Hazard symbols provide crucial information about the risks associated with chemicals and materials.
Safety precautions are vital to prevent accidents and injuries in the lab.
Importance of Lab Safety
Accidents can happen easily, so minimizing risks is essential to avoid injuries.
Hazard and Risk
Hazard: Something that can cause harm.
Risk: The likelihood that a hazard will cause harm.
Hazard symbols are used to indicate potential dangers and are found on chemical containers and equipment.
Common hazard symbols:
Corrosive
Flammable
Moderate health hazard
Environmental hazard
Laboratory Rules and Precautions
Top 10 Lab Safety Rules:
Do not enter the lab without permission and ensure staff supervision.
Dress appropriately with tied back hair and safety goggles.
Follow instructions from the person in charge to ensure safe and successful experiments.
Keep working areas clear of obstructions like bags and coats.
Never run in the lab to prevent accidents.
Do not eat or drink to avoid contamination and ingestion of chemicals.
Avoid tasting or sniffing chemicals as they may be harmful.
Never leave a Bunsen burner unattended on a blue flame.
Ensure all electrical equipment is safe and free from damage.
Know what to do in case of an accident and always inform an adult.
Using a Bunsen Burner
Steps to use a Bunsen burner safely:
Check the gas hose for damage.
Follow safety protocols like wearing goggles and tying back hair.
Place it on a heat-resistant mat, away from the bench edge.
Ensure the air hole is closed before lighting.
Use a lit splint to ignite the burner; it will emit a yellow safety flame.
Flame colors:
Yellow: Safety flame, visible
Blue: Heating flame, hotter but harder to see
Adjusting the collar alters air intake and flame temperature.
Did You Know?
Hazard symbols are standardized worldwide. Before 2017, they differed across countries.
Bunsen burners are named after Robert Bunsen, a German scientist.
Additional Resources
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