SAFETY IN THE LABORATORY

___________________________________________________________________________

Basic safety information for undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in biology laboratories
at the University of Texas at Dallas. (Updated 06 Jan 2014)

Although our Biology laboratories are not dangerous if utilized correctly, biological and chemical
materials can be hazardous. You should be aware of potential risks, the procedures to minimize
them, and steps to take in case of an emergency. Specific precautions and safety rules that are
pertinent to a given experiment or laboratory will be provided by the course instructors.

A. General Safety In The Laboratory

1. Working Alone. In the case of undergraduate labs, the labs are not "open labs." Undergraduates
in organized lab courses must do the lab work only during the specified lab hours and only when
an instructor or teaching assistant (TA) is present.
2. Visitors. Visitors are not permitted in the laboratory. Children should not be brought into the
lab.
3. Eating, Drinking and Smoking are prohibited in the Laboratory. No risk for ingesting
potentially toxic chemicals or biologicals will be tolerated.
4. Dress. High heals, sandals, flip flops, clogs, crocs, or other footwear that exposes your toes/feet
should not be worn in the labs. Long hair should be contained so it does not come near solutions
or open flames. While shorts are permitted, long pants provide more significant protection from
chemical spills. When using large volumes of dangerous chemicals, a lab coat must be worn.
The instructor/TA will provide UV protective safety glasses for experiments that utilize ultraviolet
irradiation. Shatter-resistant safety glasses are available when large volumes of hazardous
chemicals are being used.
Contact lenses should not be worn in the lab. Corrosive fumes, such as from concentrated acids,
tend to concentrate in the tear layer under contact lenses, resulting in corneal damage. If you use
contact lenses, please do not wear them in the lab. Use a spare pair of prescription glasses instead.
5. Safety Equipment. The instructor will show the locations and discuss the use of the safety
equipment listed below. Do not block access to safety equipment.

telephone (1) emergency exits (3)

fire extinguisher (2) eye wash station (5)
first aid kits (2) broken glass disposal (contact instructor)

12
6. Pregnancy. Pregnant women must exercise special precautions in laboratory courses.
Compounds that cause chromosomal damage (mutagens), effects on fetuses (teratogens, such as
acrylonitrile, inorganic arsenic, and carbon disulfide) or effects on embryos (embryotoxins, such
as organomercurials, lead compounds, and formamide) must be avoided or handled with extreme
care. The reference book Occupational Medicine by Carl Zenz (Year Book Medical Publishers,
1988) contains information on reproductive toxins and is available in the Harris Biology Library.
Any pregnant student who is registered for a Biology laboratory course must notify the course
instructor so that they can discuss special risks that the laboratory may pose. In general, pregnant
women should minimize exposures to any chemical that can be inhaled, swallowed, or absorbed
cutaneously. Pregnant women must contact the University Radiation Safety Officer and sign a
waiver prior to working with radioactive materials.

B. Procedures For Handling Specific Chemicals, Biologicals, And Wastes.

The following information will be useful in many biology laboratories. Additional safety
information pertinent to a given laboratory or experiment will be provided at the appropriate time.
Radiation safety, for example, will be discussed in the Advanced Methods laboratory course taken
by graduate students, who must then pass an examination before they may apply for radiation
safety badges.
1. Awareness of Chemical Hazards. Check bottle labels and chemical handbooks for warnings
specific to the particular chemicals in use (e.g. carcinogen, toxic substance) and for information
about antidotes or proper procedure (s) to be used in case of accidental exposure. The absence of
a warning should not be misconstrued as an indication of the absence of dangerous properties. The
physiological activity of many materials is unknown.
Information on the properties and dangers associated with a large number of chemicals is available
on Material Safety Data Sheets (see below).
2. Pipetting. When it is necessary to measure the volume of a dangerous chemical, such as
concentrated HCl or a solution of certain bacteria such as Pseudomonas, do not pipet by mouth.
Use a pipet bulb. Also remember to add acid to water during a dilution, not vice versa. Place
pipets, tip down, in the pipet jars that are available in the laboratory. These will then be cleaned
and sterilized in the Biology kitchen.
3. Alcohol Disinfectants. Ethyl and isopropyl alcohol are two commonly used disinfectants in the
laboratory. The bactericidal action of alcohol comes from its ability to disrupt lipid complexes in
membranes and to denature proteins. Alcohols have a limited effect against viruses and spores.
Absolute alcohol has almost no germicidal activity. A concentration of 70-80% (v/v) of ethyl
alcohol in water provides the maximum bactericidal activity. Although isopropyl alcohol is
slightly more bactericidal than ethyl alcohol, it is more toxic.
4. Biological Waste. Liquid bacterial cultures are to be labeled and set aside for steam sterilization.
Solid waste, such as dense bacterial cultures on plates, are to be placed in the orange bags labeled
Biohazard Waste, which will then be sterilized before disposal.
5. Chemical Waste. Because of toxicity and flammability hazards, it is not acceptable to dispose of
large volumes of solvents by pouring them down the sink. Municipal sewage-treatment plants are
not equipped to remove these materials from sewage. Furthermore, with volatile and flammable
materials, a spark or an open flame can cause an explosion in the sink or further down the drain.
Small volumes (a few ml) of alcohols, such as methyl alcohol used to clean optical cuvettes, may
be flushed down the drain with water.

