This document outlines various laboratory safety guidelines and procedures. It discusses the benefits of safety, as well as general safety practices regarding glassware, chemicals, electricity, heating, personal protective equipment, fire safety, first aid, chemical storage, and waste disposal. Specific hazards are identified, such as incompatible chemicals. The document emphasizes that following safety regulations and having proper training are essential for preventing accidents in the laboratory.

1. Laboratory Safety

2. Content
 Benefits of Safety
 General Safety
 Glassware Safety
 Chemical Safety
 Electric Safety
 Heating Safety
 Unsafe practices & Safety measures
 Hazards caused by people
 Risk assessment

3. Benefits of Safety
 Create a better working environment.
 Reduce the loss of trained staff.
 Reduce loss of equipment and material.
IT IS REQUIRED BY LAW !!!

4. What are the reasons for Accidents ?
 Wrong equipments in the buildings or laboratories.
 Wrong measures in First Aid or Fire-Fighting.
 Wrong handling of hazardous substances.
 Wrong storage.
 Lack of information about hazards.
 You can have the best equipment and the best procedures but if
people do not implement them or not aware of safety aspects,
you will still have accidents.
Target: Zero Accidents !!!
Accidents happen when the safety regulations are not observed

5. o Quality
o Productivity
o Organizational
effectiveness
o Employee morale
o Cost effectiveness
Incidents
Good Safety = Good Business

6. General Safety
Safety begins before your start work for the day !
 Listen to or read instructions carefully before
attempting to do anything.
 Clarify your doubts by asking questions.

7. General Safety
Know Hazard Symbols -They will alert you for possible dangers!
Flammable Poison Oxidizing Hot surface
Explosive High voltage Corrosive Sharp hazard
Eye hazard Irritant Bio-hazard Radioactive

8. General Safety
Know the locations!
Eye wash
Safety shower Fire extinguisher
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

9. General Safety
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Necessary to protect yourself from hazardous and bio-hazardous materials. PPE
could be protective gloves, safety goggles, lab coat, safety shoes, face shield,
respirator, nose mask, ear plug, helmet or any other item that could protect you
from dangerous materials that you may encounter in your workplace.
Safety goggles Lab coat Protective gloves

10. General Safety
Protective Clothing and equipment
 Skin | body protection:
o Non flammable (e.g. cotton), non-porous lab coat| apron with closed
fasteners should be worn.
o Clothing should cover your arms and legs.
o Loose clothing should not be worn because it may dip in to chemicals or
fall in to a flame and catch fire.
o Closed toed non slip shoes should be use.
o Appropriate gloves should be used. Do not used latex gloves for chemical
protection
 Eye protection:
o Safety glasses-flying particles, chemical splashes, dust
o Splash goggles-corrosive liquids, solvents, powders
o Face shields-High pressure systems.
 Respiratory protection:
o Nose mask
 Hearing protection:
o Ear plug

11. General Safety
Eye wash | Safety shower
o Must be checked periodically.
o Must not shut off automatically
o Should be of drinking water quality
o Safety shower-The flow must be 30 lit.|min (minimum)
Eyewash Safety shower

12. General Safety
Classes of Fire & Fire extinguisher :
 Class A : Fires of solid, organic material
(wood, paper, etc.)
 Class B : Fires of liquid materials
(alcohol, oil, paraffin, etc.)
 Class C : Fires of gases
(Hydrogen, Methane, Acetylene, etc.)
 Class D : Fires of metals
(Aluminium, Sodium, Potassium, etc.)
 Class E : Electrical Hazards
Extinguishers work by cooling | blanketing the
fuel | displacing oxygen.
Common fire extinguishing agents
Dry chemical powder | Carbon dioxide
Remove any one -
you have no fire !

13. General Safety
Handling of Fire extinguisher
 P-PULL the pin
 A-AIM LOW at the base of the
fire
 S-SQUEEZE – the lever
 S-SWEEP – from side to side
Don’t direct jet direct into a burning
liquid!

