Lab Safety Guidelines

What to do in case of emergency?

For reporting fire or other emergencies contact Corvallis Police by dialing 911; to request inmediate response from EH&S dial 541 737 7000

If an injury should occur, notify lab staff or a peer immediately. An incident report must be completed online within 24 hours. First-aid kits are available for minor injuries throughout the lab environment. Fire extinguishers are also found throughout the lab for extinguishing or controlling minor fires in emergency situations.

If you hear fire alarms, stop any equipment you are using and exit the building according to evacuation guidelines, making sure to close all doors behind you.

Machine operations

Never use any machine unless you have been trained on its operation by a lab staff member and are aware of its safe use.
If you have questions do no hesitate to ask a staff member.
Report any malfunctioning equipment to lab staff. Do not use any equipment that is not working properly. Notify others by placing an out of order sign at the machine.

Safety mindset when operating machines

Never worked when you are tired, stressed, or unable to work carefully
Never work alone, when working after office hours be sure to be accompanied by another student or staff of equal or better lab abilities
Never interrupt, distract, or walk directly behind a person operating a machine
Never place hands or other body parts in the area of any cutting head, blade, drill, pinch-point, or other moving, rotating or cutting device/tool. Remove all hand tools, accessory devices, and other foreign objects from the immediate work area before beginning to operate any equipment
Ensure that all safety mechanisms such as guards, shields, and light curtains are operating correctly and securely in place prior to operating any equipment
Aisles, exits, and access to emergency equipment must be kept clear at all times

Appropriate clothing and personal protective equipment (PPE) must be worn while in certain lab environments (see table for each lab requirement). Unless otherwise specified, appropriate attire must always be observed while in the labs:

Footwear must, at minimum, cover the entire foot, be secure to the foot on all sides, and provide a stable working posture. Shoes such as sandals, clogs, ballerina flats, and heels are not acceptable
Long hair, including beards, must be tied back such that it is kept away from the front of the face and neck. A good rule-of-thumb is that if ihair is long enough to tie back, do so
No loose clothing may be worn in the shop, including ties, scarves, and loose sleeves
Remove jewelry before beginning work, including rings, earrings, necklaces, bracelets and watches
Gloves should be worn when handling extremely hot or hazardous materials but must never be worn when operating a machine with moving parts
Do not wear corded headphones and/or listening to portable music players. Cords can potentially get caught in machinery and it is important that you are able to hear Lab staff at all times while in the lab environment
Cell phones and other personal electronic devices must not be used when working at any machine

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Several research and instructional labs require appropriate PPE to be worn at all times. Examples of PPE includes:

Safety glasses all time at machining shops or when working with dangerous materials
Hearing protection – wear whenever loud equipment is in operation and noise levels in excess of 85 dB(A)
Disposable dust masks capable of filtering out 95% of non-oil airborne particulate are available for use
Respirators are also available for purchase in the shop store and are necessary for using certain chemicals
Leather gloves are advisable to wear when handling rough, sharp, or hot material. DO NOT USE leather gloves when operating motorized or moving equipment as they may get caught or prevent you from adequately controlling the material as it encounters the equipment – nitrile gloves are available for use when handling liquids or cleaning with solvents

Cleanliness

Keeping the labs clean and well maintained is important to the health and safety of everyone in the lab. It is the responsibility of all users to clean up after themselves and dispose of all waste appropriately. Keep your work area clean both while working and when you have finished working in the area.

Never use compressed air to clean machinery, skin or clothing. Students are required to clean up using vacuums, brooms and dust pans
Clean up any spilled liquids. If it is a potentially hazardous or oily liquid, then contact Lab staff so that they may respond with the appropriate measures.

Mechanical, Industrial, and Manufacturing Engineering

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What to do in case of emergency?

Machine operations

Safety mindset when operating machines

Safety attire

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Cleanliness

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