13
Large volumes of chemical waste have to be separated by type and then given to the Biology
Undergraduate Laboratory Coordinator for disposal. First, label the waste with (a) the chemical
name of the contents, (b) volume, (c) name of the class instructor, and (d) the course number. The
types of waste to be separated are:
a. Organic solvent waste, such as ethyl ether, toluene, methanol, acetone, and isopropyl alcohol.
No water, acids, or bases are to be mixed with this type of waste.
b. Halogenated solvents and carcinogenic waste, such as chloroform, carbon tetrachloride,
benzene, and dioxane. No water, acids, or bases are to be mixed with this type of waste.
c. Acid waste, but not chromic acid.
d. Chromic acid waste.
e. Heavy metal waste, such as solid or liquid waste containing mercury, lead, arsenic, and
chromium. (Report spills of mercury to the lab instructor immediately.)
6. Solid Waste and Glass. Never put solid biological or chemical waste, broken glass, or needles in
garbage cans. Use the approved disposal container for each type of waste.

C. Emergency Procedures
Notify the lab supervisor immediately in the event of (a) any injury or accident or (b) a spill of
hazardous material.
1. Personal injury
Do not move patient unless absolutely necessary
Initiate first aid treatment if necessary - ABCs = open the airway, check for breathing, check
for circulation.
Call University Police, 911, and relay the following information:
a. Caller's name and nearest phone extension to accident.
b. Type of injury and condition of patient(s) (conscious? bleeding?).
c. Number of persons injured.
d. Location of the patient(s) (building, floor, room)
Instructions will be given over the phone. Do not hang up first: the service you have called
may need more information.

Phone Numbers
All emergencies: First call 911 (Campus Police)
(24 hr. emergency number)
North Central Texas Poison Center (Parkland Hospital): 1-800-222-1222
Student Health Service: 972-883-2747
UTD Safety Office 972-883-4111

14
D. Basic First Aid For Accident Victims
Burns (Chemical Or Fire). Immerse affected area in cold water for 15 minutes. Wash chemicals
off wounds with mild detergent solution.
Burns (Clothing afire). Use safety shower immediately. Keep victim immersed for 15 minutes to
wash away both heat and chemicals.
Medical personnel at the Student Health Center should examine all burns. Serious burns should
receive attention at the Burn Center at Parkland Hospital and can be reached by calling UTD
Police at 911.
Chemical Spills. If a large area is affected, remove clothing and immerse victim in the safety
shower. If a small area is affected, remove the article of clothing and treat as for fire or chemical
burns.
Eyes (chemical contamination). Hold the eye wide open and flush with water from the eye wash
for about 15 minutes. Seek medical attention.
Ingestion Of Chemicals (poisoning). The victim should drink large amounts of water. All
chemical poisonings should receive medical attention. Detailed suggestions for first aid treatment
may be found on the label of the chemical's container.
Specific treatment: phone 1-800-764-7661 (North Central Texas Poison Center) may be able to
offer first aid advice.
Always report all accidents, however trivial, to the lab instructor. Accidents involving injuries
must be reported in writing to the Biology Program Head by the lab instructor.
For additional safety suggestions, see the American Chemical Society's Manual Safety in
Academic Laboratories. This manual is available on loan from the Chemistry Program Secretary.
E. Material Safety Data Sheets
As required under the Texas Hazard Communication Act, which became effective Jan. 1, 1986,
Material Safety Data Sheets are available to all students, faculty, and staff. MSDS sheets are
readily available from a variety of internet sources. Please contact the instructor for help in
identifying the correct MSDS sheets for the chemicals that you will be using in the lab.

15