14. General Safety
First aid
 Immediately flush with cold water until burning sensation is reduced.
Injury: Burns
 Do not touch an open wound without safety gloves. Pressing directly on minor cuts
will stop bleeding in a few minutes. Apply cold compress to bruises to reduce
swelling.
Injury: Cuts|bruises

15. General Safety
First aid
 Provide fresh air and have the person recline so that head is lower than the rest of
the body.
Injury: Fainting
 Flush eyes immediately with plenty of water for several minutes. If a foreign object
is lodged in the eye, do not allow the eye to be rubbed.
Injury: The eyes

16. General Safety
First aid
 Find out what substance was responsible for the poisoning and alert the
supervisor immediately.
Injury: Poisoning
 Flush with large quantity of water. For acid spills, apply baking soda solution. For
base spills, apply vinegar or boric acid.
Injury: Spills on the skin

17. General Safety
First aid
 Shut off the current at the source. Remove wire with rubber
gloves. Alert the supervisor immediately.
Injury: Electric shock
 All employees should undergo through first aid training.
 Report all accidents to supervisor or safety officer.
 Properly maintained first aid kit should be available (nothing expired).
 Incase of unconsciousness, chest pain, serious injury or illness-call and
ambulance immediately.

18. General Safety
Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)
 Designed to provide specific information about chemicals, such as physical
properties, physical and health hazards and proper handling procedures.
Why MSDS ?
 If we are aware of characteristics of a substance then we know about
precautionary measures to take while using it.
If there is a spill on your skin, the MSDS can supply you with the information
needed for first aid.

19. General Safety
Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)
 An MSDS must be on file and available for each chemical.
 MSDS must be accessible to employees.
 MSDS provides detailed information about :
1. Identification/undertaking
2. Hazards identification
3. Composition | information on ingredients.
4. First - aid measures.
5. Fire fighting measures.
6. Accidental release measures.
7. Handling and storage.
8. Exposure controls,
personal protection.
9. Physical and Chemical
properties.
10. Stability and reactivity.
11. Toxicological information.
12. Ecological information.
13. Disposal considerations.
14. Transport information.
15. Regulatory information.
16. Other information.

20. General Safety
Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)
 Hazards identification :
 Inhalation: Respiratory tract (lungs) through inhalation.
 Ingestion: Digestive tract through eating or smoking with contaminated hands
or in contaminated work areas.
 Absorption through the skin or eyes : Dermatitis or damage to the liver,
kidney, or other organ systems.
 Injection : Percutaneous injection of a toxic substance through the skin.
Potential health effects:
 Eye irritation
 Nausea
 Dizziness
 Skin rashes
 Headache
 Existing medical conditions possibly aggravated by exposure

21. General Safety
Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)
 Accidental release measures :
 What to do if substance spills and leaks
 How to correctly dispose of substance
 Equipment | procedures for cleaning up spills and leaks.
 Handling and storage:
 How to handle and store substance safely
 Any other precautions (i.e.-grounding containers during transfer of
flammables)
 Exposure controls, personal protection:
 Respirator
 Gloves
 Eye protection
 Protective clothing
 Ventilation
 Special work and hygiene practices that should be followed.

22. General Safety
Telephone
 All emergency contact numbers should be displayed
near telephone.
Emergency Exit
 Clearly marked with glow-sign.
 Never locked | free from any obstruction.
 Ideally equipped with emergency light.
 Signs must be displayed to show the way to
the nearest exit.
Standard Operating Procedures (SOP)
& Work Instructions (WI)
 Must be written & easily available.

23. Glassware Safety
 Chipped or cracked glassware should not be used.
 Broken glassware should be disposed in a separate glass bin.
 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.
 Broken ends of glass rods should be polished to remove jagged edges.
 Pour down a glass stirring rod to prevent liquids from splattering.
 If a piece of glassware gets broken, do not try to clean it up casually.
 When inserting glass tubing into a rubber stopper, apply a lubricant to the
glass and use a twisting motion.
 Do not place hot glassware in water. Rapid cooling may make it shatter.

