1- Lab Safety and
rules
Why is Lab Safety Important?
 Lab safety is a major aspect of every lab based
science class.
 Lab safety rules and symbols are needed so that
students do not injure themselves or their
classmates.
Lab Safety Rules
1. Always follow the teacher’s directions and only
do lab work when a teacher is present.
2. Conduct yourself in a responsible manner at all
times. No Horseplay!
3. Do not touch any equipment, chemicals, or other
materials until told to do so.
4. Do not eat food, drink beverages, or chew gum in
the lab. Do not use lab glassware as food or
beverage containers
5. Report ALL accidents to your teacher
immediately, even if you think it is minor.
Clothing
Wear:
• Goggles/safety glasses
• Closed-toed shoes
• Clothing made of
natural based fiber
such as cotton
• Tie back long hair
Do NOT Wear:
• Sandals
• Jewelry
• Loose or Baggy
clothing
Lab Safety Equipment
Safety Shower
Eye Wash
Safety Goggles
Lab Safety Equipment
Fire
Extinguisher
Fire Blanket
Fume Hood
Lab Safety Symbols
Found in your textbook
 Glassware
 Electrical
 Heat
 Animal
 Eye and Face
 Chemical
 Sharps
 Fire
Other Chemical Hazards and Symbols
 Flammable
 Irritant
 Explosive
 Corrosive
 Toxic/Poison
 Environmenta
l
Chemical Hazard Symbols and
Definitions
 Flammable – Any substance that will burn
if exposed to an open flame.
 Explosive – A substance that
explode if exposed to heat or flame.
may
Chemical Hazard Symbols and
Definitions
 Toxic/Poison – A substance that can
lead to death if inhaled, ingested, or
absorbed by the skin.
 Corrosive – A substance that can
destroy or burn living tissue and can
eat away at other materials.
Chemical Hazard Symbols and
Definitions
 Irritant - A substance that causes
inflammation upon contact with skin or
mucous membranes.
 Environmental - Substances that are
harmful to the environment. They must
be disposed of properly, not washed
down the drain.
Accidents and Injuries
 Report ALL accidents and injuries to your teacher
immediately!!!
 Be aware of safety hazards associated with each
chemical you use.
 Eye accident – Wash the eye with copious amounts of
water for at least 15 min.
 Fire Burns – Stop, Drop, and be covered with a fire
blanket or soaked with water. Do not remove clothing
stuck to victim. Get medical attention immediately.
Waste Disposal
 First ask your teacher where/how to dispose of
waste.
 Never pour anything down the drain unless
you are told to do so.
 A waste bottle will be supplied for substance
that cannot go down the drain
Reasons for proper waste disposal
 Hazardous chemicals down the drain can lead to
pollution of ground water, lakes, rivers, etc.
 Plants and animals will die if they are exposed to
hazardous chemical waste.
 Serious health problems will become present in people if
hazardous waste finds its way into drinking water.
Laboratory Rules
 No eating or drinking in labs
 Do not enter stockroom or back halls
 Clean up after yourself
Laboratory Etiquette
 Clean your personal workspace after use
Wipe down benches with disinfectant before and after use.
 Ensure that no trash is left behind
 No trash in the sinks
 Push in chairs
 Place lab items back on carts and trays
Learning Center & Open Labs
 The LC and open labs are a bonus, not a right, your
flexibility is appreciated
 Hours are posted on LC and lab doors
 Hours are subject to change without notice
 Some study items may not be available a day or two
before an exam
 Don’t wait until the last day to study
Laboratory Safety
1. Laboratory Hygiene
2. Sharps Safety
3. Safety Equipment
4. Fire Safety
5. Chemical Safety
1. Laboratory Hygiene
Scrub hands thoroughly when finished
Avoid cross contamination
• Do not touch self, faucets, doorknobs, notebooks, pens
etc. with gloves on.
• Keep a pen or two in your drawer for lab use only
Clean and disinfect your workspace
2. Sharps Safety
Sharps include
•
•
•
•
Razor and scalpel blades
Needles and pins
Microscope cover slips
Broken glass
Place sharps in sharps boxes
Broken Glass into glass box (ask for help)
NO SHARPS OR GLASS IN THE TRASH
3. Safety Equipment
Do not hesitate to use safety equipment.
It is for student use as well as instructor
use.
Shower and eyewash (15 min. soak)
First aid kit
Fire extinguisher, Fire blanket, Alarm pulls
4. Fire Safety
Never leave flames unattended
Do not use flammables near ignition
sources
Fire Extinguishers
• Pull ring, aim at fire’s base, squeeze handle, sweep
back and forth (evacuate if >1m3)
Fire Blanket
Fire alarm pulls
5. Chemical Safety
Wear gloves and glasses where
appropriate
Follow instructor’s directions
Dispose of waste properly-Do Not pour
down the drain
Laboratory Safety Rules
1. Many things happen in the lab, and you can
never be sure how your area has been used, or
whether it was properly cleaned up.
Because of this, and possible contamination from
the animals, you should not bring food or drink
into the lab with you! Also, don't put anything
that's come in contact with the lab table-pens,
pencils, fingers, etc. - into your mouth or eyes.
Laboratory Safety Rules
2. Be on time! There are several ways being late
can hurt your grade directly, but there are
safety considerations as well
Lab instructions, including safety items, are gone
over at the beginning of the labs.
Laboratory Safety Rules
3. It's always a good idea to look your lab exercise
over ahead of time, and make notes of the
modifications and warnings given at the
beginning of the class.
Laboratory Safety Rules
4. Any time you're not sure, ask!!
Laboratory Safety Rules
5. Wash your hands before and especially after
working in the lab.
Laboratory Safety Rules
6. There are drawers and coat hooks available keep all unnecessary objects out of your and
other people's way.
Laboratory Safety Rules
7.
Although labs rarely involve dangerous
materials, some can have lasting effects on
clothing, so you might want to bring a protective
cover-up.
With some procedures, protective eye coverings
will be required. If you have long hair or
dangling jewelry, keep them out of your working
materials.
Laboratory Safety Rules
8. Clean up your stuff! Your area should look at the
end of your lab like it did when you started.
When in groups, everyone is responsible for cleanup. Points may be lost if this is not done.
Laboratory Safety Rules
9. When working with chemicals or cultures, make
sure you do not mix things together in the
source glassware - that includes droppers and
mixing rods.
It is not always safe to mix tap water into materials
by washing them, either.
Laboratory Safety Rules
10. Dispose of all waste materials properly. The
wastebasket is near the door.
Broken glass does not go into the wastebasket there's a special box for it next door in the prep
room.
Notify the instructor any time something gets
broken or if you're injured, even mildly.
Laboratory Safety Rules
11. Try to always stay alert while you're in the lab.
Know where the emergency equipment - first aid
kit, fire extinguisher, eyewash fountain, etc are (most are on the front wall or just across
the hall).
Know the appropriate route out of the building
during an emergency.