What are the general hazards in a laboratory?
Fire Breakage of glassware Sharps Spillages Pressure equipment &
gas cylinders Extremes of heat & cold Chemical hazards
And many more!
General Safety Rules
1. Listen to or read instructions carefully before attempting to do anything.
2. Notify your teacher if any spills or accidents occur.
General Safety Rules
3. After handling chemicals, always wash your hands with soap
and water.4. During lab work, keep your
hands away from your face.5. Keep your work area
uncluttered. Take to the lab station only what is necessary.
General Safety Rules
6. Never put anything into your mouth during a lab experiment.
7. Clean up your lab area at the conclusion of the laboratory
period.8. Never “horse around” or play
practical jokes in the laboratory.
10. Never eat, drink or smoke in a laboratory
11. Never apply cosmetics
12. Never touch your face, mouth or eyes
13. Never suck pens or chew pencils14. Always wash your hands before
you leave and especially before eating
Glassware Safety Chipped or cracked glassware should
not be used. Show it to the teacher.
When pouring liquids into glassware, make sure the container you are pouring into is resting on a table at least a hands breadth from the edge.
Hazard means the potential to cause injury or illness and can apply to substances, methods or machines
Risk means the probability and consequences of occurrence of injury or illness.
Reduce the Hazard
When you know that you are dealing with a hazard, you can take action to reduce the risk.
20
Understand the Hazards!Know how you can reduce the risk.Know how you can manage the lab
Key to Working Safely
Chemicals are the most common and significant health hazards
Chemicals can be hazardous for numerous reasons and can combine with other chemicals to make new hazards
22
Flammable: catches fire easily and burns rapidly
Explosive: will explode / detonate releasing hot gases
Oxidizer: Chemicals that react with other substances can result in fire or explosion
Water reactive - reacts with water to release flammable gas, causes fire or presents a health hazard
Types of chemical hazards
23
Irritant: can cause inflammation of skin or eyes
Reproductive toxin: could have harmful effect on male or female reproductive system or on developing fetus
Corrosive: cause irreversible damage to living tissue.
Carcinogen: cause cancer or suspected to cause cancer
Harmful Capable of causing health problems after larger or long-term exposures
Toxic - Capable of causing death or serious health problems after exposure.
Copyright 2006 ã Progressive Business Publications
Health hazards
Headaches, rashes and burns
Respiratory problems or lung damage
Kidney and liver damage
Reproductive damage
Cancer
Death
Chemical Hazards
All chemicals have a hazard effect on our body, but they different in the minimal amount to show the obvious effect
Also acid’s vapors irritate the respiratory tract and cause lung cancer.
Acids react with metal to release flammable hydrogen gas
Bases
Potassium hydroxide: Appearance: hygroscopic white pellets Toxic, Corrosive.
Ammonia: 33% Clear, colorless liquid Toxic, Corrosive, strong irritating odor.
Solids
Solid chemicals have the lowest risk due to their low mobility and non-volatility.
Highly toxic solids Arsenic compoundsInorganic cyanidesMercury compoundsSelenium and its compounds
Ethanol hazards
Ethanol is a highly flammable and harmful substance. If ingested, it may be fatal and may cause eye damage, nausea, dizziness, headache and central nervous system depression. Ethanol may be absorbed through the skin.Ethanol is a volatile liquid its vapors can irritate the eyes.
Safe yourself
Wear:• Lab’s coat
must cover shoulders, frontal area, and extend approximately 6" below the waist• Safety Goggles• Gloves• Closed-toed shoes• Face mask if volatile
material used• Clothing made of natural
based fiber such as cotton
• Tie back long hair
• Keep your hands away from your face during the lab and wash your hands at end of the lab
Do NOT Wear:• Sandals• Jewelry• Loose or Baggy clothing• Contact lenses
Requirements
Lab’s coat Safety goggles Gloves. Dust masks or respirators Hand cleaner Labels Marker pen Pipette filler.
First Aid
1. Inhalation:
Move victim to fresh air and give respiratory aid if needed.
2. Eyes contact:Don’t rub the eyes. Hold eyelids open and flush with water for 15 minutes
3. Skin contact:
Remove contaminated clothes, rinse skin with plenty of water for 15 minutes.
Use soap except in case of acids or bases.
Neutralize acid with sodium carbonate (powder)
Base with 5% vinegar
4. Ingestion:For Acids: do not induce vomiting. take large quantities of milk or water.
For Bases: do not induce vomiting. Take large amounts of water followed by diluted vinegar, fruit juice or egg whites beaten with water.
For organic solvents: take 2 glasses of water and induce vomiting
The final message......
You are not going to die using chemicals
... BUT you MUST be carefull and take preacutions!!!!!!!
It’s just common sense.......
... FOR YOU AND THE PEOPLE AROUND YOU!!!!!