The EHS door sign program has been developed to help WCMC personnel and potential emergency responders identify the hazards present in an area (e.g. laboratory) prior to entering the room. At a minimum, an EHS door sign must be prepared and posted outside each doorway leading from a public hallway and the hazard assessment must be inclusive of all the interior rooms. If so desired, additional EHS door signs can be prepared for the interior rooms which more specifically identify the hazards in those specific areas. Click here for an example door sign.
Identify the initiating institution for the sign.
Let us know how to contact you, if we have questions about the information entered into this online form.
Identify the primary space associated with this door sign. This is the door where the sign will hang. For multiple signs (e.g. a PI with a lab in Whitney and a lab in Harkness), complete the form multiple times.
Identify up to 3 contacts for the space. Note that emergency phone numbers can be removed from the printed door sign by selecting "No" for "Print emergency phone on sign?". The emergency phone numbers will be maintained by EHS in case of emergency.
Select the appropriate access restrictions and requirements for the space. Access Restriction 2 is optional.
Select the most appropriate hazard rating for each category based on the criterion for “High Hazard”, “Moderate Hazard”, “Low Hazard”, or “Not Applicable”. Example chemicals and/or biological agents are available for certain hazard categories. Additionally, manufacturers will typically identify the related hazards for a chemical or biological agent on the original containers. If you have any questions, contact Environmental Health and Safety for assistance.
Biohazard
Biosafety Levels 3
- Organisms that can cause serious
illness or death in healthy adults. Exposure by inhalation
is a risk from any sort of handling procedures or from
spills or contaminated waste. Infections also readily occur
from needle sticks or accidental contact with mucous
membranes such as eyes and mouth. Example: Mycobacterium
tuberculosis
Biosafety Level 2 - Organisms that can cause moderate to
serious illness in healthy adults. Infections seldom occur
via inhalation unless the organism is dispersed into the air
as an aerosol. Infections readily occur from needle sticks
or accidental contact with mucous membranes such as eyes and
mouth. Examples: Salmonella bacteria, hepatitis B.
Biosafety Level 1 - Microbiology lab using microorganisms
that do not cause disease in healthy adults. Example: E.
coli K12 bacteria, most yeast
No biohazard present at this location.
Routine use of larger quantities of carcinogenic
material where the risk of exposure is high because the
material can be absorbed through skin or inhaled. Examples:
embalming facility and use of aerosolized carcinogens (e.g.,
smoking / nicotine studies)
Routine use of carcinogenic material in pure form.
Examples: acrylamide powder, acrolein, or diaminobenzidine
(DAB), or use of several liters per week of carcinogenic
solvents, such as phenol/chloroform extraction procedures.
Occasional use of small amounts or dilute solutions.
Example: Labs using small quantities of dilute
formaldehyde/water solutions to preserve specimens
No carcinogens present at this location
Chemical Storage
Chemical stockrooms, large quantities of hazardous
materials, including 55 gallon drums. Storage of significant
amounts of air or water reactive material, unstable or
incompatible chemicals, and/or compressed or liquefied
gases.
Storage of hundreds of chemical containers. Minimal
amounts of air or water reactive material, unstable or
incompatible chemicals, or compressed or liquefied gases.
Example: chemical inventory of a standard research
laboratory.
Storage of small quantities of chemicals. Storage where
the amount on hand would not cause a fire or serious health
hazard if it came into accidental contact with water. No
storage of poison inhalation hazards. Example: chemical
storage in a teaching lab.
No chemicals stored at this location.
Compressed Gases (Non-Flammable, Non-Poisonous)
(Examples )
Use of any compressed gases, including solidified or
liquefied gases, in small unventilated space. Example: Use
of liquid nitrogen or dry ice in a cold room or
environmental chamber. (Note: This applies to rooms/chambers
with re-circulating fans which do not supply fresh air.)
(1) Use of compressed gas with a low, well controlled
flow rate in a area with poor ventilation; or (2) Use of a
container or gas supply system that could cause the sudden
release of a large amount of gas.
(1) Use where the release rate of the gas can be
controlled; and (2) The area is well ventilated and air is
not re-circulated. Example: Gas cylinder with regulator used
in a well ventilated laboratory where air is exhausted by
fume hoods that vent to the roof.
No compressed gases at this location.
(1) Use and/or storage of large quantities (20 or more
gallons) of concentrated acids or bases; (2) Use or storage
of any volume of hydrofluoric acid; and (3) Benchtop use of
acid baths with acid concentrations of greater than 6 molar.
Use and/or storage of moderate quantities (1 to 20
gallons) of concentrated acids and bases. Example: standard
research laboratory
Routine use of dilute acid and base solutions,
infrequent use of concentrated acids and bases (less than 1
gallon). Example: use of corrosives in teaching laboratories
No corrosive materials at this location.
Explosives (Examples ) and Peroxide Forming
Chemicals (Examples )
(1) Storage and/or use of any explosive materials in
pure or concentrated forms or use in procedures which may
produce harmful explosion; or (2) Use of peroxide forming
chemicals in a procedure which may produce a harmful
explosion Example: storage or use of dry picric acid;
refluxing diethyl ether which may concentrate peroxides
(1) Storage and/or use of any peroxide forming
chemicals; or (2) Work that involves amounts that can
produce a harmful explosion but use is limited to forms,
such as aqueous solutions, that are not explosive (e.g.,
Bouin’s fixative with picric acid)
Work that involves small amounts that can not produce a
harmful explosion or use of the material in form that is not
explosive. Example: histology lab using picric acid solution
as a stain.
