Overview
This lecture covers essential safety rules and procedures for working in a science laboratory, including appropriate attire, equipment use, and safe behavior.
Lab Safety Responsibilities
- Both teachers and students share responsibility for safety in the lab.
- Always follow both written and verbal lab instructions from your teacher.
- Never work alone or without your teacher’s permission.
Appropriate Lab Attire
- Wear closed-toe shoes, lab apron, and properly worn goggles.
- Avoid baggy clothing, dangling jewelry, scarves, and keep long hair tied back.
- Only bring required materials (calculator, pencil, lab sheet) to the lab; store other items away.
Safe Lab Behavior
- Handle all lab equipment and specimens with care and respect.
- Never eat or drink in the lab to avoid chemical contamination.
- Ask for help if you are unsure about a procedure.
- Never perform unauthorized experiments or remove chemicals from the lab/stockroom.
Use of Safety Equipment
- Personal safety equipment: goggles, aprons, gloves.
- Classroom safety equipment: fire blanket, extinguisher, first aid kit, eyewash station, safety shower.
- If chemicals get in your eyes, use the eyewash for 15–20 minutes.
Working With Chemicals
- Never taste lab substances or chemicals.
- Carefully read all chemical labels; similar names do not mean similar properties.
- Use wafting to safely smell chemicals—never inhale directly.
- Handle acids and bases with extreme caution to avoid skin and eye damage.
- Follow proper procedures for safe disposal and transportation of chemicals.
Handling Lab Equipment
- Report hazards like broken glass or frayed cords to your teacher immediately.
- Pick up broken glass only with gloves or use a broom and dustpan.
- Carry microscopes with two hands (one on the arm, one under the base).
- Always wash your hands after handling chemicals or animals.
Animal and Sharp Object Safety
- Handle live animals gently, only with teacher permission and supervision.
- Never tease animals or take them out of the lab.
- Carry sharp objects tip-down and cut away from yourself; never catch falling sharp items.
Heating Materials Safely
- Keep flammable liquids away from heat sources.
- Light a Bunsen burner by striking a match first, then turning on the gas.
- Adjust burner for a blue internal flame and gentle roar.
- Never point test tubes at yourself or others when heating.
- Hot and cold glassware may look the same; handle with caution.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Personal Safety Equipment — Items worn by individuals for protection (goggles, gloves, aprons).
- Classroom Safety Equipment — Shared safety tools in the lab (fire extinguisher, eyewash station, etc.).
- Wafting — Fanning vapors toward your nose to smell a chemical safely.
- Flammable Liquid — A substance that can easily catch fire.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review lab safety contract and sign it if required.
- Prepare necessary attire and materials for the next lab session.
- Complete any assigned safety quizzes or readings.