Taking the time to prepare and think about possible emergencies will help you to remain calm and ready to respond if an emergency occurs. Some situations are more dangerous to your health than others, but a proper response is needed in each different circumstance. Here are the most likely types of emergencies...
Quickly exit a room and building using the Emergency and Evacuation Procedures that are located along the exit path in each hallway and on every floor of the Gehl-Mulva Science Center.
If the proper procedures are followed during laboratory experiments injuries are a rare occurrence in the laboratory. First aid kits and emergency eyewashes and showers are available in each lab.
To prevent large spills only the smallest quantity needed is used during laboratory experiments. Larger stock bottles are stored in prep rooms in cabinets. In the rare occurrence of a large spill, chemical spill kits with Personal Protective Equipment Inside are located in each Laboratory.
Quickly shut off the gas supply to a room if there is a gas valve that is leaking in the off position. There are also gas control valve located in hallways that are used to control the gas flow to an entire floor.
Fire prevention is very important during laboratory experiments, precautions must be followed anytime you are working with flammable materials. These precautions are listed in the Safety Data Sheet for the chemicals being used in laboratories. Fire extinguishers are located in each laboratory in hallways by exits.
The Gehl-Mulva Science Center has a backup emergency generator incase of power loss. Hallways have emergency lighting and provides power to orange colored outlets.
American Chemical Society (ACS) publication: Safety in Academic Chemistry Laboratories 8th Edition. This is a highly recommended study guide for everyone working with chemicals and/or using laboratory equipment. It covers all the information you need to keep yourself and others safe in a laboratory environment.
Chapter 5 - Safety Equipment and Emergency Response
"This chapter covers how to prevent incidents from occurring and prepare to respond to unexpected emergencies. You are more likely to remain calm and respond appropriately to an emergency if you have put some effort into thinking about potential incidents and your response. In introductory laboratories, the most common emergencies that you may need to respond to involve spills, fires, cuts, and/or burns." Statement from page 59.
