STEPHEN LEWIS SECONDARY SCHOOL SCIENCE DEPARTMENT

LABORATORY SAFETY

AS A SCIENCE STUDENT YOU SHOULD: / AS A SCIENCE STUDENT YOU SHOULD NOT:
1.be familiar with the location and use of safety equipment in the room
2.wear safety goggles for all lab activities that involve the use of chemicals or heat
3.ensure you understand the safe procedure to be followed before starting an experiment
4.be prepared for activities by pre-reading the instructions and having necessary pre-lab work completed
5.perform all lab experiments in the lab area designated by your teacher and ensure the workspace is uncluttered
6.tie back loose hair before starting labs and remove jackets
7.use separate scoopulas for separate chemicals and take only the amount of chemical needed
8.disconnect electrical equipment by pulling on the plug, not the cord
9.report all accidents and/or injuries to the teacher
10.report broken equipment, chemical spills, broken glass or frayed wiring to the teacher who will indicate the safe disposal procedure
11.place all broken glassware in the “Broken Glassware” container using the supplied brush and dust pan
12.use your wrist or the back of your hand to determine if something is hot before you touch it
13.smell substances using the “hand-wafting” technique to bring fumes towards your nose; NEVER smell the chemicals directly
14.when heating test tubes, direct the mouth of the test tube away from others
15.wash your hands after handling chemicals, preserved specimens or micro-organisms
16.after and experiment, clean and return equipment, clean and wipe down your work area and remove all solids and substances from the sinks / 1.conduct unauthorized experiments or conduct experiments without proper supervision
2.handle chemicals or live specimens without specific instructions to do so
3.wear jackets, caps or open-toes shoes for labs
4.wear contact lenses in a lab without notifying the teacher
5.taste or touch chemicals or other materials (all chemicals are potentially hazardous)
6.leave a lighted Bunsen burner unattended – it should be shut off when NOT in use
7.wear loose clothing near flames or permit long hair to come near open flames (loose hair should always be tied back)
8.remove glass tubing from or insert glass tubing into stoppers
9.plug in electrical circuits until they have been checked and approved by the teacher
10.change electrical circuits without first disconnecting them from power
11.replace blades in scalpels – ask the teacher to do it
12.enter storerooms or prep rooms without the permission of a teacher
13.take any chemicals or other materials from the lab for any reason
14.consume or bring any type of food or beverage into the lab
15.participate in horseplay in the room; eg., DO NOT throw any objects no matter how small
16.carry equipment or chemicals in crowded areas (ie. DO be careful when carrying things near people)
17.sit on or at lab benches
18.bring radios, CD/mp3 players, pagers, phones or other electronic devices into the labs