Safety Guidelines in Science Laboratories
Student Responsibilities:
1. Do your homework. Know the purpose, procedure, and any safety concerns before starting. If you do not know or understand what you are to do, get help from the teacher. Have all data tables complete and ready to fill in prior to the lab.
2. Report any hazardous conditions (frayed wired, cracked glassware, sharp edges, etc. ), breakage, or accidents to the teacher immediately.
3. Stay at your lab station throughout the lab. Send one person only for any necessary supplies.
4. Maintain a serious attitude during lab and clean-up. The lab is a workplace, not a play area.
5. Take care of the classroom equipment and facilities. This is out home away from home; treat it as such. (Special note: water jets are very fragile. Leave them alone except for turning the valve on and off.)
6. At the end of the lab wash your hands and push all stools under the lab tables.
General Safety Rules for Laboratory Work:
1. Report all accident to the teacher, no matter how small.
2. Do only those activities for which instruction and permission have been given. Use only equipment and materials authorized. All science projects or individual experiments must be approved but the teacher before starting.
3. Follow all written and verbal instructions carefully. Note in your write-up any changes that the teacher has made in procedure.
4. Wear goggles and aprons throughout lab and clean-up. (Eye glasses do not provide enough protection; goggles must be worn over them. Avoid wearing contact lenses on lab days since chemicals splashed in the eye can get behind them and cause greater damage.) E.C. for wearing goggles.
5. Know the location of emergency shower (132), eye wash, fire blanket, fire extinguisher, fire alarm box, and exits.
6. Know the fire drill procedure. Report any fires to the teacher, and prepare to evacuate. Fire blanket for people, ABC extinguisher for all else.
7. Dress appropriately. Roll up long sleeves. Do not wear coats or bulk clothing. Remove jewelry that dangles or is long. Tie back long hair. Close-toes shoes are safest.
8. Keep the work area clean. Bring only lab manual and write-up to the work area. Keep isles clear.
9. Never taste anything or touch chemicals with the hand.
10. Keep your hands away from your face, eyes, and body during lab. Wash your hands (including cuticles and under the nails) at the end of the lab.
11. Never eat or drink in the lab or from lab equipment. Do not drink water from lab faucets.
12. Always test for odor by waving hand above the container and sniffing cautiously from a distance.
13. Never carry hot or dangerous equipment or chemicals throughout a group of students.
14. Label all containers carefully.
15. Never pour reagents back into stock bottles, exchange stoppers, or set stoppers down. Reclose bottles when finished. Never remove them from the dispensing area.
16. When diluting acids, always pour acids into water, never the reverse. Combine the liquids slowly while stirring the mixture with a glass rod. Just remember this jingle. “A & W acid to water.”
17. In case of a burn from and acid or alkali (base), wash the affected area immediately with plenty of running water. If the eye is involved, irrigate 15 minutes at the eye wash station. Be sure to pull the lids away from the eye ball so the water is able to flow over all surfaces. Report the accident to the teacher.
18. Report any chemical spills to the teacher. Acid spills are neutralized with a dilute base (sodium bicarbonate). Base spills are neutralized with a dilute acid (acetic acid). Follow the teacher’s clean-up directions.
19. Light gas burners only as instructed by the teacher. Keep your head and clothing away from the flame. Do not reach over the flame. Never leave the burner unattended. Turn it off when not in use.
20. Do not bring any substance in contact with the flame unless told to do so.
21. Do not throw used matches into waste paper baskets. Put them in the appropriate bucket. Flammable rags are stored in containers with lids.
22. When heating material in a test tube, treat the test tube as a loaded gun. Point it away from all people, and do not look down into it.
23. When heating material in a test tube, treat the test tube as a loaded gun. Point it away from all people, and do not look down into it.
24. Clean up all broken glass with a brush and dustpan, never with the hands. Put broken glass in the proper container, not in the waste basket. (Report any broken thermometers to the teacher for clean-up. Mercury vapors are very hazardous.)
25. To cut glass tubing, use a file or tubing cutter to make a deep scratch. Wrap the tubing in a paper towel before breaking the glass away from you with your thumbs. Fire polish the ends.
26. When inserting glass tubing in a rubber stopper, lubricate the hole and tubing with water or glycerin, wrap in paper towels to protect the hands, and carefully twist (never push) the tubing into the hole.
27. When removing an electrical plus from its socket, pull on the plug – not the cord. Keep cords and plugs away from sinks and wet hands.
28. Treat all lab animals with respect and concern for human care.
29. Stay out of the storage room unless given permission from the teacher.
30. When cleaning up throw all solid waste in the proper container. Do not leave anything in the sinks.
31. Dispose of litmus paper, splints, matches, and toothpicks in the bucket provided. Hazardous or toxic materials must be disposed of properly. Follow your teacher’s directions.
32. Never mouth pipette. Use a suction bulb or syringe.
Questions
1. Do you wear contact lenses?
YES NO
2. Are you color blind?
YES NO
3. Do you have allergies?
YES NO
If so, list specific allergies.
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Agreement
I, have read and agree to follow all of the safety rules set forth
in this contract. I realize that I must obey these rules to insure my own safety, and that of my fellow students and instructors. I will cooperate to the fullest extent with my instructor and fellow students to maintain a safe lab environment. I will also closely follow the oral and written instructions provided by the instructor. I am aware that any violation of this safety contract that results in unsafe conduct in the laboratory or misbehavior on my part, may result in being removed from the laboratory, detention, receiving a failing grade, and/or dismissal from the course.
Student Signature:
Date:
Dear Parent or Guardian:
We feel that you should be informed regarding the school’s effort to create and maintain a safe science
classroom/laboratory environment. With the cooperation of the instructors, parents, and students, a safety
instruction program can eliminate, prevent, and correct possible hazards. You should be aware of the safety instructions your son/daughter will receive before engaging in any laboratory work. Please read the list of safety rules above. No student will be permitted to perform laboratory activities unless this contract is signed by both the student and parent/guardian and is on file with the teacher. Your signature on this contract indicates that you have read this Student Safety Contract, are aware of the measures taken to insure the safety of your son/daughter in the science laboratory, and will instruct your son/daughter to uphold his/her agreement to follow these rules and procedures in the laboratory.
Parent or Guardian:
Date:
Any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to contact me. I am happy to assist students anytime. When we work together we will succeed.