Lab Safety: Everyone Is Responsible!
Safety In the Science Lab
5th Grade Science
Kennard Elementary School
2013-2014
Safety First
 Science is a hands-on laboratory class.
 You will be doing many laboratory activities, which require
the use of potentially dangerous materials and expensive lab
equipment.
 Safety in the science classroom is the #1 priority.
 To ensure a safe science classroom, certain guidelines must
be followed at all times.
General Safety Guidelines
 Be Responsible at all times. No horseplay, practical jokes,
pranks, etc.
• Follow all instructions carefully.
• Always get permission to do an investigation.
• Always use science equipment the way you are
supposed to. Handle the equipment with care; they are
tools, not toys.
• Keep your work area neat and clean.
• Never taste anything unless you are instructed to do so.
Lab Safety: Everyone Is Responsible!
General Safety Guidelines
• Dress appropriately. Roll up long sleeves. Long
hair should be secured to the back of your head
so it does not get in the way.
• Always wear the correct safety equipment.
• Notify the teacher immediately of any accidents or
unsafe conditions in the science classroom!
• Know what to do in case of an emergency.
• Always wash your hands with soap and water after
experiments.
Lab Safety: Everyone Is Responsible!
Safety Symbols
Eye Protection
• Wear safety goggles when working with chemicals,
flames, or heating devices.
• If a chemical gets in your eye, flush in water for 15
minutes and notify the teacher.
Sharp Objects
• When using sharp objects always walk with the
points facing down.
• Cut away from fingers and body.
Safety Symbols
Animal Safety
• Only handle living organisms with teacher permission.
• Always treat living organisms humanely.
•Wash your hands after handling animals.
Heating Safety
•Tie back hair and loose clothes when working with
open flames.
• Never look into a container as you are heating it.
• Heated metal and glass looks cool, use tongs or gloves
before handling.
• Never leave a heat source unattended.
Safety Symbols
Chemical / Material Safety
• Read all labels twice before removing a material from the
container.
• Never touch, taste, or smell a material unless instructed by the
teacher. Smell solutions by waving your hand over the container
•Transfer materials carefully!
Hand Safety
• If a material spills on your skin, notify the teacher and wash
your hands.
• Carry glassware carefully.
Plant Safety
• Do not eat any plants in lab.
•Wash your hands after handling plants.
What’s Wrong With This Picture?
What’s Wrong With This Picture?
What’s Wrong With This Picture?
AREA 8: What is wrong?
AREA 9: What is wrong?
AREA 22: What is wrong?
What’s Wrong With These Statements?
• Hal says that his teacher is solely responsible for preventing
laboratory accidents.
• Keshia started the lab activity before reading it through
completely.
• Ricardo decided to do a lab activity that he read about in a
library book before the teacher came into the classroom.
• Stephanie says that the safety goggles mess up her hair and give
her raccoon eyes. She refuses to wear them.
• Barbie and Ken accidentally break a beaker full of some
chemical. Instead of risking getting in trouble they quickly clean
up the mess with paper towel and throw it in the garbage.
Additional Activity:
 http://www.sciencespot.net/Media/scimthdsafety.pdf
Time for a quiz…
Mark your paper with the best choice as I read
the questions.
http://www.funtrivia.com/triviaquiz/ForChildren/Lab-Safety-Rules273737.html
Credits:
From: Safety in the Science Lab
Mrs. Page
Kennedy Middle School
2002-2003
Safety in the Science Classroom
Presentation by Canton City Schools
Science Curriculum
2006
2009 Great Source: ScienceSaurus: A Student Handbook, Houghton Mifflin HarCourt Publishing Company,Wilmington, MA pages 38-49
http://www.funtrivia.com/trivia-quiz/ForChildren/Lab-Safety-Rules-273737.html
http://www.sciencespot.net/Media/scimthdsafety.pdf