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Lab Safety Rules

Dress Code

Wear safety goggles when directed.
Wear a lab coat or apron when directed.
Tie back loose hair whenever chemicals or open flames are being used.
Do not wear loose, baggy clothing or loose jewelry when working with chemicals or open flames.

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Lab Safety Rules

General Safety

Never “horse around” in the lab. Be serious and alert.
Be ready to work when you enter the lab. Understand the procedures before you begin and any hazards associated with the lab.
Read all directions and procedures before the lab. If you are unsure of proper procedure, ask your teacher before proceeding.
Never perform activities that are not authorized by your teacher. ASK!
Never handle any equipment without permission from teacher. ASK!
If you spill something, tell the teacher immediately so that you can clean it up according to proper procedure.
Never eat, taste, or drink anything. Do not apply cosmetics. Wash hands before and after each activity.
Know location and use of safety equipment in lab.
Notify teacher of any health issues you may have, such as asthma, allergies, etc…
Keep your area neat and free of clutter. No books, bags, unnecessary papers etc…

First Aid

Report all accidents, no matter how minor, immediately to the teacher.
Know what to do in the case of specific accidents such as acid spills, fires, or chemicals on skin or in eyes.
Know the location of the first aid kit, Nurse’s and Office phone number and how to respond in case of an emergency. Your teacher should administer any first aid that you require, but if the teacher goes down you need to help.

Heating and Fire Safety

Never use a heat source such as a candle or burner without wearing goggles.
Never heat anything that you are not instructed to heat.
Keep work area clear of clutter.
Never reach across a flame.
Make sure you know how to light a Bunsen burner. If you do not your teacher will show you.
Point test tubes or bottles that are being heated away from you and others. Chemicals can boil or splash out of the tube.
Never heat a closed container.
Never pick up a container without first checking to see if it is hot. If you can feel heat when you hold the back of your hand near it, use heat gloves or tongs to pick it up.

Using Chemicals Safely

Never mix chemicals for the “fun of it.” See unauthorized experiments (rule #8).
Never touch, taste, smell etc… any chemical unless instructed to do so.
Use only the chemicals need for an investigation. Keep all lids closed when a chemical is not in use. Notify teacher if spills occur.
Dispose of all chemicals as instructed by teacher. To avoid contamination do not return chemicals to their original containers.
Be careful when working with chemicals such as acids or bases. Always pour them over the sink rather than over your work area.
When diluting an acid always add small amounts of Acid to Water. A to W. Ahhh. W to A. WAAAAA!
Rinse acids or bases off of skin immediately. Notify teacher immediately of spills.

Glassware Safety

Never force glass tubing into a rubber stopper. Your teacher will demonstrate the proper procedure to do this.
Never heat glassware that is not dry. Use wire gauze to protect glass from the flame.
Hot glass does not look hot. Don’t pick up any glassware that may have been heated without checking to see if it is hot first.
Never use broken or chipped glassware. If glass breaks, tell teacher immediately and TEACHER will dispose of glass in SHARPS/GLASS BOX.
Never eat or drink out of lab glassware.

Using Sharp Instruments

Handle scalpels and razor blades with extreme care. Never cut material toward yourself or others. Cut away from you and others.
Be careful with sharp stuff. (See sharp object safety symbol)
Notify your teacher if you cut yourself.

Clean up Rules

When done do the following: Clean up. Put away correctly. Turn off/unplug. Wash hands.

To Summarize

In other words, don’t be an idiot!

Amy

Lauren

Ann

David

Steve

Jeff

John

Kate

What are the problems?