American Chemical Society

DISCLAIMER

This guide contains information and guidelines thatare believed to be reliable regarding the safe useand handling of chemicals in laboratories andstudent classrooms. The American Chemical Society(ACS), however, does not purport, in this guide or inany other publication, to specify minimum safety orlegal standards or to address all of the compliancerequirements, risks, or safety problems associatedwith the handling of hazardous chemicals, their use,or the methods prescribed for using them inlaboratories or classrooms. This guide is intended toserve only as a beginning point for information andshould not be construed as containing all thenecessary compliance, safety, or warninginformation, nor should it be construed asrepresenting the policy of ACS.

No warranty, guarantee, or representation is madeby ACS as to the accuracy or sufficiency of theinformation and guidelines contained herein, andACS assumes no liability or responsibility inconnection therewith. It is the responsibility of theusers of this guide to consult and comply withpertinent local, state, and federal laws, regulations,and standards with respect to the handling ofchemicals. Users of this guide should consult withthe institution’s legal counsel or other professionaladvisers about the applicable laws, safety issues,and compliance issues for storing chemicals and themethods for using the chemicals in classrooms andlaboratories.

Doing Things

SAFELYis not just the right way towork–it’s the only way!Safety For Introductory Chemistry Students

American Chemical Society1155 Sixteenth Street, N.W.,Washington, D.C. 20036www.chemistry.org©2010

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THE CHEMISTRY LABORATORYINCLUDES HAZARDS AND RISKS!Scientists understand the risks involvedin the laboratory and have establisheda set of laboratory safety practices. Thisguide summarizes the safety rules thatscientists follow in the laboratory.

PERSONAL PROTECTION� Wear eye protection (chemicalsafety goggles)! This applies atall times to all persons in thelaboratory—even guests.Contact lenses worn withgoggles are acceptable, butsafety glasses and prescriptionsafety glasses without goggles do notprovide adequate protection. Increase the degreeof protection (use face shields, laboratory hoods, etc.)when the hazards increase.

� Take care not to ingest anything in the laboratory!Food, gum, beverages, and tobacco products arenever allowed in the laboratory.

� Do not apply cosmetics in the laboratory.� Never pipet by mouth!� Clothing should protect you from accidental spillsand splashes. Wear clothing you can remove easilyin case of accident. Clothes should cover the bodyfrom the neck to at least the knees.

� Tie back long hair and remove jewelry beforeentering the laboratory.

� Wear practical shoes. Shoeswith high heels, open toes,ormade ofwovenmaterials are not allowed in thelaboratory. Sandals and flip-flops are not appropriate!

� Don’t use any distracting electronic devices whilein laboratory.

� Nonflammable, nonporous lab aprons affordexcellent protection. Always remove lab aprons orcoats before leaving the laboratory.

� Youwill often need to wear gloves to avoidskin contact with hazardousmaterials.

� Always, even after wearing gloves, washyour hands with soap and water beforeleaving the lab!

LABORATORY PROTOCOL� Your responsibility to prevent accidents in thelaboratory extends to others in addition toyourself. The laboratory experience should beenjoyable but is serious; it is not a time for play.Be aware of what is happening around you andreport any questionable behavior.

� Always plan laboratory work before executing it.Providing for safety and avoiding potential accidentsare important elements of the plan. You shouldunderstand the hazards associated with thechemicals involved before you start the experiment.If you are unsure about the hazards and theprotection that you need, Material Safety DataSheets (MSDSs), which provide detailed information,are available from your instructor, or online.

� Use a safety shield when working with highlyreactive chemicals and mixtures.

� Flames are never allowed when flammable gasesor liquids are in use.

� Always alert others before lighting a flame!� Know where to find and how to use all emergencyequipment (such as fire extinguishers, eye washes,and safety showers) in the laboratory.

� Always assemble laboratory apparatus away fromthe edge of the laboratory bench.

� Always check your glassware and discardany with chips, breaks, or obvious flaws.

� When using a laboratory hood, set theequipment and chemicals back at least15 centimeters from the hood.

� Be certain that you understand theproper use and operation of all laboratoryequipment.

� Never work in the laboratory alone.� Never leave experiments unattended unless youtake special precautions to avoid accidents andyou notify the responsible individuals.

� Use laboratory hoods for all operations in whichtoxic, corrosive, irritating, or flammable chemicalsare involved. Be certain that the hood is operatingproperly prior to execution of your work!

� Never put your face inside the laboratory hood.� Never perform unauthorized experiments ordeviate from the experimental plan, especially donot scale up the experiment. Report unauthorizedexperiments to the instructor.

� Report all injuries to the instructor.

HOUSEKEEPING� You are responsible for ensuring that a cleanworkspace is maintained both in your ownworking area and in the common working areas.The laboratory environment should be at least asclean and orderly when you finish your work aswhen you began.

� Place broken glassware in the proper receptacles.Do not allow it to accumulate on the bench top.

� Keep laboratory benches free of spilled chemicals.Clean up spills immediately as directed by yourinstructor.

� Avoid physical hazards by keeping drawers andcabinets closed.

� Prevent tripping and contamination hazards—never place materials on the floor.

� Always clean glassware before returning it tostorage. Do not allow dirty glassware to accumulate.

� Follow your instructor’s directions for disposal ofchemicals. If you don’t know, ask! Improperdisposal results in possible personal hazard orenvironmental contamination.

� Contaminated wastepaper must be handledseparately from normal wastepaper.

This guide briefly reviews the major principles thatguide scientists in performing their laboratory worksafely. The American Chemical Society publicationSafety in Academic Chemistry Laboratories (http://chemistry.org/committees/ccs) provides more detailedinformation both about these topics and aboutmanaging the hazards of specialized operations.

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