Lab Safety Rules

Expectations for all lab activities

General Rules

• Follow all written and verbal instructions carefully

• If you don’t understand something, ask your instructor before proceeding

• Never work in the lab without the teacher present

General Rules

• When 1st entering the science room, DON’T touch ANY equipment, chemicals or other materials for lab until instructed to do so

• Students are never permitted in the science storage rooms or preparation areas

General Rules

• No food

• No drinks

• No gum

• Never use laboratory glassware as containers for food or beverages

General Rules

• Only perform experiments authorized by your instructor

• Never do anything in the lab that is not called for in the procedures or by your instructor

• Unauthorized experiments are prohibited

General Rules

• Never fool around in the lab

• Horseplay, practical jokes, and pranks are dangerous and prohibited

• There are no “warnings”

• Any misbehavior will result in being removed from lab and receiving zero points for that lab

General Rules

• Keep work areas clean and tidy

• Leave your backpack and any unnecessary materials at your desk

• Keep aisles clear. Push your chair in when not in use

General Rules

• Know the location of safety equipment

• Know the procedure for a fire alarm

General Rules

• Never pour chemicals down the sink unless told by your instructor

• Dispose of chemicals in the proper waste receptacle

General Rules

• Keep hands away from face, eyes, mouth and body when using chemicals or preserved specimens

• Wash your hands with soap and water after ALL experiments

General Rules

• Experiments must be personally monitored at all times

• You will be assigned a lab station

• Do not wander to other stations, disturb other students, or interfere with other students’ lab experiments

General Rules

• Handle all living organisms in a humane manner

• Preserved biological materials are to be treated with respect and disposed of properly

General Rules

• When using knives and other sharp instruments, always carry with tips and points pointing down and away

• Always cut away from your body

General Rules

• Dress properly for lab activities

• Long hair must be tied back

• Dangling jewelry or baggy clothing must be removed

• Wear shoes that cover as much of your feet as possible

Accidents and Injuries

• Report ANY accident to the instructor immediately, no matter how trivial it may appear

• If a chemical splashes on your skin, flush with running water

• If it gets in your eyes, flush with water using the eye wash station

Handling Chemicals• All chemicals in the lab are to be

considered dangerous

• Don’t touch, smell, or taste any chemicals unless specifically instructed to do so

• When instructed to smell a chemical, waft the smell towards you. Don’t smell the chemical directly

Handling Chemicals

• Always double check the label on chemical bottles before removing any of the chemical

• Take only as much as you need• Never return unused chemicals to their

original containers• Never remove chemicals or other

materials from the lab

Handling Equipment/Glassware

• Never handle broken glass with your bare hands

• Use a brush and dustpan to clean up broken glass

• Place broken glass in the designated glass disposal container

Handling Equipment/Glassware

• Never use chipped, cracked or dirty glassware

• Do not immerse hot glassware in cold water as it may shatter

• If you don’t understand how to use a piece of equipment, ask the instructor for help

Heating Substances• Exercise extreme caution when using a

gas burner

• Never leave a lit burner unattended

• Never leave anything that is being heated or is visibly reacting unattended

• Turn off burner or hot plate when not in use

Heating Substances

• You will be instructed in proper methods of heating/boiling liquids in test tubes

• Never point the open end of a test tube being heated at yourself or others

• Never look into a container that is being heated

Heating Substances

• Heated metals and glass remain very hot for a long time

• They should be set to cool and picked up with caution

• Use tongs or heat-protective gloves if necessary