Chemistry Laboratory
Safety Rules
http://www.sterlingschools.org/shs/stf/cbrown/Chemistry%20Laboratory%20Safety%20Rules.ppt
Sharps Safety
http://web.mit.edu/cohengroup/safety/sharps.pdf
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A high degree of precaution must always be taken with any
sharp items used in the laboratory, including needles and
syringes, glass slides and cover slips, Pasteur pipettes,
capillary tubes, as well as broken glass, and scalpels, blades,
and knives. Sharps must be disposed of in an approved
sharps container. Sharps containers may never be placed in
the normal waste stream or used for any purpose other than
sharps disposal.
Sharps containers have to be:
Puncture Resistant
Clearly marked
Within easy reach of the work station
Filled to no more than 3/4 capacity
Sealed (i.e. capped or taped) prior to transport
Sharps Safety
CHEMICALLY CONTAMINATED SHARPS:
Sharps contaminated with hazardous materials must be placed in
a puncture proof container and sealed with a screw-on cap. The
container must be labeled as hazardous waste, with the
associated chemicals identified. Contact Phil Dennicort in the
Chemical Stock Room (x 2338) for disposal.
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In case you poke yourself with sharps:
Squeeze out blood;
If necessary, seek medical attention immediately (know what
was the contaminants of the sharps/what was in the needle).
Safety Topic – Chemical Hood
http://web.mit.edu/cohengroup/safety/hood.pdf
General purpose: prevent exposure to toxic, irritating, or noxious
chemical vapors and gases. A face velocity of 100 feet per minute
(fpm) provides efficient vapor capture while reducing hood
turbulence.
• Baffles -- keep the airflow uniform across
the hood opening, thus eliminating dead
spots and optimizing capture efficiency.
• Sash --Airflow across the hood can be
adjusted by sash height to the point where
capture of contaminants is maximized.
• Airfoil -- Preventing the creation of
turbulent eddies that can carry vapors out
of the hood. The space below the bottom
airfoil provides source of room air for the
hood to exhaust when the sash is fully
closed.
• Exhaust plenum -- An important
engineering feature, the exhaust plenum
helps to distribute airflow evenly across the
hood face.
• Face -- The imaginary plane running
between the bottom of the sash to the work
surface. Hood face velocity is measured
across this plane.
Common Chemical Hood Misconception
Myth - When working with highly hazardous materials, the higher the face
velocity the better
While it is important to have a face velocity between 100 and 125 fpm,
velocities higher than this are actually harmful. When face velocity exceeds
125 fpm eddy currents are created which allow contaminants to be drawn
out of the hood, increasing worker exposures.
Myth - A chemical hood can be used for storage of volatile, flammable, or
odiferous materials when an appropriate storage cabinet is not
available.
Hoods are not designed for permanent chemical storage. Each item placed on
the work surface interferes with the directional airflow, causing turbulence
and eddy currents that allow contaminants to be drawn out of the hood.
Myth - The airfoil on the front of a hood is of minor importance. It can
safely be removed if it interferes with my experimental apparatus.
Airfoils are critical to efficient operation of a chemical hood. With the sash open
an airfoil smoothes flow over the hood edges. Without an airfoil eddy
currents form, causing contaminates to be drawn out of the hood. With the
sash closed, the opening beneath the bottom airfoil provides for a source of
exhaust air.
Safe Hood Operating Procedure
Constant volume hood – the volume of air exhausted is constant, regardless of
sash height.
Proper positioning of the sash is vital to maintaining the optimum face velocity
(100 or 125 fpm).
Too high: lowers face velocity, allowing contaminants to escape from the hood
Too low: results in very high face velocity, excessive turbulence and loss of
containment
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Confirm that the hood is operational: switch ‘on’, airflow gauge or ‘flow
check ribbon’ hood test data and optimum sash height - yellow label affixed
to the hood face
Maintain operations at least 6" inside the hood face.