24. Glassware Safety
Hot glass does not look hot Scattered glassware
Hold hot glassware with gloves | tong Organised glassware

25. Chemical Safety
 Wear protective goggles and an apron, whenever heating or pouring hazardous
chemicals.
 Chemicals must be stored according to their hazard categories not alphabetically.
 Read the label twice before removing a chemical from the container. All labels
should face towards you.
 Transfer chemicals carefully ! Never mix incompatible chemicals together.
 Keep lids on chemical containers when not in use.
 Never taste any chemicals .
 Never pour water into a concentrated acid. Acid should be poured slowly into
water.
 Follow the instructions of your supervisor when disposing of all chemicals.
 If spillage occurs, follow spill control SOP. Deactivate spills of dangerous
chemicals properly.
 Wash your hands after handling hazardous chemicals.
 Wear glasses rather than contact lenses.
 Clean up your area at the end of your work.

26. Chemical Safety
 Danger
• Can cause immediate serious injury or death
 Warning
• Can cause potentially serious injury or death
 Caution
• Can cause potentially moderate injury
Common signal words on labels

27. Chemical Safety
 Very Toxic
• LD50 < 25 mg | kg.
 Toxic
• 200 mg | kg. > LD50 > 25 mg | kg.
 Harmful
• 2000 mg | kg. > LD50 > 200 mg | kg.
Toxic categories
LD50 – Lethal dose
(amount of a substance needed to kill 50% of a rat population exposed to the
substance).

28. Chemical Safety
 Prevent exposure to toxic, irritating, or noxious chemical vapors and gases.
 Work with volatile chemicals under a Fume Hood.
 Ensure proper functioning of Hood.
 Know the meanings of warning signals and how to use the controls.
 Close the sash while not in use.
Chemical Fume Hood
Do not use Hood for storage

29. Chemical Safety
Wave your hand over the
solution to smell it (whiff)
Read the labels of the chemicals
carefully before using them
Flammables | Acids should be stored
in respective cabinets
Avoid overhead storage

30. Chemical Safety
Incompatible Chemicals !
Chemical Incompatible with
Aniline Nitric Acid, Hydrogen Peroxide
Chlorine
Ammonia, Acetylene, Butadiene, Butane, Methane, Propane,
Hydrogen, Petroleum Ether, Benzene, Powdered metals
Chlorate
Ammonium Salts, Acids, powdered metals, Sulfur, Finely
distributed organic and combustible materials
Chromium
(VI) Oxide
Acetic Acid, Naphthalene, Camphor, Glycerol, Petroleum Ether,
Alcohols.
Copper Acetylene, Hydrogen Peroxide
Cyanides Acids
Fluorine store separately

31. Chemical Safety
Incompatible Chemicals !
Chemical Incompatible with
Flammable
Ammonium Nitrate, Chromium (VI)-oxide, Hydrogen Peroxide,
Nitric Acid, Sodium Peroxide, Halogens
Hydrocarbons
Chlorine, Bromine, Fluorine, Chromium (VI)-oxide, Sodium
Peroxide
Hyd. fluoride Ammonia (lab gas or solution)
Hydrogen
Peroxide
Copper, Chromium`, Iron Metals and Metal salts, Alcohols,
Acetone, Organic matter, Aniline, Nitromethane, flammable
matter (solid or liquid)
Hyd. sulfide Fuming Nitric Acid
Iodine Acetylene, Ammonia (liquid, gas or solution)
Mercury Acetylene, Ammonia

32. Chemical Safety
Incompatible Chemicals !
Chemical Incompatible with
Nitric acid
Acetic Acid, Aniline, Chromium (VI) oxide, Hydrogen Cyanide,
Hydrogen Sulfide, flammable liquids and gases.
Oxalic Acid Silver, Mercury
Perchloric Acid
Acetic Acid, Anhydride, Bismuth and its Alloys, Alcohols, Paper
Wood
Phosphorous Sulfur, Oxygen-containing compounds e.g.. chlorates
Potassium see alkali metals
Silver Acetylene, Oxalic Acid, Tartaric Acid
Sulphuric acid
Potassium Chlorate, Potassium Perchlorate, Potassium
Permanganate

33. Electric Safety
 There should be no accessible live, exposed electrical wiring
 Lay electrical cords where no one can trip on them or get caught in them.
 Inspect panels and plugs.
 Be sure your hands are dry before using electrical equipment.
 Keep all electrical cords, wires and appliances away from water.
 Never poke anything into electrical outlets. Only electrical plugs are to be placed
in to an electrical outlet.
 Unplug cords by pulling the plug and not the cord.
 Unplug all electrical equipment at the end of your work.

