Safety in the Safety in the Science LaboratoryScience LaboratoryChapter 1 Section 5Chapter 1 Section 5

Essential Questions:Essential Questions:

1.1. Why is preparation important when Why is preparation important when carrying out scientific investigations in carrying out scientific investigations in the lab and in the field?the lab and in the field?

2.2. What should you do if an accident What should you do if an accident occurs?occurs?

Good preparation helps Good preparation helps you stay safe when you stay safe when doing science activities doing science activities in the laboratory.in the laboratory.

Safety In the LabSafety In the Lab

Three steps are involved in lab safety:Three steps are involved in lab safety:

1.1. Preparing for the labPreparing for the lab

2.2. Performing the labPerforming the lab

3.3. End-of-lab proceduresEnd-of-lab procedures

Preparing for the labPreparing for the lab

This should begin the day BEFORE you This should begin the day BEFORE you do the labdo the lab

Read through the procedure carefully, Read through the procedure carefully, insuring you understand all directionsinsuring you understand all directions

Review the general safety guidelines in Review the general safety guidelines in Appendix AAppendix A

If anything is unclear, ask your teacher If anything is unclear, ask your teacher before the lab beginsbefore the lab begins

Performing the LabPerforming the Lab

During a lab, your chief concern must be During a lab, your chief concern must be the safety of yourself, your classmates, the safety of yourself, your classmates, and your teacher.and your teacher.

The most important safety rule:The most important safety rule: Always follow your teacher’s instructions and Always follow your teacher’s instructions and

the textbook directions exactly. (Don’t try the textbook directions exactly. (Don’t try anything on your own without asking your anything on your own without asking your teacher first.)teacher first.)

Performing the Lab Performing the Lab (continued):(continued):

Know and understand safety symbols Know and understand safety symbols associated with the labassociated with the lab

Keep your work area clean and Keep your work area clean and organizedorganized

Do not engage in horseplayDo not engage in horseplay Never eat or drink in the labNever eat or drink in the lab

End-of-Lab Procedures:End-of-Lab Procedures:

Clean up your work areaClean up your work area Turn off and unplug any equipment and Turn off and unplug any equipment and

return it to the correct placereturn it to the correct place Dispose of waste materials properly:Dispose of waste materials properly:

Some go in the trashSome go in the trash Some go down the drainSome go down the drain Some need special handlingSome need special handling

Wash your hands thoroughlyWash your hands thoroughly

Safety in the FieldSafety in the Field

““The field” is anywhere outside your The field” is anywhere outside your regular classroom or lab. (Ex: regular classroom or lab. (Ex: playground, forest, park, beach)playground, forest, park, beach)

Because of unknown conditions, Because of unknown conditions, preparing for field work is much more preparing for field work is much more difficultdifficult

You could encounter:You could encounter:

Severe weatherSevere weather TrafficTraffic Wild animalsWild animals Poisonous plantsPoisonous plants

Prepare for these as much as possible (by Prepare for these as much as possible (by listening to weather reports, dressing listening to weather reports, dressing appropriately, etc)appropriately, etc)

During field work, During field work, ALWAYS:ALWAYS:

Tell an adult where you will beTell an adult where you will be Never work aloneNever work alone Ask an adult or classmate to accompany Ask an adult or classmate to accompany

youyou

In Case of an AccidentIn Case of an Accident

Always notify your teacher immediately – Always notify your teacher immediately – no matter how minor the accident seems.no matter how minor the accident seems.

Listen to the teacher’s directions and Listen to the teacher’s directions and carry them out quickly.carry them out quickly.

Know the location and proper use of Know the location and proper use of safety equipmentsafety equipment

First AidFirst Aid

BurnsBurns Immerse burns in cold waterImmerse burns in cold water CutsCuts Cover cuts with a clean dressing. Cover cuts with a clean dressing.

Apply direct pressure to the wound to stop Apply direct pressure to the wound to stop bleeding.bleeding.

Spills on SkinSpills on Skin Flush the skin with large Flush the skin with large amounts of water.amounts of water.

Foreign Object in EyeForeign Object in Eye Flush the eye with large Flush the eye with large amounts of water. Seek medical attention.amounts of water. Seek medical attention.

Dressing for labsDressing for labs

Wear close toed shoesWear close toed shoes Try not to wear contactsTry not to wear contacts Wear clothes that fit and are not Wear clothes that fit and are not

extremely looseextremely loose Wear long pantsWear long pants Wear an apronWear an apron Tie back long hairTie back long hair Don’t wear jewelryDon’t wear jewelry

Heat and Fire SafetyHeat and Fire Safety

Use an oven mitt to pick up a container Use an oven mitt to pick up a container that has been heatedthat has been heated

Do not put cold water in or on glass that Do not put cold water in or on glass that has been heated (it could shatter)has been heated (it could shatter)

Chemical SafetyChemical Safety

Never put your face near the mouth of a Never put your face near the mouth of a container that holds chemicals. If you need to container that holds chemicals. If you need to smell it, waive your hand over the container smell it, waive your hand over the container and direct some of the aroma to your noseand direct some of the aroma to your nose

Never touch, taste, or smell a chemical unless Never touch, taste, or smell a chemical unless your teacher tells you toyour teacher tells you to

Dispose of chemicals as instructed by your Dispose of chemicals as instructed by your teacherteacher

Never mix chemicals unless instructed to do so Never mix chemicals unless instructed to do so by your teacher – this can kill you.by your teacher – this can kill you.

