Laboratory Safety and Work
Instructions
Dr. Subhash C. Goel
Assistant Professor of Chemistry
South Georgia State College
Douglas, GA31533
Introduction
• Knowledge is the best defense against an injury in
chemistry lab.
• The best way to prevent accidents is for you to
know the possible hazards in the laboratory.
• By knowing the hazards, you will develop a
healthy respect for what’s happening around you.
• If there is something that you feel is not right,
bring to my notice. I will do my part to keep you
safe, but remember, I will need your help to keep
you all safe in the lab.
Laboratory Apparel
• Wear safety goggles at all the times in the Lab.
• Contact lenses are not permitted in lab.
• Students are encouraged to wear lab aprons
all the time.
• Sandals, open-toes shoes, and high heels are
not permitted in the lab.
• Shorts and skirts cut above the knee are not
permitted in the lab.
Laboratory Apparel
• Careful consideration should be given before
wearing any jewelry into the lab.
• Never wear clothes that hang.
• Long hair is to be constrained.
• No radio, CD player, phones, or similar devices
are permitted in the lab.
Safety Equipment
• Familiarize yourself with the lab safety
equipment and keep their locations in your
mind (fire extinguisher, eye wash station,
shower, fire-blanket etc.). Help me in making
sure that they are operating properly.
• MSDS (material safety data sheets) are
available on request.
General Behavior
• Absolutely NO HORSEPLAY in the lab.
• Read upcoming experiments carefully and
thoroughly. Make sure you understand all the
directions.
• Eating and Drinking are absolutely prohibited
inside the lab.
• Wash you hands frequently.
• Do not apply makeup in the lab.
General Behavior
• Should an injury occur, no matter how minor it
is, report immediately to lab supervisor.
• Never pick-up broken glass with your bare
hands, regardless of the size of pieces.
• Never put broken glass in regular garbage can.
• Always read the labels on reagent bottles
twice.
• Never make an unauthorized substitution.
General Behavior
• Never use reagent from an unmarked bottle.
• In any emergency, the fastest way to get lab
supervisor attention is to scream.
• If you are not feeling well report it your lab
supervisor immediately.
• Never taste anything.
General Behavior
• Never smell a
chemical straight
out of a container.
General Behavior
• Use fume exhaust hood when performing
experiments with skin irritating or dangerous
chemicals or if the reaction involves evolution of
noxious or hazardous gas.
General Behavior
Never point a test tube that you are heating at yourself
or your neighbor-it may erupt like a geyser.
In Case of a Fire
• In the event of a fire, DON’T PANIC!
• If a small portion of your clothes catches fire,
the fire can be extinguished by patting it out.
• If a large portion of your clothes catches fire,
there are three options for putting the flames
out: (i) drop to the ground and roll, (ii) use the
safety shower, or (iii) use the fire-blanket.
• Never use a fire extinguisher on a person.
In Case of a Fire
• If a fire should occur in a beaker or some
other container, cover it with a glass dish or
other flame retardant item.
• Never move an object that is burning.
• Never use water to extinguish a chemical fire.
In Case of Fire
In case of large
fire use
fire extinguisher.
Chemicals and chemical Spills
• Report any chemical spill to your lab
supervisor.
• Should a chemical spill occur, remove all
affected clothing and wash the affected body
area with copious amount of water.
• Small spills on the bench or floor should be
cleaned immediately.
• Avoid spilling around the balance.
General Guidelines
• Read the assignment before coming to the
laboratory.
• Learn how to light a Bunsen burner.
• Before turning on a burner, make sure there is
no organic solvent around.
• Before opening a bottle of organic solvent,
make sure there is no open flame on the
entire bench.
General Guidelines
• Never take more of a reagent than you need.
Use appropriate size container to run the
experiment.
• Never return unused portion of a reagent to
its original container.
• Never pour a waste chemical in drain or put in
garbage can unless instructed by your lab
supervisor.
General Guidelines
• Make sure to cool down the heated glass- or
porcelain-ware or metal items before touching it
with bare hands.
• Discard a disposable pipette after use.
• While running an experiment, never look down
the opening of the reaction container (beaker,
flask or any other equipment).
• Never heat a cracked or chipped piece of
glassware (beaker or flask).
General Guidelines
• For Safety purpose,
always place the ring
stand as far back on the
lab bench as
comfortable, with the
long edge of the base
perpendicular to the
front of the bench.
Basic Laboratory Procedures
Most basic lab equipment is made of glass so that can
see easily what’s happening inside. Here are some
basic lab equipment and there uses.
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Beaker
Erlenmeyer Flask
Graduated cylinder
Spatula
Disposable pipette
Test tube
Basic Laboratory Procedures
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Balance
Pipet
Volumetric flask
Gravity filtration
Vacuum filtration
Decanting
Centrifuging
Buret