Lab Safety

Lab Safety

by Jessica Iseman

​General Lab Safety

• Follow all instructions carefully.

• Read the procedure before beginning the lab activity

• If you don't understand what to do ask the teacher.

• Do not touch any equipment until you are instructed to do so.

• ​Keep your area clean.

Multiple Choice

What should you do if there is lab equipment in the room when you enter?

• Do not touch anything.

• Start an independent experiment.

• Immediately start playing with everything.

Multiple Select

Which of these activities are not safe when doing a science lab?

• Pranks

• Distracting someone

• Eating or drinking

• Startling someone

​Safety Equipment

• ​Fire blanket

• ​First aid kit

• ​Eyewash station

• ​Fire Extinguisher

• ​Broken Glass container

Multiple Select

In case of a small fire,

• use the fire blanket to extinguish the fire

• use the fire extinguisher

• tell the teacher

• use water to extinguish the fire

​What to Wear

• ​Closed toed shoes

• ​Hair pulled up in a ponytail if able

• ​No droopy sleeves

• ​Remove jewelry

  • ​Necklaces

  • ​Rings

  • ​Bracelets

  • ​Watches

​Personal Protective Equipment

• ​Gloves

  • ​Required when working with chemicals or dissecting specimens

• ​Goggles

  • ​Required when working with fire, electricity or chemicals

• ​Aprons

  • ​Required when working with chemicals

Multiple Select

Safety goggles should only be used when working with

• an open flame

• chemicals

• using a mechanical device

• all the answers are correct

Multiple Choice

Your goggles fog up you should

• Move to an area away from the lab and vent them to clear them up.

• Take them off and wipe them out.

• Vent them immediately.

• Work through it.

​Eating/Drinking

• ​No food or drink allowed in the lab during lab sessions

  • ​This includes water bottles and gum

  • ​Please do not open makeup containers or lip balm in the lab because these products can absorb chemical vapors from the air.

Multiple Choice

Should you taste any chemicals you use in lab?

• Absolutely not

• Sure

​Keep the aisles Clear

• ​Make sure all bags and personal belongings are under the lab tables so that there are no tripping hazards

• ​Be mindful of cords when we are using hot plates.

Multiple Choice

Keeping your work area neat and clean is important because:

• My teacher is a neat-freak

• I won't lose my supplies in the clutter.

• It keeps the room from looking messy.

• It helps prevent accidents.

​Contact Lenses and Glasses

• ​May be worn only if you also wear Goggles in the lab

• ​Please inform me if you wear contact lenses.

• ​Prescription glasses do not count as safety glasses/googles

​Read Labels

• ​Read the labels of chemicals before you handle them.

• ​Pay attention to the NFPA Hazard Diamond on every container.

  • The higher the number in each box the more dangerous the chemical is

​Dealing with Chemicals

• ​Never pour chemicals down the drain unless instructed to do so.

• ​Keep hands away from face, eyes and body when using chemicals

  • ​Wash your hands after using chemicals

• ​Never return unused chemicals to their original containers

Multiple Choice

Where should you dispose of any waste materials after the lab is over?

• Garbage

• In the appropriate waste container as directed by the teacher

• Down the drain

Multiple Choice

Unused chemical should be returned to original containers.

• True

• False

​Acids

• ​Acids can be harmful to skin, eyes and clothing take care when pouring them not to spill

• ​If an acid is spilled, it should be neutralized wtih a base, like baking soda, before being cleaned up.

• ​Always add acid to water when diluting, never add water to concentrated acid

Multiple Choice

Always pour acid into water

• True

• False

​How to smell chemicals

• ​Only smell chemicals if the lab instructs you to do so.

• ​Waft the odor towards your nose

• ​DO NOT smell directly from the container.

Multiple Choice

The proper technique for smelling chemicals is ______________

• keeping your nose close to the glassware

• wafting

• to sniff only a small amount

• Trick question; you never are allowed to smell chemicals in class

​Using a Pipet

• ​Never use your mouth to pipet liquids. Always use a bulb.

• ​Carry glass tubing in a vertical position to minimize breakage.

​Glassware

• ​Before using any beakers, flasks or test tubes check them for cracks or stars

  • ​Broken glassware can shatter when heated

• ​Never put hot glass into cold water.

• ​Hot glass looks identical to cold glass

  • ​Place the back of your hand near the glass to feel any heat radiating from it

Multiple Choice

Using chipped glassware is permitted during the labs.

• True

• False

​Broken Glass

• ​Never clean up broken glass with your hands

• ​Broken glass should not go in the trash can

  • ​All broken glass goes in the labelled container

​Heating

• ​When using a hot plate

  • ​Check the plug for any damage before plugging in

  • ​Make sure to grasp the plug firmly and pull when unplugging, never pull the wire

​Heating

• ​When using a flame

  • ​Be sure to keep all flammable substances away from the flame

  • ​Never leave the flame unattended

  • ​Never reach over the burner

Multiple Choice

You and your lab partner are ready to conduct your lab.  You light you Bunsen burner and continue reading the procedures.  You need more materials you should

• have one person watch the Bunsen burner and the other get the materials.

• Decide who is getting what materials and both go get the materials to save time.

• Ask a neighboring lab group to watch your Bunsen burner.

• Continue with the lab and hope you really did not need the materials.

Multiple Select

Three main rules when working with open flames

• tie back long hair

• wear gloves

• wear goggles

• secure loose clothing

​Heating

• ​When boiling liquids

  • ​ Never point the open end of the test tube at yourself or anyone else

  • ​Never look into a container that is being boiled

• ​Use tongs to handle hot glassware

Multiple Choice

You are heating a substance in a test tube. Always point the open end of the tube

• towards your body

• toward your lab partner

• towards another classmate

• away from all people

Multiple Choice

Hot glass and cold glass look exactly the same

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

You are heating a piece of glass and now want to pick it up. You should

• Use a rag or paper towel

• Pick up the end that looks cooler

• Use tongs

• Pour cold water on it

​In Case of Emergency

• ​If any emergency or accident occurs, notify me immediately.

• ​If there is a fire, we will evacuate the building at the end of the 400 hall that is closest to the Nucor Building

• ​If anyone is injured, I will administer first aid or send them out for medical treatement if needed.

Multiple Choice

You accidentally cut yourself.  It is small and barely bleeds. You should

• wash the cut

• call you mom

• run to the nurse

• tell the teacher

​If We must Evacuate the classroom

• ​unplug all appliances

• ​Make sure all burners are turned off or extinguished

• ​Proceed to the evacuation area

• ​Pull the fire alarm in the hall if possible

Multiple Choice

You are working in the lab and a fire drill occurs.  You should

• Turn off any gas or equipment and leave

• Continue working

• Pour everything down the drain and leave

• Scream hysterically and run in circles

Multiple Select

In case of a fire, you should

• turn off all gas

• unplug appliances

• take your backpack with you

• walk to the designated area.

​If you spill chemicals on yourself

• ​Remove any clothing that has had chemicals spilled on it

• ​Rinse the skin for 20 minutes under running water

• ​If you get chemicals in your eyes, rinse them at the eyewash for 20 minutes

Multiple Choice

If chemicals comes in contact with your skin or eyes, you should rinse the area water for ___________ minutes.

• 10

• 5

• 15

• 2