Safety
Open Hours requirements before any lab use:
- Submit an intake form and attend lab orientation and a basic safety introduction. Click on the button below to Get Started.
After Hours access: Additional requirements.
Note that after-hours access is a privilege that can be revoked at any time for safety or lab protocol violations.
- Complete the RLE Emergency Preparedness Training.
- Complete your PI’s Lab Specific Chemical Hygiene Training.
- Complete Managing Hazardous Waste training through Atlas.
- Attend a Rodgers lab-specific safety training session, held every other Monday morning at 9 am. Ask Dr. Nagle for an invite to upcoming sessions.
- Complete the first page of and submit a Card Access Form, to be signed by Dr. Nagle, even if you have submitted one signed by another PI or submitted for another card reader.
Be vigilant
Keep in mind that safety training only defines limits and teaches best practices within those limits. You are responsible for your safety and the safety of those around you. It may help to think of safety training as defining guardrails and teaching safe operation of a vehicle between those guardrails:
- We don’t want you to drive off a cliff, i.e., we don’t want you to harm yourself in the Lab.
- We don’t want you to drive into others, i.e., we don’t want you to harm others through your actions in the Lab.
- We don’t want you to crash our vehicles, i.e., we don’t want you to damage Lab equipment.
- You are free to crash your own vehicle (damage your own equipment), but subject to the restrictions of 1 through 3 above.
Notable hazards in the lab
75 W CO2 laser cutter/etcher
This tool requires training by Dr. Nagle. It is safe if used properly, but must be attended at all times while in operation. Laser cutting can and does produce a flame, and the flames can get out of control.
It is imperative that users check the location and operational status of the nearest fire extinguiser BEFORE starting the tool. This is part of the laser cutter training and is reinforced with cue cards at the tool.
Fume hood
Use of the fume hood requires Rodgers Lab Specific training. See above to arrange.
All processes must be clearly described in a written Protocol and submitted to Dr. Nagle two weeks before the planned use of the fume hood. All amounts and names of all chemicals must be listed in a “Materials” section of the Protocol, and their use must be clearly noted in the Protocol step(s) which use(s) them. The Protocol must describe the source and destination containers, all labware as well as other tools that are hazards or will come into contact with hazards. If you’re not sure if something is a hazard, please discuss with Dr. Nagle. Finally, arrangements for disposal of waste must also be described in the Protocol and be arranged with Dr. Nagle two weeks before the planned execution of the Protocol.
For simple protocols, and if the Rodgers Lab has hosted a similar protocol in the past, the above timeline could be short.
120/208 V, 60 A, 3-phase service along the north wall
DANGER!
OFF LIMITS!
Use of these service connections requires special permission and advanced electrical safety training. They exist primarily to power specialized equipment. Talk to Dr. Nagle if you’d like to learn more.
120/208 V, 30 A, 3-phase service at each bench and along the back wall
Use of these service connections requires special permission and advanced electrical safety training.
Talk to Dr. Nagle if you would like to connect anything to these outlets.