#Safety label cut fingers skin

Working with glass tubes or Pasteur pipettes.Ĭuts caused by breaking inlet/outlet stems from reflux condensers or desiccator stems

Wear cut-resistant gloves and safety glasses with side shields.

Educate researchers in vacuum techniques.Ĭonsider other factors that could possibly reduce risks, such as: Use low intensity vacuum devices, use smaller flasks, assure vacuum is released at the vacuum pump before removing vacuum flask/glassware, and make sure glassware under vacuum is not located where it could be bumped or struck.Ĭuts when forcing glass tubing or pipettes onto rubber stoppers.

Wear a face shield or safety glasses with side shields, appropriate gloves, and lab coat.

Wrap glass desiccators with friction or electrical tape in a grid pattern, leaving the contents visible this will guard against flying glass in case of implosion.

Keep cryogenic vacuum flasks wrapped with Nylon or other polymer based plastic mesh (view example).

Tape vacuum flasks and vacuum desiccators with electrical tape.

Injury from imploding glass or flying glass.

Safety Control Recommendations for Risk Reduction

#Safety label cut fingers skin

Wear slip-resistant or cut-resistant gloves when handling glass to prevent cuts, abrasions, and skin puncture. Specialized glassware, including Schlenk line tubes, separatory funnels, vials, desiccators, autoclavable tubing/glassware, micro-fabrication and thin film deposition devices, laser optics, etc., are prone to breakage from hairline cracks and from dropping the item. ‘LIKELY’ and the potential severity of injury from a pressurized or vacuum glass apparatus incident is ‘SEVERE TO EXTREME.’ By implementing safety controls and using PPE, the potential risks associated with glassware handling can be reduced. The probability of being injured by broken or breaking glass is ‘LIKELY’ and the potential severity of injury from a pressurized or vacuum glass apparatus incident is ‘SEVERE TO EXTREME.’ By implementing safety controls and using PPE, the potential risks associated with glassware handling can be reduced. However, anyone in the vicinity of imploding glass is likely to be hurt, so it is important for everyone to wear their personal protective equipment (PPE). The most likely person to be injured from mishandling of glassware is the user. Broken glass also has the potential to be a health hazard if it is contaminated with toxic chemicals, blood, or infectious substances which may enter the body through a cut or puncture.īroken glass penetrates the skin and causes lacerations just like sharp, needles, and razors.Broken glass and other sharps are physical hazards.Additional site specific procedures may be incorporated to meet the needs of individual work areas, core facilities, process labs, and manufacturing units in the university. This guidance applies to all research and teaching labs, manufacturing units, and staff and students who handle glassware in lab experiments, e.g., making media, reagent preparation, synthesis, analysis, vacuum techniques, and glassware cleaning. the online submission of the First Report of Injury (FROI) form for reporting injuries this facilitates compliance reporting as well as follow-up evaluations and corrective actions to prevent future incidents.safe disposal of both broken and unbroken glassware, pipettes and vials, etc., in sharps container to prevent injury to those handling waste containers and.awareness of personal protective measures, including the use of slip-resistant and cut-resistant gloves while handling glassware.The purpose of this research safety guidance is to prevent and/or minimize broken glass injuries while handling laboratory glassware through: Additional Safe Handling Information for Specific Activities Involving Glassware.First Aid, Medical Attention, and Treatment.