Chemistry Laboratory Safety

• " I didn't mean to" and " It wasn't my fault " are two statements that have no place in the lab.
• Horse-play will not be tolerated.
• Lack of pre-lab preparation is the biggest threat to lab safety.
• Read lab instructions prior to coming to lab. If you do not understand any procedure, ask your instructor for explanation.
• Never perform unauthorized or unsupervised experiments.

– Safety glasses are stored in the goggle cabinet at the front of the room, lab aprons are on the hooks at the front of the room
– Contact lenses increase the potential damage to the eye in a chemical accident, please wear your glasses for lab

– There is a danger of catching fire, as well as being soaked in chemicals.
– Wear appropriate clothing.
– Tie back long hair.

– Corrosive or irritating liquids may get underneath a ring or watch and produce irritation.
– Dangling jewelry may catch on a piece of labware and cause an accident.
• Always pay attention to verbal instructions given by your teacher.

• Before beginning work in lab, clean the lab bench top and your glassware
• Direct contact with chemicals should be kept to a minimum
• Never taste any chemicals or substances produced by a chemical reaction
• Eating or drinking in lab is never permitted
Fume hood should be used when burning chemicals and when a chemical reaction gives off noxious gases

• Do not heat heavy or thick glassware, such as graduated cylinder or reagent bottles.
• Avoid heating any apparatus too suddenly
• When heating a substance in a test tube, be careful not to point tube at another person or yourself
• Do not hold tip of test tube directly in the flame

• Remain calm! A minor problem can quickly become a major one if you overreact.
• Report all accidents to your teacher immediately, no matter how small.
• Types of accidents and how to handle them:

• The most common accident in the lab , even with the best of care.
• If you are using the equipment properly, you will not get into trouble for breaking a piece of glassware, but you will still be required to pay for the broken glassware.
• If you are not using the equipment properly, or if horse-play is involved, you will be required to pay for the broken glassware and disciplinary action may be taken.
• Report any breakage to your teacher immediately.
• Do not move until your teacher says it is safe to do so.
• If anyone is cut, report it immediately.
• Chemical spills are often involved with glass breakage. When that occurs, follow those safety precautions too.

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• Report the situation and let your teacher help the injured person.
• There is always a possibility of infection , even with the most minor injury. For this reason you should report any cut or scrape, even if there is no visible blood.
• Do not come into contact with another person's blood , either directly or indirectly.

• Chemical Safety Warning Signs - NFPA, ANSI, OSHA
• Depending on the chemical spilled the procedure can vary; for most of the chemicals we will use, water is the best treatment – flush the affected area with water for up to 15 minutes (20 minutes for eyes)
• The most potentially dangerous chemicals used in our lab are corrosive acids and bases. Always treat acids and bases with care even if you are using dilute solutions.
• You are to treat all spills as DANGEROUS.
• Stop where you are and let your teacher advise you about what to do.
• Always consult the proper Safety Data Sheet before doing anything. Sometimes adding water is not the proper step – know those exceptions
• Kitty litter and baking soda are located in the hood for large spills.

• Lab burners are the source of most problems:
– Bunsen burners have very few malfunctions. If a malfunction occurs, turn off the gas and notify your teacher- end of problem.
– Be aware when a burner is in use at your lab station. Never leave a flame unattended
– When you are not actively heating something - turn the burner off .
• Clothing or Hair is the most dangerous type of fire in the lab.
– Don't panic!
– If you are the one involved in a fire stay where you are - help is coming .
– If your partner is involved in a fire get the fire blanket . Your teacher will be racing you to the blanket and both of you will help your partner smother the fire.
– If the fire is not at your lab station stay away !
• The science teacher is the only person authorized to use the fire extinguisher

– Eye wash station is located on the right side of the lab.
It should only be used if chemicals come in contact with the eyes
– Flood eyes and eyelids with water for a minimum of 20 minutes .
– Shower in the event that large amounts of chemicals are spilled or splashed onto the skin or clothing

– The fire safety blanket is located at the front of the science lab.
– Fire blankets are not the best means to extinguish a fire. They may be used to extinguish clothing that is burning, but should never be used on any other type of fire.
– Fire blankets are a good means to keep shock victims warm.

– The fire extinguisher is located on the lab wall.
– Only the science facilitator is authorized to use the fire extinguisher.
– Fire extinguishers are classified according to a particular fire type and are given the same letter and symbol classification as that of the fire.
– Types of extinguishers:
• TYPE A -- Combustibles wood, cloth, paper, rubber and plastics.
• TYPE B -- Flammable liquids, oil, grease and paint thinners.
• TYPE C -- Energized electrical equipment
• TYPE D -- Combustible metals (magnesium, titanium, sodium, lithium, potassium).
• Multipurpose Extinguishers are an effective agent against Types A, B, and C fires.
•
Our laboratory fire extinguisher is Type ABC.
– To effectively operate an extinguisher, think P-A-S-S.
• P -- pull the pin
A -- aim the hose at the base of the fire
S -- squeeze the handle
S -- sweep the hose back and forth

• Clean-up is important for the safety of others and for the preservation of equipment.
• Your lab station and equipment should be cleaned before you worry about the lab report.
• What clean-up should be done after each lab?
– Dispose of chemicals as directed by your teacher
– NEVER put unused chemicals back into their original container.
– Return chemical containers to the chemical table.
– Wash and dry all glassware, then store properly.
– Clean hardware, but DO NOT wash. If any hardware is wet, dry completely before storing. This is to prevent rusting.
– Clean and dry your lab table.

• S afety D ata S heet
• A “non-standard” form required of all chemical distributors
• Must contain all relevant information on a chemical including but not limited to:
– health, fire, poison, & causticity hazards
– first aid
– controls/special protections
– carcinogens
– physical/chemical characteristics
– spill/leak procedures

SDS sheets are maintained in each:
– chemical storeroom
– preparation room
Ask your instructor if you wish to see one.
You are expected to check SDS online for every lab.
(http://avogadro.chem.iastate.edu/msds/M
SDS_S.html)These sheets can be found on flinnsci.com. You should note storage, safety precautions, and skin damage.

• N ational F ire P rotection A ssociation
• “Standardized” labeling system for chemical hazards
• Includes four color codes red (flammability) blue (health) yellow (reactivity)
• Numerical Ratings o= no hazard white (special warnings)
1= slight 2= moderate
3= severe 4= extreme
• Used by KHS Science Department

Flammability
Health
Reactivity
• Required on all chemical labels
• Scale value from 0-4
Special Notice

3
4
OXY
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1 What is the greatest safety hazard for the chemical illustrated to the left?
2 What is the reactivity value of the chemical?