Safety in the Science Laboratory
A Guide to Success in the Laboratory
C. Marsh
Rm # C-116 WHS
Chemistry Safety
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Accidents happen every day in many activities.
Statistically, most accidents happen in the home or while driving a car.
Few accidents have occurred in the science classroom.
However, in order to decrease the chances of any accidents
occurring, all students and visitors to the science lab are
required to follow the safety procedures that will follow.
• Conduct yourself in a responsible manner at all times.
• Follow all written and verbal instructions carefully.
Never Perform an unauthorized experiment.
Many chemicals emit dangerous gases or may
explode if combined.
Never conduct experiments in the laboratory
alone.
•When entering a lab, do not touch any
equipment, chemicals or other materials
until you are instructed to do so.
•Do not eat food, drink
beverages, or chew gum in the
laboratory.
eat or drink from lab equipment.
NEVER taste chemicals for any reason.
• Having a pre-lab complete before beginning
any lab exercise will help insure that you
are prepared for the lab.
Name:
______________________
Date:
______________________
Lab Section: ____________________
Pre-Lab: questions to answer before doing the lab
For more information on Pre-Labs, go to:
http://www.ncsu.edu/labwrite/pl/pl-home.html
Lab Title: ________________________________
1. Establishing the learning context for the lab.
a. What is the scientific principle (theory or concept) that you
are supposed to be learning about by doing the lab? (You'll
probably be able to figure this out by checking the lab manual
for the title of the lab and the introduction to the lab.)
b. Write down everything you can find out about this scientific
principle. (Look at the lab manual, class notes, textbook,
handouts.)
2. Establishing the goals of the lab.
a. List the objectives for the lab. (The objectives are the
concrete acts you are supposed to perform in the lab, such as to
measure something, to analyze something, to determine
something, to test something, etc. You'll probably find them
presented in the lab manual.)
b. In a sentence or two, give the purpose of the lab. (The
purpose tells how achieving the objectives of the lab will help
you to learn about the scientific principle the lab is about.)
• Horseplay, running, pushing, shoving, and practical
jokes are a serious hazard in the science lab. There are
many glass objects and chemicals which could be
damaged or could injure you. Such behavior is not
permitted.
Good housekeeping is essential in maintaining a safe lab.
Work areas should be kept clean and tidy.
All work surfaces in the laboratory should be cleaned after
each use with water.
Bring only your laboratory instructions, worksheets,
and/or reports to the work area.
Make sure that you place all backpacks in the desk seat
and push outer desk to the inside.
Know the location of all the exits.
Locate the nearest sink and shower.
Know the location of the fire extinguisher, fire blanket,
and eye washes. Your teacher will point these out to you
before doing any lab activities.
•Be alert and proceed with caution!!
•Notify your instructor immediately of any
unsafe conditions
•Dispose of all chemicals properly.
•Never mix chemicals in sink drains.
•Sinks are to be used only for water and those
•Solutions designated by the instructor.
Hygienic Care
Wash hands after lab.
Keep hands away from
face and mouth.
• Experiments must be
personally monitored.
• NEVER leave an experiment
unattended.
• Do not wander around the
room, distract other students,
or interfere with the
laboratory experiments of
others.
Students are never permitted in the
chemistry supply room!!
Goggles must be worn when engaging in or
observing activities involving potential hazards
to the eye.
Contact lenses should
not be worn while
doing experiments.
When labs are
assigned that require
you to remove
contact lenses, be
sure to bring you
containers and
solution.
Dress properly during a laboratory
activity.
• Long hair must be tied back during
lab.
• Dangling jewelry and loose or
baggy clothing must be secured.
• Shoes must completely cover the
foot. No sandals/flip flops.
Report all accidents and injuries to your teacher immediately.
Don’t be afraid to tell the teacher of an accident because you
broke a rule. The threat of infection or other side effects of
the accident are more important than the reprimand the
teacher may give you for breaking the rules.
If you or your lab partner are hurt, immediately yell out,
“Code one, Code one” to get the instructor’s attention.
If a chemical splashes in your eye(s) or on your skin,
immediately flush with running water for at least 20 minutes.
Notify someone immediately.
Chemical Safety
All chemicals in the laboratory
are to be considered dangerous.
Never taste. Don’t eat or drink
in lab. Label all bottles
containing chemicals. Never
transfer substances with mouth
pipette. Never return unused
chemicals to original container.
Chemicals
• Check the label on the chemical bottle at
least twice before removing any of the
contents.