Glassware SafetyGlassware Safety

Never handle broken or chipped glass Never handle broken or chipped glass with your bare hands. Notify the teacher with your bare hands. Notify the teacher that it is chipped or brokenthat it is chipped or broken

Sharp Instrument SafetySharp Instrument Safety

Handle sharp instruments with extreme Handle sharp instruments with extreme carecare

Never cut material toward you; always Never cut material toward you; always cut away from youcut away from you

Safety SymbolsSafety Symbols

This is only a partial list!This is only a partial list!

Clothing ProtectionClothing Protection

Secure loose clothing and Secure loose clothing and remove dangling jewelry. Do remove dangling jewelry. Do not wear open-toed shoes or not wear open-toed shoes or sandals in the lab.sandals in the lab.

Wear an apron or lab coat to Wear an apron or lab coat to protect your clothing when protect your clothing when working with chemicals.working with chemicals.

If a spill gets on your If a spill gets on your clothing, rinse it immediately clothing, rinse it immediately with water for at least five with water for at least five minutes while notifying your minutes while notifying your instructor.instructor.

Electrical SafetyElectrical Safety

Do not place electrical cords in walking Do not place electrical cords in walking areas.areas.

Do not let cords hang over a table Do not let cords hang over a table edge such that equipment will fall if the edge such that equipment will fall if the cord is pulled.cord is pulled.

Do not use equipment that has Do not use equipment that has damaged cords.damaged cords.

Be sure that the power switch for a Be sure that the power switch for a piece of equipment is in the off position piece of equipment is in the off position before plugging the equipment in.before plugging the equipment in.

Never use an electrical appliance Never use an electrical appliance when you are near water or when your when you are near water or when your hands are wet.hands are wet.

Be sure to turn off and unplug Be sure to turn off and unplug electrical equipment when you are electrical equipment when you are finished using it.finished using it.

Eye ProtectionEye Protection

Wear safety goggles when Wear safety goggles when working around chemicals, working around chemicals, acids, bases, flames, or heating acids, bases, flames, or heating devices. Contents under devices. Contents under pressure may become pressure may become projectiles and may cause projectiles and may cause serious injury.serious injury.

Never look directly at the sun Never look directly at the sun through any optical device or through any optical device or use direct sunlight to illuminate a use direct sunlight to illuminate a microscope.microscope.

Avoid wearing contact lenses in Avoid wearing contact lenses in the lab.the lab.

If any substance gets in your If any substance gets in your eyes, notify your instructor eyes, notify your instructor immediately and flush your eyes immediately and flush your eyes with running water for at least 15 with running water for at least 15 minutes.minutes.

Waste DisposalWaste Disposal

Clean and decontaminate Clean and decontaminate all work surfaces and all work surfaces and personal protective personal protective equipment as directed by equipment as directed by your instructor.your instructor.

Dispose broken glass, Dispose broken glass, contaminated sharp contaminated sharp objects, and objects, and contaminated materials contaminated materials (biological and chemical) (biological and chemical) in special containers as in special containers as directed by your directed by your instructor.instructor.

Sharp ObjectsSharp Objects

Be extremely careful Be extremely careful when using knives when using knives and other sharp and other sharp instruments.instruments.

Place objects on a Place objects on a suitable work surface suitable work surface for cutting. Never cut for cutting. Never cut toward your hand.toward your hand.

Never use a double-Never use a double-edged razor in the lab.edged razor in the lab.

Plant SafetyPlant Safety

Do not eat any part of a Do not eat any part of a plant or plant seed used plant or plant seed used in the lab.in the lab.

Wash hands thoroughly Wash hands thoroughly after handling any part of after handling any part of a plant.a plant.

When outdoors, do not When outdoors, do not pick any wild plants pick any wild plants unless your teacher unless your teacher instructs you to do so.instructs you to do so.

Heating SafetyHeating Safety Avoid wearing hair spray or hair Avoid wearing hair spray or hair

gel on lab days.gel on lab days. Whenever possible, use an Whenever possible, use an

electric hot plate as a heat a electric hot plate as a heat a source instead of using an open source instead of using an open flame.flame.

When heating materials in a test When heating materials in a test tube, always angle the test tube tube, always angle the test tube away from yourself and others.away from yourself and others.

Make sure that glass containers Make sure that glass containers used for heating are made of used for heating are made of heat-resistant glass.heat-resistant glass.

Know your school’s fire-Know your school’s fire-evacuation routes.evacuation routes.

QuizQuiz

1.1. What should you do to prepare for a What should you do to prepare for a lab?lab?

a.a. Read the procedures for the first time as Read the procedures for the first time as you begin the labyou begin the lab

b.b. Read the procedures the day before you Read the procedures the day before you do the labdo the lab

c.c. Only read the procedures if you can’t think Only read the procedures if you can’t think of anything to do with the equipment of anything to do with the equipment you’ve been givenyou’ve been given

QuizQuiz

2.2. During a lab, you shouldDuring a lab, you shoulda.a. Mix all ingredients together to see what Mix all ingredients together to see what

you getyou get

b.b. Follow all directions given by the teacher Follow all directions given by the teacher exactly and do only those things exactly and do only those things

c.c. Read the lab directions for the first timeRead the lab directions for the first time

Quiz continuedQuiz continued

3.3. After the lab is complete, you shouldAfter the lab is complete, you should

a. Throw away all materials and return a. Throw away all materials and return to your seatto your seat

b. Return to your seat immediatelyb. Return to your seat immediately

c. Clean up your area, put away all c. Clean up your area, put away all materials, and throw away only the materials, and throw away only the items the teacher instructs you toitems the teacher instructs you to

Quiz continuedQuiz continued

4.4. True or FalseTrue or False

If an emergency happens, the first thing If an emergency happens, the first thing to do is notify your teacher immediately.to do is notify your teacher immediately.