Laboratory Safety

This Laboratory Safety Guide was developed to assist those working in Stony Brook University laboratories by providing information on maintaining a safe laboratory and complying with environmental and safety regulations. It should serve as a reminder for safety equipment, information, and procedures that must be available to all university employees and students.

Please use the following links to navigate through this guide:

• Plan Your Work
• Follow All Safety Procedures
• Know Emergency Procedures
• Practice Good Housekeeping and Personal Hygiene
• Transport Chemicals Safely
• Unattended Operations
• Report Dangerous Activities or Situations
• Laboratory Compliance Inspection
• View Entire Guide

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Follow All Safety Procedures

• Always wear chemical splash goggles for eye protection when working with chemicals.
• When pouring large quantities of hazardous chemicals, in addition to goggles, wear a face shield large enough to protect your ears and neck as well as your face.
• Always wear gloves when handling chemicals. Select the glove material based on compatibility with the chemicals you may contact.
• Always wear appropriate clothing: chemically resistant lab coats or aprons are recommended.
• Do not wear shorts or miniskirts (anything that would leave your legs bare and unprotected). Do not wear high-heeled shoes, open-toed/heeled shoes, sandals or shoes made of woven materials. Confine long hair and loose clothing.
• Do not work with hazardous chemicals or processes when alone in the laboratory. An instructor must supervise undergraduate students at all times.
• Always use chemicals with adequate ventilation or in a chemical fume hood. Do not allow the release of toxic substances in cold rooms or warm rooms, since these areas have contained, re-circulated air.
• Use chemicals only as directed and for their intended purpose.
• Never use mouth suction to fill a pipette or siphon. Use a pipette bulb or other suitable device.
• Handle needles, syringes and other sharps carefully. Use self-sheathing needles or needless systems whenever possible. Dispose of all sharps in an appropriate sharps container.
• Do not dispose of chemicals down the drain. Most chemicals must be disposed of as hazardous waste.
• Compressed gas cylinders must be secured to prevent them from being knocked over. Cylinders must be capped when the regulator is removed or not in use.
• Inspect the lab weekly for hazardous conditions.
• Shield or wrap pressurized or evacuated equipment (dewars & vacuum flasks).

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