MIL Safety Regulations

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Standard Operating Procedure

  • General Regulations:
    • No person may work in the laboratory alone. 
    • Use the campsite rule: leave the space in better shape than you found it.
    • Upon the conclusion of each lab, work areas must be clean and organized; tools and materials must be put back in their proper locations; and equipment must be properly shutdown. 
    • On a fire alarm, exit immediately and meet outside in the parking lot east of WEB.
    • Food and beverages are not allowed in the Job Wet Lab or Starley Maker Space. If no lab is occurring anywhere in the MIL, food and beverage may be in the Williams Design Studio, with the lab manager’s approval.
    • Attire: People in the lab must wear clothing that covers their feet, toes, legs, and torso. Loose items that could get into equipment or chemicals should not be worn in the lab (e.g. ties and scarfs). Long hair should be tied back. 
  • Personal Protective Equipment:
    • Safety Glasses must be worn at all times in the Job Wet Lab and Starley Maker Space. 
    • In the Williams Design Studio, safety glasses must be worn when a lab is occurring anywhere in MIL. If no lab activity is occurring in the MIL and the lab manager gives the okay, glasses can be removed while in this space only.
    • Nitrile gloves are provided for routine protection when working with chemicals that may cause slight irritation on skin contact. For chemicals that pose a greater risk, the Projects Lab (MEB 3520) should be used and a glove chart consulted to determine appropriate glove type. 
  • Chemical Hygiene:
    • All new chemicals brought into the lab must first be checked-in with the lab manager and there must be an accompanying safety datasheet (SDS) for the chemical.
    • The following chemicals should not be brought into MIL: 
•  Concentrated acids or bases

•  NFPA health or reactivity ratings above 2

•  NFPA flammability ratings above 3

 •  Radioactive substances

•  Substances that bioaccumulate or pose any chronic health hazard
  • Do not pour any chemicals (water & soap aside) down a drain without lab manager approval.
  • All substances in the lab, even water, must be clearly labeled with 1) what it is; 2) its concentration, if applicable; 3) your name; and 4) the date it was placed in the container.
  • Chemical waste must be labeled as described above in an appropriate container; check with the lab manager on container type to ensure it will not be dissolved or build up pressure.
  • Chemical solutions intended to be used later must be in a sealed container; if it is to be stored past the lab period, the lab manager must first be consulted and give approval.
  • If any spill occurs, immediately notify the lab manager for instructions. 
  • Tools & Equipment:
    • You may not use any equipment or tools in the MIL until you have had proper training from MIL personnel on the equipment (this applies to everything from the hot glue guns to the laser cutter, even if you’ve used similar equipment before). Ask the lab manager for training details.
    • Alert the lab manager to any broken equipment. 
    • Broken glassware should be swept up, and placed in the broken glass container.
    • Any new equipment brought into the lab must first have an EHS evaluation by the lab manager.