laboratory safety rules. general rules conduct yourself in a responsible manner at all times in the...

LaboratorySafety Rules

General RulesGeneral Rules

1.1. Conduct yourself in a Conduct yourself in a responsible mannerresponsible manner at all timesat all times in the in the laboratory. laboratory.


2. 2. Follow Follow allall written and verbal written and verbal instructions implicitly and instructions implicitly and intelligently. If you do not intelligently. If you do not understand a direction or understand a direction or part of a procedure, ask the part of a procedure, ask the instructor before proceeding.instructor before proceeding.


3. 3. NeverNever work work alone. No alone. No student may student may work in the work in the laboratory laboratory without an without an instructor instructor present. present.


4. When first entering a 4. When first entering a science room, science room, do not do not touch touch any equipment, chemicals, or any equipment, chemicals, or other materials in the other materials in the laboratory area until you are laboratory area until you are instructed to do so. instructed to do so.

General RulesGeneral Rules5. Do not eat, drink beverages, 5. Do not eat, drink beverages,

or chew gum in the laboratory. or chew gum in the laboratory. Do not use laboratory Do not use laboratory glassware as container glassware as container for food or beverages.for food or beverages.

General RulesGeneral Rules6. 6. Perform only those Perform only those

experiments authorized by the experiments authorized by the instructor. Never do anything in instructor. Never do anything in the laboratory that is not called the laboratory that is not called for in the laboratory procedures for in the laboratory procedures or by your instructor. Carefully or by your instructor. Carefully follow all instructions, both follow all instructions, both written and oral. Unauthorized written and oral. Unauthorized experiments are prohibited.experiments are prohibited.


7. Be prepared for your work 7. Be prepared for your work in the laboratory. Read all in the laboratory. Read all procedures thoroughly before procedures thoroughly before entering the laboratory.entering the laboratory.


8. Never fool around the 8. Never fool around the laboratory. Horseplay, laboratory. Horseplay, practical jokes, and pranks practical jokes, and pranks are dangerous and are dangerous and prohibited.prohibited.

General RulesGeneral Rules9. Observe good housekeeping 9. Observe good housekeeping

practices. Work areas should be practices. Work areas should be kept clean and tidy at all times. kept clean and tidy at all times. Bring only your laboratory Bring only your laboratory instructions, worksheets, and/or instructions, worksheets, and/or reports to the work area. Other reports to the work area. Other materials (books, purses, backpacks, materials (books, purses, backpacks, etc) should be stored in the etc) should be stored in the classroom area.classroom area.


10. Keep aisles clear. 10. Keep aisles clear.


11. Know the locations and 11. Know the locations and operating procedures of all operating procedures of all safety equipment including the safety equipment including the first aid kit, eyewash station, first aid kit, eyewash station, safety shower, fire extinguisher, safety shower, fire extinguisher, and the fire blanket. Know and the fire blanket. Know where the fire alarm and the where the fire alarm and the exits are located.exits are located.


12. Always work in a well-12. Always work in a well-ventilated area. Use the ventilated area. Use the fume hood when working with fume hood when working with volatile substances or volatile substances or poisonous vapors. Never poisonous vapors. Never place your head into the place your head into the fume hood. fume hood.


13. Be alert and proceed with 13. Be alert and proceed with caution at all times in the caution at all times in the laboratory. Notify the laboratory. Notify the instructor immediately of any instructor immediately of any unsafe conditions you unsafe conditions you observe.observe.


15. Labels and equipment 15. Labels and equipment instructions must be read instructions must be read carefully before use. Set up carefully before use. Set up and use the prescribed and use the prescribed apparatus as directed in the apparatus as directed in the laboratory instructions laboratory instructions

by your instructor. by your instructor.

General RulesGeneral Rules16. Keep hands away from face, 16. Keep hands away from face,

eyes, mouth, and body while eyes, mouth, and body while using chemicals. Wash your using chemicals. Wash your hands with soap and water after hands with soap and water after performing all the experiments. performing all the experiments. Clean all work surfaces and Clean all work surfaces and apparatus at the end of the apparatus at the end of the experiment. Return all equipment experiment. Return all equipment clean and in working order to the clean and in working order to the proper storage area.proper storage area.

