These safe work practices offer essential health and safety information to help prevent injuries during daily tasks and assignments. By following these guidelines, you can create a safer work environment for yourself and others in your workplace.
These safe work practices are part of the College of Marins Injury and Illness Prevention Program and are required by Cal/OSHA. Employees shall follow these safe work practices while performing work activities at all times.
You are welcome to share your ideas to enhance or refine these safe work practices.
- No food or drink should be allowed in laboratories or preparation rooms.
- All hazardous chemicals should be labeled properly, including the product name, pictogram, signal word, NFPA rating, and all other GHS-relevant requirements.
- Incompatible chemicals should not be stored in the same cabinet or close vicinity.
- All ten gallons or over flammable materials should be stored in flammable storage cabinets.
- Proper PPE (gloves and goggles, at minimum) should always be worn when working with flammable or volatile materials, blood, or other potentially infectious materials.
- Specific work activities may require a respirator. Only trained employees with online respirator medical evaluations may use a respirator. Contact the Program Coordinator for Health and Safety for more information on the respiratory protection program.
- All employees should know where to find Safety Data Sheets (SDSs) which should be accessible for all chemicals being used. New or revised SDSs should be implemented as soon as received.
- When handling sharp objects, avoid placing your hands or any other body parts in the direct path of the sharp edge. Properly dispose of needles and syringes in containers designed to resist punctures.
- Always be aware of where sharp objects are. Do not walk around the room with uncapped needles.
- Laboratory Fume Hoods used for storing hazardous waste need to be designated. Such hoods should be labeled “Satellite Hazardous Waste Storage Area.”
- Hazardous waste labels must be properly labeled, it shall include the words “hazardous waste,” a start date of accumulation, the composition and physical state, and with words that identify the contents and properties (i.e., flammability, reactivity, corrosivity, ignitability)
- Hazardous waste containers must be closed with a secure top, except when adding or removing waste.
- The Bloodborne Pathogens standard applies to all employees involved in work activities that involve exposure to human blood or other potentially infectious materials. It provides guidance on how to minimize occupational exposure.
- Keep work areas clean to ensure unfettered access to eyewash stations, deluge showers, lights, and exits.