Director's Office

FAQ - Health & Safety

Eyewash stations

A new effort is underway, with a new cast of characters, taking a second look to resolve any outstanding issues related to eyewash stations, drench showers, and water supply. This effort is lead by Peter Gagnon, the manager of capital projects.

Question: In case of a fire alarm, what should somebody do if they can't use the stairs, e.g. mobility impared?

Answer: Go to nearest stairway (or the one furthest away from possible danger) to be evacuated by Fire Department.

Per the Northampton Fire Department:
a. Take cellphone if possible
b. Go to the nearest stairway UNLESS you have knowledge it is unsafe
c. If closest stairway is known to be unsafe, go to stairway in opposite direction
d. DO NOT take the elevator
e. Safer to wait in enclosed stairwells (Sabin Reed, Ford) than in hallway
f. If possible, call Public Safety at 800 or 413-585-2490 to let them know your location (phones next to stairwells in Ford; some in Sabin Reed)
g. Noho FD will train to check these areas on each floor and will evacuate mobility impaired persons in the event of an emergency

Question: Is there anything we need to know about working in spaces with sprinkler heads?

Answer: Fire code requires ceiling clearance of 18 inches below the plane of the sprinkler heads.

a. Please make sure storage of items is 18 inches below the plane created by the sprinkler heads in labs and offices
b. Contact Margaret Rakas if you would like a lab walk-through for this
c. Fire Department noted noncompliant storage in most FH labs this summer and expects this to be remedied fairly quickly.

Question: Are there code constraints on hanging wall decorations?

Answer: Yes. Fire code requires that any wall decorations are at least 5 feet from office, lab, stairway doorway (any door used for exit).

a. A few pieces of paper near/on office doors is OK
b. By code decorations are NOT permitted in stairways

Question: What should I do if an electrical breaker has popped? Where do I go to flip the breaker?

Answer: Contact facilities for any electrical problems.

If emergency, call Public Safety first at 800 or 413-585-2490.

If important, college electricians are often able to show up even on very short notice.

Question: What should I do if we have a major water spill?

Answer: If emergency, call Public Safety at 800 or 413-585-2490. If non-emergency, contact Facilities.

If drench shower or eyewash has been activated for an exposure, ask for a plumber, electrician and custodian. Public Safety is being trained to send these responders, also.

Question: What do we need to know about using lab gas?

Answer: Faculty are responsible for training anybody working in a lab to follow procedure below for gas use. This includes turning gas on/off using the black wall switch.

1. Lab occupants should use the black switch to shut gas off if not in use (for the evening, week, semester). Hearing a ‘thunk’ noise is normal.
   
2. To use gas when it has been shut off at the wall plate, user MUST first check each gas outlet in the lab to ensure they are off (bench valves, hoods). Then flip switch to ‘on’ and turn key. Hearing a ‘thunk’is normal.
   
3. For emergencies, hit the red button. Hearing a ‘thunk’ is normal.
   
4. If the red button is hit, intentionally or accidentally, 2400 or 2490 must be called to have a Facilities plumber turn it back on.
   
5. Laminated cards are needed at the room gas plate showing the location of gas outlets in each lab.

This process may be simplified. We are attempting to remove the need for a key during normal operations.

Question: What do we need to know about using hoods?

Answer: Keep the sash closed whenever somebody is not actively working in the hood. Contact facilities for any problems with hoods.

All hoods will be recertified shortly.

Perchloric acid hood can only be used for that substance and now has instructions on it.

Question: What are safety limitations on doing work in constant temperature storage areas (warm/cold rooms)?

Answer: Such environmental rooms may not be used for activities that require handling, pouring, set-up or stirring open containers or flammable or toxic substances.

a. OK for storage of CLOSED containers of flammables and toxics
b. Because air is recirculated (to keep temp constant) operations involving open containers of toxics or flammables are not safe and not permitted by code.
c. PLEASE label every item in a cold/warm room with FACULTY name and date (is fine to have student name too, but 4 year turnover…). Use of clear bins highly encouraged, working well at other institutions.

Question: What can we do to manage all the keys delivered with new equipment and cabinets?

Answer: Please give the extra copies of keys for labs (equipment, padlock, flammable/corrosive cabinets) to the Stockroom, indicating what the keys are for (room/type).

a. Writable key rings are available in Stockroom
b. Really important to label with room and specific key function (freezer, corrosive cabinet, flammable cabinet, other)

Question: What do users have to do to make central glasswashing system work?

Answer: Please help us make custodian's job safer and less stressful by ensuring glassware is rinsed completely with no solids or colored liquid remaining before being placed in the tray for pickup at the arranged location.

a. Students/faculty may know the remaining material is safe but custodians have been instructed to handle only fully rinsed glassware for their protection as there have been exposure incidents
b. Please use only marked trays and be sure the “SOILED” and room signage is in the tray and appropriate.

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