Safety rules

Structures and Materials Research Laboratory

Safety Rules

SMRL houses a variety of heavy and light equipment, such as forklifts, an overhead crane and SATEC frames. For the safety of the users, the use of personal protection equipment and the knowledge of safety rules are strictly enforced!

General Safety Rules

You may only enter the laboratory when authorized to do so. The professor, lab manager or assigned research assistant must be present at all times.
You have the primary responsability for your safety. Do not do anything you feel is unsafe – talk to someone in charge.
Working alone or playing in the lab is completely prohibited.
Keep the lab area clean at all times. Place trash in appropriate receptacles. Return equipment immediately to where it was taken from.
Avoid bulky, loose or trailing clothes. Remove all kind of loose jewelry.
Be as careful for the safety of others as for yourself. Think before you act!
When using chemicals, make sure you know what you are using. Review the material safety data sheets ahead of time.
All storaged materials and supplies should have a clear label with a short description of the stored materials, the name of the person responsible, his/her phone number, email address, supervisor’s name and email, and the date after which the stored material may be discarded.

Personal Protection Equipments

Hard hats

Hard hats should be worn whenever:

the forklift truck and overhead crane are being used to lift above 2 m;
any person is working above 2 m;
a risk assessment has highlighted the need.

Safety footwear

Safety footwear should be worn by:

all technicians;
students that are going to spend extended time in the SMRL carrying out tests;
staff members spending extended time in the SMRL;
a risk assesment has highlighted the need.

Overalls

Overalls should be worn:

when an open heat source is being used, such as welding and gas cutting;
when loose clothing might be caught by machinery;
when a risk assessment highlights the need.

Safety glasses

Safety glasses should be worn when:

using any workshop equipment;
there is a danger of flying objects;
testing is being carried out;
a risk assessment highlights the need.

Safety masks

Safety masks should be worn when:

using any cements or powders;
cutting dust producing materials;
a risk assessment highlights the need.

The forklift and overhead crane must be used by people who were submitted and passed the training course.

IN CASE OF FIRE:

Immediately accionate the nearest fire alarm, leave the laboratory and go to a safe place;
Only attack the fire, with the appliances provided, if you know how to use them correctly and without taking personal risks.
On hearing an intermitent alarm sound, all persons should continue with what they are doing and be prepared for further instructions. Do not move from the area you are in, otherwise you may be walking towards a fire zone.
On hearing continuous alarm, all persons should leave by the nearest exit and proceed to a safe place.

OUT OF HOURS WORKING

Working when technicians are not around involves some risks. Therefore, no construction of testing rigs and other types of testing are allowed to be carried outside normal office hour unless the user has a written permission from the SMRL Director. Regular office hours goes from 8.00 am to 4.30 pm, Monday to Friday. Furthermore, all experiments left running unattended such as fatigue test, must have instructions clearly displayed, including how to shut down the experiment safely in case of emergency, contact number for the person who is conducting the experiment and contact number of the supervisor.

For more information regarding equipment use, safety rules and personal protection equipment, contact the lab manager Michael Johnson at 213-740-0599 or john257@usc.edu.