Lab safety rules

Lab safety rules

Middle School

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Learning Objectives

• Identify and follow general laboratory safety rules for a safe working environment.

• Describe the appropriate dress code and personal protective equipment for lab activities.

• Explain safety procedures for heating, handling chemicals, and using lab equipment.

• Recognize common safety symbols and understand what they mean.

• List the correct procedures for cleanup and responding to an accident.

Key Vocabulary

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First Aid

The immediate assistance given to any person suffering a sudden illness or injury.

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Safety Goggles

Protective eyewear that encloses the area around the eye to prevent injury from splashes or particles.

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Corrosive Chemical

A substance that can react with and destroy tissue and other materials upon contact.

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Flammable

A substance that can be easily ignited by an open flame, spark, or an exposed heat source.

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Wafting

A motion used to safely smell a chemical by gently directing its vapor toward your nose.

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General Lab Conduct and First Aid

• Always read and follow directions exactly as they are written.

• ​Never perform unauthorized experiments without first getting your teacher's approval.

• Immediately report all accidents, injuries, or fires to your teacher.

• Know the location of the first-aid kit and fire extinguisher.

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Multiple Choice

According to general lab conduct, what is the first thing you should do if an accident occurs?

• Immediately report it to your teacher.

• Find the first-aid kit and treat yourself.

• Ask a classmate what to do.

• Clean it up quietly so you don't get in trouble.

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Proper Lab Attire (Dress Code)

• Always wear safety goggles to protect your eyes from any splashes.

• ​Wear a laboratory apron or coat to protect your skin and clothing.

• Use disposable plastic gloves when handling potentially harmful chemicals.

• Tie back long hair and secure loose clothing to prevent accidents.

• Remove jewelry that could get caught or contact flames or chemicals.

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Multiple Choice

Which of the following is a key part of the lab dress code to prevent accidents?

• Wearing your favorite jewelry to show your style.

• Wearing sandals for comfort.

• Keeping your long hair down.

• Tying back long hair and loose clothing.

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Heating and Fire Safety

• Never touch hot objects; use an oven mitt or tongs.

• ​Test if an object is hot by holding your hand near it.

• When using a burner, tie back hair and wear goggles.

• Point test tubes away from people and never heat closed containers.

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Multiple Choice

Why should you never heat a chemical in a closed container?

• It is difficult to see the chemical reaction.

• The container will get too dirty.

• The chemical will not get hot enough.

• Expanding gas could cause the container to explode.

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Chemical Safety

• Never touch, taste, or smell any unknown chemical for your own safety.

• ​Use a wafting motion to gently smell chemical vapors from a distance.

• When diluting acid, always pour the acid into the water very slowly.

• Tell your teacher about spills and wash your hands after handling chemicals.

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Multiple Choice

What is the correct procedure for diluting an acid?

• Pour the acid into the water.

• Pour the water into the acid.

• Mix them both at the same time in a new container.

• It does not matter which way you mix them.

Equipment and Organism Safety

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Glassware Safety

• ​Handle all fragile glassware with a lot of care.

• ​​Never use glassware that is chipped, cracked, or broken.

• ​Remember that hot glassware looks the same as cool glassware.

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Sharp Instruments

• ​Handle sharp tools like scalpels with extreme care and attention.

• ​​Always make sure that you are cutting away from yourself.

• ​You should report any cuts to your teacher immediately.

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Live Organisms

• ​Experiments should not cause any pain or harm to animals.

• ​​Always be sure to handle live organisms gently and respectfully.

• ​Clean your hands after handling any organisms or their cages.

Multiple Choice

When using a sharp instrument like a scalpel, which rule must be followed?

• It is okay to use chipped or broken glassware if you are careful.

• Cut away from your body.

• You only need to wash your hands if you touch an animal directly.

• Cut toward your body for better control.

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End of Experiment Procedures

• Clean your work area and return all equipment to its proper place.

• ​Make sure to turn off the water, gas, and electrical devices.

• Dispose of all waste and broken glass in the proper containers.

• Always wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water.

• Do follow the teachers instructions when handling equipments and chemicals and also while disposing them.

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Multiple Choice

What should you do with leftover chemicals and used materials at the end of an experiment?

• Dispose of them as directed by your teacher.

• Leave them at your work station for the next class.

• Throw all materials into the regular trash can.

• Pour everything down the sink to clean up quickly.

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Common Lab Misconceptions

Misconception	Correction
Minor accidents do not need to be reported.	Report all accidents to the teacher immediately, no matter how small.
It is okay to eat or drink away from chemicals.	Never eat, drink, or bring food into the laboratory.
You can tell if glassware is hot by looking.	Hot and cool glassware look the same. Always check for heat.
Smell chemicals directly from the container.	Gently waft vapors toward your nose to smell a chemical.

Multiple Choice

Why is it important to wear a lab apron and tie back long hair before starting an experiment involving chemicals or heat?

• To protect clothing from stains and prevent hair from catching fire or falling into chemicals.

• To keep your regular clothes clean for later.

• To make it easier to move around the lab.

• To look professional and scientific.

Multiple Choice

What is the correct procedure to follow immediately after you accidentally spill a corrosive chemical on your skin?

• Wipe it off with a paper towel and continue working.

• Flush the skin with large amounts of water and call your teacher immediately.

• Wait to see if it starts to hurt before doing anything.

• Ask a friend to help you find a bandage in the first-aid kit.

Multiple Choice

A student needs to heat a liquid in a test tube. Analyze the situation and describe the combination of safety procedures the student must follow.

• Wear safety goggles, use a test tube holder, point the opening away from everyone, and heat it gently.

• Heat the liquid quickly in a sealed test tube and smell the vapors directly from the opening.

• Use their bare hands to hold the test tube, point it towards themselves to see the reaction, and wear a hat.

• Point the test tube towards a classmate, heat the liquid in a closed container, and wear sunglasses.

Multiple Choice

Imagine you see a classmate mix two unknown chemicals 'for fun'. Predict the most likely danger and explain the safety rule they are breaking.

• They might discover a new, useful substance for the class.

• The chemicals will likely do nothing, so it is just a waste of materials.

• It might create a bad smell, which breaks the rule about tasting chemicals.

• A dangerous, possibly explosive substance could be produced, breaking the rule to never mix chemicals without authorization.

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Summary

• Always follow directions, wear proper safety attire, and report all accidents.

• Use specific, safe procedures for heating, handling chemicals, and using sharp objects.

• Never eat, drink, or taste anything in the lab and only smell chemicals by wafting.

• Know the location and use of safety equipment like fire extinguishers and first-aid kits.

• Clean your workstation, dispose of waste properly, and wash your hands before and after every experiment.

• Recognize and understand safety symbols to identify potential hazards in any activity.

Poll

On a scale of 1-4, how confident are you about following the lab safety rules we reviewed today?

• 1

• 2

• 3

• 4