The information presented herein is intended for all students, with lab/card access, working within the equipment-related laboratories of the School of Engineering at Penn State Behrend; this includes both the Burke and the AMIC buildings. The procedures outline the laboratory access and safety practices to be followed to ensure the health and safety of all students. Separate procedures apply to mechanical labs, electrical labs, computer labs, and the senior design labs.

For the purpose of this procedure, "Lab and Shop Equipment" is defined as a term which encompasses all fixed machinery and portable hand/power tools typically used within a shop and lab environment per the Penn State Environmental Health and Safety Machine Shop Safety Program.

Responsibilities

The School's engineering equipment-related laboratory and shop equipment safety procedures are written to make you aware of your surroundings so that you will be less likely to be injured as you work. Safety committee and safety coordinator information can be found at the School of Engineering Lab Safety. Remember that you are responsible for:

  • Your own health and safety.
  • The health and safety of those around you.
  • The security and the safe use of equipment and facilities that you have been authorized to use.
  • Understanding and complying with all laboratory programs, procedures, and/or guidelines.
  • Receiving the appropriate training on equipment, prior to use, and documenting the training on your completed Lab Access Request form.

General Laboratory Procedures

In order to manage risks, it is necessary to limit access to equipment, laboratories, workshops, and certain storage facilities. The following general information applies to ALL equipment-related laboratories within the School of Engineering (Burke and AMIC). Each lab has been identified as to its risk potential: High, Medium, and Low. Separate rules apply based on the lab’s use and equipment located within.

Safety

  • You should locate posted information regarding emergency contact information and identify the location of fire extinguishers and eye washes (if appropriate) within the laboratory.
  • You should review and understand all additional posted access, safety warnings, and safety policies for the laboratory.
  • Each piece of equipment must be properly guarded in order to help prevent injuries. The "Machine Guarding Reference Guide" (Appendix E) of the Machine Shop Safety Program contains the minimum guarding requirements for the most common equipment found in shop environments.
  • All injuries that occur in the laboratory must be reported immediately to the School of Engineering administrative office (814-898-6153).
  • Should an ambulance be needed, please call 911 immediately.
  • You should not attempt to operate equipment or apparatus unless you are specifically trained and authorized to use that equipment, and you have been advised of any hazards you may encounter. This training must be documented on your Lab Access Request Form.
  • Do not attempt to modify any equipment or apparatus to fit your needs. This is extremely dangerous and strictly prohibited. If you do not have equipment that fits your needs, submit a request to purchase or borrow it.
  • Keep the work area clean and tidy. When you have finished for the day, make sure all tools, equipment, and supplies are returned to their proper storage (including electronic components back to drawers), and the equipment is shut down.
  • If you are working with hazardous materials, you must keep them contained and controlled. It is important to notify and involve a faculty member or lab coordinator/safety officer where the hazard is located.
  • Consumption of food and drink is prohibited in all laboratories.
  • Suitable clothing and footwear must be worn in all laboratories. Suitable clothing:
    • Long pants
    • Long skirts
    • Clothing that covers torso
    • Closed-toe shoes
  • Safety eyewear must be worn in those laboratories where the requirement is posted, regardless of whether you are a visitor or are working on the machinery. Eye protection includes protective goggles or safety glasses with side shields. Eye protection must be worn over prescription glasses.
  • Other personal protective equipment may be required depending on the equipment hazard assessments, i.e. gloves, etc. Always check with lab coordinator/safety officer if you are unsure.
  • DO NOT USE EQUIPMENT THAT IS BROKEN, DANGEROUS, OR MALFUNCTIONING. Report all such items to the lab coordinator/safety officer immediately and remove from service or operation. Tag the equipment as "do not use" until repairs are made.
  • Faculty will not allow access if you do not have suitable clothing, eyewear, and footwear. As this may affect the completion of your assignments for that laboratory, it is your responsibility to ensure that you meet any requirements.
  • You are not permitted to bring materials and/or chemicals into the lab or transfer from another lab without approval from the lab coordinator/safety officer.

Student Access to High-Risk and Medium-Risk Labs

  • Student access to these labs is strictly limited and requires a faculty member to be present during instructional lectures, demonstrations, or lab activities. Students wanting access for research or time outside of the classroom can find the information for assessment on the lab request website.
  • If you are granted access to the laboratory for a particular project, you are permitted to work on only that project and not on an unauthorized/personal project.
  • There must always be a minimum of two (2) students in the lab at all times. No one is permitted to work alone under any circumstances. Any violation of this will result in suspension of the access for all students involved.
  • You are not to "teach" unapproved students how to use equipment. All equipment training must be performed by a lab coordinator/safety officer. Lab coordinators/safety officers are the only people who can approve an alternate equipment trainer.
  • Materials in the lab are for class use. All material for projects must be purchased using the project's budget, identified to the project, and separately stored on a space available basis. Do not "borrow" class materials for a special project or project materials for a class. Plan ahead. The cost of unauthorized use of materials will be directly charged to you.
  • It is your responsibility to clean up your workspace immediately and put away all tools before leaving the lab. All tools must be cleaned before they are put away.
  • All lights and fans are to be turned off when leaving the lab, and all doors checked as locked (special circumstances may change this. Always check with a lab coordinator/safety officer first).
  • There are two levels of access that a student can obtain: lab access or card access. All access is granted for either school year (fall/spring) or full term (fall/spring/summer). A student who was granted lab access or card access during the previous academic year will not automatically continue to retain permissions. All access permissions must be re-evaluated, by submitting new Lab Access Request Forms, at the start of each fall term.
  • Lab access only permission
    • Lab access only allows the student access to a lab, but they cannot use the card reader located on the lab door. These students may gain entry by a faculty member, staff member, or a lab coordinator/safety officer.
    • The individual who allowed the lab access only student entrance to the lab must remain with the student during the duration of the visit.
    • At no time is a lab access only student (non-card access) allowed to be without supervision. If a student is found opening the lab door for any other student regardless of access level, all students involved will be suspended from the lab.
  • Card access permission
    • Those students granted card access can enter the lab provided there is at least one other approved (card access) student present at all times.
    • At no time should any student within the lab allow any non-approved student entry.

