Laboratory Safety and Work Instructions

Dr. Subhash C. GoelAssistant Professor of Chemistry

South Georgia State CollegeDouglas, GA31533

Introduction

• Knowledge is the best defense against an injury in chemistry lab.

• The best way to prevent accidents is for you to know the possible hazards in the laboratory.

• By knowing the hazards, you will develop a healthy respect for what’s happening around you.

• If there is something that you feel is not right, bring to my notice. I will do my part to keep you safe, but remember, I will need your help to keep you all safe in the lab.

Laboratory Apparel

• Wear safety goggles at all the times in the Lab.• Contact lenses are not permitted in lab.• Students are encouraged to wear lab aprons

all the time.• Sandals, open-toes shoes, and high heels are

not permitted in the lab.• Shorts and skirts cut above the knee are not

permitted in the lab.

Laboratory Apparel

• Careful consideration should be given before wearing any jewelry into the lab.

• Never wear clothes that hang.• Long hair is to be constrained.• No radio, CD player, phones, or similar devices

are permitted in the lab.

Safety Equipment

• Familiarize yourself with the lab safety equipment and keep their locations in your mind (fire extinguisher, eye wash station, shower, fire-blanket etc.). Help me in making sure that they are operating properly.

• MSDS (material safety data sheets) are available on request.

General Behavior

• Absolutely NO HORSEPLAY in the lab.• Read upcoming experiments carefully and

thoroughly. Make sure you understand all the directions.

• Eating and Drinking are absolutely prohibited inside the lab.

• Wash you hands frequently.• Do not apply makeup in the lab.

General Behavior

• Should an injury occur, no matter how minor it is, report immediately to lab supervisor.

• Never pick-up broken glass with your bare hands, regardless of the size of pieces.

• Never put broken glass in regular garbage can.• Always read the labels on reagent bottles

twice. • Never make an unauthorized substitution.

General Behavior

• Never use reagent from an unmarked bottle.• In any emergency, the fastest way to get lab

supervisor attention is to scream.• If you are not feeling well report it your lab

supervisor immediately.• Never taste anything.

General Behavior

• Never smell a chemical straight out of a container.

General Behavior• Use fume exhaust hood when performing

experiments with skin irritating or dangerous chemicals or if the reaction involves evolution of noxious or hazardous gas.

General Behavior

Never point a test tube that you are heating at yourself or your neighbor-it may erupt like a geyser.

In Case of a Fire

• In the event of a fire, DON’T PANIC!• If a small portion of your clothes catches fire,

the fire can be extinguished by patting it out.• If a large portion of your clothes catches fire,

there are three options for putting the flames out: (i) drop to the ground and roll, (ii) use the safety shower, or (iii) use the fire-blanket.

• Never use a fire extinguisher on a person.

In Case of a Fire

• If a fire should occur in a beaker or some other container, cover it with a glass dish or other flame retardant item.

• Never move an object that is burning.• Never use water to extinguish a chemical fire.

In Case of FireIn case of large fire use fire extinguisher.

Chemicals and chemical Spills

• Report any chemical spill to your lab supervisor.

• Should a chemical spill occur, remove all affected clothing and wash the affected body area with copious amount of water.

• Small spills on the bench or floor should be cleaned immediately.

• Avoid spilling around the balance.

General Guidelines

• Read the assignment before coming to the laboratory.

• Learn how to light a Bunsen burner.• Before turning on a burner, make sure there is

no organic solvent around.• Before opening a bottle of organic solvent,

make sure there is no open flame on the entire bench.

General Guidelines

• Never take more of a reagent than you need. Use appropriate size container to run the experiment.

• Never return unused portion of a reagent to its original container.

• Never pour a waste chemical in drain or put in garbage can unless instructed by your lab supervisor.

General Guidelines

• Make sure to cool down the heated glass- or porcelain-ware or metal items before touching it with bare hands.

• Discard a disposable pipette after use.• While running an experiment, never look down the

opening of the reaction container (beaker, flask or any other equipment).

• Never heat a cracked or chipped piece of glassware (beaker or flask).

General Guidelines

• For Safety purpose, always place the ring stand as far back on the lab bench as comfortable, with the long edge of the base perpendicular to the front of the bench.

Basic Laboratory ProceduresMost basic lab equipment is made of glass so that can see easily what’s happening inside. Here are

some basic lab equipment and there uses.

• Beaker• Erlenmeyer Flask• Graduated cylinder• Spatula• Disposable pipette• Test tube

Basic Laboratory Procedures

• Balance• Pipet• Volumetric flask• Gravity filtration• Vacuum filtration• Decanting• Centrifuging• Buret