Laboratory safety at Cabrillo Community College District is supported through appropriate planning, training, supervision, safe work practices, engineering controls, personal protective equipment, and compliance with applicable District safety programs. Students, faculty, staff, laboratory coordinators, technicians, and student assistants all have responsibilities for maintaining safer laboratory environments.

Cabrillo’s laboratory safety requirements are implemented through the Chemical Hygiene Plan (CHP), Hazard Communication Program (HazCom), applicable substance-specific programs such as the Formaldehyde Safety Plan (FSP), and the Respiratory Protection Program when respiratory protection is required.

Use the resources on this page to review laboratory safety requirements, chemical hazard information, emergency procedures, and other applicable guidance. Questions should be directed to Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S).

General Lab Safety Guidelines

Basic Safety Rules

• Wear Required PPE: Use personal protective equipment appropriate to the hazards of the activity. Depending on the task, this may include safety goggles, gloves, laboratory coats, face protection, or other protective equipment. PPE is one component of the District’s overall approach to controlling laboratory chemical hazards.

• No Food or Drink in Laboratory Work Areas: Do not eat, drink, apply cosmetics, or store food or beverages in areas where hazardous chemicals are used or stored.

• Dress for the Hazards Present: Wear clothing and footwear appropriate to the laboratory activity and the hazards involved. Additional protective clothing may be required for specific procedures.

• Follow Supervision and Access Requirements: Students must follow instructor and department requirements regarding laboratory access, supervision, and authorized activities.

• Follow Established Procedures: Review and follow applicable laboratory procedures, Safe Work Practices, Standard Operating Procedures, instructor directions, and safety information before beginning work.

• Stop Work When Conditions Are Unsafe: Do not continue an activity when required controls are unavailable, equipment is malfunctioning, or conditions have changed in a way that may create an uncontrolled hazard.

Chemical & Equipment Safety

• Review Labels and Safety Data Sheets: Review chemical labels and applicable Safety Data Sheets (SDS) before working with hazardous chemicals and understand the hazards, precautions, and required controls. Cabrillo’s HazCom Program requires hazardous chemicals to have corresponding SDS information and appropriate labeling.

• Label Containers Properly: Ensure secondary and other workplace containers are appropriately labeled in accordance with District requirements. Do not use unidentified or inadequately labeled chemicals.

• Store Chemicals Safely: Store chemicals according to their hazards and compatibility and segregate incompatible materials.

• Use Engineering Controls: Use fume hoods, local exhaust ventilation, and other engineering controls when required by the chemical hazard, task, or applicable procedure.

• Use Equipment as Intended: Operate laboratory equipment only when authorized and appropriately trained. Report damaged, malfunctioning, or unsafe equipment.

• Evaluate New Hazards Before Work Begins: New chemicals, procedures, significant process changes, or work requiring specialized ventilation, exposure monitoring, or respiratory protection must be reviewed under the applicable District programs before use.

• Respiratory Protection: Do not use a respirator for required laboratory work unless the task has been evaluated and the respirator has been approved through the District Respiratory Protection Program. Required respirator users must complete applicable medical evaluation, fit testing, training, and equipment requirements before use.

Good Hygiene Practices

• Do not touch common surfaces, phones, keyboards, door handles, or personal belongings with contaminated gloves.

• Wash hands after handling hazardous chemicals or contaminated equipment and before leaving the laboratory.

• Keep personal items separated from laboratory work areas and chemical-use areas.

• Do not apply cosmetics or handle contact lenses in areas where hazardous chemicals are used.

• Remove contaminated PPE appropriately before leaving the laboratory or entering clean areas.

• Promptly report contaminated or damaged PPE and replace it when necessary.

Labeling Work Areas and Materials

• All chemical containers must be appropriately labeled so their contents and hazards can be identified.

• Do not use unlabeled or unknown chemicals.

• Clearly identify designated areas, equipment, or processes involving special hazards when required by the applicable procedure or safety program.

• Hazardous waste containers must be labeled and managed in accordance with District hazardous-waste procedures.

• Report damaged, leaking, deteriorated, or unidentified containers to the appropriate supervisor, laboratory coordinator, or EH&S.

Working Alone

Working alone in a laboratory should be evaluated based on the hazards of the activity, applicable procedures, and departmental requirements.

Students must follow instructor and department requirements regarding laboratory access and supervision. Employees should not perform work alone when an applicable procedure, hazard assessment, Chemical Hygiene Plan requirement, substance-specific program, or departmental rule requires another person to be present.

Activities involving higher-hazard chemicals, unusual processes, specialized equipment, respiratory protection, or emergency-response potential may require additional supervision or safeguards.

Maintain Situational Awareness

• Remain attentive to your work and to activities occurring nearby.

• Minimize distractions when handling hazardous chemicals, sharps, heat sources, or hazardous equipment.

• Do not use headphones or other devices when they interfere with hearing alarms, warnings, equipment conditions, or communication with others.

• Be alert for spills, unusual odors, ventilation problems, equipment failures, and other changes in laboratory conditions.

• Stop work and notify the appropriate supervisor, instructor, or EH&S when a condition may present an uncontrolled hazard.

Emergency Procedures

Fire Response

• If a fire alarm sounds, evacuate promptly using the nearest safe exit.