General RulesGeneral Rules14. Dispose of all chemical waste 14. Dispose of all chemical waste

properly. Never mix chemicals in sink properly. Never mix chemicals in sink drains. Sinks are to be used only for drains. Sinks are to be used only for water and those solutions designated water and those solutions designated by the instructor. Solid by the instructor. Solid chemicals, metals, matches, chemicals, metals, matches, filter paper, and all other filter paper, and all other insoluble materials are to be insoluble materials are to be disposed of in the proper waste disposed of in the proper waste container. Check the label of all waste container. Check the label of all waste containers twice before adding your containers twice before adding your chemical waste to the container.chemical waste to the container.


17. Experiments must be 17. Experiments must be personally monitored at all personally monitored at all times. You will be assigned a times. You will be assigned a laboratory station on which to laboratory station on which to work. Do not wander work. Do not wander around the room, around the room, distract other students, or distract other students, or interfere with the laboratory interfere with the laboratory experiments of others.experiments of others.


18. Students are never 18. Students are never permitted in the science permitted in the science storage rooms or preparation storage rooms or preparation areas unless given areas unless given specific permission specific permission by the instructor. by the instructor.


19. Know what to do if there is 19. Know what to do if there is a fire drill during a laboratory a fire drill during a laboratory period: containers must be period: containers must be closed, gas valves turned off, closed, gas valves turned off, fume hoods turned off, and fume hoods turned off, and any electrical any electrical equipment turned off.equipment turned off.


21. When using knives and other 21. When using knives and other sharp instruments, always carry sharp instruments, always carry with tips and points pointing with tips and points pointing down and away. Always cut down and away. Always cut away from your body. Never try away from your body. Never try to catch falling sharp to catch falling sharp instruments. Grasp sharp instruments. Grasp sharp instruments only by the handles.instruments only by the handles.


22. If you have a medical 22. If you have a medical condition (e.g. allergies, condition (e.g. allergies, pregnancy, etc) check with pregnancy, etc) check with your physician prior to your physician prior to working in the lab.working in the lab.

ClothingClothing23. Anytime chemicals, heat, or 23. Anytime chemicals, heat, or

glassware are used, students will glassware are used, students will wear laboratory goggles. wear laboratory goggles. There There will be no exceptions to this will be no exceptions to this rule.rule.

ClothingClothing

24. Contact lenses should not 24. Contact lenses should not be worn in the laboratory be worn in the laboratory unless you have permission unless you have permission from your instructor. Splashes from your instructor. Splashes and fumes from hazardous and fumes from hazardous chemicals present a special chemicals present a special danger to wearers of contact danger to wearers of contact lenses.lenses.

ClothingClothing25. Dress properly during a 25. Dress properly during a

laboratory activity. Long hair, laboratory activity. Long hair, dangling jewelry, and loose or dangling jewelry, and loose or baggy clothing are a hazard in the baggy clothing are a hazard in the laboratory. Long hair must be tied laboratory. Long hair must be tied back and dangling jewelry must be back and dangling jewelry must be secured. Shoes must completely secured. Shoes must completely cover the foot. No sandals allowed.cover the foot. No sandals allowed.

Accidents and Accidents and InjuriesInjuries

27. Report any accidents 27. Report any accidents (spills, breakage, etc) or (spills, breakage, etc) or injury (cut, burn, etc) to the injury (cut, burn, etc) to the instructor immediately, no instructor immediately, no matter how trivial it may matter how trivial it may appear.appear.


28. If you or your lab partner 28. If you or your lab partner are hurt, immediately yell out are hurt, immediately yell out “Code one, Code one”“Code one, Code one” to get to get the instructor’s attention.the instructor’s attention.


29. If a chemical splashes in your 29. If a chemical splashes in your eye(s) or on your skin, eye(s) or on your skin, immediately flush with running immediately flush with running water from the eyewash station or water from the eyewash station or safety safety

shower for at least 20 shower for at least 20

minutes. Notify the minutes. Notify the

instructor immediately.instructor immediately.

Handling Handling ChemicalsChemicals

31. All chemicals in the 31. All chemicals in the laboratory are to be considered laboratory are to be considered dangerous. Do not touch, taste, dangerous. Do not touch, taste, or smell any chemicals unless or smell any chemicals unless specifically instructed to do so. specifically instructed to do so. The proper techniques for The proper techniques for smelling chemicals will be smelling chemicals will be demonstrated to you. demonstrated to you.

