Safety Policies

Safety is everyone's responsibilty and concern. All the usual MIT safety rules apply in the Electron
Microscope Facility; we list here amplifications and specific instructions regarding the Facility.

Night/Weekend Use

This section concerns general safety requirements. For requirements concerning
Night/Weekend use of the Facility, see the separate section.

Eating/Drinking

Eating and drinking is permitted in the computer room (13-1035), and, with the consent of the
occupant, in the offices. Eating and drinking is specifically prohibited in the specimen prep.
room (13-1036) and the darkrooms. Potable water is available in the sink in 13-1035.

Chemicals

The chemicals usually kept in the facility include:

• Methanol
• Ethanol
• Acetone
• Isopropanol
• Pump oil (mineral oil)
• Acrylic Embedding medium and hardener

Safe operating procedures (SOP's) are available in the folder on the bench in 13-1036. These
chemicals may not be used anywhere except 13-1036 without the approval of the Staff.

In addition to the above, standard photographic chemicals are used in the darkrooms.

The sink in 13-1035 and the nearby bench area are intended for food and drink preparation. They
may not be used for any other purpose

Use of Other Chemicals

No other chemicals may be brought into the Facility without the clear, specific approval of the
staff. Such approval will require:

• demonstration of a clear need for the chemicals to be used in the facility
• the user to provide appropriate Materials Safety Data Sheets and SOP's
• the user to provide all necessary equipment, monitoring devices, and information and warning posters
• the user to provide for the disposal of all wastes generated
• a protocol for the planned experiments to be agreed between the user and the lab. staff

Please note that embedding resins other than acrylic resin are hazardous materials, and are covered
by these rules.

Perchloric Acid

The use of perchloric acid is no longer considered a standard procedure in the facility. Perchloric
acid is a hazardous chemical which is covered by the rules of the preceding section.

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Use of Instrumentation

It is the intention of CMSE and the staff that use of all equipment be a low- hazard occupation. To
this end, the following rules apply:

• The equipment is to be used only according to the instructions given by staff members.
• Any malfunction of or damage to the equipment (whether the fault of the user, or existing at
  the time the user started work) is to be reported at once to the staff, either verbally, or
  written and delivered in such a way as to reasonably guarantee its timely receipt. The
  "comments" section of the logbook is for recording simple comments, and is not considered
  an acceptable means of reporting faults or damage.
• No change or repair of even the most minor nature may be made by users.
• Equipment supplied by users (either commercially or home-built) must be submitted to lab
  staff for inspection and approval before being used in the Facility laboratories. Even if the
  design, construction and condition of such equipment is in every way satisfactory, this
  approval will only be granted if there is a clear reason why the equipment must be used in
  the Facility rather than elsewhere.
• Tools, test and other equipment belonging to the Facility (oscilloscopes, meters, spare pumps,
  etc., etc.) are reserved for staff use. While they may, in exceptional circumstances, be lent out,
  the usual policy is that they are not for general use.

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Other Rules

• The hallways may not be obstructed.
• Bicycles may not be brought into the Facility, even for the briefest time.
• All cupboard and cabinet doors, and drawers, are to be carefully and securely closed immediately
  after every use.
• The door to any room must be unlocked whenever anyone is working inside (the outer door to the Facility,
  13-1012, is not considered a "door to a room")
• Any spillage of anything is to be promptly and carefully cleaned up. (A "spill kit" is available in
  13-1036 to assist in the prompt containment of hazardous spills)
• Any hazardous situation noticed by a user is to be reported at once to the Lab. staff or to the
  MIT Facilities (3-4948, or, if a mjor emergency, dial '100')
• There is a small first-aid kit in 13-1036. Any injury of any nature whatsoever occurring in the
  facility must be reported at once to the CMSE Administrative Office. Any use of the first aid
  kit (even, for example, to replace a dressing on a pre-existing injury) is to be reported as above.
• In some areas of the facility, the fire alarm can be difficult to hear; for this reason, the playing
  of radios, CD players and the like, even if quietly through loudspeakers, is not permitted. The
  wearing of headphones at any time is absolutely prohibited.
• As in any laboratory, users must walk carefully when moving around the facility. Running, or the
  use of any wheeled device (except for the use of a wheel chair by a person needing it), is
  absolutely prohibited.

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Electron Microscopy Home Page

MIT-CMSE Electron Microscopy/tonygr@MIT.EDU
Document last reviewed September 26th. 2007.