Laboratory Safety Guidelines
Carefully read the safety guidelines below. ALL students must pass the safety quiz with
a 90% or better before participating in laboratories.
General Safety Guidelines
1. Always be safety-conscious. Move about the laboratory in a safe manner. NO
HORSEPLAY!
2. Report all incidents of glass breakage or injury. No accident is too small to report.
3. Know the locations of safety equipment in the laboratory. Know the location of fire
exits.
4. Plan ahead. Become familiar with all of the health and safety hazards of equipment and
chemicals in use.
5. Safety glasses/goggles must be worn while working in the laboratory.
6. Use Bunsen burners only under the direction of the teacher. Never leave active
burners unattended.
7. Confine long hair and long sleeves while working in the laboratory.
8. Always wash your hands thoroughly at the end of the laboratory period. When
handling chemicals, keep your hands away from your face, eyes, and body, until
they have been washed.
9. If a chemical is splashed or spilled on your skin, flush affected area with plenty of
water. Let the teacher know immediately!
10. If you should get chemicals into your eyes, go directly to the eyewash fountain
and gently flush with water. Report this immediately to your teacher.
11. Do not consume food, gum, candy or pop/water while in the laboratory; never
taste chemicals.
12. Keep lab areas clear of all books, clothing, and other personal property except
necessary lab directions and notebooks.
13. Returned cleaned equipment to its proper drawers or cabinets when finished.
Report any damage of equipment to the instructor.
14. Keep sinks clean and free of glassware.
15. Never return chemicals to stock bottles.
16. Use acids and bases with caution. Wipe up spilled material according to the directions
given by the teacher.
17. Follow all instructions, both written and verbal. If you think some changes in
procedure are necessary or desirable, check with your teacher.
Broken Glassware
Broken glass must be cleaned up immediately with brush and pan. Dispose of broken
glass in the “Broken Glass Crock” on the shelf in front of Mrs. D’s desk. Never dispose
of broken glass in the trash can.
Avoiding Burns
1. Hot glass looks just like cold glass. Use care when touching glass objects that have
been heated.
2. Do not heat anything inside a closed container.
Handling Chemicals
1. To smell the contents of a container, use a "wafting" action of the hand as
demonstrated by your teacher.
2. When working with acids, always add the acid to the water slowly and carefully
to avoid spattering. REMEMBER, DO WHAT YOU OUGHT(ER), ADD THE
ACID TO THE WATER!
Safety Goggles
1. Safety goggles must be worn at all times during a laboratory.
2. Students not wearing goggles during a laboratory will receive point deductions from
their lab grade.
3. Habitual offenders will be removed from the laboratory.
Lab Clean-up
1. Each laboratory group is responsible for the maintenance and cleanliness of their
lab.
2. Lab groups leaving their workspace dirty and untidy will receive point deductions from
their lab grade.
3. Any student leaving the laboratory before their workspace is clean and tidy will be
assigned after school detention in room 262 where he or she will clean the laboratory for
30 minutes.
QUESTIONS (answers are confidential)
1. Do you wear contact lenses? Yes_______ No______
2. Are you colorblind? Yes _______ No______
3. Do you have allergies? Yes _______ No ______ if so; please list specific allergies
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
AGREEMENT
I , ____________________________________________ (print name) have read and
agree to follow all of the safety rules set forth in this agreement. I realize that I must obey
these rules to insure my own safety, and the safety of my fellow students and teacher. I
will cooperate to the fullest extent with my instructor and fellow students to maintain a
safe science laboratory environment. I will also closely follow the oral and written
instructions provided by the instructor. I understand that I will not be permitted to
perform laboratory activities until I have passed the laboratory safety quiz with
90% proficiency. I am aware that any violation of the laboratory safety guidelines or
misbehavior on my part will result in my being removed from the laboratory, receiving a
failing laboratory grade, and/or further disciplinary action.
______________________________________
Student signature
_____________________________
Date