Safety for All

1. Everyone is responsible for preventing accidents, so must: a.) understand safety hazards, and b.) observe safety precautions. But no system is perfect. So everyone also has a role in responding in the case of an accident and in the post-incident analysis.
    
2. SNF’s responsibility is to a.) educate and inform labmembers of safety hazards and response procedures in the lab; b.) provide the tools and resources for safe lab use; and c.) continually improve safety by identifying, analyzing, and responding to safety concerns. General lab safety hazards are communicated through this SNF Labuser guide and Stanford’s EH&S safety programs.  Specific station-level safety hazards are communicated through training for individual tools. Safety resources provided by SNF include, but are not limited to:SDS information; operating procedures and training for each tool; personal protective equipment (PPE) and training in its use; documented procedures for actions to take in an emergency situation; knowledgeable personnel who are trained in safety and emergency procedures.
    
3. Labmembers are responsible for behaving in a safe, conscientious, and professional manner in all lab activities. SNF provides information and tools; use this information to manage, not only your own safety, but the safety of your fellow labmembers and staffers.  Be aware that anyone endangering themself or others will lose access to the lab. 
   
   We all know that researchers need to try new things.  So your responsibility is to work with staff to ensure that any new procedure/chemical/equipment is introduced and executed in a safe manner, through the ProM. You are also responsible for keeping the lab community safe by reporting any safety concerns. To report any potentially unsafe conditions or practices, or to offer suggestions for improvement, you can send a confidential email.

1. Buddy Rules: No one may work in the lab without a buddy at any time. The lab is open all hours, but there are times, such as a late night or on a holiday, when there may be no other people in the lab. If you expect to work when the lab may be empty, make sure to coordinate your work schedule in advance with a buddy.  Working-alone rules are described below and detailed on Stanford's EH&S site.
    
2. Higher-risk tasks:  An “in-person buddy”, who is physically present and within hearing distance, is required when performing higher-risk tasks.  At SNF, pouring corrosive baths is a higher-risk task requiring an in-person buddy.  Other operations may also require an in-person buddy, as described in operating procedures and training.
    
3. Lower-risk tasks.  Except where specifically indicated, the buddy rule for lower-risk fab processing can adapted.  A “semi in-person buddy” is another labmember who may not necessarily be in the same lab space, but is physically present on-site. A “live remote buddy” is someone who is continuously observing your activities remotely.  An “asynchronous remote buddy” is someone who is not on-site.
    
4. Buddy Responsibilities. Make sure your Buddy knows where you are working, how long you expect to be working, when to check in, and when you are leaving for the day.  And if you are a designated buddy, make sure you communicate with your buddy partner.  Do not leave your buddy partner without informing them.

We use hazardous equipment and chemicals everyday, from the cars we drive to the gasoline we fill them with. Using these safely requires understanding their hazards and using safe practices to minimize them. The simplest precautions can be lifesavers; consider car seat belts.  Here are the general types hazards in the SNF labs.

1. Gas Hazards: Compressed gases pose both chemical and physical hazards. Some of the gases used at SNF are inert; others are toxic, corrosive, flammable, or explosive. The primary health risks posed by gases are the physical hazards (fire, explosion) and inhalation (toxics and corrosives.) Use of these gases is strictly determined by state and local regulations, and university policy. Engineering controls are used to minimize the possibility of release and exposure.  Our toxic gas monitoring system is used to detect trace signals of a possible release and protect lab and building occupants by invoking evacuation.  While these measures are protective, as a labmember, you must still be always aware of the types gases and the hazards posed in the equipment you use.
    
2. Liquid Chemicals present exposure hazards because: a.) they have to be handled (transported, poured, and mixed) to be used; b.) each chemical poses different hazards and precautionary measures for use. The chemicals commonly used in the lab can cause severe burns, tissue, and organ damage, and can ignite and explode. The greatest health risks posed by liquid chemicals are physical (fire, explosion), direct contact with skin and eyes (tissue damage), and inhalation (pulmonary damage or long term chronic effects). Make every effort to understand the chemical processes you use and respect the chemicals you work with. Knowing the general rules for how to safely transport, pour, use, and dispose of these chemicals is the responsibility of every labmember' using wet labs.
    
3. Electrical Hazards are present wherever electricity is used. Although equipment is interlocked to prevent operator exposure, you must be aware the electrical hazards for the tool you are using. Unless it is in your training, never open electrical enclosures or cabinets on equipment, even when the power is off. If you notice any electrical hazard (for example,  an electrical "tingle" when you touch a piece of equipment) stop using the tool and immediately notify a staffer. Never put hands, fingers or conductive tools inside equipment. With the exception of personal electronics devices (laptops, phones), any electrical equipment brought into the lab must have prior ProM approval, to ensure that you can use the equipment in a safe manner.
    
