Facility Design and Layout

Standard Laboratory Facility Requirements

1. Signs and Information
2. Safety Equipment

1. Signs and Information
   
   
Labels and warning signs will be used to alert employees/researchers to potentially hazardous materials and allow those unfamiliar with the laboratory surroundings to identify hazardous chemical use and storage areas, safety facilities, emergency equipment, exits, and aid emergency response personnel.

1. Restricted Access and Designated Areas
   
   
Facilities containing certain hazards must have warning signs posted at the designated area of the laboratory where the hazard exists, and at the entranceway to the laboratory. Any area placarded as such are restricted access, designated areas and have certain standards regarding training and use by employees. Such hazards include:

• Particularly hazardous substances.
  
  
• HIV and HBV research laboratories and production facilities.
  
  
• Biological agents that require Biosafety Level 2 or higher.
  
  
• Radioisotopes (Please contact the Radiation Safety Officer for requirements on these items).
  
  
Other chemical hazards will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis, with consulation from the Chemical Hygiene Officer.

1. Storage Areas
   
   
Chemicals should be stored according to compatibility as designated by hazard classes. When ordering chemicals that are unfamiliar, review the MSDS before purchase so that use and storage guidelines are understood. Assure that the following areas are labeled and chemicals are stored appropriately:

• Particularly Hazardous Substance
  
  
• Corrosives
  
  
• Flammable/Combustible Liquids
  
  
• Flammable solids
  
  
• Oxidizers
  
  
• Perchloric Acid
  
  
• Biosafety Level 2 or higher
  
  
• Radioactives (please contact the Radiation Safety Officer for requirements on these items.)
  
  
1. Safety Equipment
   
   
1. Safety Showers
   
   
Safety showers provide an immediate water drench of an affected person. Gettysburg College accepts the following ANSI standards for location, design, and maintainence of safety showers:

• Showers shall be located within 10 seconds where injurious corrosive materials are used.
  
  
• Showers must provide a 15 minute water supply at no less than 20 gallons per minute and must provide hands-free operation once activated.
  
  
• The location of the shower should be clearly marked, well lighted and free from obstacles, closed doorways, or turns.
  
  
Maintaince staff shall test the flow through safety showers at least once annually to ensure a flow of 20 gallons per minute. Documentation consists of dating and initialing the tag.

1. Eye Wash Facilities
   
   
Gettysburg College accepts the following ANSI standards for location, design, and maintainence of emergency eyewash facilites:

• Eyewashes shall be located within 10 seconds where injurious corrosive materials are used.
  
  
• Eye wash facilities must provide the minimum of a 15 minute water supply at no less than 0.4 gallons per minute and must provide hands-free operation once activated.
  
  
• The location of the eyewash should be clearly marked, well lighted and free from obstacles, closed doorways, or turns.
  
  
The Laboratory Technician or the Instructor of Record shall test eyewashes at least monthly. A test consists of activating the eyewash for 15 minutes to flush the lines of corrosion and bacterial growth and permit observation of proper pressurization levels and water temperature. Documentation consists of dating and initialing an attached tag.

1. Ventilation Controls
   
   
Ventilation controls are those controls intended to minimize employee exposure to hazardous chemicals by removing air contaminants from the work site. There are two main types of ventilation controls:

• General (Dilution) Exhaust: a room or building-wide system, which brings in air from outside and ventilates within. Laboratory air must be continually replaced, preventing the increase of air concentration of toxic substances during the workday. General exhaust systems are not recommended for the use of most hazardous chemicals.
  
  
• Local Exhaust: a ventilated, enclosed workspace intended to capture, contain, and exhaust harmful or dangerous fumes, vapors, and particulate matter generated by procedures conducted with hazardous chemicals.
  
  
Cold rooms and warm rooms have contained recirculated atmospheres. Precautions must be taken to prevent the release of toxic substances into these rooms.

1. Provisions for Local Ventilation
   
   
To determine ventilation requirements, access SDS. Some SDS terminology, as listed below, may indicate a need for special ventilation considerations beyond general exhaust ventilation:

• Use with adequate ventilation.
  
  
• Avoid vapor inhalation.
  
  
• Use in a fume hood.
  
  
• Provide local exhaust ventilation.
  
  
Proper Use of Local Ventilation Systems: Once a local ventilation system is installed in a work area, it must be used properly to be effective. For use of hazardous chemicals warranting local ventilation controls, the following guidelines should be observed:

• Make certain the hood you are using is appropriate for your work. (E.g.- Perchloric acid hoods are constructed of stainless steel and have internal wash-down capabilities; biological safety cabinets may be vented into the room and are not designed for chemical use.)
  
  
• Conduct all operations which may generate air contaminants at or above the appropriate PEL or TLV inside a fume hood.
  
  
• Keep all apparatus at least 6 inches back from the face of the hood and keep the slots in the hood baffle free of obstruction by apparatus or containers. Large equipment should be elevated at lesat two inches off the base of the fume hood, to allow for passage of air underneath the appartus.
  
  
• Do not use the fume hood as a waste disposal mechanism.
  
  
• Keep extraneous chemicals or apparatus out of the hood, as they will create air flow disturbances. Only material being used in an ongoing experiment should be kept in the fume hood.
  
  
• Keep paper and other light materials that might be drawn into the vent duct or fan out of the hood.
  
  
• Keep the hood sash completely closed at all times except when the hood is in use.
  
  
• Minimize foot traffic and other forms of potential air disturbance past the face of the hood.
  
  
• Do not have sources of ignition inside the hood when flammable liquids or gases are present.
  
  
• Make contingency plans in case of power failure or mechanical failure of the hood.
  
  
• Use the sash as a safety shield when boiling liquids or conducting an experiment with reacative materials.
  
  
• Periodically check the airflow in the hood using a continous monitoring device or another source of visible airflow indicator. If airflow has changed, contact the Chemical Hygiene Officer to schedule an inspection or Department of Facilities Services for a repair.
  
  
The system must be checked prior to each use to assure it is operating. Never work with hazardous chemicals if the required ventilating system is not working.