This document provides definitions and examples of common safety symbols seen in science laboratories. It explains 14 different safety symbols related to eye protection, clothing protection, thermal safety, electrical safety, animal safety, open flames, fire safety, chemical safety, fumes, poisons, sharp objects, biological hazards, radioactivity, explosions, and plants. For each symbol, it provides a brief definition and example of when that symbol would be used and appropriate safety precautions to take. The document emphasizes that students are responsible for understanding and following all safety symbols and taking necessary precautions to prevent accidents in the lab.

1. Safety Symbols
2014-2015

2. Take a guess….
 Before I tell you what each symbol is called
and what each means I would like to you
take a guess.

3.  Disposal Alert
 This symbol appears when
care must be taken to
dispose of materials
properly.

4.  Eye Safety
 This symbol appears
when a danger to the
eyes exists. Safety
goggles should be worn
when this symbol
appears.

5.  Clothing Protection Alert
 This symbol appears when
substances used could
stain or burn clothing.

6.  Thermal Safety
 This symbol appears as
a reminder to use
caution when handling
hot objects.

7.  Electrical Safety
 This symbol appears
when care should be
taken when using
electrical equipment.

8. • Wear safety goggles when working with chemicals,
flames, or heating devices.
• If a chemical gets in your eye, flush in water for 15
minutes and notify the teacher.
Safety Symbols
Eye Protection
Sharp Objects
• When using knifes or other sharp objects
always walk with the points facing down.
• Cut away from fingers and body.
Electrical Safety
• Do not place a cord where someone can trip
over it.
• Never use electricity around water.
• Unplug all equipment before leaving the room.

9.  Animal Safety
 This symbol appears
whenever live animals
are studied and the
safety of the animals
and the student must be
ensured.

10.  Open Flame Alert
 This symbol appears
when use of an open
flame could cause a fire
or an explosion.
 Fire Safety
 This symbol appears
when care should be
taken around open
flames.

11. Safety Symbols
Animal Safety
• Only handle living organisms with teacher
permission.
• Always treat living organisms humanely.
• Wash your hands after handling animals.
Heating Safety
• Tie back hair and loose clothes when
working with open flames.
• Never look into a container as you are
heating it.
• Heated metal and glass looks cool, use
tongs or gloves before handling.
• Never leave a heat source unattended.

12.  Chemical Safety
 This symbol appears
when chemicals used
can cause burns or are
poisonous if absorbed
through the skin.

13.  Fume Safety
 This symbol appears
when chemical
reactions could cause
dangerous fumes.

14.  Poison Safety
 This symbol appears
when poisonous
substances are used.

15.  Sharp Object Safety
 This symbol appears
when a danger of cuts
or punctures caused by
the use of sharp objects
exists.

16.  Biological Hazard
 This symbol appears
then there is danger
involving bacteria, fungi,
or protists.

17.  Radioactive Safety
 This symbol appears
when radioactive
materials are used.

18.  Explosion Safety
 This symbol appears
when care should be
taken around open
flames.

19.  Plant Safety
 This symbol appears
when poisonous
plants or plants with
thorns are handled.

20. Safety Symbols
Chemical Safety
• Read all labels twice before removing a chemical
from the container.
• Never touch, taste, or smell a chemical unless
instructed by the teacher.
• Transfer chemicals carefully!
Hand Safety
• If a chemical spills on your skin, notify the teacher
and rinse with water for 15 minutes.
• Carry glassware carefully.
Plant Safety
• Do not eat any plants in lab.
• Wash your hands after handling plants.

21. What’s Wrong With This Picture?

22. What’s Wrong With This Picture?

23. What’s Wrong With This Picture?

24. What’s Wrong With These
Statements?
1. Hal says that his teacher is solely responsible for preventing
laboratory accidents.
2. Keshia started the lab activity before reading it through
completely.
3. Ricardo decided to do a lab activity that he read about in a
library book before the teacher came into the classroom.
4. Stephanie says that the safety goggles mess up her hair and
give her raccoon eyes. She refuses to wear them.
5. Barbie and Ken accidentally break a beaker full of some
chemical. Instead of risking getting in trouble they quickly
clean up the mess with paper towel and throw it in the
garbage.