Lab Safety

  1. Never work alone.

  2. Read all instructions and Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) before starting an experiment. Be sure you understand what you are going to do.

  3. No food, gum or beverages in your mouth or the lab area.

  4. Wear appropriate clothing--no sandals or open toe shoes, loose clothing or dangling jewelry. Goggles are required when chemicals, glassware, or heat is used. Aprons and gloves may also be required.

  5. Keep the lab area clean and tidy. Only lab equipment, instructions and paper for recording data should be in this area. Books, backpacks, etc. should be somewhere else.

  6. Know the location of the eyewash area, fire extinguisher, fire alarm and fire exits. Aim fire extinguishers at the base of the flame unless glassware is present. For glassware let the fire burn itself out or shoot the extinguisher above the glassware so the extinguishing chemical drops onto the flame. With carbon dioxide extinguishers do not hold the black horn or your hand may freeze to it.

  7. Before using a chemical read the label, check the instructions, and recheck the label. Take only the amount you need and put it into a container that you have labelled. Do not put removed chemical back into a labelled container.

  8. Add acid to water slowly and down the side of the container. Swirl or stir the solution and be careful of heat being produced.

  9. Bases can destroy nerves before you are aware of it. They are difficult to remove from the skin because they react with the fat in the skin making a soap.

  10. Chemicals on the skin should be washed for 5 minutes unless the chemical label or MSDS states a longer time. Eyes should be washed for 15 minutes with warm flowing water (contact lenses removed first). Have a nurse or doctor check the eyes after the chemical has been washed out.

  11. No open flame, sparks or heat source near flammable chemicals (gaseous or liquid). Never leave heat sources unattended.

  12. All chemicals should be considered dangerous. Do not touch, taste or smell any chemicals unless directed to by the teacher. To smell a chemical you slowly wave your hand above the container and bring the air toward your nose. Practice with ammonia. Work outdoors or in a flume hood with volatile or poisonous chemicals. Do not put your head in a flume hood. A headache may mean exposure to a volatile chemical.

  13. Dispose of chemical waste properly. Check the MSDS to see if liquid chemicals can go down the drain. Chemicals going down the drain should be diluted with lots of running water.

  14. Resources

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