Lab Safety
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General Safety Rules
1. Listen to or read instructions carefully
before attempting to do anything.
2. Safety Glasses MUST be worn at all
times during lab experiments, especially
those involving chemicals, glassware, and
heat.
3. Horseplay will not be tolerated and may
result in a loss of lab privileges.
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General Safety Rules
4. ASK QUESTIONS if you are not sure of
what you are supposed to be doing. 100% Rule
5. Before and after lab your hands should be
washed
6. Long hair must be tied back.
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General Safety Rules
7. Report ALL accidents IMMEDIATELY, no
matter how small.
8. Know the location of the fire extinguisher, fire
blanket, eyewash station, and first aid kit.
9. Keep your work area uncluttered. Take to the
lab station only what is necessary.
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When Accidents Happen…
1.REMAIN CALM!
This sounds like common sense, but when accidents
happen remaining calm is crucial!
2.Report ALL accidents
IMMEDIATELY, no
matter how small.
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Eye Wash Station
The eyewash station should only be used if
chemicals come in contact with your eyes.
Contacts should not be worn during labs. If
you are wearing them and are involved in an
accident, they must be removed as soon as
possible, to prevent further harm from
chemicals trapped beneath them.
Eyelids must be forcibly kept open and washed
for a minimum of 20 minutes.
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Fire Extinguisher
• Your teacher is the only person officially
authorized to use a fire extinguisher.
• Fire extinguishers should NEVER be used on
people unless as a last resort!
• To use a fire extinguisher, you must be 5-8ft
from the fire.
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Fire Extinguisher
•P A S S
• P – PULL the pin
• A – Aim the hose at the base of the fire
• S – Squeeze the handle
• S – Sweep the hose back and forth
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Fire Blanket
• Should be used to extinguish clothing, or
a person that is on fire, nothing else.
• NEVER wrap a standing student in a fire
blanket. Doing so would create a
“chimney effect” bringing the fire to the
student’s head.
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Safety Shower
• The safety shower is used primarily when
large amounts of chemicals have been
splashed onto the skin or clothing.
• The safety shower may be used in the
case of a body on fire, but a fire blanket
should be used if possible.
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Glassware Safety
1.
2.
3.
Chipped or cracked glassware should
not be used. Show it to the teacher.
Broken glassware should not be
disposed of in a classroom trashcan.
There is a special glass disposal
container for it.
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.
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Glassware Safety
4. If a piece of glassware gets broken, do
not try to clean it up by yourself.
Notify the teacher.
5. Do not place hot glassware in water.
Rapid cooling may make it shatter.
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Chemical Safety
1. Wear protective goggles whenever
heating or pouring hazardous chemicals.
2. Never mix chemicals together unless you
are told to do so (and then only in the
manner specified).
3. Never taste any chemicals (you should
never taste anything in the lab).
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Chemical Safety
4. If you need to smell the odor of a
chemical, waft the fumes toward
your nose with one hand. Do not
put your nose over the container
and inhale the fumes.
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Chemical Safety
5.
6.
Follow the instructions of your
teacher when disposing of all
chemicals.
Wash your hands after handling
hazardous chemicals.
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First Aid
Injury:
To Do:
Burns
Immediately flush with cold
water until burning sensation is
lessened.
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First Aid
Injury:
To Do:
Cuts, bruises
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.
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Lab Station Maintenance and
Clean-Up
1. BEFORE you start your lab, you should wash
and dry your station counter-top.
2. Keep your station clean and organized
during your lab. You should label and know
what is in every container!
3. Know how and where to dispose chemicals
and other lab materials, as directed by your
teacher.
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Lab Station Maintenance and
Clean-Up
4. Wash and dry all glassware, and store it
properly.
5. Clean all hardware (balances, etc.), but DO
NOT WASH it, and store it properly.
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Lab Station Maintenance and
Clean-Up
6. BEFORE YOU LEAVE your station, you
must:
1. Ensure that all equipment is put away.
2. Wash and dry your station counter-top.
3. Do NOT leave until you and your partners
are ready to go. Never leave someone at a
lab bench alone – even if the bell rings.
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