Name_________________________________________
Hart District Junior High
Science Safety Packet and
Contract: (adapted from Flinn
Scientific, Inc and Science Safety
Handbook for California Public
Schools 1999 Edition)
Purpose
Science is a hands-on laboratory
class. You will be doing many
laboratory activities that require
the use of hazardous chemicals,
flames, and lab equipment. Safety
in the classroom is the # 1 priority
for students, teachers, and
parents. To ensure a safe science
class, a list of rules has been
provided to you in this student
safety contract. These rules must
be followed at all times. A contract
agreement is provided and must be
signed by both you and a parent or
guardian. The safety rules are to
be kept in your science notebook
as a constant reminder of the
safety rules. A safety test will be
given to check for understanding
of these rules and a grade of 100%
must be achieved before
participation in a lab can occur.
General Guidelines
1. Conduct yourself in a responsible
manner at all times in the lab.
Enter quietly and maturely. Never
run in the lab.
Name: _____________________
Date: __________
2. Follow all written and verbal
directions carefully. If you do not
understand a direction or
procedure, ask the teacher
BEFORE continuing. You may be
required to complete background
information prior to starting the
lab.
3. Never work in the lab without a
teacher.
4. When first entering the science
classroom, do not touch any
equipment, chemicals or other
materials until you have been told
to do so.
5. Never touch any equipment,
chemicals or materials in any lab
station except the station in which
you are working.
6. Perform only those experiments
authorized by the teacher. Never
do anything in the lab that is not in
the lab procedure. Carefully follow
all instructions, both written and
verbal. Unauthorized experiments
are prohibited.
7. Do not eat, or drink in the lab.
Do not use laboratory glassware as
containers for food or beverages.
8. All students must work quietly
to maintain a safe lab. Students
must talk only to their lab
partner(s) and must whisper.
9. Horseplay, practical jokes,
and pranks are dangerous and
prohibited. Do not wander from
your lab station, distract other
students, or interfere with other
students.
10. Observe good housekeeping
practices. Work areas should be
kept clean and tidy at all times.
Lab areas should be kept as clear
as possible. Only lab equipment, lab
directions, and student worksheets
should be on lab area. Backpacks,
notebooks, etc. must be away from
the lab area.
11. Keep aisles clear. Push your
chair or lab stool under (next to)
table when not in use.
12. Know the locations and use of
all safety equipment including fire
extinguisher, fire blanket,
eyewash station and shower.
Know where the fire alarm and the
exits are located. Use the fire
blanket (stop, drop, and roll) to
extinguish any flame on a person.
13. Know what to do if there is a
fire or emergency drill during a
lab. Containers must be closed, gas
jets and electrical equipment
turned off.
14. Notify the teacher of any
unsafe conditions you may observe.
15. Students are Never permitted
in science storage room without
teacher permission.
16. Keep hands away from face,
eyes, mouth and body while using
chemicals or preserved specimens.
Wash your hands with soap and
water after performing all
experiments. Clean and dry all
dirty lab equipment. Lab areas
must be clean and dry.
17. Treat all living organisms in a
humane manner. Preserved
specimens are to be treated with
respect and disposed of properly.
No specimen or its parts are to
leave the science classroom. They
are to be disposed of properly.
18. When using knives or other
sharp objects, always carry them
with the tips pointing down. Always
cut away from your body. Don’t try
to catch a sharp object if dropped.
19. Dispose of all chemical waste
properly. Never mix chemicals in
sink drains. Sinks are to be used
for water only unless instructed
differently by the teacher. The
teacher will instruct you in the
disposal of all solids and liquids in
their proper container. Read all
container labels twice BEFORE
mixing chemicals.
Clothing
20. Any time chemicals, heat or
flames are in use, students will
wear safety goggles.
21. Lab aprons should be worn
during lab activities requiring use
of certain chemicals.
22. Dress properly during lab
activities. Long hair must be tied
back. Loose or baggy clothing and
dangling jewelry must be secured.
23. Shoes must completely cover
the foot. No sandals allowed.
24. The teacher must know of
students wearing contact lenses.
Accidents and Injuries
25. Report any accident (spill or
breakage, etc.) to the teacher
immediately, no matter how small
it may appear.
26. If a chemical should splash in
your eye(s) or on your skin,
immediately flush with running
water from the eyewash station or
safety shower. Notify the teacher
immediately.
27. If any part of your body is
splashed with chemicals, flush it
with water for at least 20 minutes.
28. Contact wearers should try and
remove your lens after 2-3
minutes of flushing if the lens has
remained in the eye. Continue
flushing for at least 20 minutes.
29. Students with open skin
wounds on hands must wear gloves
or be excused from the laboratory
activity.
Handling Chemicals
30. All chemicals in the laboratory
are to be considered dangerous. Do
not touch, taste or smell any
chemicals unless specifically
instructed to do so. The proper
technique for smelling chemical
fumes will be demonstrated and
used.
