Lab Safety Protocols

Lab Safety Protocols

SARS-CoV-2 is the virus that causes COVID-19. Products the EPA has approved for disinfection against this virus include 70% ethanol, 10% bleach, and many other disinfectants.

Note: Do NOT mix bleach and other disinfectants, because it can create hazardous fumes.

For Organic Chemistry:

1. Wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds and dry thoroughly.
2. Place your cloth mask in a Ziploc bag for the duration of lab and put on a disposable mask and your goggles or reusable face shield.

At the Start of All Labs:

1. While wearing your mask, wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds and dry thoroughly. For some labs, instructors might have you put on gloves at this point.
2. Spray surface of lab bench thoroughly with 70% ethanol or other approved disinfectant.
3. Wipe clean with paper towels and dispose of paper towels in regular trash can.

During Lab:

1. Keep mask on at all times and refrain from adjusting it or touching your face.
2. If you touch something that might not be disinfected, wash your hands thoroughly before touching any additional surfaces.
3. Spray items off with 70% ethanol or wipe with disinfectant wipes as lab items are used (ex. Reagent bottles, water bath handles, shared microscopes, pipettes, balances etc.). Note that disinfectant wipes are the preferred method of disinfection for electronics.
4. Maintain six feet of social distancing between people.

At the End of Lab:

1. Keep mask on at all times.
2. Spray surface of lab bench thoroughly with 70% ethanol or other disinfectant. IF in Organic Chemistry, skip to those directions.
3. If you’ve been in a lab where you’ve been wearing gloves, remove gloves using the glove-in-glove method and dispose of gloves in regular trash.
4. Wash hands with soap and water for 20 seconds and dry thoroughly.

At end of lab, IF in Organic Chemistry:

1. While wearing your mask, carefully wipe the inside, followed by the outside of the face shield using a clean cloth saturated with neutral detergent solution or cleaner wipe.
2. Carefully wipe the inside, followed by the outside of the face shield using a wipe or clean cloth saturated with EPA-registered disinfectant solution such as 70% ethanol.
3. Wipe the inside, followed by the outside of face shield with clean water to remove residue.
4. Fully dry (air dry or use clean paper towels).
5. Wash hands with soap and water for 20 seconds and dry thoroughly.
6. Change out your disposable mask for your reusable cloth mask, dispose of disposable mask and Ziploc bag in regular trash.
7. Wash hands again or apply hand sanitizer before leaving the lab.

Proper Way to Remove Gloves (Poster)