General Lab Safety Rules Do not disturb people working in the lab unnecessarily No eating or drinking inside lab Clear passage ways No social gathering No playing or listening to audio equipment while doingexperiments

Dress code Always wear lab coat Closely covered shoes No sandals and shoes with heel higher than 1 Safety goggles, gloves (handling chemicals) and ear plugs (if required) No excessive jewellery No swing‐loose‐long hair style, neatly tie‐up the long hair No shorts and (ladies) wear pants, not skirts where possible No lab coats outside labs

Housekeeping Rules Work area should be kept clean and tidy Do not leave any chemicals around balances, pH meters or othercommon areas Label all containers/sample vials (including waste) properly Promptly return all the items borrowed after completion ofproject Report all accidents, breakages to LT

Chemical safetyBefore handling chemicals Use chemicals authorized for the lab Read MSDS carefully Supplier Manufacturer’s website

NUS digital library http://www.lib.nus.edu.sg/slb/chemistr.html Canada Centre for occupational health and safetyhttp://ccinfoweb.ccohs.ca/msds/search.html

Chemical safety Choose the appropriate gloves Never handle chemicals (bottles/containers) without any label Always label the chemicals Chemical name User name Date opened/preparation date Concentration Consult Postgraduate student/LT on proper chemical disposa

Chemical safetyTransportation of chemicals Adequately supported and contained in closed bottles Always use a secondary container to transport several bottles in atrolley Make sure bottles are not placed closely Avoid unnecessary rattling, shaking or movement of bottles Do not squeeze in lift which is nearly full while transportingChemicalsl

Chemical SafetyHandling Chemicals Never sniff any chemical Avoid direct skin contactWear Filter mask – handling fine powder No gloves on door knob/handle

Chemical SafetyChemical storage Store and handle all the chemicals below eye level Solvents to be stored in flammable cabinets and handled insidefume hood Properly label all the chemicals including secondary storagecontainers (content, preparation date, user name and expirydate) Do not use lab bench for permanent storage of chemicals

Chemical SafetyImportant No mercury usage without prior permission fromSupervisor and LT Care while handling alkali metals Avoid direct contact with biologically activecompounds, organo metallic compounds Liquid nitrogen – proper training from LT

Electrical safety Inspect electrical equipment ‐ turn off the power Faulty y instruments should be attended by trainedpersonnel only In case of leaking of roofs, safely secure all the electricalequipments, power points with plastic sheets

Fire Safety Never put off a naked flame using water Use fire extinguishers

Proper handling and disposal of heterogeneous metalcatalysts and metal complexes. Alkali metals are prone to fire when contact with moisture,wash off any excess with ethanol or iso‐propanol

GasesStorage and transport Secure gas cylinders all the time Store them away from excessiveheat, ignition sources Always transport the cylindersusing a trolley Seek help from LT/Postgrad forgas cylinder transportation

GasesUsage Clearly mark whether the cylinders areFull/In use/Empty Do not force open the valves damage the pressure regulators Check for leakages Regulators, pressure relief devices, valves, connection and tubing Minor leakages Open the windows and take fresh air outside of the lab Dispose of off‐gases through fume hood

Waste Disposal Hazardous constituents – strongly acidic, basic solutions,concentrated metal solutions, inorganic solutions, toxiccompounds should not be thrown into sink

Obtain waste bottles – seek assistance from LT Label the bottles Waste composition (No abbreviation) Waste type Your name Lab location Date of disposal

Waste Disposal Do not overfill the bottles – not more than ¾ full Always segregate the waste Waste mixed Solvents Waste acids Waste alkaline Waste oil Keep the bottles capped in the waste storage area All wastes should be declared within two weeks regardless ofVolume

Waste DisposalImportant Do not mix wastes in the same bottle (particularly organicwastes and acids) Volatile compounds should be properly labeled and stored infume hood until disposal Discuss with supervisor on disposal procedures prior tocommencement of work with biological active materials andthen notify LT

Emergency ProceduresPrevent emergency situations Always stay alert

Familiarize with power switches, first‐aid kits, fire extinguishers,emergency showers, eyewashesAccident Act immediately Inform Lab officer and Supervisor Do not handle on your own If acting wear proper personal protective equipment.

Emergency ProceduresChemical spillage Refer to MSDS for proper clean up procedures Seek help from trained personnel only Use spillage kit Carefully contain the chemicals and tidy up the workplace Proper disposal of waste Skin or eye contact Immediately wash off with excess water Seek medical attention if symptoms persists

Emergency ProceduresChemical vapors On inhalation Leave the place and take deep breathe of fresh air Seek medical attention (if needed)

Glassware breakage Wear proper PPE Carefully gather the broken pieces Dispose in the sharps/broken glass bin only Broken chips should be free from chemical residue

Emergency ProceduresFire hazard Activate the fire alarm Attempt to extinguish incipient fire without taking any personalrisk

Notify campus security and Singapore civil defense force of theactivation of fire alarm Rescue people in immediate danger Shut down electrical equipments Proceed to nearest exit and assembly point

Completion of FYP Upon completion of FYP, lab should be left in asatisfactory condition Submit the lab release form If transferring samples/consumables/glasswares to successor,get approval You will not be allowed to submit your thesis without the labrelease form