Health & Safety

Lab coats should be washed on a regular basis not normally exceeding once per month. If the lab coat is used in a biological containment level 1 or 2 lab, lab coats should be autoclaved before being washed. If the lab coat has a chemical spill, assess is the chemical can be removed in the lab; if not, dispose of the lab coat in chemical waste.

Safety data sheets are maintained on the ChemWatch GoldFFX database. To access go to: https://ehs.utoronto.ca/our-services/chemical-and-lab-safety/whmis/sds/

Stop – Think! Do not rush. Carefully plan cleanup. Get material safety data sheet and determine appropriate cleanup procedures for the material. Decide if you can safely handle this spill; If unsure, call 416-978-7000 for assistance. Eliminate all ignition sources if flammable material is involved. Turn on fume hoods to capture or direct flow of vapours. Confine the spill to a small area. Do not allow the material to spread. Dike, block or contain the size of spread of liquid spill by using appropriate absorbing material. Carefully remove other materials, containers, equipment from path of the spill. Sweep solids of low toxicity into a dust pan and place into container for disposal. Dispose of all cleanup materials as hazardous waste. After removal of spilled material, if the chemical is soluble in water, the area should be washed with warm, soapy water to remove any remaining residue. Report the incident to your supervisor and fill out an EHS incident form: https://ehs.utoronto.ca/report-an-incident/

1. Alert co-workers
2. In case of aerosols, hold your breath and quickly leave the lab. Close the door and post a warning sign. Allow aerosols to settle for at least 30 minutes.
3. Remove any contaminated clothing
4. Thoroughly wash exposed skin
5. Put on appropriate PPE
6. Cover the spill area with paper towels or absorbent material
7. Pour disinfectant from the outside toward the centre of the spill. Allow the disinfectant to act for 20-30 minutes. If using bleach, mix FRESH dilution to give required % of sodium hypochlorite – usually 1%
8. Remove glass with forceps or scoop
9. Remove towels & mop up
10. Clean again with soap/water or alcohol
11. Wipe down adjacent areas with disinfectant
12. Properly dispose of materials in biohazard containers (mark containers “spill cleanup – contains {name of disinfectant}”
13. Wash your hands
14. Report the incident to your supervisor and fill out an EHS incident form: https://ehs.utoronto.ca/report-an-incident/

1. If aerosols are produced evacuate the lab and let aerosols settle for at least 1 hour
2. Move the equipment to a BSC if possible
3. Disinfect the equipment with an appropriate disinfectant. If equipment contains metal you may not want to disinfect the equipment with bleach as it will corrode the metal. Consider 70% ethanol, 3% hydrogen peroxide, or a quaternary ammonium disinfectant. Wipe down all parts including the lid. Wait for 20 – 30 minutes of contact time
4. Rinse with water if bleach was used

Use the PPE assessment tool on EHS’s website: https://ehs.utoronto.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Laboratory-PPE-Assessment-Tool.pd-Updated.pdf

1. Go to https://ehs.utoronto.ca/training/my-ehs-training/
2. At the bottom of the page click on "Log into My EHS Training"
3. You will login with your UTOR ID and password.
4. At the bottom of the page click on "View Training History"
5. You will be prompted to save the file ‘EHS Training History.pdf’; save it as ‘Firstname_Lastname_EHS Training History.pdf’.

Don’t panic. If you are working with biologicals, recap all containers. If you have any open flames or power sources on, turn them off. Take off your PPE and wash your hands. If it is winter, grab your coat. Exit the building and retreat to a safe distance.