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Hazard Warning

Signage

System

For Educational, Research and Diagnostic Laboratories

Table of Contents

Emergency and Assistance Telephone Numbers

DES Contact Information

Policy Statement

Introduction

Hazard Warning Placard

Hazard Warning Labels
Standard Labels
Category A (Regulatory Requirements)
Category B (Guidelines, Recommendations and Industry Standards)
Category C (Good Practice)

Sample Hazard Warning Placard

Related Signage

Contact Information

Chemical Hygiene Plan

Material Safety Data Sheet Access

OSHA Substance StandardsS Appendix A

Signage Information Collection Form Appendix B

Emergency and Assistance Telephone Numbers

Introduction

Description

The 10" x 10" hazard warning sign illustrated in this section (Figure 1) is intended to warn personnel that a hazard exists in the area. The specific hazards are indicated by symbols and/or hazard warnings affixed to the placard.

Pressure-sensitive labels identifying the type(s) of hazard will be affixed to the placard. The available hazard pictograms are shown next to the definitions of conditions warranting posting of these labels. If more than one hazard exists in an area, the appropriate labels (up to a total of ten) should all be displayed on one placard.

Hazard identification labels have been divided into three priority categories: signage required by (A) federal or State regulation; (B) federal, State or industry standard guidelines; and (C) prudent or good work practice. If more than ten labels are applicable to the lab, labels will be assigned first from category A; then B; then C. No more than ten labels will be applied to any hazard warning sign.

Signs will be posted at the entrance(s) to each functionally separate lab. All entrances to laboratories from hallways will be posted with a completed sign. Entrances to laboratory prep rooms that serve multiple labs or require different labels from the main lab will also be posted.

Figure 1

Hazard Warning Placard

Hazard Warning Labels

Standard Labels - Laboratory spaces will generally be posted with these labels as a minimum standard of care.

This No Food or Drink label will be posted at access points to all laboratories where chemical substances are used or stored and all laboratories or rooms where radioactive materials are used or stored.

This Eye Protection Required label will be posted at access points to all laboratories where there is a reasonable probability of exposure to hazardous chemicals, potentially-infectious agents or physical hazards which could result in injury if eye protection is not used.

Category A Labels - These labels fulfill a federal or State requirement for hazard warning signage. All applicable labels should be selected from this category before selecting labels from category B or C.

This Radiation Area label is posted at the entrance to any area accessible to individuals, in which radiation levels could result in an individual receiving a dose-equivalent in excess of 0.05 millisievert (5 millirem) in one hour at 30 centimeters from the source of radiation or from any surface that the radiation penetrates.

This High Radiation Area label is posted outside any area accessible to individuals, in which radiation levels could result in an individual receiving a dose-equivalent in excess of 1 millisievert (100 millirem) in one hour at 30 centimeters from any source of radiation or from any surface that the radiation penetrates.

This Radioactive Materials label will be posted at access points to laboratories where radioactive materials are used or stored, or where radioactive wastes are accumulated.

This Biohazard label will be posted at access points to BSL2, BSL3 and HBV/HIV research laboratories. The label itself may also be used to identify refrigerators, freezers, incubators and regulated waste containers where human blood or other potentially-infectious materials are stored.

This High Voltage label will be posted at access points to laboratories containing electrical equipment or cables operating at 600 volts or greater.

Electrical Hazard label will be posted at access points to laboratories containing accessible equipment with exposed and unguarded electrical components operating at less than 600 volts.

This Cancer Hazard label will be posted at access points to laboratories or storage rooms containing chemicals that are specifically regulated by OSHA as carcinogens.

Category B Labels - These labels fulfill a federal, State or industry standard guideline for hazard warning signage. All applicable labels should be selected from this category before selecting labels from category C.

This Biosafety Level 2 label will be posted at access points to research laboratories where BSL2 containment is used. BSL2 organisms are moderate-risk agents that cause human disease. BSL2 agents will be identified by name on a blank label immediately following the BSL2 label.

