This document provides guidelines for students on laboratory safety. It outlines proper procedures for protecting eyes, skin, hands, respiratory system, hair, and mouth from hazards. Students should wear safety goggles and gloves when using chemicals, glassware or compressed gases. Any exposures should be washed for 5-15 minutes. Volatile chemicals must be used in the ventilation hood. Food and drink are prohibited in the lab. Hazardous waste must be disposed of properly. Students should notify the instructor immediately in the event of any accident or emergency.

1. Safe Laboratory Practice
What Students Should
Know

2. Protecting the Eyes
Safety Goggles
Students are required to wear
splashproof safety goggles at any
time in which glassware, heat,
chemicals, projectiles &
compressed gases
are being used.
I’m Dead-Sexy

3. Caustic Chemical Exposure to the
Skin
 Wash exposed area immediately
for 5-15 minutes
 MINOR: in the sink
 MAJOR: in safety shower and/or
eye wash fountain
 If possible, remove any clothing
that is saturated with the caustic
chemical
 Tell Steg immediately

4. Protecting your hands
 Do not allow any chemicals in contact with
your hands
 when using corrosives, toxics, or chemicals that
can be absorbed through the skin – wear lab-
provided protective gloves
 If you are exposed, wash your hands thoroughly
with soap and water for 5-15 minutes
immediately.
 Always wash hands after a lab

5. Protecting Your Respiratory
System
Ventilation Hood
If a chemical is volatile, a
hazard by inhalation or
corrosive use the hood
If you’re using the hood you
need protective gloves and
safety goggles

6. Protect Your Hair & Skin
From chemicals
and flames
exposure:
Tie back loose hair
Be cautious with
loose clothing on
arms

7. Protect Your Skin
Open Toes are NOT allowed…
keep shoes here if you need to
Wear clothes that cover
your at-risk skin (including
bare midriffs).

8. Protecting the Nasal
Passages
If you have to smell a
chemical
point the vessel away
from the face
fan the vapors toward
your nose with an
ungloved hand-WAFT

9. Protecting the Mouth
Never, Never taste a
chemical
Hmm…tastes just
like chicken

10. Food & Drink in the Lab
ALL food and drink must be kept in the
lecture room
NEVER eat or drink during a lab

11. Follow the Lab Guidelines
Refrain from
unauthorized procedure
modifications
Lab should be fun but
absolutely no
horseplay
The results could be
disastrous.
Stop
horsing
around

12. Working with Acids
Working with concentrated acids
work in the hood
Do As You Oughter…Add
Acid to Water

13. Hazardous Waste
Dispose of waste
properly…ask
Do not put anything
down the sink drain
unless instructor says it’s
OK
This’ll fix Batman

14. ACCIDENTS
If you have an
accident-Tell the
instructor
Immediately!!!!
If something
breaks, don’t try
to clean it…report
it!
That’s not what
I was going
For!!

15. Emergency Safety Equipment
Safety Shower and Eye Wash
Fountain –how to use
Fire extinguisher
Fire blanket
First aid

16. Access to the Lab Prep Area
For safety reasons
you’re not welcome
in this area.
This is the area of
chemical preparation--
you may come to the
door to ask for
assistance but no
further

17. Fire or a Chemical Spill
Safety first: Stay
away from it!!!
Inform the instructor
Stay calm

18. Emergency Event
If an emergency happens, keep your
cool, and ask for help either from Steg or
from a neighboring teacher
If all else fails call 911.

19. Emergency Event
Make certain that you know the fire
route