MAE 171A, 175A, 126A Laboratory Safety - MAELabs UCSD

MAE 171A, 175A, 126A Laboratory Safety
Laboratory safety is important to reduce the risk of personal injury and damage to
equipment. The following guidelines will help promote safe laboratory practices and make the
persons working in the laboratory more aware of potential hazards while performing the
experiments. Laboratory safety is everyone’s responsibility.
Experiment Specific Hazards
An argon laser is used in the laboratory on the water tunnel experiment. The laser
is capable of inflicting damage to a person’s eyes. All persons working on the
water tunnel experiment must wear goggles or glasses that are specifically
designed to block the laser’s light. The curtain around the laser and water tunnel
test section must be closed while the experiment is being operated. No persons are
to enter the area enclosed by the curtain while the experiment is being operated
unless authorized by the laboratory staff. The laser safety video must be viewed
by all persons working in the laboratory prior to running any of the experiments.
The wind tunnel experiment generates noise at a significant level and can
potentially damage a person’s hearing after long-term exposure. Dust particles, at
high velocity, can also be present at the exhaust end of the tunnel. The door to the
wind tunnel room must be closed while the wind tunnel is being operated. All
persons working in the wind tunnel room while the fan is being operated must
wear hearing / eye protection.
The materials testing load frame is capable of applying forces to an object in
excess of 20,000 pounds. These forces are capable of crushing extremities. Do not
operate the ram on the load frame without proper handling. A safety shield is used
to deflect any fragments of material that may be ejected from the test specimen
when it yields. Persons working on the load frame must wear safety goggles and
insure the safety shield is in place while conducting an experiment.
The controls experiments are electromechanical devices under computer control.
Limit switches can minimize damage to equipment; however the switches do not
protect the user from possible injury. Use caution when actuating the experiments
and keep hands and hair clear of moving parts. The apparatus can move erratically
if control signals from the computer are lost or incorrect.
The Heat Transfer experiment can generate a temperature of 100 deg C on the test
plates. Use caution when changing or handling the test plates.

The Solar Voltaic experiment uses solar panels and electrical hook ups for power
generation. Please handle them carefully and ensure you hook up the power
cables correctly.
The Smoke Plume experiment has a large water tank and uses pumps to provide
the flow for sampling the saline content of the water and for creating the "smoke
plume" in the tank. Be cautious about splashing water onto the bench top, the pump
motors as well as the computer are located on the bench top. Also, avoid spilling any
of the salt onto the floor of the lab, as this is a potential slipping hazard.
The electronic experiment is built on a prototyping board that has +5 /+-15VDC.
When wiring the components double check to insure you are wiring the correct
voltages to the correct component terminals.
General Laboratory Safety
Please do not horseplay in the laboratory.
Please do not eat, drink or smoke in the laboratory.
Do not dispose of any chemicals in the sink or trash receptacles.
Contact laboratory staff for disposal of all chemicals and hazardous materials.
The laboratory staff will brief you on the location and or use of the following…
_____ Fire extinguishers
_____ Ear Protectors and or plugs
_____ Emergency Eye Wash Stations
_____ Emergency Telephone
_____ Emergency Electrical Shutdown Switches
_____ Eye Protection for Laser Safety

_____ First Aid Kit
_____ UCSD Lab Safety Guide
_____ Safety Goggles for Materials Testing
_____ Emergency Exits
If you have any safety related questions, please ask.
I have read the preceding safety guidelines and will exercise safe lab practices. I understand that
I may be removed from the laboratory if I create an unsafe environment.
Print Name _____________________________________
Signature _____________________________________
Date Signed _____________________________________