Lab Safety

Lab Safety

Middle School

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Learning Objectives

• Follow general lab safety procedures to ensure a safe learning environment.

• Describe the proper dress code and use of personal protective equipment (PPE).

• Explain safety rules for heating, handling chemicals, and using laboratory equipment.

• Recognize and understand the meaning of common lab safety symbols.

Key Vocabulary

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Corrosive Chemical

A chemical that can react with and destroy tissue, clothing, and other materials on contact.

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Flammable Material

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

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Wafting

The correct method to smell a chemical by gently waving the vapor or fume toward your nose.

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Sharp Object

A tool or piece of glassware that can easily puncture or slice through the skin.

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Poison

A substance that may be toxic if it is touched, inhaled, or swallowed by an organism.

General Lab Rules & First Aid

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Follow Directions

• Read directions for an experiment several times before you start.

• Follow the directions exactly as they are written in the lab.

• Never perform labs that are unauthorized or without your teacher's supervision.

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Handle Accidents

• Immediately report all accidents, no matter how minor, to your teacher.

• Never eat, drink, or bring any food into the laboratory.

• This prevents accidental ingestion of harmful chemicals on lab surfaces.

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Know First Aid

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

• Your teacher should be the one to administer any required first aid.

• For any injury, your teacher may send you to the school nurse.

Multiple Choice

According to the general lab rules, what is the most important action to take immediately after any accident, like a small cut or spill?

• Clean it up yourself and continue the experiment.

• Immediately report it to your teacher.

• Ask a friend what to do.

• Find the first-aid kit and handle it on your own.

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Laboratory Dress Code

• Always wear safety goggles to protect your eyes from chemicals or broken materials.

• ​Wear a laboratory apron or coat to protect your skin and clothes from spills.

• Tie back long hair and secure loose clothing so they don't cause accidents.

• Use disposable gloves to keep harmful substances from touching your hands during labs.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is a key part of the laboratory dress code to ensure your safety?

• Keeping your hair down to be comfortable.

• Wearing sandals to keep your feet cool.

• Tying back long hair and loose clothing.

• Wearing your favorite jewelry to express yourself.

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Heating and Fire Safety

• Always use an oven mitt, clamp, or tongs to handle hot objects.

• Point a test tube’s opening away from yourself and others when heating.

• Keep flammable materials away from your work area when using a burner.

• Never heat a closed container because expanding gases can cause it to explode.

Multiple Choice

What is the primary danger of heating a chemical in a completely sealed container?

• The container can explode due to pressure buildup.

• The container might become too hot to touch.

• The chemical will not get hot enough.

• The chemical might change color.

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Using Chemicals Safely

• Avoid contact with corrosive or poisonous chemicals and always wash your hands after use.

• Never inhale vapors directly; use a wafting motion to test for an odor.

• Never mix chemicals for fun and always pour acid into water for dilution.

• If a spill occurs, ask your teacher for the proper cleanup procedure.

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Multiple Choice

What is the correct and safe method for smelling a chemical if instructed to do so?

• Heating the chemical to make the smell stronger.

• Mixing the chemical with water to dilute the smell.

• Placing your nose directly over the container and inhaling deeply.

• Using a wafting motion to gently wave the vapors toward your nose.

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Handling Lab Equipment

Glassware Safety

• ​Handle fragile glassware like thermometers, test tubes, and beakers with great care.

• ​​Never use chipped or broken glassware. If glassware breaks, notify your teacher immediately.

• ​Hot glassware will not appear to be hot, so always check before picking it up.

Using Sharp Instruments

• ​Handle scalpels or razor blades with extreme care to protect yourself from getting injured.

• ​​To prevent injury, never cut material toward yourself; you must always cut away from yourself.

• ​If you accidentally cut yourself, notify your teacher immediately to get assistance.

Multiple Choice

What are the two most important safety rules to follow when working with glassware and sharp instruments?

• Notify your teacher if glassware breaks, and always cut away from yourself.

• Clean broken glass yourself, and use any sharp object you can find.

