2. Standard Operating Procedures

A. Use of "Prudent Practices in the Laboratory: Handling and Disposal of Chemicals"

Laboratory operating procedures found in "Prudent Practices in the Laboratory: Handling and Disposal of Chemicals" (National Research Council, 1995) are adopted for general use at the University of Minnesota. The table of contents and Chapter 1 "The Culture of Laboratory Safety", Chapter 5 "Working with Chemicals" and Chapter 6 "Working with Laboratory Equipment" are reproduced in Appendix D and can be accessed by University of Minnesota Personnel electronically from DEHS's web site (www.dehs.umn.edu). The following topics are covered in Chapters 5 and 6 of Prudent Practices:

• Introduction
• Prudent Planning
• General Procedures for Working with Hazardous Chemicals
• Working with Substances of High Toxicity
• Working with Biohazardous and Radioactive Materials
• Working with Flammable Chemicals
• Working with Highly Reactive or Explosive Chemicals
• Working with Compressed Gases

• Introduction
• Working with Water-Cooled Equipment
• Working with Electrically Powered Laboratory Equipment
• Working with Compressed Gases
• Working with High/Low Pressures and Temperatures
• Using Personal Protective, Safety, and Emergency Equipment
• Emergency Procedures

B. Other References

The American Chemical Society's "Safety in Academic Chemistry Laboratories" is another useful text. This manual presents information similar to that found in Prudent Practices, but in a considerably condensed format.

C. University of Minnesota Standards and Recommended Practices

Selected standard operating procedures have been adopted by the University of Minnesota specifically for its own laboratories. Extensive and detailed policies regarding hazardous waste management are specified in the University's guide book "Hazardous Chemical Waste Management, 5th edition." During a chemical spill in the laboratory, workers should follow Part 3: Emergency Procedures of this guide book.

The "Quick Reference" from this section is reproduced below.

Other more specific standard operating procedures are reproduced in Appendix E.

D. Laboratory Specific Standard Operating Procedures

This section summarizes laboratory specific Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). The full text of these SOPs is included in Appendix N, or can be obtained from the referenced PI, or from the Laboratory Safety Officer, Duane Long, for the Department of Chemical Engineering. Safety information is included in each SOP, and may be highlighted in a Laboratory Safety Information Sheet, similar to the one included in Appendix F. NOTE: At this time the Department of Chemical Engineering does not have any SOPs