Safety is your number one priority while being in the NRF. It is very important that you follow the lab regulations listed in the lab usage guide. The chemical safety rules are listed below. Some chemicals in the lab are life-threatening, so it is important to follow these rules. Users who fail to follow these rules, will be suspended from the lab.

In the event of an emergency, please contact the staff. If it is life threatening, please dial 911 from the phones in the lab.

In the event of an HF Burn, please click here.

Chemical Safety Rules

• All chemicals must be poured at a working fume hood. Magnehelic gauges should be checked BEFORE pouring chemicals to insure adequate exhaust. Do NOT pour chemical if exhaust is inadequate
• Chemical-resistant gloves and face shields must be worn when pouring chemicals. Aprons should also be worn.
• Only approved chemicals (those already listed in the MSDS book) may be used in the lab. New chemicals (those not already in use in lab) must be approved by lab manage- ment and MSDS sheets must be obtained before bringing new chemicals into the lab.
• MSDS sheets must be read and understood before working with a chemical. All warnings and procedures regarding storage, disposal etc. must be followed.
• Chemicals poured in open beakers must remain under a fume hood. Do NOT move them out of the fume hood.
• Do NOT heat highly flammable liquids such as acetone. Turn off hotplates when finished.
• Use rubber or nalgene carriers when transporting chemicals thru lab. Do NOT carry a bottle without a carrier unless it is directly across from the fume hood being used. Use a plastic cart with containment lip if you are bringing chemicals in from another lab.
• All chemicals must be stored in clearly marked, sealed containers of a material compatible with the chemical (e.g. do NOT use glass with HF). Markings must include: chemical name, professor and date chemical was brought into lab.
• Do NOT move or dispose hot chemicals, let them cool first.
• Chemicals must be stored in the appropriate cabinet except when in actual use. Acids must be stored in the acid cabinet, bases in the base cabinet and solvents in the solvent cabinet.
• Waste chemicals must be stored in the chemical waste cabinet in clearly marked carboys; Do NOT overfill.
• Chemicals must NOT be stored or left for appreciable amounts of time on the floor or tables and must be labeled as to chemical name and/or strength of mixture.
• Chemicals must NOT be stored underneath fume hoods.
• Strongly fuming chemicals such as HCL and Ammonium Hydroxide must be used only in the recessed hot pot areas of the fume hood so that lip exhaust helps contain odors.
• If strong odors are present during chemical processing, stop, turn off hot plate, if on, call lab management and evacuate area. Do NOT continue processing if you smell fumes.
• It is recommended that you have your own personal chemical-resistant gloves. Wash gloves in DI water after each use.
• Triple rinse empty chemical bottles including cap and affix rinse label. Date and initial it and place rinsed bottle back in appropriate cabinet if there is room or on the floor near the cabinet out of the way if there is not room.
• Chemical waste must be poured AT THE FUME HOOD into the appropriately labeled waste bottle. Allow the chemical to cool first and wear safety visor and special gloves. Wipe down outside of waste bottle with DI water and clean wipe.
• If chemical processing at a fume hood needs to continue in your absence, you MUST place the setup towards the back of the hood out of the way and label it (use clean wipe) with: your name, chemical(s) used, time and date poured, your phone # and when you will finish.
• Report all spills or chemical exposure to lab management. For small spills, spill kits are located in yellow room above fire extinguisher and near LPCVD furnaces.
• Use appropriate fume hood (e.g. solvent hood for solvents, acid hood for acids).
• Report unsafe conditions or safety violations by others to lab management.