To test the odor of chemicals, hold the container To test the odor of chemicals, hold the container about 4 inches from your nose and waft your hand about 4 inches from your nose and waft your hand over the test tube and cautiously sniff the fumes. Do over the test tube and cautiously sniff the fumes. Do not inhale the fumes directly. Use a fume hood not inhale the fumes directly. Use a fume hood whenever poisonous or irritating fumes are involved. whenever poisonous or irritating fumes are involved. Do not Do not waft and sniff poisonous or irritating fumes. waft and sniff poisonous or irritating fumes.

Handling Handling ChemicalsChemicals32. Check the labels on the 32. Check the labels on the

chemical bottles before chemical bottles before removing any of the contents. removing any of the contents. Take only as much chemicals Take only as much chemicals as you need. Be sure correct as you need. Be sure correct items are used in the proper items are used in the proper mannermanner


33. Never return unused 33. Never return unused chemicals to their original chemicals to their original containers. Never exchange containers. Never exchange stoppers of bottles, or lay stoppers of bottles, or lay stoppers on the table.stoppers on the table.


34. Never use mouth suction 34. Never use mouth suction to fill a pipette. Use a rubber to fill a pipette. Use a rubber bulb or a pipette pump.bulb or a pipette pump.


35. When transferring 35. When transferring reagents from one container reagents from one container to another, hold the to another, hold the containers away from containers away from your body.your body.


36. Acids must be handled with 36. Acids must be handled with extreme care. You will be extreme care. You will be shown a proper method for shown a proper method for diluting acids. diluting acids. Always add acid Always add acid to water, swirl or stir the to water, swirl or stir the solution and be careful of the solution and be careful of the heat produced, particularly with heat produced, particularly with sulfuric acid.sulfuric acid.


37. Handle flammable 37. Handle flammable hazardous liquids over a pan hazardous liquids over a pan to contain spills. Never to contain spills. Never dispense flammable liquids dispense flammable liquids anywhere near an open flame anywhere near an open flame or sources of heat.or sources of heat.


38. Never remove chemicals 38. Never remove chemicals and other materials from the and other materials from the laboratory area.laboratory area.


39. Take great care when 39. Take great care when transporting acids and other transporting acids and other chemicals from one part of chemicals from one part of the laboratory to another. the laboratory to another. Hold them securely and walk Hold them securely and walk carefully.carefully.


Use the fume hood Use the fume hood whenever noxious, whenever noxious, corrosive, or toxic fumes corrosive, or toxic fumes are produced or released.are produced or released.

Handling Glassware Handling Glassware and Equipmentand Equipment

40. Carry glass tubing 40. Carry glass tubing especially long pieces, in a especially long pieces, in a vertical position to minimize vertical position to minimize the likelihood of breakage the likelihood of breakage and injury.and injury.


41. Never handle broken glass 41. Never handle broken glass with your bare hands. Use with your bare hands. Use brush and dustpan to clean brush and dustpan to clean up broken glass. Place up broken glass. Place broken or waste glassware in broken or waste glassware in the designated glass the designated glass disposal container. disposal container.


42. Inserting and removing glass tubing 42. Inserting and removing glass tubing from rubber stoppers can be from rubber stoppers can be dangerous. Always lubricate glassware dangerous. Always lubricate glassware (tubing, thistle tubes, thermometers, (tubing, thistle tubes, thermometers, etc) before attempting to insert it in a etc) before attempting to insert it in a stopper. Always protect your hands stopper. Always protect your hands with towels or cotton gloves when with towels or cotton gloves when inserting glass tubing into, or removing inserting glass tubing into, or removing from, a rubber stopper. If a piece of from, a rubber stopper. If a piece of glassware becomes “frozen” in a glassware becomes “frozen” in a stopper, take it to your instructor for stopper, take it to your instructor for removal. removal.


43. Fill wash bottles only with 43. Fill wash bottles only with distilled water and use only distilled water and use only as intended, e.g. rinsing as intended, e.g. rinsing glassware and equipment, or glassware and equipment, or adding water to a container. adding water to a container.