• It's okay to use broken glassware, and scalpels can be used for any task.

• Use chipped glassware if it's a small chip, and always cut toward yourself.

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Working with Lab Organisms & Cleanup

• Never harm organisms; handle them carefully as your teacher instructs.

• Wash your hands with soap and water before and after every experiment.

• After an experiment, clean your work area and return all equipment.

• Turn off burners, water, and unplug all electrical devices before you leave.

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Multiple Choice

According to the rules, what are two essential tasks that must be completed after you finish an experiment?

• Turn off the lights and leave the classroom.

• Dispose of all leftover chemicals in the sink.

• Leave your equipment out and rush to your next class.

• Clean your work area and wash your hands thoroughly.

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Understanding Safety Symbols

Personal & Fire Safety

• The goggles symbol means you must wear safety goggles to protect your eyes from harm.

• An apron symbol means you must wear an apron to protect your skin and clothes.

• A flame symbol shows you will use an open flame; a 'No Flames' symbol means none are allowed.

Chemical & Other Hazards

• A corrosive symbol warns a chemical can destroy tissue, while a poison symbol means it is toxic.

• The sharp object symbol warns you to be careful with sharp tools like scalpels.

• A breakage symbol reminds you to handle fragile glassware with care to prevent accidents.

Multiple Choice

You are working with a chemical, and you see a safety symbol that looks like a skull and crossbones. What does this symbol mean?

• The chemical is flammable and might catch fire.

• The chemical is corrosive and can burn your skin.

• The substance is poisonous and toxic if touched or inhaled.

• You need to dispose of the chemical in a special container.

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Common Misconceptions in the Lab

Misconception	Correction
It’s okay to taste or smell chemicals to identify them.	Never touch, taste, or directly smell chemicals. Use the wafting technique when instructed.
Minor accidents or small spills don't need to be reported.	Report all accidents and spills to your teacher immediately, no matter how small.
You can pour water into acid to dilute it.	Always add acid slowly to water. Never add water to acid to avoid splashing.
It’s safe to heat a substance in a sealed container.	Never heat substances in a closed container to avoid a potential explosion.

Multiple Choice

Why is it important to tie back long hair and remove loose jewelry before starting a lab that uses a burner?

• To keep them clean from any dust in the laboratory.

• To look more professional in the lab.

• To avoid them accidentally catching fire or coming into contact with chemicals.

• To prevent them from getting in the way of your vision.

Multiple Choice

A student spills a small amount of a non-corrosive chemical on the floor. According to the general safety rules, what should be the student's immediate next steps?

• Immediately notify the teacher and ask for the proper cleanup procedure.

• Ask a fellow student for help in cleaning up the spill.

• Wipe it with a paper towel and throw the towel in the trash.

• Ignore the spill because it is small and not corrosive.

Multiple Choice

A lab procedure requires you to use a corrosive chemical, a scalpel, and a Bunsen burner. Analyze the situation and determine the most essential combination of safety practices you must use.

• A lab apron is not needed if you promise to be extra careful with the burner.

• Wear safety goggles, a lab apron, tie back your hair, and cut away from yourself.

• Use tongs to hold the scalpel and point the burner towards a window.

• Just wear safety goggles, as the chemical is the main risk.

Multiple Choice

Based on the safety rules, what is the potential danger of heating a liquid in a sealed glass bottle, and what specific rule does this action violate?

• Pressure could build up and cause an explosion; it violates the rule against heating closed containers.

• The bottle might get too hot to touch; it violates the rule of using heat-resistant gloves.

• The liquid might evaporate too quickly; it violates the rule of not tasting chemicals.

• The liquid might change color; it violates the rule of using clean glassware.

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Summary

• Always follow directions and report accidents to your teacher immediately.

• Wear protective equipment like goggles and handle all materials with caution.

• Obey all safety symbols, and never eat or drink in the lab.

• Wash your hands and clean your work area after every experiment.

Poll

On a scale of 1-4, how confident are you about working safely in the lab after this review?

• 1

• 2

• 3

• 4