34. Heating Safety
 Let burners and hotplates cool down before touching them. Test to see if they are
cool enough by bringing the back of your hand close to them.
 Heated metal and glass apparatuses take long time to cool. Use tongs and | or
protective gloves to handle hot objects.
 Never reach across an open flame or burner.
 When heating a test tube, move it around slowly over the flame to distribute the
heat evenly.
 Never point the end of a test tube (being heated) at your self or others.
 Only glassware that is thoroughly dry should be heated.
 Heat glassware by placing it on a wire gauze platform on a ring stand. Do not
hold it in your hand.
 When lighting a burner, wait until a match is struck or the striker is in place
before you turn on the gas.
 Never leave a burner or hotplate unattended.
 Tie back hair and loose cloths when working with open flames.
 Never look into a container when you are heating it.
 Do not place hot glassware directly in to cold water.

35. Laboratory Management
 Do we really need so many chemicals?
 Do we need so much?
 Do we have proper storage facilities for
the hazardous materials?
 Do we know all hazards and properties
of all chemicals?
 Do we have MSDS?
THINK FIRST!
 Don’t buy things which you don’t need
 Keep checking your inventory
 Store things in right manner
 Maintain order!
THEN REACT!

36. You should never…..
Engage in…

37. You should never…..
Engage in…

38. Disposal of waste
Separate bins for different wastes

39. Cause of Accidents | Human factor
 Hazards – “People”:
 Tiredness
 Medication
 Stress
 Health concerns
 Marital problems
 Poor supervision
 Peer pressure
 Wrong instructions
 Boredom
 Stupidity
 Management pressure
 Poor training
 Wrong job
Unsafe conditions
Human Factor
or
Decision of Human
4%
96%
You can have the best equipment and the best procedures, but if people do not
implement them or, not aware of safety aspects, you will still have accidents!!!!

40. When in doubt - ASK !!!!
 Do not carry out a new or
unfamiliar procedure
until you have been fully
trained & understand the
precautions necessary for
safe working
DO NOT GUESS!!!!

41. Risk Assessment
 Probability score:
 Very unlikely =
1
 Unlikely =
2
 Likely =
3
Moderate to intolerable risks need action to eliminate the hazard
Risk ranking
 Severity score:
 Minor injury =
1
 Major injury= 2
 Serious injury =
3
Probability X Severity = Risk score (1 – 9)
Risk evaluation
 1 = Trivial
 2 = Acceptable
 3 -4 = Moderate
 6 = Substantial
 9 = Intolerable
Procedure → Equipment → Training → Monitoring

42. Safety Tips
o Follow best practices.
o Modify culture: High standards and personal involvement.
o Consider safety and welfare of your colleagues as well as yourself.
o Do not disregard safety rules to get job done faster.
o Notice unsafe acts | situations and correct them.
o Improve communication: Report problems promptly – don’t leave them for
someone else.
o Safety awareness: Safety is equivalent to Production | Quality | Cost.

43. Agency information
 Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
• OSHA primarily monitors Hazardous Materials, Hazard Communication,
Bloodborne Pathogens, and Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Chemicals
in Laboratories. OSHA is in charge of monitoring work conditions and
eliminating physical and health hazards at the work place.
 Environmental Health & Safety Office (EHS)
• The EHS office plays a larger role in overseeing the various activities that take
place in campus. They interpret laws and regulations, and maintain up-to-
date records of current health and safety standards. The duties range from
fire safety, plant | laboratory safety to training and emergency response.

44. Safety Audit
Do Safety Audit after regular
time intervals, note score &
improve

45. Always remember!!
It takes:
o One minute to write a safety rule
o One hour to hold a safety seminar
o One week to plan a safety meeting
o One month to put to operation
o One year to win a safety award
o One life to become a safe worker
But it takes only
One Second to destroy it all
with an ACCIDENT!!!