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Lab Safety
Physics and Computer Science is committed to safety for our students, staff and faculty. Students are expected to act in a responsible and professional manner in the lab. Safety instructions specific to a course or to the lab component of a course will be discussed in the first lab of the term for every course. Additional safety instructions specific to equipment in a particular lab will be discussed by the lab coordinator as required throughout the course. You are responsible for knowing and following all safety procedures. If you have questions about a lab exercise or situation, such as how to use a particular piece of equipment, ask the instructional assistant or the lab coordinator.
Please notify the lab coordinator as early in the term as possible if there are special circumstances (e.g. allergies, pregnancy, colour blindness) that might make working in the lab, or responding to emergencies (e.g. evacuating the building), difficult for you.
Working Alone
No student may work alone in any Physics or Computer Science lab. For more information on university policy on working alone, see University Policy 7.15.
These electrical emergency procedures are specific to the Physics and Computer Science undergraduate electronics, physics, and optics laboratories.
Top photo: Lab bench power panel
From left to right: AC outlets, Internet jacks, DC power supply and ground plugs (various voltages), DC power switch, AC outlets.
Right photo (top): Closed breaker panel
Right photo (bottom): Open breaker panel; main breaker is lone switch on top, in middle.
The DC power supplies at each workbench can be turned off by the DC power switch on the lab bench power panel.
The AC outlets on the bench can only be turned off from the circuit breaker panel. The main breaker in the breaker panel turns off the power to the entire lab. Each lab has its own breaker panel.
When dealing with any electrical hazard, any possible contact with metal objects must be avoided. Never touch any metal near the site of an electrical hazard involving smoke, fire or sparks.
In the instructions below, an action can be performed safely if it can be done without coming into contact with fire, sparks, or any metal near the site of the hazard.
Smoke or Fire
- If you smell or observe smoke or fire from a circuit, turn off power to the circuit, if you can do so safely.
- If you smell or observe smoke or fire from a piece of equipment, turn off power to the equipment, if you can do so safely.
- If turning off power cannot be performed safely, pull the plug, if you can do so safely.
- If neither turning off power or pulling the plug can be done safely, turn off power to the whole room using the emergency main breaker.
Sparks
- If you observe sparks from a circuit, turn off power to the circuit if you can do so safely.
- If you observe sparks from a piece of equipment, pull the plug if you can do so safely.
- If neither turning off power or pulling the plug can be done safely, turn off power to the whole room using the emergency main breaker.
Electrocution
- If you observe someone apparently being electrocuted, turn off power to the whole room using the emergency main breaker. Do not attempt to touch a person or any equipment nearby if you suspect electrocution.
- Leave the building immediately.
- If possible, shut all doors to the lab to provide fire containment.
- Pull the fire alarm. Fire alarms are located at the top of every stairwell.
- Report to the building coordinator or other emergency responders to ensure that all relevant information is available to them.
- Seek medical attention if required.
If time permits:
- Call 9-911 to report fire.
- Call security at x3333 so that they can meet and guide the fire department to the correct location.
- Try to extinguish the fire if you are trained to do so and if you can extinguish the fire without putting your own safety or the safety of others at risk.
Operating a Fire Extinguisher
Fire extinguishers in the labs are good for electrical, flammable liquid, and paper fires. The fire extinguishers are always located by one of the doors to the hallway. Portable extinguishers contain only enough material for 8 - 45 seconds, depending on their size. Do not attempt to extinguish a fire using a fire extinguisher unless you can do so safely. Never use water on electrical fires.
- Position yourself between the fire and the exit, so that you always have a route out of the area.
- Pull the pin after breaking the plastic safety tie.
- Aim the extinguisher nozzle or hose at the base of the flame.
- Squeeze the trigger.
- Sweep. Using a sweeping motion, extinguish the fire.
If at any time the fire becomes uncontrollable (size of a basketball), activate the fire alarm and leave the building by the nearest safe emergency exit.
Any use of a fire extinguisher must be reported immediately to Physical Resources at 519.884.0710 x6280, so the extinguisher can be recharged or replaced.