Chemical Hygiene Plan - Queensborough Community College ...

9.5 Water Protection in Labs
Laboratory personnel must ensure that any piece of equipment or laboratory apparatus connected
to the water supply utilizes backflow protection or is connected to a faucet with a vacuum
breaker. The purpose of backflow prevention and vacuum breakers is to prevent water used in
an experimental process or with a piece of equipment, from back flowing and contaminating the
laboratory’s and building’s water supply system. Examples of situations that can result from
improper backflow protection include chemical contamination and/or temperature extremes (e.g.
hot water coming from a drinking water fountain).
The two most common water protection problems found in labs are:
1) A tube attached to a faucet without a vacuum breaker; and
2) Drainage tubing hanging down into the sink.
These tubes can be immersed in wash water when the sink is stopped up and backflow into the
faucet, contaminating the building’s water supply.
The most common example of backflow prevention found in laboratories is sink faucets
equipped with a vacuum breaker. These faucets are easily identifiable from standard (rounded)
faucets by the vacuum breaker head at the top of the faucet. If you have questions about whether
your laboratory faucets have a vacuum breaker or backflow protection, contact your EHSO or
Facilities Management. If your sink faucet does not have a vacuum breaker present, make sure
any hoses that you connect to the faucet are short enough to prevent the possibility of water in
the sink from back flowing up the faucet.
X. ADMINISTRATIVE CONTROLS
Administrative controls include policies and procedures that result in providing proper guidance
for safe laboratory work practices and set the standard for behavior within the laboratory. Once
developed, administrative controls must be implemented and adhered to by all personnel
working in the laboratory.
Colleges and departments are responsible for developing policies and written guidelines to
ensure that laboratory workers are protected against exposure to physical hazards and hazardous
chemicals as outlined in the OSHA Laboratory Standard.
It is the responsibility of the P.I. and laboratory supervisor to ensure that personnel working
in laboratories under their supervision follow laboratory specific, departmental, and campuswide
policies and procedures covered in this Laboratory Safety Manual.
***While this Laboratory Safety Manual provides the minimum requirements and
recommendations to meet the intent of the OSHA Laboratory Standard, colleges, departments,
P.I.s, and laboratory supervisors have the authority to implement more stringent policies within
laboratories under their supervision and are encouraged to do so.
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