4. Ultraviolet Radiation is a potential risk in plasma etch, plasma deposition, and sputter tools, where highly energized species are generated. High power UV lamps are used in the aligner and stepper tools in photolithography; as they are mercury-based, they pose also pose a chemical risk (if a UV lamp should break or explode, do not attempt to clean up; instead, isolate the immediate area and call staff.)
    
5. Electromagnetic Radiation may be generated by equipment using RF (primarily plasma etch and plasma deposition tools.) If you have a pacemaker, be aware that RF sources are present in the lab. All equipment is shielded to prevent exposure; report any damage to shielding on the equipment or cables.

Allen/Annex Building Emergency Response Procedures and emergency contact information are posted throughout the lab and the building (look for the brightly colored signs near exit doors, fire alarms, fire extinguishers, and building phones.) [link]
 

1. Building Evacuation/General Building Fire Alarm:  In an emergency, the priority is to move everyone safely away from hazards. When an emergency requires the evacuation of the building, the fire alarm system will sound. The fire alarm is automatically activated by smoke and fire detectors located throughout the building. Toxic gas detectors in the labs will also activate the general fire alarm. The fire alarm can be activated manually as well, by pulling the handle at any one of the pull stations located throughout the building.  The Palo Alto Fire Department will respond to a general building fire alarm. 
   
   All labmembers should familiarize themselves with the location of lab and building exits, the Evacuation Assembly Point, fire alarm pull stations, and fire extinguishers. When the fire alarm is activated, leave immediately. Do not take time to finish your tasks, remove your bunnysuit or collect belongings. Leave the lab and building through the nearest exit and go to the Evacuation Assembly Point (EAP). Provide assistance to others as necessary. Provide information that may be of assistance to Emergency Response personnel. Do not reenter the building, even if the alarms have silenced. Only after the Fire or Police Departments declare the scene safe will you be allowed to re-enter the building.
   
   While safely away from the building, wait for instructions.  You may remove your bunnysuit.  Keep it, so that when the OK is given to return to the building, you may check your suit into the laundry and check out a fresh set.  Do not re-enter labs until staff have communicated that it is safe.  Let staffers know if you have any work underway or in process, so they can prioritize tasks in bringing the labs back up.  
   
   Response for Building Evacuation/General Fire Alarm:
   - Leave the building immediately.  Go to the Evacuation Assembly Point (EAP).
   - Do not re-enter the building until cleared to do so.
    
2. Lab-only Evacuation/Local Alarm: A lab-only evacuation may be activated by toxic gas detectors in lab support areas. In a lab-only evacuation, the blue, Toxic Gas Beacon is activated, but the general building fire alarm is not.  When in the lab, you must leave immediately. Do not take time to finish your tasks in the lab. Do not take time to remove your bunnysuit or pick up your belongings. Leave the lab through the nearest exit and assemble in the office area outside the lab. 
   
   While safely out of the labs, wait for instructions.  You may remove your bunnysuit.  Keep it, so that when the OK is given to return to the labs, you may check your suit into the laundry and check out a fresh set.  Do not re-enter labs until staff have communicated that it is safe.  Let staffers know if you have any work underway or in process, so they can prioritize tasks in bringing the labs back up. 
   
   Response Procedures for Lab-only Evacuation:
   - Evacuate the lab immediately to the office area outside the lab.
   - Do not re-enter the lab until cleared to do so.
    
3. Calling Lab-only Evacuation: A lab-only evacuation should be called for any hazardous situation which is isolated to the lab and does not pose a health or safety risk to building occupants outside the lab. Such situations may include a chemical spill or unusual odor.  Any other situation in which the health or safety of lab occupants may be of immediate concern warrants a lab-only evacuation. 
   
   A laboratory evacuation may be called by an announcement over the PA system (red phones.) Anyone may call an evacuation. Unless specifically otherwise instructed by staff, you should respond as would for a building evacuation:  Leave  immediately through the nearest lab exit: do not take time to finish your tasks in the lab, remove your bunnysuit, or pick up your belongings. Meet in the office area outside the lab, for further instructions.
   
   Response Procedures:
   - Announce evacuation over the PA system (red phones).
   - Evacuate immediately to the office area outside the lab.
   - Do not re-enter the lab until cleared to do so.