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ALS Chemistry Labs

The ALS Chemistry Labs are located in the User Support Building (15-130) and in Building 6 (6-2233). These spaces are dedicated to chemistry work that involves higher quantities, higher toxicity or reactivity, and/or more complex work activity than is allowed on the ALS experiment floor. In addition, the great majority of hazardous chemicals at the ALS are stored in these facilities. Standard chemical safety engineering, administrative and PPE controls are employed in these labs, including a thorough work review of all proposed activities there.

ALS Chemistry Laboratory Manager

Alyssa Brand
510-486-4806
als-chemsafety@lbl.gov

How To Gain Access to the ALS Chemistry Labs

  1. Complete the online course: EHS 0348 Chemical Hygiene and Safety.
  2. Notify the ALS Chemistry Laboratory Manager that you need access and briefly describe the work you will need to perform.
  3. Attend an in-person lab orientation (ALS 2007 Chem Lab Access Orientation) with the laboratory manager.
  4. Take any additional training that may be required for your particular work, such as Safe Handling of Engineered Nanoscale Particulate Matter.
  5. Upon successful completion of these steps, card-key access will be granted.

Work Review and Authorization

The level of review is dependent upon the complexity and risk of the activity.

  • Simple operations such as obtaining chemicals or consumables require no review; the combination of the training and orientation provides enough information to allow this work to be done.
  • Low-risk tasks, such as using the sonicator or cleaning samples with ethanol, only need to be reviewed the first time they are performed. These are typically covered during the orientation.
  • More complex or hazardous tasks, such as using heating devices or working with strong acids, require a review each time they are performed.
  • Contact the laboratory manager to guide you through this process.

Chemistry Laboratory Procedures

The in-person lab orientation will cover procedures such as emergency preparedness, hazard recognition, use of personal protective equipment, and what to do with leftover chemicals. This information is also summarized in a handout that you will receive at the orientation.

Scheduling

If you think that you will need access to one of the chemistry labs during your experiment run, please contact the laboratory manager 1–2 weeks beforehand. This will help assure that the proper space and equipment are available. Depending upon the complexity and risk of the work, scheduling restrictions may be placed including requiring the work to be done during the day, with two people, and/or with direct safety personnel oversight.

Waste

An important part of the work review process will be to identify any possible hazardous waste streams that may be generated. Due to very strict regulatory oversight, it is important to correctly identify, store, and label all such materials. The laboratory manager will work very closely with you on this.

For more information about access and use of the labs, contact the laboratory manager.

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