LARAMIE COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE PROCEDURE

 

 

 

SUBJECT - Instructional Laboratory Supervision

REFERENCE

DATE - 10/24/95

NUMBER - 6764

 

 

I. Purpose

 

To ensure student health and safety while using LCCC instructional facilities.

 

II. Definitions

 

A. Hazardous equipment, materials, facilities: Hazardous equipment, materials, and facilities involve those that, when in use, would ordinarily pose a health or safety threat to students or others who are present unless there are qualified, trained personnel present to assist in their use. Hazardous materials include toxic and other materials injurious to humans (as used for example, in chemistry, construction technology, auto body, ceramics, etc.) as described in the Material Safety Data Sheets on file with the College. Hazardous equipment includes dangerous power or electrical equipment (as used, for example, in construction technology, welding, jewelry, auto/diesel, etc.). Hazardous facilities are those which pose a probable risk (weight training room, swimming pool, arena and associated areas such as stalls [when horses or livestock are present]). These examples are not inclusive and are meant for illustration purposes only. Anyone in doubt about whether or not equipment, materials, or facilities are hazardous should refer to this procedure, the appropriate administrator, and/or the College risk management officer.

 

B. Designated College employee: Any person who is employed by the College and has been trained for and assigned lab supervision by the appropriate administrator. Although student employees are educated to work in labs, they do not supervise instructional labs.

 

C. Presence (as in supervisor's presence in lab): Presence is physical proximity to the various contents of the lab and persons present such that the lab supervisor is reasonably and continuously monitoring equipment, materials, and the behavior of individuals, and can respond to problem situations quickly.

 

III. Categories of Instructional Labs

 

A. Category 1: requires an instructor/designated college employee present at all times. Jewelry Lab, FA 135 Auto/Diesel Lab Auto Body Repair Lab Construction Technology Shop Welding Lab Agriculture (Animal Science, Crop Science, Agriculture Technology) Biology Botany Chemistry Dental Hygiene Electronics Engineering Science Equine Studies Health Technology Molecular Biology Nursing Physics Radiologic Technology Zoology Criminal Justice Lab Swimming Pool

 

B. Category 2: restricted student usage without an LCCC employee present; students may use lab without an LCCC employee present after an appropriate orientation. Geology Photography Lab, FA 177-178 Free Weight Room Computer Networking Technology Lab, CCI 142

 

C. Category 3 nonhazardous labs (instructor need not be present). Ceramics Studio, FA 136 Theater Shop Painting Lab, FA 131 Multipurpose Room Gymnasium Mat Room Training Room Aerobics Center Racquetball Courts Computer Labs

 

 

IV. Procedures

 

A. No person (including, but not limited to: student, guest, other college employee) may be present in a College instructional lab which is defined as hazardous by virtue of its facility design/use, materials, or equipment used or contained therein, without the presence of one or more designated College employees charged with supervision of said lab by the appropriate administrator.

 

B. Each hazardous lab will have a formal, written procedure which describes the nature of its hazards, sets forth appropriate safety precautions for occupants of the lab, and describes treatments appropriate to the typical accidents or injuries which may occur in the lab. All users of the lab will be instructed in these procedures prior to their use of the lab, and will verify in writing that they have read, understand, and will comply with the procedures. Copies of all completed student verifications of knowledge will be retained on file in the lab supervisor's office for one year and archived in inactive storage for two years.

 

C. Posters of such size as to be easily identifiable and readable will be prominently displayed in each lab, said posters to describe the major safety hazards and/or precautions referenced in II. above.

 

D. Copies of the procedures and blank verification forms referenced in IV.B. above will be submitted to the Dean of Instruction's office, and will be updated as revisions occur. Occupancy of any given hazardous lab will be prohibited until this procedure has been completed for that lab.

 

E. Each hazardous lab will have an adequate supply of first aid materials and/or equipment appropriate to the nature of the materials or equipment contained or used therein.

 

F. Children and other non-authorized persons are not permitted in hazardous labs.

 

G. Copies of this procedure will be provided to outside users of hazardous labs, who will be required to adhere to its provisions as part of their facilities use agreement with the College. The LCCC Conferences and Events area will be the point of distribution of this procedure to outside entities which contract to use College facilities.

 

H. All college employees (including temporary, part-time, students, etc.) who have roles in the use of hazardous labs and/or their supervision shall demonstrate their knowledge of lab hazards and appropriate safety precautions/procedures through verifying their knowledge as described in IV.B. above. Such completed verifications will be on file with the Division office.

 

V. Exceptions

 

A. Exceptions may be made in the case of college employees who have been trained in the use of hazardous instructional labs and their materials/equipment. Such exceptions will be documented through securing the written permission of the appropriate supervisor over the lab, with notification to the division office, physical plant, and security.

 

B. At those times that the chemistry labs are used for "dry chemistry" (e.g., used for paper and pencil exercises, reading, computer work, etc., in the absence of chemicals) they are not defined as hazardous.

 

C. The ceramics studio (FA 136) is not defined as hazardous except when students are using the pug mill.

 

D. The theater shop is not defined as hazardous except when students are using the saws.

 

E. Children who are formal guests of the College (e.g., field trips from local schools) may be permitted in hazardous labs when a qualified lab supervisor is present and monitoring their activities.