UNATTENDED EXPERIMENT POLICY

POLICY:
If a running experiment or equipment in a laboratory will be left unattended during the day or will be continuing overnight, an Unattended Experiment Notice must be completed.  (Unattended experiments must be failsafe. Failsafe provisions must also be in place when leaving equipment such as power stirrers, hot plates, heating mantles, and water condensers unattended.)
   
PURPOSE:
Any experimenter utilizing any of the services listed on the form (i.e., water, electricity, etc.) will be notified if there is a problem.  In addition, emergency response personnel will have the necessary information to help respond to an emergency.
 

It is the responsibility of the experimenter to design these experiments so as to prevent the release of hazardous substances in the event of interruptions in utility services, such as electricity, cooling water, and flow of inert gas.

Arrangements should also be made for other workers to periodically inspect the operation. Materials not involved in the experiment should be removed from the hood to avoid having them become involved in a fire or other incident.

PROCEDURE:  
 
1.

Complete, print out, and post a copy of the Unattended Experiment Notice on the laboratory door.

 
2.
Laboratory lights should be left on.
 
3.

E-mail (dps@usp.edu) a copy of the Unattended Experiment Notice to the Department of Public Safety (DPS). If Public Safety will not be given 24-hour notice, a follow-up phone call should be done. During rounds, Public Safety will briefly check on these experiments to see if anything unusual is taking place in the laboratory. (e.g., fire, smoke, noxious odor, a leak) Also, Public Safety will notify the experimenter if a problem develops with the services checked off on the form.

 
4.

Another copy should be forwarded to the experimenter's laboratory supervisor and then also to the Environmental Health and Radiation Safety (EHRS) Department at r.siegel@usciences.edu.
 
5.
Fill out the Unattended Experiment Notice completely. Include a 24-hour phone number where you can be contacted. List two other individual's phone numbers that can be contacted in case of an emergency, including your lab supervisor.
     
 
Always show an experiment "ending date" on the form. If the experiment extends beyond this date, complete and forward a new Unattended Experiment Notice.
     
    The nature of the hazards, etc. must be explained when any "hazards" are checked off on the form (e.g., reactive when exposed to air, corrosive to mucous membranes, pyrophoric).
     
 
Any special instructions should be written clearly. H azardous substances and quantities in use should be listed.
     
 
Any reaction that represents an unusual or extreme hazard should NOT be left unattended.
University of the Sciences in Philadelphia • 600 South Forty-third Street • Philadelphia, PA 19104-4495 • phone: 215-596-8800 • email: safety@usip.edu