Departmental Safety Regulations

A. The Chemistry Department strives continuously to provide a safe working environment in all of our instructional and research laboratories and support facilities. Despite the variety of potential hazards inherent in chemical laboratories, proper observance by all faculty, staff, and students of the safety practices outlined in this guide will minimize the possible risks and help to maintain an excellent safety record.

B. All Chemistry Department faculty, staff, and students who work in laboratories, chemical storage areas, preparation rooms, instrumentation facilities, or shops should familiarize themselves with the TAMU Environmental Health and Safety Department's (EHSD) On-line Safety Manual which serves as a guide to generally accepted safety practices in all University research and instructional laboratories.

C. All personnel in each laboratory should become familiar with simple emergency first aid methods. The department will arrange for periodic first aid training sessions, as needed.

D. No individual may perform unusually hazardous experimental work (e.g., handling potentially explosive materials or large quantities of flammable compounds) unless a second person is present in the same laboratory or within calling distance.

E. Windows on all laboratory doors must be unobstructed at all times. An exception to this regulation will exist for laboratories in which high-intensity radiation sources, such as lasers or x-ray generators, are used.

F. Interior connecting doors between laboratories must be unobstructed and unlocked at all times. The floor area beneath the arc of swing of each laboratory door should also be unobstructed.

G. Consumption of food or beverages is not allowed in laboratories that contain hazardous chemicals.