Name:________________________________Date:__________Period:__________
#1 - Safety in the Laboratory
Work in the laboratory is an important part of any science course. This work may require you
to participate in activities that have some risk. It is usually not more than you might
experience when cooking or cleaning in your own home. Care must be taken to prevent
accidents and personal injury. Understanding possible dangers and paying attention to what
you are doing are the best tools that you can use to keep yourself and others safe. You need to
be careful and follow all safety rules. Most of these rules involve nothing more than good
common sense.
General Laboratory Rules
1. Know the location of emergency equipment.
a. Identify 2 pieces of lab safety equipment in the science classroom and its use:
i.
ii.
2. Know how to leave the laboratory in case of emergency.
a. Find the emergency exit in this science classroom: Describe where we would go in an
emergence:
3.
4.
5.
6.
Read all lab materials before beginning the lab.
Listen to the teacher as specific directions are given.
Do not bring food or drink into the lab. Do not eat or drink in the lab.
Keep lab areas clutter free.
a. Which items should be brought to the lab desk with you?
b. Which items should be left at your desk?
7. Keep books and other supplies out of pathways and off lab surfaces.
8. Be aware of any possible hazards.
9. Accidents sometimes happen. REPORT ALL ACCIDENTS IMMEDIATELY.
Rules to keep you safe
1. Inform your teacher of any medical conditions that might affect your safety (allergies (latex,
peanuts, etc.), asthma, diabetes, etc.)
2. Wear clothing that will not present a safety hazard. Roll up loose sleeves. Tie long hair back.
Remove dangling jewelry.
3. Safety goggles must be worn when required. Wear and clean contact lenses properly.
4. WASH YOUR HANDS with warm water and soap.
Read and Understand the following list of possible laboratory hazards. Know what to do should danger arise.
Animal Hazard
Biohazard
Breakage Danger
Corrosive Substance
Dangerous Vapors
Electric Shock
Danger
Explosive Danger
Eye Hazard
Fire Hazard
Flammable
Hand Danger
Hazardous Waste
Danger
Ingestion Hazard
Low Temperature
Hazard
Lung Hazard
Mechanical
Warning
Noise Hazard
Plant Hazard
Poisonous
Pressure or Vacuum
Hazard
Radiation Hazard
Safety Clothing
Required
Safety Goggles
Required
Static Electricity
Hazard
Water Danger
Physical Hazards
This symbol indicates the need for care and caution in handling lab animals or when coming in contact with an animal in the
field. The animal may bite, scratch, spit, release quills or setae, or sting you. It may be venomous, toxic, or poisonous. It may be
a carrier for a potentially lethal disease. If you are injured, wash the area thoroughly with soap and water. Control the bleeding
and place a sterile dressing on the wound. Seek medical assistance immediately.
This symbol indicates the presence of biologically dangerous, infectious disease causing organisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi
or protists. These organisms may be present in laboratory specimens. They can enter the body through the epidermis,
respiratory or digestive system. They can enter the body through the ears or eyes. Care should be taken to avoid contact. Wash
your hands with warm water and soap. DO NOT EAT IN THE LAB. Seek medical assistance if contact with biohazards occurs or
is suspected.
This symbol indicates the need for care when using glassware or other breakable items in the lab. Chipped or cracked glassware
should be disposed of immediately in the proper location. If the glassware you are using is chipped, or cracked notify your
teacher immediately.
This symbol indicates the presence of a caustic substance such as a strong acid or base. Avoid getting these substances on your
skin, in your mouth or in your eyes. Goggles must be worn when using acids or bases. Protective clothing should also be worn.
Do not inhale the vapors. If corrosive substances spill on your skin or gets into your eyes, immediately rinse for 15 minutes in
water. Seek medical assistance.
This symbol indicates the presence of a substance that produces poisonous or noxious vapors.
This symbol indicates the potential for an electric shock. Disconnect all electrical equipment when it is not in use. Do not use
electrical equipment when wet or around water.
This symbol indicates the potential for an explosive situation. Certain chemicals should never be mixed together. Read the
warning label carefully on all chemicals-reagents and household chemicals alike. DO NOT MIX CHEMICALS.
This symbol indicates the need for eye protection. Goggles must be worn. If anything is splashed into your eyes, immediately
rinse in water for 15 minutes and seek medical assistance.
This symbol indicates the presence of an open flame. Hair must be tied back. Loose clothing should not be worn. Keep all
flammable items away from the flame. Check the flammability of all chemicals that might come into contact with the flame.
Participate in fire drills. Know the presence of all exits in a room. If smoke is produced, crawl along the ground. In a fire
situation, feel the temperature of the door before opening. If your clothing catches fire: STOP DROP and ROLL.
This symbol indicates the presence of a substance that can be easily ignited. Care must be taken to avoid flames or high heat.
This symbol indicates that the potential for cuts or burns exists. Care must be taken when using scissors or scalpels. Glassware,
microscope slides and cover slips can chip or crack producing sharp edges. Do not use force when using sharp instruments.
Notify your teacher and dispose of all damaged glassware in the proper receptacle. Use protective gloves when working with hot,
very cold or corrosive substances.
This symbol indicates the presence of a substance that must be disposed of in a special way. Do not place hazardous materials in
the sink or on the ground.
This symbol indicates the presence of a toxic or poisonous substance. Assume all chemicals in the lab are toxic. DO NOT TASTE
ANYTHING.