This Biosafety Level 3 label will be posted at access points to laboratories where research is conducted with microorganisms requiring BSL3 containment. These agents have a potential for respiratory transmission, and may cause serious or potentially lethal infection. BSL3 agents will be identified by name on a blank label immediately following the BSL3 label.

This Hazardous Chemical/Cancer Suspect Agent label will be posted at access points to laboratories or storage rooms that use or store chemicals classified by IARC or NTP as known or suspected human or known animal carcinogens. (See the select carcinogen list posted on the DES home page on the Internet.)

This Laser Radiation label will be posted at access points to laboratories where Class 2, 3 or 4 lasers are used or stored. The hazard warning must be supplemented by posting a Danger or Caution warning placard (supplied through the Radiation Safety Office) when lasers are in operation. Protective eyewear capable of absorbing the exact wavelength of the produced laser light must be worn by all personnel with potential for beam exposure in these laboratories.

This Toxic Chemicals label will be posted at access points to laboratories or storage rooms containing chemical substances defined by the Department of Transportation as poisonous, or by the Environmental Protection Agency as acutely toxic.

Poisonous Material (Department of Transportation - DOT, packing group I or II, 49 CFR 173.132, 1994) - Presumed to be toxic to humans because it falls within any one of the following categories when tested on laboratory animals:

Oral Toxicity: LD₅₀ of < 50 mg/kg.
Dermal Toxicity: LD₅₀ of < 200 mg/kg.
Inhalation Toxicity: LC₅₀ of <0.5 mg/l
 

This Toxic Gas label will be posted at access points to laboratories or storage rooms containing gases classified by the Department of Transportation as poisonous, or by the Environmental Protection Agency as acutely toxic.

Poisonous Material (Department of Transportation - DOT, 49 CFR 173.115 (c), 1994) A material which is a gas at 20°C (68°F) or less with a pressure of > 101.3 kPa (14.7 psi) and which:
(1) Is known to be so toxic to humans as to pose a hazard to health during transportation, or
(2) In the absence of adequate data on human toxicity, is presumed to be toxic to humans because when tested on laboratory animals it has an LC₅₀ value of not more than 5000 ml/m3.
 

This Microwave Radiation label will be posted at access points to laboratories where there is potential for personal exposure to microwave radiation (frequency 300 MHZ to 30 GHz) in excess of 10 mW/cm².

This ELF/EMF Hazard label will be posted at access points to laboratories containing equipment capable of generating an electrical field of 10 kV/m or more or a magnetic field of 0.5 mT or more.

This Ultraviolet Light label will be posted at access points to laboratories using non-laser equipment capable of producing UV wavelengths between 180 and 400 nm at or above the following intensities:

The full curve is located in the annual "Threshold Limit Values" published by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists, available for view at DES.
Note: 1. Biological Safety Cabinets with UV lamps will not be evaluated as a UV hazard unless work requires the lamp be activated when the cabinet is in use, 2. UV lasers will be posted with the laser radiation label.

This Protective Clothing Required label will be posted at access points to all teaching laboratories where there is a reasonable probability of exposure to hazardous chemicals. This label will also be posted at access points to analytical and research laboratories where the laboratory manager has specified protective clothing beyond the standard lab coat.

Category C Labels - These labels represent prudent or good laboratory practice.

This Corrosive Materials label will posted at access points to laboratories or storage rooms containing chemical substances capable of damaging human tissues.

This Flammable Materials label will be posted at access points to laboratories or storage areas regularly storing any of the following:

1. 1 gallon or more of a class 1 or 2 flammable liquid outside of a flammables storage cabinet;
2. 5 gallons or more of a class 3A flammable liquid outside of a flammables storage cabinet;
3. Any quantity of a flammable gas;
4. Any quantity of a flammable solid;
5. Any quantity of a water or air-reactive solid

Class 1 = a liquid having a flashpoint below 100 ^oF
Class 2 = a liquid having a flashpoint between 100 ^oF and 140 ^oF
Class 3A = a liquid having a flashpoint between 140 ^oF and 200 ^oF
 

This Chemical Storage Area label will be posted at access points to chemical stockrooms or storage rooms utilized by more than one researcher for chemical storage.

