The Klein High School Science Lab

Chemistry Laboratory Safety

Lab Safety: Everyone is Responsible!

• "I didn't mean to" and "It wasn't my fault" are two statements that have no place in the lab.

• Horse-play will not be tolerated. • Lack of pre-lab preparation is the biggest

threat to lab safety. • Read lab instructions prior to coming to lab. If you do

not understand any procedure, ask your instructor for explanation.

• Never perform unauthorized or unsupervised experiments.

Safety Glasses and a lab apron must be worn any time you are in

the lab area. – Safety glasses are

stored in the goggle cabinet at the front of the room, lab aprons are on the hooks at the front of the room

– Contact lenses increase the potential damage to the eye in a chemical accident, please wear your glasses for lab

Long hair and bulky clothing are dangerous in the lab area.

– There is a danger of catching fire, as well as being soaked in chemicals.

– Wear appropriate clothing.

– Tie back long hair.

Rings, watches, and dangling jewelry are dangerous in the lab

area.

– Corrosive or irritating liquids may get underneath a ring or watch and produce irritation.

– Dangling jewelry may catch on a piece of labware and cause an accident.

• Always pay attention to verbal instructions given by your teacher.

Prevention = Smartest Move

• Before beginning work in lab, clean the lab bench top and your glassware

• Direct contact with chemicals should be kept to a minimum

• Never taste any chemicals or substances produced by a chemical reaction

• Eating or drinking in lab is never permitted Fume hood should be used when burning chemicals and when a chemical reaction gives off noxious gases

Heating Precautions

• Do not heat heavy or thick glassware, such as graduated cylinder or reagent bottles.

• Avoid heating any apparatus too suddenly• When heating a substance in a test tube, be

careful not to point tube at another person or yourself

• Do not hold tip of test tube directly in the flame

Accidents Can Happen• Remain calm! A minor

problem can quickly become a major one if you overreact.

• Report all accidents to your teacher immediately, no matter how small.

• Types of accidents and how to handle them:

Broken Glass: • The most common accident in the lab, even with

the best of care. • If you are using the equipment properly, you will not

get into trouble for breaking a piece of glassware, but you will still be required to pay for the broken glassware.

• If you are not using the equipment properly, or if horse-play is involved, you will be required to pay for the broken glassware and disciplinary action may be taken.

• Report any breakage to your teacher immediately. • Do not move until your teacher says it is safe to

do so. • If anyone is cut, report it immediately. • Chemical spills are often involved with glass

breakage. When that occurs, follow those safety precautions too.

Cuts and Scrapes: • Report the situation and let your teacher help

the injured person. • There is always a possibility of infection, even

with the most minor injury. For this reason you should report any cut or scrape, even if there is no visible blood.

• Do not come into contact with another person's blood, either directly or indirectly.

•

Chemical Spills: • Chemical Safety Warning Signs - NFPA, ANSI, OSHA • Depending on the chemical spilled the procedure can vary; for

most of the chemicals we will use, water is the best treatment – flush the affected area with water for up to 15 minutes (20 minutes for eyes)

• The most potentially dangerous chemicals used in our lab are corrosive acids and bases. Always treat acids and bases with care even if you are using dilute solutions.

• You are to treat all spills as DANGEROUS. • Stop where you are and let your teacher advise you about

what to do. • Always consult the proper Safety Data Sheet before doing

anything. Sometimes adding water is not the proper step – know those exceptions

• Kitty litter and baking soda are located in the hood for large spills.

Fire: • Lab burners are the source of most problems:

– Bunsen burners have very few malfunctions. If a malfunction occurs, turn off the gas and notify your teacher- end of problem.

– Be aware when a burner is in use at your lab station. Never leave a flame unattended

– When you are not actively heating something - turn the burner off.

• Clothing or Hair is the most dangerous type of fire in the lab. – Don't panic! – If you are the one involved in a fire - stay where you are - help

is coming. – If your partner is involved in a fire - get the fire blanket. Your

teacher will be racing you to the blanket and both of you will help your partner smother the fire.

– If the fire is not at your lab station - stay away !

• The science teacher is the only person authorized to use the fire extinguisher

Lab Safety Equipment

Eye Wash/Shower Station:

– Eye wash station is located on the right side of the lab. It should only be used if chemicals come in contact with the eyes

– Flood eyes and eyelids with water for a minimum of 20 minutes.

– Shower in the event that large amounts of chemicals are spilled or splashed onto the skin or clothing

Fire Safety Blanket:

– The fire safety blanket is located at the front of the science lab.

– Fire blankets are not the best means to extinguish a fire. They may be used to extinguish clothing that is burning, but should never be used on any other type of fire.

– Fire blankets are a good means to keep shock victims warm.

Fire Extinguisher: – The fire extinguisher is located on the lab wall. – Only the science facilitator is authorized to use the fire

extinguisher. – Fire extinguishers are classified according to a particular fire type and

are given the same letter and symbol classification as that of the fire. – Types of extinguishers:

• TYPE A -- Combustibles wood, cloth, paper, rubber and plastics. • TYPE B -- Flammable liquids, oil, grease and paint thinners. • TYPE C -- Energized electrical equipment • TYPE D -- Combustible metals (magnesium, titanium, sodium, lithium,

potassium). • Multipurpose Extinguishers are an effective agent against Types A, B, and C

fires. • Our laboratory fire extinguisher is Type ABC.

– To effectively operate an extinguisher, think P-A-S-S. • P -- pull the pin

A -- aim the hose at the base of the fireS -- squeeze the handleS -- sweep the hose back and forth

Protect others

• Clean-up is important for the safety of others and for the preservation of equipment.

• Your lab station and equipment should be cleaned before you worry about the lab report.

• What clean-up should be done after each lab? – Dispose of chemicals as directed by your teacher– NEVER put unused chemicals back into their original container. – Return chemical containers to the chemical table. – Wash and dry all glassware, then store properly. – Clean hardware, but DO NOT wash. If any hardware is wet, dry

completely before storing. This is to prevent rusting.

– Clean and dry your lab table.

What is SDS ?• Safety Data Sheet• A “non-standard” form required of all chemical distributors• Must contain all relevant information on a chemical

including but not limited to:– health, fire, poison, & causticity hazards

– first aid

– controls/special protections

– carcinogens – physical/chemical characteristics– spill/leak procedures

Where Do We Find the SDS?

SDS sheets are maintained in each:– chemical storeroom– preparation room

Ask your instructor if you wish to see one. You are expected to check SDS online for every lab. (http://avogadro.chem.iastate.edu/msds/MSDS_S.html)These sheets can be found on flinnsci.com. You should note storage, safety precautions, and skin damage.

The NFPA Diamond• National Fire Protection Association• “Standardized” labeling system for chemical

hazards• Includes four color codes

red (flammability) blue (health)

yellow (reactivity) white (special warnings)

• Numerical Ratings o= no hazard 1= slight 2= moderate

3= severe 4= extreme

• Used by KHS Science Department

NFPA HazardLabel

• Required on all chemical labels

• Scale value from 0-4

Flammability

ReactivityHealth

Special Notice

NFPA HazardLabel1 What is the

greatest safety hazard for the chemical illustrated to the left?

2 What is the reactivity value of the chemical?

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