTMENT  : SAFETY SOP NO.                      : 09/S Page No                       : 1 of  5 Effective Date             : 05.01.2012 Next Review                : 04.01.2014 SOP VERSION            : 07

                                                            

1. OBJECTIVE:  To provide guidelines for Safe Laboratory Practices for personnel working in Quality Assurance Laboratory.

       

2. SCOPE :  Persons working in the Laboratory handle various chemicals and solvents and it absolutely essential to follow safe practices to prevent accidents and protect themselves.

3. SAFE LABORATORY PRACTICES:

3.1. Sloppy technique is one of the chief causes of accidents. Good laboratory techniques by assembling

        apparatus correctly, handling materials properly and proceeding methodically minimizes the chance

      of accidents. Neat ness is not merely aesthetic but it promotes efficiency and safety.

3.2. If any laboratory or safety equipment appears to be in an unsafe condition, notify your supervisor at

      once. Do not use until examined and / or repaired to a safe working condition.

3.3. Do not use electrical equipment which is not properly grounded or that has worn out thread bare

       wires.

3.4. Do not handle electrical connections with the hands or when standing near water.

3.5. Always shut off or disconnect services not in use.

3.6. Periodically inspect all equipment and arrange, repair if faulty.

3.7. If not entirely familiar with equipment operating or safety procedure, ask your supervisor. Be sure

         rather than sorry.

3.8. Never clean or adjust machines while they are in motion. Never use glass beaker to pour solution into

       motive mixer. Be careful such that loose clothing or hair does not become entangled in moving

       machinery.

3.9. When the liquid is spilled on a running motor, turn the motor off and allow the liquid to dry

        thoroughly.

3.10. Spillage of any sort, liquid or solid should be cleaned up immediately. If known to be strongly

        acidic or alkaline, dilute first with water and then neutralize with Ammonia solution or dilute acetic

        acid as appropriate. Do not walk through the area until it is completely dry. If toxic solvents are spilt,

       ventilate the area and evacuate until the air is free of solvent vapor.

3.11. Never use unbalanced shaker or centrifuge, always balance with a similar sized flask filed to the

        same extent.    

   PREPARED BY                                   REVIEWED BY                                    APPROVED BY

PRODUCTION EXECUTIVE             PRODUCTION MANAGER                                      G.M - Q.A

                                                                                                                SOP No.       : 09/S

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3.12. Rubber gloves, safety glasses or similar necessary protection should be worn when handling acids,

         alkali or highly toxic substances. If in doubt regarding the toxicity of any drug or chemical, consult

        your supervisor. Consult the safety briefs located in lab for new tested compounds.

3.13. Use towel or wear the appropriate protective clothing ( such as leather or canvas gloves ) while

          boring corks and rubber stopper. Lubricate the stopper with water, glycerin or glycol. Lubricate the

          glass tubing properly before insertion. Never hold a stopper against the palm of the hand while

         boring a hole into it.

3.14. If a hazardous substances soils your uniform or lab coat, change if immediately. Contaminated

        clothes should be packaged separately for the laundry.

3.15. Wash your hands frequently. Always wash in the lab before going to lunch or break. Avoid putting

         fingers to your face or in your mouth especially while working with toxic material.

3.16. Immediately following an eye accident, it is extremely important to rinse the eye with large

          quantities of clear cool water. Eyewash station is located in all labs for this purpose. A few seconds

         may make the difference between sight and blindness.

3.17. All pippeting of liquids in the chemical lab will be done with an aspirator, syringe or burette. Mouth

        Pippeting not allowed.

3.18 Avoid crowded shelves and benches. Return all necessary chemicals and equipment to their proper

        place of storage.

3.19. First look in the chemical cupboards. Then reach for the required container.

3.20. All bottles and containers must be clearly labeled. Do not discard contents of unlabelled containers.

        If contents are unknown contact your supervisor.

3.21. Never use unlabelled containers for any purpose. Refill bottles only with the material which the

         label indicates.

3.22. Never dispose off solid or smelling materials in the sink. Dilute acids and alkalis (in quantities less

          than 500 ml ) may be disposed off by pouring slowly into a laboratory drain and flushing

         thoroughly with large quantities of cold water.

3.23. Never leave toxic or dangerous residues in apparatus in order to protect others from potential

         hazards. It should be rinsed with an appropriate solvent first.

3.24. All solvent, especially flammable solvents are to be placed in approved ( safety ) solvent disposal

        containers.

3.25. Pour acids into water. Never pour water into acid. This prevents spurting and possible boiling of

        water. Thus, preventing a hazard.

3.26. Never add caustic alkali to hot solutions, violent uncontrollable boiling could result.

3.27. Never mix acetone and chloroform if impure, since a violent exothermic reaction may result.

         If a particular procedure calls for mixing of the solvent, only do so after consultation with your

        supervisor.

