Lab Safety and Conduct

Respect and Safety

• Always respect the lab environment and your colleagues.
• Safe behavior ensures a safe environment for everyone.

Standard Operating Procedures

• Follow written procedures step-by-step.

Prohibited Actions

• Do not eat, drink, chew gum, or apply makeup.
  • Avoid contamination of skin or ingestion of chemicals.
  • Prevent contamination of experiments and results.

Working in the Lab

• Never work alone; always have at least one other person present.
  • Assistance is vital in emergencies.

Housekeeping

• Maintain a clutter-free lab to prevent accidents.
• Dispose of trash or debris on the floor promptly.
• Chemical bottles should never be placed on the floor.

Spills and Cleanliness

• Refer to safety data sheets for spill response.
• Clean routine spills immediately and place a "wet floor" sign.
• Keep workbenches clean and organized.
  • Only necessary materials should be on the workbench.
  • Store unneeded items away.
  • Do not place materials near the edge of the workbench.

Handling Broken Glass

• Do not pick up broken glass with bare hands.
  • Risk of cuts and chemical exposure.
• Dispose of broken glass in designated containers.

Post-Experiment Protocol

• Wash and dry glassware.
• Return reagents to storage.
• Clean workbench surfaces with ethanol or isopropyl alcohol.

Reporting and Behavior

• Report safety violations or unsafe conditions to a supervisor immediately.
• Maintain professional and safe behavior at all times.

Next Steps

• The next lesson will cover specific chemical hazards in laboratories.