Does fire extinguisher training have to be done annually?

How can we keep the lab operational during a fire drill that requires an evacuation?

No, as long as you have documentation of hands on experience with a fire extinguisher. This includes the opportunity to actually remove the pin and squeeze the handle of an active fire extinguisher.

Fire drills must be conducted annually for each employee on each shift. Each drill must include a complete evacuation to the triage area. You may find it helpful to hold quarterly fire drills and evacuate 25% of your lab each time in order to keep the lab operational during the drill.

What is a cap flipper and where can I get one?

Where can I find an acceptable substitute for Natelson glass capillary tubes?

Current Technologies markets Saf De-Cap, a translucent cover that helps you remove caps from tubes as well as break open ampoules. Call them at 765-364-0490.

RAM Scientific sells these at www.ramsci.com or by calling Monique Muri in Needham, MA at 800-535-6734.

What is the latest information about new installation for safety showers?

Where can I get an OSHA approved Lab Coat?

According to ANSI, the showerhead must be 82-96 inches above the floor and if an enclosure is used, should have a minimum unobstructed area of 34 inches in diameter. The delivery rate must be 30 gallons per minute with a velocity low enough not to injure the user. The valves should go from "off" to "on" in less than one second and should remain on without requiring the use of the operator's hands. The shower should require no more than ten seconds to reach and be within a travel distance no more than 100 feet from potential hazards. Shower locations should be identified with a highly visible sign.

OSHA does not mandate or even recommend any particular brand of lab coat. CLP2-2.69 does, however, make reference to the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) and its requirements for fabric used in PPE. According to ASTM, three tests are performed on fabric used in lab coats. They are the spray rating, which determines whether the fabric absorbs or repels fluids upon contact, the air porosity test to determine the breathability of the material or how hot it feels on the employee and the Suter hydrostatic resistance to fluid pressure. Ideal lab coat fabric would have a 90-spray rating, air porosity of 10 and a Suter test of 340. One vendor that has coats made of fabric that meets or exceeds these requirements is DenLine Uniforms, Inc. at www.Denline-Uniforms.com or call 1-800-DENLINE.

How can I clean paraffin wax buildup on our floors in Histology?

Can we use a single storage cabinet for storing both flammable and corrosive chemicals?

There are some new slip resistant flooring materials currently under investigation. Check with your local flooring vendor or housekeeping department for information. Scraping the paraffin off the floor after each shift seems to work well. Floor mats can be removed from the area and washed with a forceful hot spray of water to melt and remove the wax.

Yes, as long as the chemicals are stored in accordance with the manufacturer's specifications and in approved containers and an approved storage cabinet. Check out OSHA's Flammable and Combustible Liquids Standard.

Can chemical bases be stored with acids?

How many gallons of chemicals can be stored on a laboratory bench?

It is best to store bases separate from acids.

Up to one gallon of Class I, II and IIIA liquids can be stored on the bench for each 100 square feet of space that you have.

What types of shoes are to be worn in the laboratory?

When using a pneumatic tube, do you have to wear gloves when removing the tubes from the carrier if the tubes are placed in zip bags?

According to NCCLS Guideline GP17-A2, shoes must adequately cover the foot and must not be made of canvas or be open or sandals. Clogs are not preferred either because they do not cover the back of the foot. Customarily, athletic shoes made of leather or vinyl are preferred.

Gloves should always be worn even if tubes are carried in a plastic bag. Zip bags don't provide the required protection that gloves do.

Should all flammable storage cabinets be vented?

According to NFPA Code 30 A-4-3.2, the storage cabinet does not have to be vented. If you have proper room ventilation with adequate air exchanges (10-12 per hour) you don't have to ventilate cabinets. If you do vent a cabinet, it should be vented from the bottom with make-up air supplied to the top. Mechanical exhaust ventilation is preferred and should comply with NFPA 91. Always check your local Fire Marshall to see what the local and state codes allow.