Microbiology Lab Fire Safety

Presented by:The Quality Assurance Department

General Fire Safety in the Lab Extinguish alcohol lamp when not in use

Unplug/turn off all electrical heat sources when not in use

Before lighting an alcohol lamp, position it away from flammable materials and reagents

After dipping any implement (scissors, tongs, etc.) in alcohol, assume that it WILL drip! Do not hold or pass over anything flammable

In case of a fire, always alert those nearby even if the situation does not immediately appear dangerous Everyone deserves to know about a risk to their

safety

Alcohol Jar Fires Calmly extinguish the flaming jar with a

metal lid or a larger mason jar. If you don’t feel comfortable extinguishing

the fire, ask a manager for help immediately.

Do not rush. Make sure the fire is completely extinguished before resuming bench work.

Benchtop Fires Calmly and quickly remove the lamp,

alcohol jar and all flammable materials from the immediate area (bags, paper towels, cardboard, etc.)

Assess the situation. If the fire is small enough to burn out

without causing damage, let it do so. Otherwise, call a manager for help.

Trash Can Fires Extinguish the fire with water from

deionized water hose Either wheel the trash can to the sink or fill

pitchers Douse flames thoroughly

Once the fire has been fully extinguished, remove the trash can as directed by a laboratory manager

Glove Fires Calmly place implements on the counter

and quickly remove the gloves Notify a manager while seeking first aid Glove fires usually burn out in seconds,

but can cause burns if gloves are not promptly removed

Clothing Fires Stop, Drop and Roll Do NOT attempt to run from your area

Running increases airflow around you, which will fuel the fire and make it burn more

If you see someone on fire, do NOT use a fire extinguisher

Call for help

More questions on lab safety?Safety procedure summaries will be posted

throughout the lab for your reference.

For further instruction on how to handle fires and other safety hazards, please ask

your laboratory supervisor(s).

Quiz

Click the Quiz button to edit this quiz