• Do not use elevators during a fire evacuation.

• Call 911 for fire emergencies.

• Only attempt to use a fire extinguisher when you are trained, the fire is small and incipient, you have a safe exit route, and conditions allow you to do so safely.

• Become familiar with exits, fire alarm pull stations, and emergency equipment before beginning laboratory work.

Chemical Spills

Students must not clean up hazardous chemical spills. Students should immediately notify their instructor or laboratory supervisor.

For employees, spill response depends on the material, quantity, hazards, location, and whether trained personnel can safely manage the release.

• Minor spills: Only trained and knowledgeable personnel should perform cleanup when the spill is within the scope of an established procedure and can be safely managed using appropriate PPE and spill-control materials.

• Major or uncontrolled spills: Stop work, alert nearby personnel, evacuate or isolate the affected area as appropriate, and notify emergency services and EH&S.

• Spill cleanup should use appropriate PPE and approved materials, and contaminated cleanup materials must be managed appropriately.

• Potential employee exposure should be evaluated to determine whether exposure monitoring or medical evaluation is necessary.

These principles are consistent with Cabrillo’s formaldehyde spill-response requirements, which call for stop-work, notification, evacuation or isolation when needed, trained personnel for cleanup, appropriate PPE, and evaluation of potential exposure.

Injury & Chemical Exposure

• Report laboratory injuries and suspected chemical exposures immediately to the instructor or supervisor.

• Eye Exposure: Immediately use the eyewash and flush the eyes thoroughly with water.

• Skin Exposure: Immediately wash the affected area and remove contaminated clothing as appropriate.

• Use an emergency shower when the location or extent of contamination requires whole-body flushing.

• Leave the area when respiratory irritation, unusual symptoms, or unsafe atmospheric conditions occur.

• Call 911 for serious injuries or medical emergencies.

• Employees must promptly report symptoms, suspected chemical exposures, spill or splash events, unusual odors, ventilation problems, or other conditions that may require exposure assessment or medical evaluation.

Cabrillo’s formaldehyde program specifically requires prompt reporting of irritation, respiratory symptoms, skin symptoms, unusual odors, spills, splashes, and ventilation problems because medical evaluation may be necessary even when previous monitoring results were low.

Respiratory Emergencies and Control Failures

• Respiratory protection is not a substitute for required ventilation, engineering controls, safe work practices, exposure monitoring, or other hazard controls.

• Employees using respirators must leave the work area if they experience breakthrough, leakage, increased breathing resistance, equipment malfunction, irritation, dizziness, or other symptoms.

• Loss of ventilation, spills, unexpected releases, or conditions outside an approved procedure require immediate stop-work and notification.

• Routine Cabrillo personnel must not enter unknown, oxygen-deficient, or IDLH atmospheres unless specifically authorized under an applicable respiratory-protection and emergency-response program.

Earthquake & Natural Disaster Response

• During an earthquake, Drop, Cover, and Hold On when possible and protect yourself from falling objects and broken glass.

• After shaking stops, assess conditions and evacuate when directed or when remaining in the area is unsafe.

• Be alert for broken chemical containers, damaged gas cylinders, equipment damage, loss of ventilation, electrical hazards, or other hazardous conditions.

• Do not attempt to clean up or correct conditions beyond your training or authorization.

• Report chemical releases, damaged laboratory equipment, or other hazardous conditions through the appropriate emergency, Facilities, supervisory, or EH&S process.

Chemical Safety & Hazardous Waste Management

• Review SDS Information: Use Safety Data Sheets to understand chemical hazards, handling precautions, required controls, storage considerations, and emergency information.

• Maintain Proper Labels: Ensure hazardous chemical containers and secondary containers are appropriately identified.

• Segregate Incompatible Chemicals: Store chemicals according to compatibility and hazard rather than simply by alphabetical order.

• Manage Hazardous Waste Properly: Use compatible, properly labeled containers and follow approved District hazardous-waste procedures. Cabrillo’s HazCom Program requires hazardous waste to be managed according to approved District procedures.

• Do Not Dispose of Chemicals Down the Drain Unless Specifically Authorized: Chemical drain disposal should occur only when an approved procedure specifically permits it.

• Report Leaks and Unsafe Conditions: Notify the instructor, supervisor, laboratory coordinator, EH&S, or FPPO as appropriate.

• Notify EH&S of New Chemical Hazards: Departments must maintain awareness of hazardous chemicals in their work areas and notify EH&S when new hazardous chemicals are introduced so applicable inventories, SDS requirements, hazard assessments, and program requirements can be addressed.

Additional Requirements for Formaldehyde

Laboratory activities involving formaldehyde, formalin solutions, paraformaldehyde, or formaldehyde-releasing materials are subject to the Cabrillo Formaldehyde Safety Plan in addition to the Chemical Hygiene Plan and other applicable District programs. The FSP addresses exposure monitoring, engineering and work-practice controls, regulated areas, PPE, respiratory protection, medical surveillance, training, spill response, and emergency procedures.

Employees must follow the approved formaldehyde procedures and controls for their work area and promptly report symptoms, spills, unusual odors, ventilation failures, or other conditions that may indicate exposure. Respiratory protection for formaldehyde may only be used in accordance with the District Respiratory Protection Program and approved task-specific requirements.