This symbol indicates the presence of a substance with a temperature low enough to cause damage to the skin or lungs. Do not
touch dry ice or liquid nitrogen. Use protective gloves.
This symbol indicates the presence of a dangerous vaporous chemical. DO NOT SMELL CHEMICALS. Read the warning labels
on all chemicals. Minimally, use in a well ventilated area.
This symbol indicates the presence of machinery or equipment with moving parts that can cause physical damage. These objects
can pinch fingers, hands or arms or catch loose clothing or hair. PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT YOU ARE DOING. Simple
mechanical hazards are doors, drawers, or things that you might trip over. KEEP ALL BOOKS AND SUPPLIES OUT OF THE
WAY. More complex mechanical hazards are belts, pulleys, electrical mixers, engines, etc.
This symbol indicates the presence of loud sound. The damage caused to the ears by sudden or repeated loud sound is cumulative
and irreversible. Wear ear protectors when working with loud equipment. Pay attention to the volume of music, television, video
games, etc. that you are listening to. Reduce the volume to a level that can be heard comfortably.
This symbol indicates the presence of unknown and potentially poisonous plants. Care should be taken when handling unknown
plants. Never eat any part of an unknown plant. Know how to recognize poisonous plants in your area and avoid contact with
them.
This symbol indicates the presence of a poisonous substance. Do not let poisonous substances come in contact with your skin.
Do not swallow any of the substance. Do not breathe in any of its vapors. Call poison control 1-800-222-1222 or dial 911. Seek
medical assistance.
This symbol indicates that a situation where a pressure greater or less than normal atmospheric pressure is produced. The main
danger is breakage or explosion of the container in which the pressure difference is present. This hazard occurs when gas
pressures are increased or decreased in a container.
This symbol indicates the presence of a radioactive substance that may produce harmful radioactive emissions. X-rays,
ultraviolet and microwave radiation, laser light beams, and electromagnetic radiation are all possible sources of danger. Even
extremely bright lights may be included in this class of hazards. Avoidance and protective clothing or eye wear are necessary.
This symbol indicates that a lab apron or coat must be worn. Protective gloves may also be necessary.
This symbol indicates the safety goggles should be worn. They must be kept on your face, covering your eyes, for the entire
activity to protect from damage.
This symbol indicates the potential to produce static electricity. Sparks produced by static electricity can ignite flammable
substances. Care must be taken not to build up static electricity in the lab.
This symbol indicates that extra precautions must be taken when working near water – whether it is a marine or fresh water
environment. Work in the field requires special knowledge of the specific area. Learn about the field environment before
beginning work.
This symbol indicates the presence of sharp, pointed or fragile objects that have the potential to cause injuries. Be careful as you
move these objects from place to place. Always carry dissection equipment in dissection trays. Be careful while working with
glass objects- beakers, flask, microscope slides and cover slips
Read and Understand the following pictograms of possible laboratory hazards. Know what to do should danger
arise.
*Use the pictograms to identify three safety hazards from the Flinn Scientific label below..
i.
ii.
iii.
A. The following list includes hazards that might be found in the laboratory. For
each example listed, indicated which type of hazard(s) are present.
1. Bacteria growing in a Petri dish:
2. Concentrated acids and bases:
3. A loud exhaust fan:
4. Rubbing alcohol:
5. An unprotected scalpel:
6. A beaker of water boiling on a hot plate:
7. A pile of books left in the middle of an aisle:
8. A baby raccoon found on the way to school:
9. A chipped flask:
10. A test tube with a stopper placed in boiling water on a hot plate:
11. Left over liquid preservative following dissection:
12. A potted poison ivy specimen growing in the green house:
13. An unlabeled chemical:
14. Wet hands plugging in a microscope light:
15. An experiment that uses dry ice:
B. Toxic and infectious agents can enter the body in many different ways.
Ingestion (eating and drinking or accidental placement in mouth), inhalation
(breathing), unprotected eyes and skin contact are three ways in which entry
can occur. Identify the route of entry that is blocked by each of the following
good lab practices:
1. Using a fume hood or working with vaporous materials in a well ventilated
area:
2. Rules that forbid food in the lab:
3. Wearing rubber gloves:
4. Immediate wash up of all spills:
5. Wearing goggles:
C. What procedure would you follow in each of these situations?
1. Your clothing catches on fire:
2. Chemicals spill on your hand:
3. A particle is in your eye:
4. You cut yourself with broken glass:
5. A baby raccoon brought into school by another student bites you:
D. It is important to be familiar with your laboratory. Make a detailed drawing of
the laboratory. Identify and label the following items in your drawing. Check
them off. (Some of these are not present in all labs. Write NP for not present.)
_____Fire extinguisher _____Safety blanket
_____Safety shower
_____Animals/Plants
_____Goggles
_____Fume hood
_____Exits
_____Water faucets
_____Electrical outlets
_____Microscopes
_____Chemicals
_____Eye wash station
E. The drawing on this page shows a mixture of safe and unsafe practices in a
school laboratory. Circle as many unsafe practices you can find.
*Answer the following questions
based on this illustration and on
your knowledge of safety hazards
and proper lab behavior.
1. List 3 unsafe activities shown
in the laboratory drawing and
explain why each is unsafe.
A:
B:
C:
2. List 3 correct lab procedures
shown in the laboratory
drawing. Explain why each is
safe.
A:
B:
C:
3. Name 2 safety guidelines that are not shown in the picture. Explain why they are
important.
A:
B: