Chemical Hygiene Plan and Safety Manual - LP3002.5 Section II: General Laboratory Safety

3.0 Hygiene Policies

3.1 In order to prevent any cross contamination from samples and chemicals that are used in the laboratory to personal food and drinks, lab coats are required to be removed before entering the lunch room and kitchen.

3.2 Lab coats are required to be removed prior to entering the restroom. No lab coats will be permitted in the restroom to prevent any cross-contamination to samples in the lab.

3.3 Lab coats are not permitted outside. Personnel are required to remove lab coats prior to exiting the building. If an employee needs to dispose of something that is hazardous or messy, he or she may wear a lab coat while disposing the item, but he or she needs to use a new lab coat once re-entering the laboratory and place the soiled lab coat in the proper location

3 4 Smoking is prohibited in the building If employees wish to smoke, they must go to a designated smoking area outside Designated smoking areas are required to be at least 10 feet away from any building entry point

3 5 Hand washing is required after using the restroom, after eating or drinking and before returning to the workstation When an employee is working with a sample or chemical that is repugnant, he or she is required to wash hands intermittently while working with that substance

3 6 Gloves are required to be worn while working with any and all chemicals and samples in the laboratory. In order to prevent cross contamination, gloves should be changed frequently. Frequent glove changing also keeps them from wear and tear when working with harsh chemicals. Some gloves are not compatible with certain chemical uses. To determine what gloves to use, see LP3009 Appendix A: Glove Comparison Chart.

3.6.1 Hands should be clean before donning gloves and washed every time gloves are changed.

3.6.2 Gloves should be changed when entering a different testing area.

3.7 Personal hygiene and grooming:

3.7.1 Lab coats are required to be worn whenever working in the laboratory.

3.7.2 All personnel are expected to dress and present themselves with professionalism. Certain clothing choices are prohibited from being worn in the laboratory due to the fact that they may increase an employee’s exposure to various hazards All laboratory personnel are required to wear long pants and closed-toe shoes that completely cover the foot Laboratory