No explosive materials or peroxide forming chemicals at
this location.
Flammable Gases
(Examples )
(1) The use and/or storage of any flammable gas
cylinders below ground; or (2) The use and/or storage of the
following:
> 8 total cubic feet of flammable, liquefied gas> 10 total cubic feet of flammable, >300 PSIG,
non-liquefied, non-absorbed gas> 30 total cubic feet of
flammable, ≤300 PSIG, non-liquefied, non-absorbed gas
Use and/or storage of ≥0.15 cubic feet of flammable gas
but less than the following:
<8 total cubic feet of
flammable, liquefied gas
<10 total cubic feet of
flammable, >300 PSIG, non-liquefied, non-absorbed gas
<30
total cubic feet of flammable, ≤300 PSIG, non-liquefied,
non-absorbed gas
Use of small individual low-pressure containers (<0.15
cubic feet water container capacity of flammable gas) or
piped supply systems. Example: house-supplied natural gas or
aerosol can of spray paint with a flammable gas as a
propellant
No flammable gases at this location.
Flammable Liquids (Examples )
(1) Routine use or storage of any extremely flammable
liquids {i.e., flashpoint <73F and boiling Point 95F}; or (2) Routine use or storage of large quantities
(greater than 30 gallons); or (3) Any work with flammable
liquids near an open flame or at elevated temperatures.
Routine use of flammable liquids in moderate quantities
not exceeding FDNY permitted quantities and away from
ignition sources. Example: Standard research lab.
Daily use or storage of small quantities (less than 32
fluid ounces) of flammable liquids. Example: tissue culture
rooms using alcohol to wipe bench tops.
No flammable liquids at this location.
Flammable Solids, Air Reactive,
and/or Pyrophoric
Chemicals (Examples )
Routine use or storage of large quantities of flammable
solids (>15 lbs) or air reactive/ pyrophoric materials (>12
lbs).
Routine use or storage of moderate quantities of
flammable solids (1-15 lbs) or air reactive/ pyrophoric
materials (1-12 lbs).
Infrequent use of small quantities (<1 lb) under
conditions known to be controllable.
No flammable solids / air reactives / pyrophorics at
this location.
Ionizing Radiation
Locations where an individual could receive a harmful
exposure to radiation unless appropriate precautions are
followed. Example: use of sealed sources that contain curie
amounts of radioactive material.
Locations where an individual will not receive a harmful
exposure if basic precautions are followed. Example: use of
several millicuries of radioactive material that emit gamma
or high energy beta radiation that requires shielding.
Locations where an individual could not receive a
harmful exposure to ionizing radiation under any
circumstances. Example: 1) laboratory where the total amount
of radioactive material is less than the annual limit of
intake for a radiation worker or 2) an X-ray diffraction
unit that is entirely enclosed by shielding.
No ionizing radiation at this location.
Lasers
Class IV laser is in use. Viewing of the direct beam and
viewing of any type of reflection is likely to cause serious
eye injury. Beams can cause skin burns. Beams can cause
materials to burn and/or release hazardous materials to the
air.
Class III laser is in use. Momentary viewing of the
direct beam, or a beam reflected from a mirror-like surface,
may produce serious eye injury. Beams may not be visible
Only class I or II lasers are in use. Beams from class I
and II lasers are always visible. There is no risk of injury
unless an individual looks directly into the beam for an
extended period of time. Example: HeNe laser pointers used
in classrooms
No lasers at this location.
Routine use and storage of large quantities (>20 pounds)
of strong oxidizers.
Routine use and storage of moderate quantities of
oxidizers not exceeding 20 pounds. Example: standard
research laboratory; chromic acid bath used to clean
glassware; or storage of concentrated bleach.
Infrequent use of small quantities (less than 0.5 pounds
total). Example: use of 10% hydrogen peroxide in an
experiment
No oxidizers at this location.
Poisonous/Toxic Liquids and Solids (Examples )
Use and storage of highly toxic chemicals (LD50 < 50
mg/kg).
Use and storage of toxic chemicals LD50 between 50 to
500 mg/kg) OR less toxic compounds which can be absorbed
through the skin.
Use and storage of materials for which the lethal dose
is more than an ounce (LD50 more than 500 mg/kg) and that
are not readily absorbed through the skin. Examples: methyl
ethyl ketone, acetaldehyde, benzoic acid, methanol, hexane
No poisonous liquids and solids at this location.
Poisonous
Gases And Poison Inhalation Hazards (Examples )
Any use or storage of a
gaseous poison inhalation hazard.
Any use or storage of a
liquid poison inhalation hazards.
No poisonous gases or
poison inhalation hazards at this location.
Water Reactive
Chemicals (Examples )
Use or storage of large
quantities (greater than 2 pounds) of water reactive
chemicals or their use in new or original procedures that do
not have a history of predictable results.
Routine use of small
quantities (less than 2 pounds) under conditions known to be
controllable. The amount on hand could cause a fire or
serious health hazard if it came into accidental contact
with water.
Infrequent use of small
quantities under conditions known to be controllable.
Storage where the amount on hand would not cause a fire or
serious health hazard if it came into accidental contact
with water.
No water reactive
chemicals at this location.