Lab Safety
General Rules
1. Follow all instructions given by teacher.
2. Do not horse around in the lab.
3. No food or drink (including water and
gum) in the lab.
4. Do not use/touch chemicals or
equipment without permission.
5. Wear appropriate protective equipment.
6. Wash hands at completion of labs.
7. Do not sit or stand on lab tables.
Protective Equipment
On occasion we may
not require any
protective equipment, as
when we did the alka
selzer lab.
Often we will require
protective equipment.
ALWAYS we will
require long pants and
closed toe shoes.
Protective Measures
Long hair should be fastened up or back.
Wear closed to shoes!!!
Clothing should fit appropriately. Overly
baggy sleeves can be a hazard.
Jewelry is not well-suited for the lab.
Proper Procedures
1. Notify the teacher immediately of ANY
mishap: spills, broken glassware, injury
2. Use equipment in designated areas only.
3. Read instructions carefully BEFORE
beginning.
4. When special instructions are given for a
lab, take notes and follow the instructions.
5. Use proper techniques always (observing,
smelling, heating, stirring).
Examples of Safety Procedures
• Keep burners in the middle of the lab table,
not on the edge. Do not leave burners
unattended.
• When heating liquids in test tubes, never point
the tube toward yourself or anyone else. Never
heat the test tube directly at the bottom but tilt
the tube and heat it gently between the bottom
of the tube and the top of the liquid.
• Use boiling chips when boiling liquids in a
flask or beaker to prevent bumping.
• Secure all glassware not on lab bench.
• Smell a chemical by wafting.
Examples of Safety Procedures
• Never return chemicals to bottles of their origin.
If you have excess, give it to another student or
put it in the waste container provided.
• Always add concentrated acids or bases to water,
never water to concentrated acids or bases.
• Keep work space clean and uncluttered. Avoid
contaminating chemicals (for example: using the
same spatula for two different chemicals).
• Check glassware for stars or cracks before using.
Avoid using damaged equipment.
• Keep chemicals closed when not in use.
Learning Check
Learning Check
Learning Check
Which picture shows correct technique?
OR
OR
Safe or Unsafe?
Ready for Lab?
What’s wrong with this picture?