Silverado High SchoolLab Safety Procedures

Safety in the

Science Laboratory

In the laboratory, you will be working with equipment and materials that can cause injury if they are not handled properly. However, the laboratory can be a safe place to work if you are careful. ACCIDENTS do not just happen, they are caused -- by carelessness, haste, and disregard of safety rules and practices.

Safety rules to be followed in the laboratory are listed below. Before beginning any lab work, read these rules, learn them, and follow them carefully. If you have any questions about these rules, ask your teacher before starting lab work.

General Precautions

1. Be prepared to work when you arrive at the laboratory. Familiarize yourself with the lab procedures before beginning the lab.

2. Carefully follow all written and oral INSRTUCTIONS. Perform only those activities assigned by your teacher. Never do anything in the laboratory that is not called for in the lab procedure or by your teacher.

3. Notify your teacher if you have any medical problems that might be affected by lab work, such as allergies or asthma.

4. Never work in the laboratory without supervision.

5. Never eat or drink in the laboratory.6. Never smoke in the laboratory.

7. Keep work areas clean and tidy at all times. Only lab manuals or written lab procedures, note books should be brought to the work area. All other items, such as books, purses, and backpacks, should be left at your desk or in a designated storage area.

8. Wear appropriate CLOTHING for working in the laboratory. Remove jackets, ties, and other LOOSE garments. Roll up or secure long sleeves. Remove jewelry such asDANGLING necklaces, earrings, chains, and bracelets, that might present a hazard in the lab.

9. Tie back or cover long hair, especially in the vicinity of an open flame.10. Never wear open shoes or sandals in the laboratory11. Wear GOGGLES and a lab coat or APRON at all times during an investigation.

12. Avoid wearing contact lenses in the lab. Change to glasses, if possible, or notify your teacher.

13. Do not engage in horseplay.

14. Set up apparatus as described in the written laboratory procedures or by your teacher. Never use makeshift arrangements.

15. Always use the prescribed instrument, such as tongs, test-tube holder, or forceps, for handling apparatus.16. Keep all COMBUSTIBLE materials away from open flames.

17. Never put your face near the mouth of a container that holds CHEMICALS. Never smell any CHEMICAL directly. When testing for odors, use a wafting motion to direct the odors to your nose.18. Conduct any experiment involving poisonous vapors in a FUME hood.

19. Dispose of waste materials as instructed by your teacher20. Clean and wipe dry all work surfaces at the end of class. Wash your hands thoroughly.

21. Know the location and proper use of emergency equipment, such as the first-aid kit, fire extinguisher, fire shower, and FIRE BLANKET.22. In case of CHEMICAL spills, notify your teacher immediately.23. Report all injuries to your teacher immediately.

Handling CHEMICALS24. Read and double-check labels on CHEMICAL bottles before removing any CHEMICAL. Take only as much as you need.

25. To avoid contamination, do not RETURN any unused CHEMICALS to stock bottles.26. When transferring CHEMICALS from one container to another, hold the containers away from your body.

27. Avoid touching CHEMICALS with your hands. If CHEMICALS do come in contact with your hands, wash them immediately.26 Wear latex gloves when handling concentrated ACIDS and bases.29. When mixing an ACID and WATER, always add the ACID to the WATER.

Handling Glassware

30. Carry glass tubing, especially long pieces, in a vertical position to minimize the likelihood of BREAKAGE and to avoid stabbing anyone.

31. Always wear heavy gloves when inserting a piece of glassware, such as tubing or a thermometer, into a stopper. Before inserting glassware into a stopper, LUBRICATE the glass with WATER or glycerin.

Use a twisting motion when inserting or removing glassware from a stopper— never apply force. If a piece of glassware becomes stuck in a stopper, take it to your teacher.

32. Do not place hot glassware directly on a table. Always use some type of insulating pad.33. Allow plenty of time for hot glass to cool before touching it. Hot glass can cause burns. (Remember hot glass looks cool.)

• 34. Never handle broken glass with your bare hands. Use a brush and dustpan to clean up. Dispose of the glass as directed by your teacher.

