Before going to the lab
- Emergency number: 115 (internal phones), 021 693 30 00 (external phones)
- Watch the general safety video
- Know the assembly point in case of a fire alarm
- Every new user should read the “Safety Manual“, especially chapters (1-6,9,16 and 17). A hard copy is available to borrow from Gianluca in MXC 232.
- Read the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for every chemical intending to use for your experiments
- Take the safety quiz (Login with GASPAR –> Formation Continue –> Quiz-Securité)
- For questions concerning the safety ask the safety officer
In the lab
- No short pants / skirt or open shoes in the lab
- Know where the nearest emergency exit, safety shower, eye shower and first aid kit are located
- Before each experiment know what waste to dispose where. Check the site for waste management for more information
- Eating, drinking and smoking is prohibited in the lab
- Transport chemicals useing the blue basket
- Always wear safety glasses and gloves in the chemistry lab (MXC 235). When working with a fume hood wear a lab coat.
- Always wear safety glasses and gloves in the microfluidics lab (MXC 233)
- Use UV-protection glasses when working with UV light in the analytics lab (MXD 932)
- Watch the working with dangerous chemicals video
- No gloves on door handles
- Read the page on working with a fume hood
- Flasks and containers should be labeled properly (chemical, name, date)
- It is not allowed to use new equipment without getting trained on it
- Do not work alone in the chemical laboratory after 19:00 on on weekends or holidays
- Chemicals and solvents should be stored in the designated safety cabinets
- Needles and other sharps must be collected in the special waste
- Project students are not allowed to work in the lab alone
- Unattended experiments (Download the form and place it next to the experiment)
- For if pregnant and in the lab click here
- For technical problems in the office or in the lab (ventilation, fume hood, heating, …) call 34000
- To obtain medical safety glasses follow this link.
- If you see something unsafe in the lab –> react
- Don’t be afraid to ask questions
- For more information on safety take a look at STI Safety or EPFL Safety, Prevention and Health Domain
Safety Files
Safety check
Each collaborator must be able to answer the following questions:
Where is the fire exit of the laboratory?
Where are the safety ways and stairways of evacuation?
How to reach help and whom to call?
- Where is the list with emergency phone numbers?
- How to start a fire alarm?
- Where are the emergency stop buttons for natural gas and electricity
- Where are the extinguishing equipments (extinguishers, safety blankets, sand buckets)
What to do in case of liquid spill?
Where are the eye-showers and showers?
Where is the nearest first aid kit?
What to do if I plan an unattended reaction?
How to find safety information on chemicals?
What to do if you want to run an experiment overnight or during the week-end?