As the academic year winds down and labs transition for summer projects or reduced activity, May is the perfect time to conduct a thorough lab cleanout. Routine maintenance like this doesn’t just free up storage, it directly reduces risks of spills, exposures, and code violations.
If you plan on a spring cleaning day, look out for:
Outdated or degraded chemicals that can become unstable or dangerous (e.g., peroxide formers, picric acid)
Overcrowded shelves that increase the risk of accidental mixing or tipping.
Ensure all containers (including squirt bottles) are properly labeled with full chemical names.
Replace any faded, handwritten, or ambiguous labels.
Verify that acids, bases, oxidizers, and flammables are stored separately and in designated cabinets.
Identify unlabeled or abandoned materials, don’t “inherit” mystery bottles.
Clear cluttered fume hoods and benches.
Make sure emergency equipment (extinguishers, eyewashes, spill kits) is visible and accessible.
Incident Spotlight- Heat Gun Ignition
In a documented case, a laboratory worker was using a heat gun to warm approximately 0.5 liters of heptane in a Pyrex beaker. A splash of heptane contacted the heat gun's elements, igniting the solvent and causing the worker's shirt sleeve to catch fire. The flaming beaker was thrown, spreading the fire to nearby equipment. The worker utilized a safety shower to extinguish the flames on his clothing and a fire extinguisher for the surrounding fire. You can read more about the incident on Princeton's website
This incident underscores the importance of understanding the properties of flammable gases and solvents, and the risks associated with improper heating methods.
Safety Newsletter Paused for Summer
Please enjoy this last issue for the academic year, There will be a pause for the summer and we will resume publishing the newsletter in Fall.
If you have any stories to share or recommendations please let us know!