Heating Substances35. Use extreme caution with gas BURNERS. Keep your head and CLOTHING away from the flame.

36. Always turn off BURNERS and hot plates when not in use.

• 37. Do not bring any substance into contact with a flame unless instructed to do so.38. Never heat anything unless instructed to do so. Never LEAVE unattended anything that is being heated or is visibly reacting.

39. When heating a substance n a test tube, make sure that the mouth of the tube is not pointed at you or anyone else. Never look into a container that is being heated..40. Never heat a closed container.

What to Do if there is an injury

41. If an Injury should occur, It Is important to remain calm.

42. Notify your instructor immediately.

• 43. Be familiar with the first-aid practices that are to be followed.44. Know how to use the emergency equipment.45. Know how to summon assistance.

First Aidin the

Science Laboratory

ACCIDENTS do not often happen in well equipped chemistry laboratories if students understand safe laboratory procedures and are careful to follow them. When an occasional ACCIDENT does occur it is likely to be a minor one.

In many schools, the NURSE is responsible for treating Injuries. For some types of injuries, though, you must take action immediately, before the NURSE takes over. Find out what your school’s emergency procedures are and make sure that they are posted in the laboratory

Always notify your teacher if there is an Injury in the classroom, no matter how minor it may seem.

Bleeding From a CutMost cuts that occur in the chemistry laboratory are minor. For minor cuts, apply PRESSURE to the wound with a clean, absorbent cloth.

• If blood begins to soak through, add more layers of cloth. If possible, keep a sheet of plastic over the topmost layer or wear latex or plastic gloves. Take the victim to the NURSE.

If the victim is bleeding badly, RAISE the bleeding part, if possible, and apply PRESSURE to the wound with a dean, absorbent cloth. While first aid is being given, send someone to notify the school NURSE.

ACID or Base Spilled on the SkinRemove all CLOTHING that has the CHEMICAL on it and FLUSH the skin with WATER for at least 15 minutes. Take the victim to the school NURSE.

CHEMICALS in the MouthMany CHEMICALS are poisonous to varying degrees. Any CHEMICAL taken into the mouth should be spat out and the mouth rinsed thoroughly with WATER.

• Tell the victim NOT to swallow the WATER. Note the NAME of the CHEMICAL and notify the NURSE immediately.

If the victim swallows a CHEMICAL, note the NAME of the CHEMICAL and notify the NURSE immediately. Do NOT give the victim anything to drink.

• If necessary, the NURSE will contact the Poison Control Center, a hospital emergency room, or a physician for INSRTUCTIONS.

CHEMICALS In the EyesGetting any kind of CHEMICAL in the eyes is undesirable, but certain CHEMICALS are especially harmful.

• They can destroy eyesight in a matter of seconds. Because you will be wearing safety GOGGLES at all times during investigations, the likelihood of this kind of ACCIDENT is remote.

However, if it does happen, begin FLUSHING the eyes with WATER immediately. It Is important that FLUSHING with WATER be continued for a prolonged time—at least 15 minutes.

• While FLUSHING continues, send someone to inform the school NURSE. Do NOT attempt to go to the NURSE’S office before FLUSHING your eyes.

CLOTHING or Hair on FireA person whose CLOTHING or hair catches on fire will often run around frantically in an unsuccessful effort to get away from the fire. This only provides the fire with more oxygen and makes it burn fester.

If your CLOTHING catches fire, drop to the floor and roll around to extinguish the flames. If you are helping another person whose CLOTHING is on fire, smother the flames by rolling the person on the floor, in a FIRE BLANKET, or in a heavy coat.

• For hair fires, use a FIRE BLANKET to smother the flames. Send someone to notify the NURSE immediately.

Breathing Smoke or CHEMICAL FUMES Inhalation of smoke or CHEMICAL FUMES is unlikely if all experiments that give off smoke or noxious gases are conducted in a well-ventilated FUME hood.

If smoke or CHEMICAL FUMES are present in the laboratory, all persons— even those who do not feel ill—should LEAVE the laboratory immediately. Since smoke rises, crawl along the floor while evacuating a smoke-filled room.

