Health & Safety
OLSEH
Office of Laboratory Safety and Environmental Health (OLSEH)
All laboratories at IISc must comply with safety guidelines set by OLSEH. The following are essential safety practices that must be followed in the Materials Research Centre.
Visit OLSEH Website for Complete Guidelines →Laboratory Safety Guidelines
Following safety protocols from OLSEH - IISc Bangalore
General Safety Practices
- Each lab must have a designated lab-in-charge responsible for daily safety enforcement
- Training mandatory for all new lab users and when new hazards are introduced
- Read Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) before using unfamiliar chemicals
- Only use proper equipment in good condition
- Never use chairs, boxes, or cartons as ladders
- Emergency equipment must be unobstructed and visible
- Follow buddy system - never work alone, especially at night/weekends
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
- Eyes: Safety glasses with side shields mandatory in labs; chemical splash goggles when handling liquids
- Hands: Gloves must be worn when handling anything in lab; change periodically
- Body: Laboratory coats/aprons mandatory; full-length trousers/salwars only - no shorts
- Feet: Closed-toe stable shoes required; no slippers, sandals, or high heels
- Hair & Jewelry: Confine long hair; avoid dangling jewelry, wrist-bands, and rings
- Remove lab coats and gloves before leaving laboratory
Food & Personal Hygiene
- NO FOOD/DRINK ALLOWED INSIDE ANY LAB
- No eating, drinking, or applying cosmetics near hazardous materials
- Food and drinks must not be stored in lab refrigerators/freezers
- Lab refrigerators must have "No food or drinks" label
- Wash hands after leaving lab even if wearing gloves
- Maintain personal cleanliness to prevent hazard exposure
Chemical Safety
- Read Safety Data Sheets (SDS) before using any chemical
- Use chemical fume hoods for volatile and toxic chemicals
- Proper labeling mandatory for all chemical containers
- Store chemicals based on compatibility groups
- Gloves will eventually be penetrated - change periodically
- Never pour chemicals down the drain without neutralization
Good Housekeeping
- Keep work areas uncluttered; clean after operations or at day's end
- Maintain floors free from tripping/slipping hazards (cords, cables, equipment)
- Attend to spills immediately and thoroughly
- Emergency equipment and controls must never be blocked
- Hallways and stairways cannot be used for storage
- Don't overload workbenches and shelves
Emergency Preparedness
- Know locations of fire extinguishers, eyewash stations, and emergency exits
- All labs must have a working landline phone near the door
- Emergency contact list must be posted at eye level near phone
- List must include faculty, lab-in-charge, health center, security, police, and fire station
- Fire drills conducted quarterly - participation mandatory
- First aid kits must be accessible and not expired
Waste Management & Disposal
- Separate bins for chemical, biological, and glass waste
- Hazardous waste disposal only through OLSEH
- Never pour chemicals down drains
- Proper neutralization required before disposal
- Empty chemical bottles must be handled per OLSEH guidelines
- Biohazardous waste follows specific disposal protocols
Electrical & Fire Safety
- Regular inspection of equipment and electrical wiring
- Proper earthing mandatory for all instruments
- No water or liquids near electrical outlets
- Report damaged equipment immediately
- No flammable storage near heat sources
- Know how to use different types of fire extinguishers
Laboratory Documentation
- All labs must fill and update "Laboratory Hazard Sheet"
- Hazard sheet must be posted on laboratory door
- Lab-in-charge must sign and date the sheet periodically
- Maintain updated list of all hazardous materials in lab
- Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all equipment
- Incident reports must be filed for all accidents
Safety Training & Certification
Mandatory Training
All new students and researchers must complete:
- General Lab Safety Orientation
- Chemical Safety Training
- Equipment-specific training before use
- Fire safety and emergency response training
- Annual refresher courses
Note: Training must be provided when new hazards are introduced
Equipment Certification
Certifications required before equipment access:
- XRD/XPS/TEM user certification
- High-temperature furnace operation
- Cleanroom access permit
- Gas cylinder handling certification
- Laser safety certification (if applicable)
Contact: Lab-in-charge for training schedule
Health Monitoring
Regular health check-ups for lab users:
- Annual medical examination
- Eye check-up for laser/microscope users
- Lung function tests (chemical exposure)
- Vaccination records maintained
- First aid and CPR training (recommended)
Facility: IISc Health Center - 080-2293-2233
Safety Resources & Documents
IISc Safety Manual
Comprehensive safety protocols for all IISc labs
Lab Safety Checklist
Self-audit checklist for laboratory compliance
Chemical Safety Guidelines
Fume hood usage, storage, and disposal guidelines
Incident Report Form
Report accidents, near-misses, or safety violations
Fire Exit Policy
Emergency exit procedures for laboratory personnel
Waste Disposal Guidelines
Protocols for chemical, biological, and hazardous waste
Office of Laboratory Safety and Environmental Health
Dr. Mithun Chakraborty
EHS Officer - Chemical Safety
📧 mithunc@iisc.ac.in
📞 +91 80 2293 3199
Responsible for chemical safety, fume hoods, PPE guidelines, and disposal
OLSEH Office
Main Office
📧 safety.olseh@iisc.ac.in
📞 +91 80 2293 3199
For all safety-related queries, audits, and compliance matters
For complete safety guidelines, policies, and updates:
Visit OLSEH Official Website →