Topic 1: Lab Safety Protocols in the Organic Chemistry Laboratory

Purpose:
The organic chemistry laboratory has the potential to be very dangerous. So, as an ethical chemistry
student, it is extremely important that you understand and follow all lab safety protocols when you are in
the laboratory. Always adhere to the safety protocols for the safety of yourself and your lab mates.
Safety Guidelines:

1). Wear eye protection:

Chemicals can cause serious damage to your eyes, including blindness.
 To prevent chemicals and other hazardous substances from coming in contact with your eyes, safety
glasses or goggles must be worn at all times working in the laboratory.
 If you must adjust or clean your eye protection, step outside of the laboratory to do so.
 Safety goggles offer the best protection and are particularly recommended to guard against splashes
and explosions.
2). Dress appropriately for lab:
 The less skin that is exposed, the better! Sandals are not allowed in the laboratory because they
expose your toes to chemical spills and broken glassware. Shoes must be close-toed.
 Lab coats are recommended to protect you and your clothing.
 Avoid loose-fitting clothing and accessories because they may cause spills or come in contact with
hazardous chemicals. Hair must be tied.
3). Wear appropriate gloves:
 Gloves are required at all times when you are handling chemicals and items that have been exposed
to chemicals.
 You should not rub your eye with a gloved hand once you have handled chemicals.
 A good rule of thumb is to not touch anything with your gloves that you do not want chemicals on.
 Obtain a new pair of gloves if they develop a rip or tear.
4). Keep the lab clean and neat:
 Avoid cluttering the lab bench or hood. Clutter can lead to spills, so return items promptly to their
proper locations.
 Do not place personal items, such as bags and backpacks, on the floor as they may cause others to
trip.
 Promptly notify the laboratory instructor of any spills and clean them up as instructed.
5). Perform only authorized experiments:
Unauthorized experimentation may expose you and your lab
mates to unforeseen hazards.
6).Store and dispose of laboratory reagents as directed:

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  Pay careful attention to the lab manual and to your
instructor on how to store and dispose of reagents.
 Many reagents cannot be disposed of down the drain as they may be toxic to the
environment.
7) Do not bring food, drinks, or cosmetics into the laboratory:
Eating, drinking, or applying cosmetics in the laboratory can introduce toxic or corrosive chemicals into
your system. You particularly want to avoid any contamination to your mouth or eyes.
8)Be familiar with the experiment before beginning the lab:
 Pay particular attention to cautions given in the procedure and
by the laboratory instructor.
 Learn about hazards associated with the chemicals you will be
using by looking up and reading their Material Safety Data
Sheet (MSDS).
9).Read labels carefully:
Only use the correct chemicals in the proper concentrations. The wrong chemical or
concentration could result in a violent reaction.
10).Ask “dumb” questions.
If you are not sure about how to properly perform a procedure or handle a chemical, ask your instructor.
11).Don’t rush:
If you are anxious to leave lab early or working hurriedly to catch up, you may neglect
important safety precautions. Always make safety a priority.
12).Inform your instructor of any special medical conditions:
If you have a medical condition that might be affected by laboratory work (e.g., allergies) or that might
affect safe performance of laboratory work (e.g., seizure disorders), inform your instructor immediately.
13).Know what to do in the event of an emergency:

Prompt response to an incident can make the difference between a minor event and permanent injury. You
should be familiar with actions to take in the event of an incident, as well as the location of the Student
Health Center.

Issues Specific to Particular Experiments:

1).Never pipet by mouth:
Many organic chemicals are toxic or corrosive. So never pipet by mouth.
2).Carefully inspect glassware for damage:
Broken glassware may cause cuts, and chipped or cracked glassware may break and spill its contents
unexpectedly.
3).Use caution when heating reactions:
Dr. Huma Rao
  Avoid open flames whenever possible.
 A closed system should not be heated because the resulting increase in pressure may cause an
explosion that propels reagents or pieces of glass.
 Always insure that an opening is present when heating a reaction.
 Do not heat any distillation pot to dryness because overheating could cause the remaining residue to
detonate.
4).Handle hot objects with caution:
 Hot glass, metal, or sand is often indistinguishable from cool glass, metal, or sand.
 Cautiously touch objects that have been heated before handling them.
 Place a note near any hot objects remaining at the end of your laboratory period so that students in
the subsequent section will be aware of the danger.
5).Do not directly sniff the contents of a container:

Responding to Incidents in the Organic Chemistry Laboratory:

