Safety in the science laboratory 10. Observe good housekeeping practices.
Work areas should be kept clean and tidy
Science is a hands-on laboratory class. at all times. Lab areas should be kept as
You will be doing many laboratory clear as possible. Only lab equipment, lab
activities that require the use of directions, and student worksheets
hazardous chemicals, flames, and lab should be on lab area. Backpacks,
equipment. Safety in the classroom is the notebooks, etc. must be away from the lab
number 1 priority for students, teachers, area.
and parents. To ensure a safe science 11. Keep aisles clear. Push your chair or
class, a list of rules has been provided to lab stool under (next to) table when not
you which you are advised to follow in use.
strictly. 12. Know the locations and use of all
safety equipment including fire
General Guidelines extinguisher, fire blanket, eyewash
1. Conduct yourself in a responsible station and shower. Know where the fire
manner at all times in the lab. Enter alarm and the exits are located. Use the
quietly and maturely. Never run in the fire blanket (stop, drop, and roll) to
lab. extinguish any flame on a person.
2. Follow all written and verbal directions 13. Notify the teacher of any unsafe
carefully. If you do not understand a conditions you may observe.
direction or procedure, ask the teacher 14. Students are never permitted in
BEFORE continuing. science storage room without teacher
3. Never work in the lab without a permission.
teacher. 15. Keep hands away from face, eyes,
4. When first entering the science mouth and body while using chemicals or
classroom, do not touch any equipment, preserved specimens. Wash your hands
chemicals or other materials until you with soap and water after performing all
have been told to do so. experiments. Clean and dry all dirty lab
5. Never touch any equipment, chemicals equipment. Lab areas must be clean and
or materials in any lab station except the dry.
station in which you are working. 16. Treat all living organisms in a humane
6. Perform only those experiments manner. Preserved specimens are to be
authorized by the teacher. Never do treated with respect and disposed of
anything in the lab that is not in the lab properly. No specimen or its parts are to
procedure. Carefully follow all leave the science classroom. They are to
instructions, both written and verbal. be disposed of properly.
Unauthorized experiments are 17. When using knives or other sharp
prohibited. objects, always carry them with the tips
7. Do not eat, or drink in the lab. Do not pointing down. Always cut away from
use laboratory glassware as containers your body. Don’t try to catch a sharp
for food or beverages. object if dropped.
8. All students must work quietly to 18. Dispose of all chemical waste
maintain a safe lab. Students must talk properly. Never mix chemicals in sink
only to their lab partner(s) and must drains. Sinks are to be used for water only
whisper. unless instructed differently by the
9. Horseplay, practical jokes, and teacher. The teacher will instruct you in
pranks are dangerous and prohibited. the disposal of all solids and liquids in
Do not wander from your lab station, their proper container. Read all container
distract other students, or interfere with labels twice BEFORE mixing chemicals.
other students.
Clothing of bottles or lay stoppers on tables.
19. Any time chemicals, heat or flames are Unused chemicals may be returned to a
in use, students will wear safety goggles. labeled glass or plastic vial.
20. Lab aprons should be worn during lab 35. When transferring chemicals from one
activities requiring use of certain container to another, hold the containers
chemicals. away from your body.
21. Dress properly during lab activities. 36. Acids must be handled with extreme
Long hair must be tied back. Loose or care. Always add acid to water, stir the
baggy clothing and dangling jewelry must solution, and be careful of heat produced.
be secured. Never add water to acid.
24. Shoes must completely cover the foot. 37. Take great care when carrying acids
No sandals allowed. and other chemicals from one part of the
25. The teacher must know of students lab to another. Hold them securely and
wearing contact lenses. walk carefully.
38. Never remove chemicals or other
Accidents and Injuries materials from the lab area.
26. Report any accident (spill or breakage,
etc.) to the teacher immediately, no Handling Glassware and Equipment
matter how small it may appear. 39. If you do not understand how to use
27. If a chemical should splash in your equipment, ask the teacher for help.
eye(s) or on your skin, immediately flush 40. Fill wash bottles only with water and
with running water from the eyewash use only as intended (for example, rinsing
station or safety shower. Notify the glassware or adding water to a
teacher immediately. container).
28. If any part of your body is splashed 41. Examine glassware before beginning a
with chemicals, flush it with water for at lab experiment. Never use chipped or
least 20 minutes. cracked glassware. Never use dirty
29. Contact wearers should try and glassware.
remove your lens after 2-3 minutes of 42. Do not put hot glassware in cold
flushing if the lens has remained in the water. It may shatter.
eye. Continue flushing for at least 20 43. Never handle broken glass with your
minutes. bare hands. Use a dustpan and brush to
30. Students with open skin wounds on clean up broken glass. Place broken glass
hands must wear gloves or be excused in the designated glass disposal container.
from the laboratory activity. Report broken glassware to the instructor
immediately.
Handling Chemicals 44. Carry glass tubing, especially long
31. All chemicals in the laboratory are to pieces, in a vertical position to reduce the
be considered dangerous. Do not touch, chance of breakage and injury.
taste or smell any chemicals unless 45. Inserting and removing glass tubing
specifically instructed to do so. The from rubber stoppers can be dangerous.
proper technique for smelling chemical Always lubricate tubing (or thermometer)
fumes will be demonstrated and used. before attempting to insert it into or
32. Labels on chemical containers must be remove it from, a rubber stopper. If a
read carefully to ensure the correct piece of tubing becomes “stuck” in a
chemical is used. stopper, take it to the teacher for removal.
33. Take only as much chemical as you 46. Report damaged electrical equipment
need. Use a clean chemical scoop. immediately. Look for such things as
34. Never return chemicals to an original frayed cords, exposed wires, and loose
chemical bottle, never exchange stoppers
connections. Do not use damaged
electrical equipment.
47. When removing an electrical plug,
grasp the plug, not the cord. Hands must
be dry before touching an electrical
switch, plug or outlet.
Heating Substances
48. Use extreme caution when using a
Bunsen burner. Take care that hair,
clothing and hands are a safe distance
from the flame at all times. Do not put any
substance into the flame unless
specifically instructed to do so. Keep
volatile materials a safe distance away
from the flame. Never reach over an
exposed flame. Light Bunsen burners
only as instructed by the teacher.
49. Never leave a lit burner unattended.
Never leave anything that is being heated
or is visibly reacting unattended. Always
turn the burner off when not in use.
50. You will be instructed in the proper
method of heating and boiling liquids in
test tubes. Do not point the open end of a
test tube being heated at yourself or
anyone else.
51. Heated metals and glass remain very
hot for a long time. They should be set
aside to cool and picked up with caution.
Use tongs or heat-protective gloves if
necessary.
52. Never look directly into a container
that is being heated.
53. Do not place hot apparatus directly on
the lab table. Always use an insulating
pad. Allow plenty of time for glassware to
cool before touching it.
