Standard Operating Procedure for Laboratory Safety

1.0 Purpose:

This Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) outlines the safety measures and precautions to be taken while working in a laboratory, specifically within the Department of Pharmaceutics.

2.0 Scope:

This SOP applies to all personnel working within the Pharmaceutical Department (PD).

3.0 Responsibility:

All PD Department personnel are accountable for adhering to the guidelines outlined in this SOP.

4.0 Distribution:

The Quality Assurance department is responsible for maintaining the approved master copy of this SOP, obtained through the Quality Manager. Copies of the control copy of this SOP will be distributed within the department and placed near relevant equipment or instruments, as necessary.

5.0 Definitions and Abbreviations:

• SOP: Standard Operating Procedure

6.0 Precautions:

• General Measures:

  • Adhere to good general laboratory safety practices as outlined in the Laboratory Safety and Chemical Hygiene Plan.
  • Wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), including gloves, lab coats, safety glasses, face shields, and closed-toed shoes.
  • Avoid direct skin contact with hazardous materials, such as poisonous minerals/metals, chemicals, reactive nanoparticles, or nanoparticle-containing solutions.
  • Utilize fume exhaust hoods to effectively expel fumes generated from furnaces or chemical reaction vessels.
  • Prior to disposal or reuse, thoroughly evaluate equipment previously used for nanoparticle manufacturing or handling to assess potential contamination.
  • Before removal, remodeling, or repair, carefully assess lab equipment and exhaust systems.
  • Exercise caution due to the potential fire and explosion hazards associated with the high reactivity of some nanomaterials.

• Do's:

  • Familiarize yourself with the location of safety equipment, including telephones, emergency call numbers, emergency showers, eyewashes, fire extinguishers, fire alarms, first aid kits, and spill kits, within lab facilities.
  • Review your laboratory's emergency procedures to ensure the availability of necessary supplies and equipment for responding to laboratory accidents.
  • Maintain good housekeeping practices to minimize unsafe working conditions, such as obstructed exits or safety equipment, cluttered benches and fume hoods, and accumulated chemical waste.
  • Contact lenses are permitted but not recommended. Appropriate safety eyewear is still mandatory for those who wear contact lenses.
  • Promptly wash any skin area that comes into contact with any chemical, regardless of its corrosive or toxic nature.
  • Securely restrain and confine long hair and loose clothing. Ponytails and scarves used to manage hair should not hang loosely, as they could catch fire or become entangled in moving machinery.

• Don'ts:

  • Avoid eating, drinking, chewing gum, or applying cosmetics in areas where chemicals are used or stored.
  • Refrain from storing food in laboratory refrigerators, ice chests, cold rooms, or ovens.
  • Do not consume water from laboratory water sources.
  • Avoid using laboratory glassware for preparing or consuming food.
  • Refrain from smelling or tasting chemicals or pipetting by mouth.

7.0 References:

• In-house references 

• Relevant regulatory standards and guidelines

Note: This SOP provides general guidelines for laboratory safety. Additional safety measures and precautions may be necessary depending on the specific laboratory procedures and hazards involved.

END OF THE DOCUMENT

You may like to read these links: 

1. List of All SOPs and Documents for the Chemistry Laboratory

2. List of All SOPs and Documents for Quality Control

3. List of All SOPs and Documents For Quality Assurance Dept.

4. List of SOPs and Documents Required to Achieve NABL Accreditation 

5. List of All SOPs and Documents for Laboratory Instruments and Equipment  

6. List of SOPs and Documents for Laboratory Administration

7. List of SOPs for Safety In Laboratory