High-Risk Labs

  • Burke 125: Technician’s lab
    • You are not permitted to enter the technician's office area, machine shop, or storeroom unless you are in the presence of a faculty or technician or have been specifically authorized. In either case, you should seek advice about any hazards you may encounter.
  • Burke 123 (Mfg lab) and Burke 124 (Research lab)
    • High-risk labs are those that have equipment with unguarded cutting tools such as mills and lathes.
    • Appropriate attire will be long pants (jeans), short-sleeve shirt, non-nylon shoes, closed-toed footwear, no baggy or loose clothing. Hair must be above shoulders; use a ball cap if necessary.
    • Access times are Mon.-Fri. 7:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m.,Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. 

Require:

  • Initial EHS training
  • Annual EHS lab & safety refresher training
  • Machine testingSat./Sun. 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

Medium-Risk Labs

  • Burke 108 Innovation Commons
  • Burke 117 Supermileage/Robotics Lab
    • This lab has a High-Risk Mill; this lab is only designated as a Medium Risk since the Mill is locked out and can only be operated in the direct presence of a faculty/staff member.
  • Burke 118 Material Testing Lab
    • Burke 116 Heat Treat Lab
    • Burke 118A Impact Testing Lab
    • Burke 118B Materials Hardness Testing Lab
  • Burke 127 Plastics Processing Lab
  • Burke 129 Plastics Characterization
  • Burke 130 Plastics Characterization II
  • Burke 132 Plastics Characterization III
  • Burke 141 Technician's Electrical Office
    • You are not permitted to enter the technician's office area, machine shop, or storeroom unless you are in the presence of a faculty or technician or have been specifically authorized. In either case, you should seek advice about any hazards you may encounter.
  • Burke 145 Research
  • AMIC 117 Metallography
  • AMIC 117A ESEM (requires EM training)
  • AMIC 119 Metal Sample Prep
  • AMIC 120 Metal Material Testing Lab
    • Medium-risk labs are those that do not have equipment with unguarded cutting tools but do have powered equipment that can cause injury if operated incorrectly or unsafely.
    • Appropriate attire can be shorts or long pants, long-sleeve or short-sleeve shirt, no open-toed footwear, and no baggy/loose clothing.
    • Some labs have heat treat ovens (Burke 116 and AMIC 120); these units cannot be operated by a student if the temperature is to be above 500⁰F. A faculty/staff member must operate the unit if the temperature is above this limit. Long pants and long-sleeve shirt are required to operate any heat treat ovens.

Low-Risk Labs

  • Burke 112 Thermo/Fluids Lab
  • Burke 113 Prischak Robotics Lab
  • Burke 119 Rapid Prototyping Lab
  • Burke 121 Research Lab
  • Burke 122 Metrology Lab
  • Burke 140 Embedded Systems & Microprocessor Lab
  • Burke 143 Programmable Logic Controller Lab
  • Burke 146 Circuits & Devices Lab
  • Burke 148 Signal Processing Lab
  • Burke 151 Measurements & Instrumentation Lab
  • Burke 210 Research Lab
  • AMIC 118 AFM & Profilometry Lab
    • Low-Risk Labs are those that do not have equipment known to harm users. Any and all equipment can cause harm/injury if operated incorrectly or unsafely.
    • Appropriate attire is long pants, long-sleeve or short-sleeve shirt, closed-toe footwear.
    • Low-Risk Lab does not mean No-Risk Lab. You are responsible for your own health and safety, as well as the health and safety of those around you. Take proper precautions at all times and contact a Lab Coordinator/Safety Officer immediately with any questions or if any hazards arise in a lab. 

For more in-depth information about Lab Safety, please refer to the Environmental Health and Safety website.

Violations and Enforcement

  • Engineering faculty, staff, and lab coordinator/safety officers will strictly enforce laboratory policies and safe use practices.
  • Anyone found under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or is impaired in such a way as to compromise safety will immediately be asked to leave. Offenders will have their lab privileges revoked for the semester, at a minimum.
  • Any violation of machinery laboratory policies or witness of an unsafe act will result in the loss of authorized laboratory access. Depending on the severity of the violation, you may lose your lab access privileges from a minimum of five days to a full semester, at a minimum. Because this may limit your ability to complete laboratory assignments, a reduction in course grade or failure of the course may result.