SNC1P: Science, Grade 9, Applied
Unit 2: Chemistry - Exploring Matter
Activity 1: Safety in Science
Overview | Expectations | Content | Assignment
Overview
In this activity you will learn the safety rules that should be followed in a science lab.
First you will become familiar with the WHMIS symbols and a quiz will test your
knowledge of these symbols. Next you will review the hazardous household product
symbols that are commonly seen in homes. You will then learn and review the different
safety rules for a science lab. Finally, you will be tested on your knowledge of the safety
rules that you need to know before doing any lab activities.
Overview | Expectations | Content | Assignment
Expectations
Overall Expectations:
SIV.01 demonstrate scientific investigation skills (related to both inquiry and research) in
the four areas of skills (initiating and planning, performing and recording, analysing and
interpreting, and communicating).
Specific Expectations:
SI1.04 apply knowledge and understanding of safe practices and procedures when
planning investigations (e.g., appropriate techniques for handling, storing, and disposing
of laboratory materials [following the Workplace Hazardous Materials Information
System - WHMIS]; safe operation of electrical equipment; safe handling of biological
materials), with the aid of appropriate support materials (e.g., the Reference Manual on
the WHMIS website; the Live Safe! Work Smart! website).
Overview | Expectations | Content | Assignment
SNC1P: Science, Grade 9, Applied
Content
Safety Symbols
It is important to have a complete understanding of safety symbols and rules before
working with chemicals or equipment in a science classroom.
This activity provides you with information on how to prevent an accident and what you
should do if an accident does occur in the science lab. Refer to this activity before
carrying out an investigation involving any hazards.
WHMIS Symbols
Canada's national hazard communication standard is called WHMIS (Workplace
Hazardous Materials Information System). Materials are labelled according to the type
of hazard they possess. The following are common symbols used by WHMIS.
WHMIS symbol
Risks

Precautions

heat may cause the container

to explode

drop or impact may cause the
do not drop or heat
handle with care

store in a designated
container to explode
Compressed Gas
area



keep away from
heat sources
a potential fire hazard
may release a flammable gas

avoid sparks and
on contact with water
Flammable and
Combustible Material
flames

store in cool, fireproof
area



combustible materials
fire and explosive risk
may burn skin or eyes on

store in a designated
area
contact
Oxidizing Material
keep away from

wear eye, face, and
hand protection as well
as protective clothing


may be fatal or cause
ventilated area
permanent damage if inhaled,

swallowed, or absorbed
through skin

Poisonous and
Infectious Materials
may burn skin or eyes on
contact


Poisonous and
Infectious Material
Causing Other Toxic
Effects


avoid contact with skin
or eyes

wear protective clothing

contact by wearing
result of repeated exposure
protective equipment
may cause irritation to eyes,

ventilated area and
may cause cancer
wear respiratory
may cause allergic reaction
equipment

avoid contamination of
people and area

some parasites

shock


cause lung damage if inhaled



wear body, hand, face,
and eye protection
cause eye and skin irritation


when subjected to heat,
with water
work in a wellventilated area
undergo dangerous reactions
pressure, shock, or contact
avoid all direct body
contact
on contact
Corrosive Material
work and store in
special areas
can eat through skin or
corrode metals
avoid breathing
vapours
may cause anaphylactic

work in a well-
skin, and lungs
bacteria, viruses, fungi, and
Biohazardous Infectious
Material
avoid skin or eye
permanent damage as a
includes bacteria, toxins from