• Close all doors to the laboratory after the last person has left. Notify the NURSE immediately. Make sure the room is thoroughly ventilated before anyone goes back in.

SHOCKPeople who are suffering from any severe injury (for example, a bad burn or major loss of blood) may be in a state of SHOCK. A person in SHOCK Is usually pale and faint. The person may be sweating, with cold, moist skin and a weak, rapid PULSE.

SHOCK is a serious medical condition. Do NOT allow a person in SHOCK to walk anywhere— even to the NURSE’S office. Call for emergency help immediately. While emergency help is being summoned, LOOSEN any tightly fitting CLOTHING and keep the person comfortable.

• GENERALAlways get your teacher’s permission before attempting any laboratory explorations. Read the procedures carefully, paying particular attention to safety information and caution statements. If you are unsure about what a safety symbol means, look It up here or ask your teacher.

• You can not be too careful when it comes to safety. If an ACCIDENT does occur, inform your teacher immediately, regardless of how minor you think the ACCIDENT is.

• EYE SAFETYWear safety GOGGLES when working around CHEMICALS, ACIDS, bases, or any type of flame or heating device, and any other time when there is even the slightest chance that harm could come to your eyes.

• If any substance gets into your eye, notify your teacher immediately. Treat any unknown CHEMICAL as if it were a dangerous CHEMICAL. Never look directly into the sun with an optical device, and never use direct sunlight as a light source for a microscope.

SAFETY EQUIPMENTKnow the location of and how to use the nearest fire alarms and any other safety equipment such as FIRE BLANKETS and eyewash fountains, as identified by your teacher.

NEATNESSKeep your work area free of all unnecessary books and papers. Tie back long hair and secure LOOSE sleeves or other LOOSE articles of CLOTHING such as ties and bows.

• Remove DANGLING jewelry. Don’t wear open-toed shoes or sandals in laboratory situations. Never eat, drink, or apply cosmetics in a laboratory setting; food, drink, and cosmetics can easily become contaminated with dangerous materials.

SHARP POINTED OBJECTSUse knives and other sharp instruments with extreme care. Never cut objects while holding them in your hands.

Place objects on a suitable work surface for cutting.

HeatWear safety GOGGLES when using a heating device or a flame. Whenever possible, use an electric hot plate instead of a flame as a heat source. When heating materials in a test tube, always slant the test tube away from yourself and others. Wear oven mitts, when instructed to do so, to avoid burns.

ELECTRICITYBe careful with electrical wiring. When using a microscope with a lamp, do not place the cord where it could cause someone to trip. Do not let cords hang over a table edge in a way that could cause equipment to fall if the cord is accidentally pulled.

• Do not use equipment with damaged cords. Be sure your hands are dry and that the electrical equipment is in the off position before plugging it in. Turn off equipment when you are done.

CHEMICALSWear safety GOGGLES when handling any potentially dangerous CHEMICALS, ACIDS, or bases. If a CHEMICAL is unknown, handle it as you would a dangerous CHEMICAL. Wear an APRON and latex gloves when working with ACIDS or bases or when told to do so in the exploration or activity.

• If a spill gets on your skin or CLOTHING, rinse off immediately with WATER for at least 5 minutes while calling your teacher.

ANIMAL SAFETYAlways obtain your teacher’s permission before bringing any animal into the school building. Handle animals only as your teacher directs. Always treat animals carefully and with respect. Wash your hands thoroughly after handling any animal.

PLANT SAFETYDo not eat any part of a plant or plantseed used in the laboratory. Wash hands thoroughly after handling any part of a plant.

GLASSWAREExamine all glassware before using. Be sure that it is clean and free of chips and cracks. Report damaged glassware to your teacher. Glass containers used for heating should be made of heat-resistant glass.

CLEANUPBefore leaving, clean up your work area. Put away all equipment and supplies. Dispose of all CHEMICALS and other materials as directed by your teacher. Make sure WATER, gas BURNERS, and electric hot plates are turned off.

• Hot plates and other electrical equipment should also be unplugged.

• Wash hands with soap and WATER after working in a laboratory.