Lower sash to optimum height: maximized airflow without turbulence (17” in
accordance to the rules in Colgate University http://offices.colgate.edu/chemmgt/fumehoodvalprog.htm)
Keep head out of hood
Keep hood storage to an absolute minimum
Minimize foot traffic around the chemical hood
Use extreme caution with ignition
Replace hood components prior to use
Protect Your Eyes
http://www.sterlingschools.org/shs/stf/cbrown/Chemistry%20Laboratory%20Safety%20Rules.ppt
• Appropriate eye
protection must
be worn at all
times!
Wear appropriate protective
clothing
• Your clothing should cover your legs to the
knees – shorts are not appropriate for the
laboratory
• Lab aprons can be used to protect good
clothing
• Loose clothing should not be worn because it
may dip into chemicals or fall into a flame and
catch fire
Wear shoes that cover your
feet.
• Sandals and opentoed shoes do not
protect your feet
from broken glass
that is frequently
found in the lab
• Also, leather shoes
protect your feet
from chemical spills
– canvas shoes do
not.
Do not apply cosmetics, eat, or
drink in the lab.
• These activities are ways by which you
can accidentally ingest harmful
chemicals
Do not taste any chemical!
Pour from large containers
to smaller ones.
Always ADD ACID to water
acid
water
“Do not spit into acid!” – a good phrase
to remember this rule.
Hold your hand over the
label while pouring.
Work with volatile
chemicals under a fume
hood.
Check glassware for stars
or cracks.
Heat test tubes at an
angle, directing the
opening oppositely to you
and other people in the
laboratory.
Handle hot glassware with
gloves or beaker tongs.
First light the match
THEN
Turn on the gas!
Do not smell any chemicals
directly!
• If absoluteley
necessary to
smell, use your
hand to fan the
vapor to your
nose.
Do not pipet solutions by mouth!
• Use a rubber
suction bulb or
other device to
fill a pipet.
Wash your hands with soap and
water before leaving.
• This rule applies
even if you have
been wearing
gloves!
Know the hazards of the
materials being used.
• Read and reread
• Know how to
labels carefully
interpret data
to make sure that
from a MSDS.
you are using the
right chemical.
Tie Back Loose Hair
• Dangling hair can
fall into the
Bunsen burner
and catch fire or
can fall into a
chemical solution
• P.S. Burning hair
REALLY STINKS!
Know the safety equipment
• Eye wash fountain
• Safety shower
• Fire extinguisher
• Emergency exits
Know how to use the safety
equipment
• Eye wash Fountain
• Safety Shower
• Fire extinguisher
• Emergency Exit
Know how to respond to an
emergency
Clarkson University
268-6400
Emergensy Number (after working hours)
268-6439
Campus Safety
268-6666
Fire Dep
9-265-3311
Hospital
9-265-3300/3304/5720
Police
9-265-2121/2122
Rescue Squad
911
(numbers are located near the each lab exit door)
Never remove chemicals from
the laboratory
This guy put chemicals in his locker!
Don’t work alone in the lab
• In case of a
problem, you may
need another
person to prevent
injury or even
save your life!
Remember that the lab is a
place for serious work!
Careless behavior may endanger
yourself and others and will not be
tolerated!
Demonstrate safe behavior
• Obey all safety instructions.
• Clean up spills immediately; IF
you know how. If you are
uncertain how to clean up a
spill or if a large spill occurs,
notify persons in accordance
to the emergency procedure.
Demonstrate safe behavior
• Before leaving the lab:
Demonstrate safe behavior
• Before leaving the lab:
– Return equipment and chemicals to
their proper places
Demonstrate safe behavior
• Before leaving the lab:
– Return equipment and chemicals to
their proper places
– Be sure to replace the lids to all
containers
Demonstrate safe behavior
• Before leaving the lab:
– Return equipment and chemicals to
their proper places
– Be sure to replace the lids to all
containers
– Clean up your work area
Know how to dispose of waste
• Dispose of all waste materials
according to your instructional
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Report any accidents or unsafe
conditions immediately!