3.28. Never lay an acid bottle stopper down on any surface.

3.29. Mix liquids properly before boiling.

   PREPARED BY                                   REVIEWED BY                                    APPROVED BY

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PRODUCTION EXECUTIVE             PRODUCTION MANAGER                                      G.M - Q.A

                                                                                                                       SOP No.            : 09/S

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3.30. Never mix acetone and chloroform if impure, since a violent exothermic reaction may result.

          If a particular procedure calls for mixing of the solvent, only do so after consultation with your

         supervisor.

3.31. Never lay an acid bottle stopper down on any surface.

3.32. Mix liquids properly before boiling.

3.33. Never use conical flash for distillation and refluxing. The short neck may not contain a “Boil Up”.

3.34. Always point the Kjeldahl flask at a wall away from operator. Never point boiling test tubes at other

        workers.

3.35. Do not sit when carrying out distillation or other heating operations. In the event of an accident, it is

         more difficult to move rapidly from a seated position than a standing position.

3.36. Avoid inhalation of chemicals. Avoid contact of chemicals with skin. Take special precaution (such

          as respirators etc.,) when handling large amount of finely divided powder. Pulverize large quantities

        of materials in a well ventilated hood (use a respirator).

3.37. Carry out all operations involving toxic fumes or unpleasantly smelling vapors in a hood in a well

         ventilated area.

3.38. Flammable solvents should never be placed in refrigerator unless the containers are firmly stopped 

         and the refrigerator is explosion proof.

3.39. Lab doors shall be kept closed during working hours.

3.40. Before leaving laboratories for the night, check gages, water and electrical outlets to make certain

         they have been turned off. Last person out should check to be sure that no equipment has been

        inadvertently left “ON” and that lab doors are locked.

3.41. Hazardous chemical should be properly bottled or ampoule and correctly labeled before returning

        them to storage. Failure to do so may lead to serious injury.

3.42. Lab can be maintained in such a manner that passage to exit is always maintained. Work areas must

         not be disorderly.

3.43. When boiling liquid, use glass beads to prevent bumping. Never, however, add glass beads to a hot

         liquid, instant boiling may result and if over heating has occurred it is hazardous.

3.44. Never use Erlenmeyer flasks under vacuum. Protect suction flasks by means of suitable padding

         because they will collapse, if cracked.

3.45. All bottles for washing, whether chemicals or water, shall be conspicuously marked. Chemicals

         should be stored in a restricted area.

3.46. Explosive materials should be stored and handled according to the manufactures instructions.

3.47. Metallic sodium can cause fire or explosion resulting from its reaction with water. The reaction

          produced will burn skin and eyes. The fumes (oxide and peroxide) will irritate eyes, nose and

          throat. Peroxide is formed in all ethers with varying degrees of rapidity. They are unstable when

         heated and may detonate with explosive violence. All ethers,

3.48. Peroxide is formed in all ethers with varying degrees of rapidity. They are unstable when heated and

         may detonate with explosive violence. All ethers, therefore, should be considered as potentially

        dangerous unless definite information to the contrary is available.

       PREPARED BY                               REVIEWED BY                                    APPROVED BY

PRODUCTION EXECUTIVE             PRODUCTION MANAGER                                      G.M - Q.A

                                                                                                                          SOP No.         : 09/S

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                                                                                                                Version No  : 07

3.49. Never store flammable solvent near radiators, in direct sunlight , or other heating sources. Be sure

         that sun rays do not penetrate through glass containers. Storage of solvents in the laboratories should

        be kept to a minimum and should be in a metal cabinet when not in use.

3.50. Containers with highly volatile substances shall only be opened in the hood.

3.51. Keep hood closed when working. Never stick your head in the hood while in use.

3.52. Be sure the vacuum has been released from all parts of the apparatus before disconnecting.

         Substances distilled at high temperatures under vacuum must be allowed to cool before air is

         admitted to the system.

3.53.Gas cylinders or potential explosives should be protected from excessive heat and fire. Tampering

         with or attempting to repair safety devices or valves on cylinders is dangerous and must be avoided.

4. RESPONSIBILITY             : G.M. – Q.A. and all other concerned.

5. FREQUENCY                    : SOP revised as per due date.

6. REVIEW GUIDE                  : Log book.

7. SOPs DISTRIBUTION:

    This SOP shall be distributed to following Departments:

Name of the Department	Master Copy	Circulatory Copy
QA/QC	√	×
Production	x	√
Warehouse	x	√
Administration	x	×
Maintenance	x	×

PREPARED BY                                      REVIEWED BY                                    APPROVED BY

PRODUCTION EXECUTIVE             PRODUCTION MANAGER                                      G.M - Q.A