This Restricted Area label signifies that access to the laboratory is restricted to only authorized laboratory and emergency response personnel unless the laboratory manager grants permission for entry and confirms the space safe for entry. Restricted areas are hereby defined as laboratories where:

1. ionizing radiation is generated;
   
2. radioactive materials are used or present; or
   
3. infectious human, plant or animal pathogens are used or present for research at Biosafety Level 3 (BSL3);

Figure 2

Sample completed sign

Related Signage

Radio Frequency - This sign is required when the potential for personal exposure to electromagnetic radiation within the frequency range of 10 MHZ to 100 GHz exceeds a power density of 10 mW/cm² over a six minute period.

Confined Space - This sign is required to identify locations that:

1. are configured to allow someone to enter to perform work,
2. have limited means for entry,
3. are not designed for continuous occupancy, and
4. have a potential to contain a hazardous atmosphere or other serious safety or health hazard.

No UM employee may enter a space marked with this sign without following the procedures indicated in the UM Confined Space Plan Contractors must utilize an appropriate confined space entry procedure.

Danger Laser Radiation signs must be displayed on the outside of the access points to each laboratory where class IIIB and IV lasers are in operation. The danger sign must be removed when the laser is not in operation. The Laser Safety Officer (LSO) will assist lab managers in obtaining appropriate signage. The LSO may be contacted at DES, Radiation Safety, (301) 405-3985.

Caution Laser Radiation signs must be displayed on the outside of the access points to each laboratory where class IIIA and II lasers are in operation. The caution sign must be removed when the laser is not in operation. The Laser Safety Officer (LSO) will assist lab managers in obtaining appropriate signage. The LSO may be contacted at DES, Radiation Safety, (301) 405-3985.

Contact Information Each lab manager is required to provide a name, office location, office phone number or contact number for one or more individual(s) knowledgeable about all of the operations being conducted in the laboratory in order to provide assistance to visitors and support personnel who have a need to access the lab. Day and evening contact data must be provided for qualified individuals available to provide information about the laboratory operations and equipment to emergency responders. The Principle Investigator responsible for the lab must be listed as one of the emergency contact positions. The emergency contact phone number on the posted sign will be 405-3555. This is a recorded non-emergency phone line to the campus police emergency dispatcher. The dispatcher will match the contact name or lab location to the appropriate home contact information from the dispatch station. This system will provide access to emergency contacts while allowing for personal confidentiality.

The name and emergency contact information must be supplied to DES for use by emergency response personnel. Personal information will be maintained in a confidential manner but will be supplied to official emergency responders. (See Appendix A for an example contact information collection form.) Changes in emergency contact information must be forwarded to DES immediately.

Chemical Hygiene Plan

All laboratory facilities at the University of Maryland where hazardous chemicals are handled or used at laboratory scale must maintain a written functional Chemical Hygiene Plan including a complete inventory of chemicals used or stored in the lab, standard operating procedures for all work with hazardous chemicals in the lab and access to material safety data sheets for all inventoried chemicals. Chemical Hygiene training is mandatory for all UM lab users and managers. Contact DES for more information about implementing or maintaining a Chemical Hygiene Plan in your lab or to obtain training.

MSDS Access

The UM Hazard Communication and Chemical Hygiene Plans require access to Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs) for hazardous chemicals used or stored on UM property. Employees who are not familiar with MSDSs may be registered for Hazard Communication or Chemical Hygiene training through DES. (See the DES Contact Information block located on Page ii.)

Paper or electronic copies of MSDSs are maintained at UM in a central repository at DES. You may access MSDSs through DES, the DES home page on the Internet or the product's manufacturer. (See the DES Contact Information block located on Page ii.)

Appendix A - OSHA Substance Standards (29 CFR 1910.xxxx)

Appendix B - Signage Information Collection Form

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