wear respiratory
equipment
may cause death or


work in a well-
take care when
handling

avoid vibration and
shocks
Dangerously Reactive
Material


may burn unexpectedly
do not change the
temperature suddenly

store in appropriate,
sealed container
View the long description of this table.
WHMIS Symbols
WHMIS symbol: Compressed Gas
Risks: heat may cause the container to explode; drop or impact may cause the
container to explode
Precautions: do not drop or heat; handle with care; store in a designated area
WHMIS symbol: Flammable and Combustible Material
Risks: a potential fire hazard; may release a flammable gas on contact with water
Precautions: keep away from heat sources; avoid sparks and flames; store in cool,
fireproof area
WHMIS symbol: Oxidizing Material
Risks: fire and explosive risk; may burn skin or eyes on contact
Precautions: keep away from combustible materials; store in a designated area; wear
eye, face, and hand protection as well as protective clothing
WHMIS symbol: Poisonous and Infectious Materials
Risks: may be fatal or cause permanent damage if inhaled, swallowed, or absorbed
through skin; may burn skin or eyes on contact
Precautions: work in a well-ventilated area; wear respiratory equipment; avoid contact
with skin or eyes; wear protective clothing
WHMIS symbol: Poisonous and Infectious Material Causing Other Toxic Effects
Risks: may cause death or permanent damage as a result of repeated exposure; may
cause irritation to eyes, skin, and lungs; may cause cancer; may cause allergic reaction
Precautions: avoid skin or eye contact by wearing protective equipment; work in a wellventilated area and wear respiratory equipment
WHMIS symbol: Biohazardous Infectious Material
Risks: includes bacteria, toxins from bacteria, viruses, fungi, and some parasites; may
cause anaphylactic shock
Precautions: avoid contamination of people and area; avoid breathing vapours; work
and store in special areas
WHMIS symbol: Corrosive Material
Risks: can eat through skin or corrode metals; cause lung damage if inhaled; cause eye
and skin irritation on contact
Precautions: avoid all direct body contact; wear body, hand, face, and eye protection;
work in a well-ventilated area
WHMIS symbol: Dangerously Reactive Material
Risks: undergo dangerous reactions when subjected to heat, pressure, shock, or
contact with water; may burn unexpectedly
Precautions: take care when handling; avoid vibration and shocks; do not change the
temperature suddenly; store in appropriate, sealed container
Hazardous Household Product Symbols (HHPS)
These symbols are found on household products such as cleaners, paint thinners,
sprays, and pesticides. The products can be potentially dangerous to humans and
should be stored with care. The warning symbols have three different shapes to indicate
the degree of danger.
Caution
HHPS
Warning
Danger
Risks

even a small amount may poison, cause injury, or death when swallowed,
absorbed through the skin, or inhaled into the lungs

examples include paint, pesticides, household cleaners
Poison


substances that can quickly ignite
examples include gasoline, motor oil, barbecue starter
Flammable

can react with air, water, or another substance


Explosive
container will explode if heated or punctured
examples include aerosol spray cans, barbecue propane tanks


can burn skin or eyes
examples include drain cleaners, battery acid, oven cleaners
Corrosive
View the long description of the table.
HHPS Risks
Poison


even a small amount may poison, cause injury, or death when swallowed,
absorbed through the skin, or inhaled into the lungs;
examples include paint, pesticides, and household cleaners.
Flammable


substances that can quickly ignite;
examples include gasoline, motor oil, and barbecue starters.
Explosive



can react with air, water, or another substance;
container will explode if heated or punctured;
examples include aerosol spray cans, barbecue propane tanks.
Corrosive


