Safety in the
Laboratory
Chemistry 1361
SC 217
Elements of Working Safely in the Laboratory
Become familiar with:
•Laboratory space and its safety features
•Personal safety including Personal Protective Equipment
(PPE)
•Materials to be used in the laboratory
•Preparation for laboratory
•Awareness in the laboratory
Laboratory Space and its Safety Features
Entry
Floor plan of SC 217

Entry

Safety Shower
Eye Wash
H
O
O
D
H
O
O
D
H
O
O
D
Sink
1
2
3
L
a
b
6
B
e
n
c
h
5
4
Oven Sink
7
8
9
L
a
b
12
B
e
n
c
h
11 14
Scales
10
13
15
Sink
L
a
b
18
B
e
n
c
h
17
16
H
O
O
D
H
O
O
D
H
O
O
D
Sink
Laboratory Space and its Safety Features
The lab viewed from the South wall. Note location of eyewash and safety shower.
Laboratory Space and its Safety Features
The lab viewed from the North wall.
Laboratory Space and its Safety Features
A view of the East wall of the lab.
Oven
Balances
sink
Laboratory Space and its Safety Features
Locate the eye wash and the safety shower in
the NW corner of SC 217. Read instructions.
Laboratory Space and its Safety Features
Portable fire extinguishers:
•In the lab, mounted on the west
wall
• In the hallway, 30 ft left and
opposite wall from the entry door.
Fire Hose (last resort – should have
been out of building by then):
•Fire hose is at either end of the hall
just before the exit doors
•Turn red knob to activate
•Pull hose all the way out – it will come
on automatically.
Elements of Working Safely in the Laboratory
Become familiar with:
•Laboratory space and its safety features
•Personal safety including Personal Protective Equipment
(PPE)
•Preparation for laboratory
•Materials to be used in the laboratory
•Procedures to be used in the laboratory
Personal Safety Including Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Personal protective equipment, commonly referred to as
"PPE", is equipment worn to minimize exposure to a
variety of hazards. Examples include:
•gloves
•foot and eye protection
•protective hearing devices (earplugs, muffs)
•hard hats
•respirators
•full body suits.
(From OSHA 3151-12R 2003)
Personal Safety Including Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Of the PPE listed, for CHEM 1361:
•Required
•eye protection (enclosed goggles, not glasses)
•closed shoes (no sandals, flip-flops, or open shoes)
•long pants
•shirts or blouses that cover the torso (no midriff,
tank tops, etc.)
•Recommended
•gloves (both nitrile and latex will be available)
•lab apron, lab coat, etc.
Elements of Working Safely in the Laboratory
Become familiar with:
•Laboratory space and its safety features
•Personal safety including Personal Protective Equipment
(PPE)
•Materials to be used in the laboratory
•Preparation for laboratory
•Awareness in the laboratory
Materials to be Used in the Laboratory
Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS):
•Provide manufacturer information about each chemical used
in the lab
•Are available through print copy or electronic means
•Must be supplied by companies to customers of their
products
•Must be supplied to employees by employers according to
the 1983 OSHA standard “Hazard Communication in the
Workplace” (29 CFR 1910.1200)
•Are designed to basically answer four broad questions about
a chemical
Materials to be Used in the Laboratory
The sixteen sections of an MSDS are roughly grouped into
providing answers to four questions about a material. (Based
on ANSI Standard Z400.1)
Question 1. What is the material and what do I need to know
immediately in an emergency?
•Section 1. Product and Company Identification
•Section 2. Hazards Identification
•Section 3. Composition/Information on Ingredients
Materials to be Used in the Laboratory
Question 2. What should I do if a hazardous situation
occurs?
•Section 4. First Aid Measures
•Section 5. Fire Fighting Measures
•Section 6. Accidental Release Measures
Materials to be Used in the Laboratory
Question 3. How can I prevent hazardous situations from
occurring?
•Section 7. Handling and Storage
•Section 8. Exposure Controls/Personal Protection
•Section 9. Physical and Chemical Properties
•Section 10. Stability and Reactivity
Materials to be Used in the Laboratory
Question 4. Is there other useful information about this
material?
•Section 11. Toxicological Information
•Section 12. Ecological Information
•Section 13. Disposal Considerations
•Section 14. Transport Information
•Section 15. Regulatory Information
•Section 16. Other Information
Materials to be Used in the Laboratory
•Sources of MSDS Sheets:
•Available in hard copy in each laboratory for the
chemicals in use
•Available for all chemicals in storeroom in Room 222,
the storeroom
•Manufacturer’s web sites
•Using the term MSDS in any internet search engine will
provide a large number of sources
•Example of an internet site: http://www.ilpi.com/msds/,
Materials to be Used in the Laboratory
National Fire Protection Association Codes
(NFPA)
Red
NFPA codes – each colored
diamond represents one aspect
of a material’s hazards
Yellow
Blue
White
Materials to be Used in the Laboratory
National Fire Protection Association Codes
(NFPA)
Blue
Health Hazard
4 - Deadly
3 - Extreme
danger
2 - Hazardous
1 - Slightly
Hazardous
0 - Normal
Red
Fire Hazard
Flash points
4: < 73 oF
3: < 100 oF
2: < 200 oF
1 >200 oF
0 - will not burn
Materials to be Used in the Laboratory
National Fire Protection Association Codes
(NFPA)
White
Specific Hazard
Oxidizer
OXY
Acid
ACID
Alkali
ALK
Corrosive
COR
Use No Water
Radiation Haz
Yellow
Reactivity
4 - May detonate
3 - Shock & heat
may detonate
2 - Violent
chemical change
1 -Unstable
if Heated
0 - Stable
Elements of Working Safely in the Laboratory
Become familiar with:
•Laboratory space and its safety features
•Personal safety including Personal Protective Equipment
(PPE)
•Materials to be used in the laboratory
•Preparation for laboratory
•Awareness in the laboratory
Preparation for Laboratory
•Read laboratory exercise
•Complete any prelab assignment and submit on time
•Check safety data and physical properties for any materials
with which you are not familiar
•Bring your PPE with you – goggles, proper attire
Elements of Working Safely in the Laboratory
Become familiar with:
•Laboratory space and its safety features
•Personal safety including Personal Protective Equipment
(PPE)
•Materials to be used in the laboratory
•Preparation for laboratory
•Awareness in the laboratory
Awareness in the Laboratory
Common sense should suggest the following to you:
•Never put anything in or near your mouth or eyes
•Broken glass will cut
•Hot glass will burn
•Those around you are liable to pose unexpected dangers
•Do not let chemicals come in contact with your skin
•Fume hoods should be used as necessary to avoid
inhalation hazards
•Bookbags and backpacks in the aisles are a tripping
hazard – put them in the southwest corner
Awareness in the Laboratory
Common courtesy should suggest the following to you:
•Clean up after yourself
•Put equipment back in proper storage area
•Place hotplate (if cool) back in community drawer
•Properly organize the community drawers
•Wipe down your work area
•Lock your drawer and return the key to the keyboard
Equipment and Supply Questions?
• See your instructor first
• If necessary, you may have to go to Room 222, the
stockroom