Lab Safety Notes
Proper Dress and PPE
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The laboratory is hazardous by nature
It is your responsibility to know the rules
We should be able to recognize potential hazards
What you wear can help prevent fatal injuries
Wear long pants, closed shoes, remove jewelries, tie long hair, and bring only what you
need
PPE - lab coat, safety goggles, gloves
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Button the coat, and keep caps tucked in to your gloves
Wear chemical apron if you are dealing with splash hazards or volatile solutions
Safety glasses can protect you from flying debris but not from splashing hazards so
wear chemical persistent safety glasses
Always wear gloves that are resistant to chemicals you are handling; non-absorbent
Thermal gloves - extremely hot or cold equipment
Respirator can protect you but requires training
Remove PPE and wash hands before entering public area
Safety Equipment
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Accidents can happen or unforeseen
Identify the location of safety equipment; safety shower and eyewash station
Yell for help and move near the nearest safety shower
Drain the part exposed to a chemical
Drench the entire body if the part of the body is inflamed
Rinse for 10 minutes
Class A - ordinary combustibles; extinguished by water and general extinguishers
Class B - organic solvents flammable solvent
Class C - electrical equipment
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Classes B and C must be smothered with chemical foam extinguisher because water
cause fire to spread
Class D - combustible metals; not common in lab
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You can use dry extinguisher for Classes A, B, and C
Fire Blanket - small flames on small benches
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Used to help someone whose clothes are on fire
Have them lie on the floor and roll
Prepare first aid kits and evacuation routes in the laboratory.
Chemical Fume Hood - ventilated enclosed area protects you from toxic vapors
Sash -window; can be opened; 6-18 inches
Behavior
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Follow written standard operation procedures
Never eat, drink, apply make up to the lab
These can contaminate experiment
Always have one other person in the lab
Don’t place chemical bottles in areas where they can fall
If they spill on the floor, check data sheet for appropriate response
For routine spill, clean immediately
Always keep your workbench clean
Don’t place materials near edge
Don’t pick broken glass with bare hands
Dispose chemicals properly
Clean workbench with ethanol or isopropyl alcohol
Chemical Hazards
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high heat, pressure, exposed to other chemicals
Safety Data Sheets
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provided by manufacturer
Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)
Find out about chemical properties, hazards, and safety precautions
GHS or Globally Harmonized System of classification and labelling of chemicals.
Identification - chemical's name, description, anufacturers contact info
Hazard Identification - warnings, signals, safety symbols
Composition - ingredients
First Aid - required treatment
Accidental Release - for containment and clean up
Handling and Storage
Exposure Controls and Personal Protection - recommendation for PPE
Physical and Chemical Properties - appearance, odor, pH, solubility
Stability and Reactivity - how to avoid hazardous reactions
Toxicological - exposure symptoms, short and long-term effects
Ecological
Disposal
Transport
Regulatory
Chemical Labels
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labeled with product name
signal word
physical and environmental hazard
precautionary statement
pictogram
suppliers contact info
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health, flammability, toxicity, compressed gases, skin and eye protection, unstable
explosives, oxidizer (initiate combustion)
environmental hazards, acute toxicity
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Safe Chemical Handling
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prepare for each lab activity
when diluting acid base, add acid or base to salt
pour solute or acid to the solvent; not the other way around because it can cause violent
reaction
use break resistant container
handle chemicals safely
In protecting your eyes…
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splash googles - marked with code z87-1
compliance with American standards
prescription glasses don’t provide protection
use full face shield or goggles
When working on corrosive chemicals…
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chemical resistant lab apron- best choice when working with splash hazards
full arm length rubber gloves - highly corrosive
NOTE:
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never smell chemicals
work with toxic chemical under fume hood
large spills should be cleaned by qualified personnel
flammable require special handling techniques; keep from brush and burners
store in grounded dedicated storage
properly dispose
do not evaporate under fume hood
paper towels are also hazardous; disposed accordingly
know what you’re working with and how to handle it