can burn skin or eyes;
examples include drain cleaners, battery acid, and oven cleaners.
Check Your Understanding
Answer the following questions in your notebooks. Then check your answers when you
are finished.
1. Draw the shape of the symbol with the highest risk.
Answer
2. What does HHPS represent in words?
Answer
3. What are the risks in using a barbecue lighter?
Answer
Content
Safety Rules in the Science Classroom
You should read over and become familiar with the following safety rules.
General Safety Rules
1. Read over the lab activity carefully before you begin.
2. Keep a tidy work area free of extra books and
papers.
3. Know the location of the following safety equipment:
safety goggles, protective aprons, fire extinguisher,
eyewash fountains, shower, and first aid kit.
4. Know the location of the nearest fire exit.
5. Follow the teacher's instructions when carrying out a
lab activity.
6. Tie back loose hair and clothing.
7. Report to your teacher if you wear contact lenses or
have any allergies.
8. Do not eat or drink anything in the laboratory. Do not
chew gum during an activity.
9. Watch for sharp or jagged edges on all apparatus. Do
not use broken or cracked glassware. Place broken
glass and sharp objects into a specially marked
container.
10. Wash your hands with soap and water after you
handle chemicals, biological specimens, and
microorganisms.
11. Clean and dry your work area after a lab activity. Do
not leave water on the counter or floor.
12. Report all accidents to your teacher - no matter how
small.
Chemical Precautions
Fire
extinguishers are mounted on a wall
in a classroom.
13. Do not taste, touch, or smell any material unless instructed to do so by your teacher.
14. Never smell a chemical directly. Bring the chemical close to the front of your body and a
distance under your nose. Then wave the fumes toward your nose.
15. When instructed by the teacher, wear safety goggles throughout the lab activity. Wear
other safety equipment such as aprons, gloves, and lab coats as required.
16. When pouring liquids hold the container away from your face.
17. Do not return unused chemicals to the original containers. Your teacher
will instruct you what to do with unused chemicals.
18. Never pour harmful substances in the sink. Dispose of them as
instructed by your teacher.
19. Report all spills to your teacher. Wipe up any splashes or spills of water
immediately.
20. If any part of your body comes in contact with a harmful chemical quickly inform your
teacher. Wash the area immediately and thoroughly with water. If your eyes are affected,
wash them immediately and continuously for at least 15 minutes at the eyewash station. If
a chemical splash is all over your clothes and body, wash them immediately and
continuously for at least 15 minutes at the shower station.
Check Your Understanding
Complete the following questions in your notebook. Read over each of the safety rules
below and write one good reason why we have this rule. Check your answers when you
have completed all the questions.
1. Keep your safety goggles on as long as there are chemicals being used in the lab,
even if you are finished.
Answer
2. Never eat, drink, or chew gum during a lab activity.
Answer
3. Report any injuries, no matter how minor, to your teacher.
Answer
4. If a chemical gets splashed into your eyes, rinse it out at the eyewash station for at
least 15 minutes.
Answer
Heating Precautions
1. Never use chipped or cracked glassware. Never allow a
container to boil dry.
2. When heating a test tube containing a chemical, use a
test tube holder and slant the test tube away from
yourself and others.
3. Take caution when using hotplates. Hotplates can take
up to 60 minutes to cool completely. Do not touch the
hotplate when it is in use or when it is cooling. If you
burn yourself, inform your teacher immediately and
apply cold water or ice.
Bunsen Burner Precautions
4. Obtain instructions from your teacher on the proper method of
lighting and using a Bunsen burner.
5. Never heat a flammable substance over the Bunsen burner.
6. Be sure there are no flammable materials nearby before you light a
Bunsen burner.
7. Never leave a lighted Bunsen burner unattended.
8. Always turn off the gas at the valve, not the base of the Bunsen
burner.
Electrical Precautions
9. Always unplug electric cords by pulling on the
plug, not the cord.
10. Report any frayed cords or damaged outlets to
your teacher.
11. Make sure your hands are dry when using
electrical equipment
Take a virtual tour of a science lab at a school.
H:\20142015\SNC1P\1227420_SNC1P_Unit_2_En\SNC1PPU02\SNC1PPU02A01\mme\
safetyInTheVirtualLab\safetyInTheVirtualLab.htm
Check Your Understanding
Complete the following questions in your notebook. Check your answers when you are
finished your work.
8. When you are heating a test tube containing a chemical, slant the test tube from
you and classmates.
Answer
9. Allow a hot plate to completely cool for minutes.
Answer
10. Never pull an electrical cord by the .
Answer
11. Never leave a(n) substance over or close to a Bunsen burner.
Answer
This is a disclaimer. External Resources will open in a new window. Not responsible for external content.
Unless otherwise indicated, all images in this Activity are from the public domain or are © clipart.com or
Microsoft clipart and are used with permission.
Assignment
Assignment 1
Quiz
When you are ready ask your teacher for the Symbols quiz. Your
teacher will provide you with instructions when s/he gives you your
quiz.
Assignment 2
Quiz
When you are ready ask your teacher for the Safety quiz. Your
teacher will provide you with instructions when s/he gives you your
quiz.
This is a disclaimer. Not responsible for external content. Unless otherwise indicated, all images in this
Activity are from the public domain or are © clipart.com or Microsoft clipart and are used with permission.
Overview | Expectations | Content | Assignment