Laboratory Operations Manual - University College Dublin

1 UCDS chool of chemistry & Chemical BiologyScoil na Ceimice agus na Ceimbhitheola ochta UCDL aboratory Operations Manuala n dStandard Operating ProceduresVersion 1: 17th October 2008 SCCB/CSCB Ops ManualContentsPageIntroduction and Welcome from Head of School4 Who should read this Manual ?Structure of the ManualImplementation of these Procedures6 Documentation Required before Research commencesInfringements and how they will be dealt withSafety8 Assignment of Research Space9 Building Access and Security13 Management of Chemicals14 Ordering Materials and ApparatusRisk Assessment ProceduresChemical Stocks InventoryManagement of Waste Chemical DisposalOperation of Fume Hoods15 Gases and Gas Detection Systems21 General Laboratory Practice and Procedures22 Vacuum Pumps and Rotary EvaporatorsSolvent UsageManagement of ResourcesUnattended ExperimentsLaboratory Etiquette23 Cleaning and Housekeeping25 Analysis Services and Analytical

2 Equipment28 Vacation of Research Space28 Review, Modification and Addition of SOPs282 SCCB/CSCB Ops Manual3 Appendix 1 Compendium of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and Quick GuidesOperation of Fume HoodsOperation of Vacuum PumpsOperation of Grubbs StillsOperation of Glove BoxesHydrogen Gas DetectionHandling of CyanideUse of Mercaptans/Thiols and other foul smelling materialsUse of Metal CarbonylsHandling of Azides and other potentially explosive materialsAppendix 2 FormsUnattended reactions"Read and Understood" FormsVacation of Research Space FormsSCCB/CSCB Ops Manual4 Introduction and Welcome from Head of SchoolWelcome to this first edition of the SCCB/CSCB Laboratory Operations Manual .

3 The productionof this document is timed to coincide with the completion of the A1 Phase of the Science Districtbuilding works (October 2008). On occupation of the A1 laboratories, for the first time, themajority of preparative chemistry researchers in the School will be working in world-classfacilities. This opportunity imposes a duty on us to ensure that our safety and laboratoryprocedures are also up to the same high combination with the School Safety Manual , this document sets out the Laboratory practicesthat require our attention. Some of these procedures have been previously documented and someare already in place.

4 But this is the first time that we have drawn together all of the relevantmaterial. There are also significant new additions such as the operation of the new style fumehoods; the more widespread availability of glove boxes and much more extensive handlingprocedures for number of other initiatives in respect of Laboratory Operations are also planned for the comingyear, mostly in connection with our management of chemicals. These also tie in with theopportunity afforded by the move to the new labs and include: the new (POP) ordering system; acomputerized chemical inventory system for the School; and, most significantly, a move towardsmuch more structured chemical risk addition to the above plans, this document has been prepared in advance of occupation of thenew Laboratories.

5 It is to be expected therefore that additional material and adjustments will benecessary as we become more familiar with the operation of A1. An SOP committee has been setup to progress this. Therefore we have built in provision for the amendment of this that some of these amendments may need to be made before the next printed version- sothe Web version of this document always takes precedence over the printed , as well as the expected sections on lab practice and safety etc., we have included asection on how research space is assigned. These new facilities have cost a substantial amountofmoney and new financial arrangements within UCD mean that the School is now charged foritsspace occupancy.

6 Therefore we have to have a transparent system for the assignment andefficient use of research Ops Manual5 Who should read this ManualThis document has been prepared for all preparative chemistry research workers in the SchoolandCSCBB uildings including graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, fourth yearundergraduate students, Erasmus and other visitors. Researchers in other chemistry disciplineswho have the need to do preparative chemistry will also find the material useful. It is expectedthat an expanded version covering non-preparative chemistry will be necessary when the nextphase of the Building Works (A2 Phase) is of the ManualThe full School Laboratory Manual is in 3 distinct Manual - the first part of this Safety Manual - this is unaltered from that already circulated for this academicyear.

7 It will be incorporated into subsequent versions of this of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)- for convenience the actualSOPs are printed at the end of this document along with some Quick should also be noted that some of the contents herein have already been implemented in theCSCB labs and some have to be implemented in a different manner from the A1 labs ( of the fume hoods). Full integration of these will also be undertaken for subsequentversionsLastly we note that we have not yet included full coverage of many of the various AnalyticalServices that are already well-covered in the School ( NMR, MS, X-ray, elemental analysis)but again, it is the intention to incorporate these in next Ops Manual6 Implementation of these ProceduresThese protocols have been adopted as policy in theSchool ofChemistry and Chemical Biologyand it is expected that they will be implemented by all research groups in the School.

8 Theprimary responsibility for implementation rests with Principal Investigators and it is theirresponsibility to ensure that our laboratories are characterised by culture of safety and bestpractice. This is a vital part of ensuring the reputation of our School and our Head of the School is ultimately responsible for implementation of policy and may delegatesome of this responsibility as he/she sees fit. The Chief Technical Officer (CTO) will beresponsible for day-to -day oversight of Laboratory practice. Periodic random inspections will becarried out by the School Safety Officer. Other breaches may be reported to the Chief n f r i ng e me n t s a n d ho w t h ey w il l be d ea lt w i t hIt is expected that infringements will be rare occurrences; they will be dealt with as the CTO identifies an infringement, he/she will bring it to the notice of the personresponsible immediately and issue a reminder of the importance of compliance withagreed protocols.

9 The direct supervisor of the person will be informed that aninfringement has taken place and the identity of the person responsible for theinfringement will be made known to them. It is expected that this will precipitate adiscussion in the relevant group about the importance of the the event of a second infringement, the CTO will act as above, but a written warningwill be issued to the person responsible for the infringement and copied to the Head Head of School will deal with further infringements and will impose appropriatesanctions up to and including suspension from the an event is of sufficient seriousness the written report and involvement of HOSwill be immediateSCCB/CSCB Ops Manual7 Minor infringements would include not wearing safety glasses.

10 Lab coats, eating in lab,incorrect/unsafe operation of vacuum lines/glove box/HPLC etc., persistent annoyance to Breaches may be safety related such as ignoring a fire alarm or delaying evacuation, butwould also include breaches of scientific ethics and inappropriate behaviour towards fellowworkers as outlined in the UCD Dignity and Respect at Work Required before Research startingresearch work in the School, researchers are required to read this Manual and theSchool Safety Manual . Before gaining entry to the laboratories to perform research, eachresearcher is required to sign a "Read & Understood" form relating to both documents(Appendix2) and return same to the School Ops Manual8 SafetyThe School Safety Manual is the primary source of safety information for the School and will infuture be circulated along with this Manual .