Fabrication of samples should be done with the greatest care and attention. This means that all users of the shared facilities in the NanoLab have to work safely.
General safety:
Before one can start a project, a new user has to follow the general safety instructions and the fire extinguisher course, both of which are provided by the AMD and are mandatory to have followed for every user in the lab.
LION safety training:
Secondly, you should have done the mandatory LION safety training that is relevant to your research.
What to do in case of an emergency?
Call internal emergency number 071-527 4444 from a mobile phone, and help the victim!
Incidents, including hazardous situations, near-accidents and accidents should always be reported via the online form and reported to your supervisor and the LION Safety Committee.
¶ Lab regulations
Lab-users are allowed to get new gloves, yellow bin bags, Kimtech precision wipes, etc. from the storage, and all users that have had Cleanroom Safety instructions are allowed to get cleaning chemicals from the chemical cabinet in 609.
- Acetone (cleaning agent, remover for PMMA based e-beam resists)
- IPA / isopropyl alcohol / isopropanol (cleaning agent, solvent for developers such as MIBK)
- Ethanol (cleaning agent, temporary lubing)
If spray bottles with IPA, acetone, ethanol or demiwater are empty, it is your own responsibility to refill this. If the glass bottles in the chemical cabinet are (almost!) empty, however, make sure to notify the technicians so that they can order a new batch. If the cleaning chemicals run out, research will halt. So please do notify the technicians upon opening the last bottle.
Know your workplace:
In the lab, you should be able to locate the emergency exits, fire extinguisher, point exhaust, fire alarm, in each room, the emergency off-switches in each room, eye showers of each chemical working place, emergency showers on each side of the floor.
Know your equipment:
Of course, training for the specific equipment is also mandatory; at the page of that piece of equipment, you can see who to contact for these trainings.
¶ Chemical Safety
Before beginning any work, ensure that you have carefully read the corresponding MSDS for the chemical you intend to use. Always wear appropriate personal protective equipment, including safety goggles and chemically resistant gloves. If you plan to use a new chemical or process, you are required to review the MSDS (or those of all constituent chemicals in a mixture) and prepare a TRA (Task Risk Analysis) or a complete operating procedure. This procedure should clearly describe safe handling, transportation to the lab, and proper disposal methods. After review and approval by the technicians, you can proceed with confidence, knowing that the risks have been properly assessed and mitigated.
For more detailed guidance, consult the reader Working with Chemicals. If you have any uncertainties or require clarification, do not hesitate to contact the technicians.
Make sure to understand the iconography of safety pictograms!
When handling chemical containers, always use both hands and never rely on holding a bottle by its cap. Caps may be brittle, loose, or improperly sealed, creating a real risk of spills. Keep in mind that some organic chemicals are hazardous enough that dropping a bottle may require evacuation of the building. In the event that a bottle breaks and chemicals are spilled, there may be a risk of fire or explosion. If this occurs, calmly proceed to the three-button wall panel and switch all three buttons off to completely shut down the room. Immediately warn the technicians so that appropriate emergency procedures can be followed.
Be very careful to avoid eye contact with all chemicals. Even a brief exposure can have serious consequences—if strong alkalies such as resist developers enter the eye, permanent vision damage is highly likely. Skin contact with anorganic chemicals (acids and bases) must also be avoided at all times, and their vapours should never be inhaled; always work with these substances inside a properly functioning fume hood. Organic chemicals pose additional risks through both skin absorption and inhalation, so they should only be handled in a downflow bench, cleanbench, or fume hood to ensure a controlled and safe environment.
Check the tweezer tip compatibility before working with new chemicals!
Each cleanbench, downflow bench, and fume hood is equipped with an eye shower located on top. These eye showers are strictly single-use devices: do not open them out of curiosity, as once unsealed they cannot be resealed and must be replaced. If chemicals come into contact with your eyes, use the eye shower immediately. In the case of significant exposure to the body, emergency showers are available in the hallway on either side of the floor and should be used without delay.