Prior to commencing work in the Physical Sciences Complex all faculty, staff, students, and visitors must complete safety training, know the locations of emergency equipment, and understand the emergency response protocols for the area they work in.

Training Requirements

New members must complete the PSCFM 7010 in Workday Learning to document the building evacuation plan and how to gain access into their rooms and/or labs. They must also work with their advisor or supervisor to identify which safety trainings they need. Completed training will be verified by the department Learning Group Administrator.

Training requirements to be completed prior to entering a laboratory space are described here.

Reporting Emergencies

All members of the Cornell community and visitors must know how to report emergencies on campus using a cell phone or landline phone. When calling from a cell phone, dial 1-607-255-1111. Cornell Police will respond directly and will route the call to local police or fire departments, or ambulance and other services. On a Cornell phone, dial 911. (Do not dial 5-911 or 9-911). This will go to the county and be redirected to Cornell Dispatch.

What to do when evacuating a building:

• Know what emergency shut off switches need to be activated ahead of time
• Know the location of the emergency exit(s)
• Instruct new members to :
  • Close door
  • Leave the lights on
• After leaving the building, people should maintain a 50’ distance from the building

Building Evacuation Plans in the Physical Sciences Complex

Olin Chemistry

Baker Laboratory

Physical Sciences Building

Clark Hall

Rockefeller Hall

Laboratory Manuals and Emergency Equipment

• Laboratory Safety Manual and Chemical Hygiene Plan (CHP)
• Safety Datasheets (SDS)
• Fire extinguishers
• Emergency shower (s) and emergency eye wash (es)
• Emergency telephones or lab phone
• Spill cleanup kit and first aid kit
• Nearest fire pull station
• Safety glasses, lab coats, protective gloves, safety shields, other unique protective equipment

Chemical Storage & Transport

• If a new member will fill dewars or use cryogenic liquids, take them to the nitrogen fill station and explain proper fill procedures (cryogen gloves, set up etc.)
• Location of gas cylinder receiving and storage areas
• Location of bottle carriers
• Location of chemical storage facilities for the group (solvent cabinets, acid/ base, oxidizer storage)
• Advise new member that all chemicals must be labeled with the full chemical name
• Transport chemicals via bottle carriers, chemical shipping box or sealed secondary container
• Users must be certified to ship or prepare shipments of hazardous materials including chemical, biological and radiological samples.

Chemical Inventory System

• Use of barcode system for all hazardous chemicals
• Updating inventory for all transferred chemicals
• Empty bottle disposal form

Managing Hazardous Wastes

• Location of satellite accumulation areas in the lab and the need for secondary containment
• How to label bottles and complete waste labels including when to date
• Bottles are to remain capped unless material is being added to the bottle
• Drain disposal limited to approved materials and neutralization of some acids and bases to pH 5-9
• Used oil labeling and disposal procedures
• Arranging for pick-up

Controlled Substances and Sharps

These are highly regulated. Contact Environment, Health, and Safety prior to purchasing.

• Location of locked storage area
• Inventory system for group
• Disposal containers and drop off location/ arranging for pick-up

Other Laboratory Specific Procedures

These include  special gowning or entry requirements, high hazard operations, Hydrofluoric Acid (HF) use, handling and spill clean-up, high-voltage systems, and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), biohazard containment and disposal.