University of Washington Introductory Physics Labs
For questions on this or any other Intro Physics Labs SOP contact
Introductory Labs ManagerScientific Instructional Technician
Jack Olsenby phone at: (206) 543 – 7094Elana Voigtby phone at: (206) 543 - 8588
by e-mail at: y email at:
Standard Operating Procedures for Chemicals or Processes#1 Process
(if applicable) / Isopropyl alcohol -
Isopropyl alcohol may be used in a number of instructional laboratory processes, follow the lab manual instructions for use of isopropyl alcohol.
Staff may need to occasionally fill bottles with isopropyl alcohol, this should be done in a room with no open flame or other ignition sources. If needed a funnel should be used, the funnel should be dried with a paper towel and washed after use. Appropriate PPE for the process should always be used. – as listed in MyChem
#2 Chemicals / Highly flammable liquid and vapor. Causes serious eye irritation. May cause drowsiness or dizziness.
#3 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) / Gloves and goggles are available and shall be used if necessary for the process being conducted. If large volumes are being poured or handled gloves and goggles will be used.
#4 Environmental /
Ventilation Controls / Do not use in a poorly ventilated room. The rooms in the Physics Astronomy Suite have single pass through air that completely flushes every 8 minutes, adequate ventilation for isopropyl alcohol handling. If a room becomes too saturated with fumes exit, capping sources if safe and reasonable to do so, and leave the room for 8 minutes. The air should be complete changed over.
#5 Special Handling Procedures & Storage Requirements / Keep away from heat, hot surfaces, sparks, open flames and other ignition sources. No smoking. Keep container tightly closed. Ground and bond container and receiving equipment. Use explosion-proof electrical/ventilating/lighting/equipment. Use only non-sparking tools. Take precautionary measures against static discharge. Wear protective gloves/protective clothing/eye protection/face protection. Wash hands thoroughly after handling. Avoid breathing dust/fume/gas/mist/vapors/spray. Use only outdoors or in a well-ventilated area.
#6 Spill and Accident Procedures / If at any time the alcohol ignites and a fire starts pull the fire alarm in the hall and evacuate the building. Call 911 (from a campus phone if possible, if you call from a personal cell ask for UW campus police) and explain the location of the fire and any pertinent details. Only use a fire extinguisher if you are comfortable with its operation and the fire is smaller than approximately 1ft^3. Never cut yourself off from your exit.
Always call 911 or seek medical attention if necessary for any injury, including the following:
IF ON SKIN (or hair): Take off immediately all contaminated clothing. Rinse skin with water/shower.
IF IN EYES: Rinse cautiously with water for several minutes. Remove contact lenses, if present and easy to do. Continue rinsing. If eye irritation persists: Get medical advice/attention.
IF INHALED: Remove person to fresh air and keep comfortable for breathing. Call a POISON CENTER or doctor/physician if you feel unwell.
Get isopropyl alcohol spill kit and:
1. Move everyone away from the spill and remove any sources of flame, spark, or heat. The lowest ignition temp for isopropyl alcohol is 54F.
2. Put on gloves (purple nitrile first, large gray second) and splash goggles, if possible put on long sleeves to avoid skin contact with alcohol. Person doing clean up should have closed toed shoes on.
3. Spread sand over the spill.
4. After all the alcohol is covered by sand sweep it up using the hand brush and dustpan. Place sand in the yellow ‘hazardous materials’ waste bag.
5. After the sand is swept up wash the floor with a sponge and water to get up any residual sand and alcohol.
6. Place sponge in hazardous waste bag with sand. Double check that the spill is completely cleaned up. When it is, seal the hazardous waste bag with a zip tie and fill out a hazardous waste tag (tags are on a pad in the plastic bag of paperwork). The isopropyl alcohol used here is 100% isopropyl alcohol and the clean-up sand is 100% silica. Place the SEALED & LABELED bag in the spill kit bucket for disposal.
7. Clean you goggles if needed and return them to the bucket. Discard your used gloves into a regular trash can. Close the spill kit and contact:
Jack Olsen
, (206) 543 – 7094
Elana Voigt
, (206) 543 – 8588
#7 Waste Disposal / Ispropyl alcohol concentrations above10% are hazardous waste and disposed of as such. However, minimal amounts such as may get onto paper towels or gloves in instructional laboratory use can be thrown in the garbage since it evaporates so quickly. There should never be any flame source in the room. Any waste amounts larger than this should be bottled or cleaned up with a spill kit. Contact Jack Olsen or Elana Voigt to Label with Hazardous Waste Label, accumulate according to requirements, and send in Chemical Collection Request or Routine Pickup request, both available online at Do not evaporate Isopropyl Alcohol in the fume hood or pour down the drain.
#8 Special Precautions for Animal Use
(if applicable) / N/A
Particularly hazardous substance involved? (See Appendix H, Lab Safety Manual) / YES: / Blocks #9 to #11 are Mandatory
X NO: / Blocks #9 to #11 are Optional.
#9 Approval Required / N/A
#10 Decontamination / N/A
#11 Designated Area / N/A
Name:Title:
Signature:Date:
Environmental Health and Safety, Box 354400*to be filled in by PI or Supervisor