44. When removing an 44. When removing an electrical plug from its socket, electrical plug from its socket, grasp the plug, not the grasp the plug, not the electrical cord. Hands must electrical cord. Hands must be completely dry before be completely dry before touching an electrical switch, touching an electrical switch, plug, or outlet.plug, or outlet.


45. Examine glassware before 45. Examine glassware before each use. Never use chipped each use. Never use chipped or cracked glassware. Never or cracked glassware. Never use dirty glassware.use dirty glassware.


46. Report damaged electrical 46. Report damaged electrical equipment immediately. equipment immediately. Look for things such as frayed Look for things such as frayed cords, exposed wires, and cords, exposed wires, and loose connections. Do not loose connections. Do not use damaged electrical use damaged electrical equipment.equipment.


47. If you do not understand 47. If you do not understand how to use a piece of how to use a piece of equipment, ask the instructor equipment, ask the instructor for help.for help.


48. Do not immerse hot 48. Do not immerse hot glassware into cold water. It glassware into cold water. It may shatter. Never carry hot may shatter. Never carry hot equipment or dangerous equipment or dangerous chemicals through a group of chemicals through a group of students.students.

Heating SubstancesHeating Substances

49. Exercise extreme caution when 49. Exercise extreme caution when using a gas burner. Take care that using a gas burner. Take care that hair, clothing, and hands are a safe hair, clothing, and hands are a safe distance from the flame at all times. distance from the flame at all times. Do not put any substances into the Do not put any substances into the flame unless specifically told to do flame unless specifically told to do so. Never reach over an exposed so. Never reach over an exposed flame. Light gas (or alcohol) burners flame. Light gas (or alcohol) burners only as instructed by the teacher.only as instructed by the teacher.


Exercise Exercise caution when caution when handling handling flammable flammable materials.materials.

Heating SubstancesHeating Substances50. 50. Never leave a lit burner Never leave a lit burner

unattended. Never leave anything unattended. Never leave anything that is heated or is visibly reacting that is heated or is visibly reacting unattended. Always turn the burner unattended. Always turn the burner or a hot plate off when not in use.or a hot plate off when not in use.

Heating SubstancesHeating Substances51. You will be instructed in the 51. You will be instructed in the

proper method of heating and proper method of heating and boiling liquids in test tube. Do boiling liquids in test tube. Do not point the open end of a test not point the open end of a test tube being heated at yourself or tube being heated at yourself or anyone else.anyone else.


52. Heat flasks and 52. Heat flasks and

beakers on a ring beakers on a ring

stand with wire stand with wire

gauze between the gauze between the

glass and the flame.glass and the flame.


When boiling When boiling liquid use an liquid use an electric hot electric hot plate plate whenever whenever available.available.


53. Heated materials and glass 53. Heated materials and glass remain very hot for a long time. remain very hot for a long time. They should be set aside to cool They should be set aside to cool and picked up with caution. Use and picked up with caution. Use tongs or heat protective gloves if tongs or heat protective gloves if necessary. Never carry hot necessary. Never carry hot equipment or dangerous chemicals equipment or dangerous chemicals through a group of students.through a group of students.


54. Never look into 54. Never look into a container that is a container that is heated. heated.


55. Do not place hot 55. Do not place hot apparatus directly on the apparatus directly on the laboratory desk. Always use laboratory desk. Always use an insulating pad. Allow an insulating pad. Allow plenty of time for hot plenty of time for hot apparatus to cool before apparatus to cool before touching it.touching it.


56. When bending glass, allow 56. When bending glass, allow time for glass to cool before time for glass to cool before further handling. Hot and cold further handling. Hot and cold glasses have the same glasses have the same appearance. Determine if an appearance. Determine if an object is hot by bringing the object is hot by bringing the back of your hand close to it back of your hand close to it prior to grasping it.prior to grasping it.

The following actions will The following actions will result in being dropped from result in being dropped from the class:the class:

Misuse of safety equipment including Misuse of safety equipment including but not limited tobut not limited to• Eyewash stationsEyewash stations• Emergency showersEmergency showers• Fire extinguishersFire extinguishers• Fire blanketFire blanket

Vandalizing school equipment or Vandalizing school equipment or furniturefurniture

Endangering or causing harm to othersEndangering or causing harm to others