Guidelines for care & Use of Dry Solvent Stills [Example]

3. Housekeeping for All Labs
Housekeeping services offered by WFU Physical Facilities cannot automatically take care of all
cleaning requirements encountered in fully functioning chemical labs, so be prepared to clean up such
things as chemical spills on your own. Special requests for clean-up of non-routine nature should be
called in at phone # 4255. Be cautious of such requests, however, if unattended housekeeping personnel
must move unfamiliar lab equipment or disrupt normal lab activity while cleaning. Take steps to
accommodate their time schedule and give them specific instructions. A COMMUNITY USE MOP AND
BUCKET FOR CLEANING UP WATER SPILLS IS LOCATED IN CLOSET # J0, next to room 9E.
In addition, observe the following general lab housekeeping rules:
1. Chemical waste should be organized and kept in particular places in your lab, not scattered hither and
yon.
2. If your assigned bench-space work area generates chemical solvents which end up on the floor
routinely, have your floor space cleaned and mopped more often. Consider getting a chemically
resistant floor mat.
3. If your work area is well cared for and your neighbor on an adjoining lab bench tends to be messy,
don‟t allow bad habits of others to cramp your style. Report it to the lab manager, who will act as your
subtle advocate.
4. Both research students and teaching assistants should occasionally gather into communal clean-up
teams and simply straighten up their research labs or assigned teaching labs. Chemistry stockroom
personnel and the laboratory manager will help you.
5. Don‟t allow overcrowded conditions to result in obstruction of safety equipment. Don‟t pile chemicals,
tools, equipment, and towels randomly on lab bench tops or lab floors.
6. Report overly dusty lab benches, dirty floors, leaves or cobwebs or dirt on windowsills to housekeeping
personnel. Request housekeeping services whenever you see the need.
7. Report damaged furniture to physical facilities for repair. Problems with plumbing, water fixtures or
improper drainage should likewise be reported to maintenance.
8. Teaching laboratory stockroom personnel housekeeping assignments are listed below. Chemistry
stockroom personnel should be notified by TA‟s of anything which has not properly been completed
before undergraduate teaching labs commence experimental activity.
9. After lab check-out at the end of each semester, TA‟s should request that Housekeeping clean all
undergraduate lab bench tops with the bottle of Servicemaster “Scrub „N‟ Shine” cleanser.
Stockroom Personnel Housekeeping Assignments (Work/Study Undergrad employees):
� Fill distilled water carboys.
� Put paper towels at each third lab bench.
� Fill metal acetone containers found under back sink with acetone from Rm. 20.
� Make sure there is at least one bottle of Liqui-Nox soap concentrate in back of each lab, so that
students can put ½ inch or so in their individual bench top soap bottles and dilute the rest of the
container with water. Each lab only needs a dozen or so communal soap bottles.
� Be sure to place gloves on stockroom counter: green gloves for General Chemistry labs and blue
gloves for Organic Chemistry labs (only for experiments which require them).
� Complete any other tasks for which the TA‟s may need assistance.
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