31. Know where the materials
safety data sheet (MSDS) is
located and what it indicates for
each of the hazardous chemicals
you are using.
32. Labels on chemical containers
must be read carefully to ensure
the correct chemical is used.
33. Take only as much chemical as
you need. Use a clean chemical
scoop.
34. Never return chemicals to an
original chemical bottle, never
exchange stoppers of bottles or
lay stoppers on tables. Unused
chemicals may be returned to a
labeled glass or plastic vial.
35. When transferring chemicals
from one container to another,
hold the containers away from your
body.
36. Acids must be handled with
extreme care. Always add acid to
water, stir the solution, and be
careful of heat produced. Never
add water to acid.
37. Take great care when carrying
acids and other chemicals from one
part of the lab to another. Hold
them securely and walk carefully.
38. Never remove chemicals or
other materials from the lab area.
Handling Glassware and
Equipment
39. If you do not understand how
to use equipment, ask the teacher
for help.
40. Fill wash bottles only with
water and use only as intended (for
example, rinsing glassware or
adding water to a container).
41. Examine glassware before
beginning a lab. Never use chipped
or cracked glassware. Never use
dirty glassware.
42. Do not put hot glassware in
cold water. It may shatter.
43. Never handle broken glass with
your bare hands. Use a dustpan and
brush to clean up broken glass.
Place broken glass in the
designated glass disposal
container. Report broken glassware
to the instructor immediately.
44. Carry glass tubing, especially
long pieces, in a vertical position to
reduce the chance of breakage and
injury.
45. Inserting and removing glass
tubing from rubber stoppers can
be dangerous. Always lubricate
tubing (or thermometer) before
attempting to insert it into or
remove it from, a rubber stopper.
If a piece of tubing becomes
“stuck” in a stopper, take it to the
teacher for removal.
46. Report damaged electrical
equipment immediately. Look for
such things as frayed cords,
exposed wires, and loose
connections. Do not use damaged
electrical equipment.
47. When removing an electrical
plug, grasp the plug, not the cord.
Hands must be dry before
touching an electrical switch, plug
or outlet.
Heating Substances
48. Use extreme caution when
using a Bunsen burner. Take care
that hair, clothing and hands are a
safe distance from the flame at all
times. Do not put any substance
into the flame unless specifically
instructed to do so. Keep volatile
materials a safe distance away
from the flame. Never reach over
an exposed flame. Light Bunsen
burners only as instructed by the
teacher.
49. Never leave a lit burner
unattended. Never leave anything
that is being heated or is visibly
reacting unattended. Always turn
the burner off when not in use.
50. You will be instructed in the
proper method of heating and
boiling liquids in test tubes. Do not
point the open end of a test tube
being heated at yourself or anyone
else.
51. Heated metals and glass remain
very hot for a long time. They
should be set aside to cool and
picked up with caution. Use tongs
or heat-protective gloves if
necessary.
52. Never look directly into a
container that is being heated.
53. Do not place hot apparatus
directly on the lab table. Always
use an insulating pad. Allow plenty
of time for glassware to cool
before touching it.
54. Hot and cold glass has the
same visual appearance. Determine
if an object is hot by bringing the
back of your hand close to it
before you grab it.
Student and
Parent/Guardian:
Be sure you have read
the safety rules.
Both student and
parent/guardian must
read and sign the
following contract page
verifying that you both
understand and agree to
adhere to the William S.
Hart Safety Contract.
Please return the
attached signed contract
page to your science
teacher and keep these
rules with your science
materials.
STUDENT CONTRACT
I ______________________
(student’s name printed)
have read and agree to follow all of
the safety rules set forth in this
contract. I realize that I must
obey these rules to insure my own
safety and the safety of others. I
will cooperate to the fullest extent
with my teacher and other
students to maintain a safe lab
environment. I am aware that any
violation of this safety contract
that results in unsafe conduct or
misbehavior on my part may result
in teacher consequences and/or
removal from lab. I am also aware
that I must take and pass a safety
test on the knowledge and
understanding of these rules
before I am allowed to participate.
__________________________
STUDENT SIGNATURE
__________________________
DATE
Do you wear contacts?
 yes
 no
Are you color blind?
 yes
 no
Are you allergic to anything?
_____________________
_____________________
PARENT/GUARDIAN
CONTRACT
Dear Parent or Guardian:
We feel that you should be
informed regarding the school’s
effort to create and maintain a
safe science classroom
environment. You should be aware
of the safety instructions your
son/daughter has received. Please
read the list of safety rules
included in this packet. Sit with
your child and make sure there is
clear understanding of these rules
and the need for these rules. No
student will be permitted to
perform lab activities until both
you and the student sign this
contract. Please realize that
passing the safety test will ensure
understanding of the rules. Your
signature indicates that you have
read this Safety Packet, are aware
of the measures taken to ensure
the safety of your son/daughter in
the lab and will instruct them to
uphold his/her agreement to follow
these rules and procedures in the
lab.
__________________________
PARENT/GUARDIAN SIGNATURE
__________________________
DATE