In addition to following all of the above safety precautions, you must be familiar with how to handle an
incident in the laboratory and be willing to provide assistance to others in emergencies. The following are
incidents that you may encounter in the organic chemistry laboratory:

1).Broken glass and other sharp objects:

Properly dispose of broken glass by using a hand brush and dustpan to collect the pieces, and do not attempt
to use your hands, even if you are wearing gloves. Dispose of broken glass and small, sharp objects such as
syringe needles and capillary tubes properly in specially designated receptacles.
2).Cuts:
For minor cuts, wash the affected area using water and soap. If the injury does not stop bleeding on its
own, apply gentle pressure with a clean paper towel or bandage. Go to the Student Health Center if you
suspect a cut may be deep, the wound continues to bleed.
3).Burns:
Hold the burned area under cool running water for 10 to 15 minutes or until the pain subsides, then inform
your laboratory instructor.
4).Chemical spills:
The appropriate steps to be taken will vary, depending on the amount and identity of the reagent. If the
spilled chemical is flammable, remove all ignition sources, heat sources, and equipment that could produce a
spark.
5)Chemicals in the eyes:
A person who has gotten reagents into their eyes will require assistance.

Dr. Huma Rao

If this happens to you, ask a lab mate to assist you to the eyewash while you hold open your eyelids. If you
are wearing contact lenses, remove them under the flow of water. Ensure that the flow of water gets to the
entire eye surface for no less than 15 minutes. Follow up with an examination by a health care professional.
6).Fires Many:
Solvents and chemicals used in the organic chemistry laboratory are highly flammable, and a fire may occur
in the laboratory. If a fire does occur, step back from the fire and then immediately notify the laboratory
instructor and anybody working in the vicinity. Move flammable materials away, and turn the equipment
off or remove it from the vicinity of the fire. Close any gas lines that may be open in the room.
7)Fire on a person:
 If your hair or clothing catches on fire, stop, drop, and roll (stop where you are, drop to the floor, and
roll to smother the flames).
 When the flames are extinguished, remove any smoldering fabric and hold burned areas under cool
running water for 10 to 15 minutes or until the pain subsides.
 If your neighbor catches on fire, assist them to the safety shower or help beat out the flames using a
laboratory coat or fire blanket.
8)Inhalation:
 Avoid inhaling unsafe levels of irritating or toxic vapors by following the directions for using
laboratory reagents.
 If at any time in the laboratory you feel dizzy, light-headed, faint, or develop a headache,
step outside of the laboratory for fresh air and immediately take cold water.
9).Ingestion:
 If you accidentally swallow a reagent, an ambulance and lab attendant should be called immediately.
 While waiting for assistance, rinse your mouth several times with cool water, and drink one to two
cups of water or milk.

Written by
Dr. Huma Rao
Composed by
Abdul Basit
Pharm-D (1st Prof Morning)
Department of Pharmacy
The Islamia University Of Bahawalpur

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fire
and then immediately notify the laboratory instructor and anybody working in the vicinity. Move
flammable materials away, and turn the equipment off or remove it from the vicinity of
the fire. Close any gas lines that may be open in the room. If possible, contain small fires by placing a
watch glass or beaker over the fire to smother it. Some small fires, such as alcohol fires, may be allowed to
burn out. If a fire spreads to a larger area of the bench, the laboratory
instructor or other authorized persons will direct you to evacuate the laboratory and the building.
7)Fire on a person:
Proper response to a fire can make the difference between loss of clothing or,
in extreme cases, loss of life. If your hair or clothing catches on fire, walk (don’t run) to the nearest safety
shower or stop, drop, and roll (stop where you are, drop to the floor, and roll to
smother the flames). When the flames are extinguished, remove any smoldering fabric and hold
burned areas under cool running water for 10 to 15 minutes or until the pain subsides. Use a
sink or safety shower depending on the size of the burn. If your neighbor catches on fire, assist
them to the safety shower or help beat out the flames using a laboratory coat or fire blanket 8)Inhalation:
Avoid inhaling unsafe levels of irritating or toxic vapors by following the directions
for using laboratory reagents and by using the reagents in a fume hood or with a snorkel. If at any time in
the laboratory you feel dizzy, light-headed, faint, or develop a headache, step outside of the laboratory for
fresh air and immediately notify your instructor.
9).Ingestion:
If you accidentally swallow a reagent, an ambulance and lab attandent should be called immediately.
While waiting for assistance, rinse your mouth several
times with cool water, and drink one to two cups of water or milk

Dr. Huma Rao