• Take only as much chemical as you need.
concentration concentration
substance
substance
Handling Chemicals
• NEVER return unused chemicals to
their original containers!!
Opps! too much I’ll
just put it back.
• When transferring
reagents hold the
container away from
your body.
• When pouring use a
stirring rod to control
the flow of the liquid.
• ALWAYS add acid to
water!!!
Take great care in noting odors or fumes.
Use a wafting motion of the hand. NEVER
put a bottle to your nose and breathe deeply.
Never try to pick up broken glass.
It should be swept up carefully.
Broken glass in sinks should be
promptly removed as it presents a
serious hazard to all using the sink.
Notify your teacher when this
happens.
• Fill wash bottles
only with distilled
water and use only
as intended.
Never heat a closed container. The stopper
could act as a projectile.
Make certain that all hot plates and open burners are turned
off when leaving the laboratory.
Excessive talking keeps the instructor from hearing when
someone could be injured. Please refrain from talking
loudly during lab.
In case of emergency-DO NOT RUN. Leave by the nearest
safe exit. DO NOT SCREAM OR YELL. Screaming will
only create confusion.
Follow all instructions given by your instructor.
Everyone is responsible for keeping the laboratory a safe
environment in which to learn.
Fire drill
• In the even of a fire drill
–
–
–
–
close containers,
turn off gas valves
Turn off fume hood
Turn off electrical equipment
• Exit the room from the door into the hall.
Turn right go to end of hall and exit to the
right into the parking lot on the middle row.
• Student must take MSDS book
Tornado drill
• In the even of a tornado drill
–
–
–
–
close containers,
turn off gas valves
Turn off fume hood
Turn off electrical equipment
• Exit the room into the chemical supply
room.
• Student must take MSDS book
Safety Counts
Playing in the lab is serious business. If you
think the rules are stupid, read these accounts,
and realize just how dangerous not following
the rules can be.
FOLLOW DIRECTIONS
• Have you written a
pre-lab?
• Do you know the
proper chemicals and
procedures?
• Do you know all
pertinent information
about the chemicals
you need?
Elge Mastrangelo was
doing lab number 40 in
his lab book. When he
deviated from the
instructions of the lab,
he caused a massive
explosion that removed
his left hand and
severely injured his
right.
GOGGLES SAVE EYES
In an experiment in
which children were
creating synthetic clouds,
it was necessary to build
pressure into a flask.
When Charles’ A. Put too
much pressure on the
flask, the glass shattered,
sending shrapnel flying
around the room and into
his right eye.
• Do you have all the
necessary equipment for
the lab?
• Is your lab clear of
anything that will get in
the way?
• Are you, your lab
partners, and the people
around your station
wearing goggles?
Don’t be afraid to…
TELL A TEACHER
Leslie Miller was participating in a lab using potassium
Hydroxide (KOH), A very dangerous “Caustic”
substance. Some of the crystalline KOH came in contact
with Leslie’s skin, but she did not tell the teacher. Later
in the day, when the KOH came in contact with the
moisture in her skin, she was too late to stop the damage.
By the time she had received medical treatment, she had
caused permanent disfigurement of her right thigh
requiring reconstructive surgery.
NO FOOD OR DRINKS
A 14-year old boy put potassium
dichromate in a bottle of soda two students
were sharing in a physical science lab. The
two students became seriously ill and were
rushed to a hospital.
KNOW YOUR CHEMICALS
• Do you know what
chemicals you are
using?
• Do you know how
they react?
• Have you followed
the precautions not to
cause accidents
A student received minor
facial injuries when she
added concentrated
sulfuric acid to a wet test
tube provided by her lab
partner. The contents
boiled out of the tube a
struck her in the face. Her
lab partner had not dried
the tube as instructed.
WORK SAFE
Students in a high school chemistry class were studying the
difference between mixtures and compounds. In the first part of the
lab sulfur was mixed with iron and the sulfur was removed by
dissolving the sulfur in carbon disulfide. In the second part of the
lab iron and sulfur were mixed in the correct proportions to make
iron sulfide. The sample was heated to bring about the desired
reaction. Unfortunately some of the students were much faster than
others and the two parts of the experiment were occurring at the
same time. One student placed her solution of sulfur and carbon
disulfide in the chemical crock and put the cover back on. Shortly
thereafter a second student placed a hot test tube in the crock. The
resulting explosion sent glass flying in all directions, fortunately
everyone was wearing their goggles and no one was injured.
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