Lab Safety Procedures

SCIENCE

General Laboratory Procedures

• NEVER “horse play” in the laboratory.

• NEVER play with laboratory equipment or materials.

• ALWAYS follow instructions and wait until you are told to begin before starting any investigation.

General Laboratory Procedures

• NEVER eat, taste or touch anything in the laboratory.

• NEVER carry out unassigned experiments.

• Wear safety goggles, laboratory aprons, and gloves when instructed to do so.

General Laboratory Procedures

• Keep ALL books and nonessential items away from the work area.

• Keep your work area clean. Dispose of waste materials in appropriate containers.

• Report ALL injuries or accidents to your teacher immediately.

General Laboratory Procedures

• NEVER use broken or cracked glassware.

• ALWAYS wear shoes in the laboratory. Sandals are NOT suggested.

• Tie back long hair and restrict any lose clothing.

General Laboratory Procedures

• Turn off any gas jets or electrically operated equipment when you have completed the laboratory investigation.

• ALWAYS wash your hands after EVERY experiment.

Working with Fire and Heat

• Use a hot plate for heating whenever possible as opposed to a bunsen burner.

• Use test tube holders, tongs, or heavy gloves to handle hot items.

• DO NOT put your face or hands over any boiling liquid.

Working with Fire and Heat

• When heating chemicals or other materials, be sure the containers are made of heat-proof glass.

• NEVER point a heated container at anyone. Be especially careful with heated test tubes.

• Keep flammable materials away from heat sources.

Working with Fire and Heat

• Turn off heat source as soon as you are finished with it. Do not move it until it has cooled. Leave a note to indicate that a hot plate has been recently used, since it is difficult to tell if the plate is still hot without touching it.

Working with Acids and Bases

• Acids and Bases are very chemically active. When they are combined with water they may splatter, often landing on the hands or on the face of the person using the chemicals. To prevent this type of splattering, ALWAYS add ACIDS and BASES TO WATER, NOT the other way around.

Working with Acids and Bases

• Should you get an acid or base on your skin, flush the area with running water and notify your teacher immediately.

Working with Electrical Equipment

• Be careful with electrical cords. NEVER leave them where someone might trip over them. Keep the cords away from heat and water.

• Grasp the plug when disconnecting an electrical outlet. DO NOT pull on the cord.

Working with Electrical Equipment

• NEVER touch cords or electrical outlets with wet hands.

• Turn off ALL electrical equipment when an investigation is completed.

Safety Symbols

Disposal AlertThis symbol appears when care must be taken to

dispose of materials properly.

Safety Symbols

CorrosiveThis symbol appears when the substance is corrosive and

can burn or eat away at things

Safety Symbols

Biological HazardThis symbol appears when there is a danger

involving bacteria, fungi, or protists that might be harmful to humans.

Safety Symbols

Thermal SafetyThis symbol appears as a reminder to use caution when handling objects that can burn

skin by being too cold or too hot.

Safety Symbols

Sharp Object SafetyThis symbol appears when a danger of cuts or punctures caused by the use of a sharp object

exists.

Safety Symbols

Fume SafetyThis symbol appears when chemical reactions

could cause dangerous fumes and cause possible danger to respiratory tract.

Safety Symbols

Electrical Safety

This symbol appears when care should be taken while using electrical equipment. Possible danger

from electrical shock or burn.

Safety Symbols

Irritant Safety

This symbol appears whenever there are substances that can irritate the skin or mucous

membranes of the respiratory tract.

Safety Symbols

Chemical SafetyThis symbol appears whenever there are chemicals

that can react with and destroy tissue and other materials.

Safety Symbols

Toxic SafetyThis symbol appears whenever there is a

substance that may be poisonous if touched, inhaled, or swallowed.

Safety Symbols

Open Flame AlertThis symbol appears when use of an open flame

could cause a fire or an explosion.

Safety Symbols

Eye SafetyThis symbol appears when proper eye protection

should be worn at ALL times by anyone performing or observing science activities.

Safety Symbols

Clothing Protection SafetyThis symbol appears when substances could

stain or burn clothing.

Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)

The MSDS is a document that states the safety information about a chemical:

Chemical NameChemical Formula

How to store the chemicalHow to clean a spill of the chemical

How to dispose of the chemicalHazards of the chemical

The Texas Hazard Communication Act

The purpose of the Texas Hazard Communication Act was to ensure the protection of students in the science lab, as well as, the protection of employees

who may be exposed to hazardous chemicals on the job.

Locating Emergency Equipment

• Fire Extinguisher

• Fire Blanket

• Eye Wash

• Shower

Lab Safety

BE SAFE & ENJOY!