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Safety:

How to Be Safe in the Lab

Safety First
Exploring, inventing and investigating are essential to the study of science. However these activities can also be dangerous. To make sure that your experiments and explorations are safe, you must be aware of a variety of safety guidelines.
You have probably heard of the saying, "It is better to be safe than sorry." This is particularly true in a science classroom were experiments and explorations are being performed. Being uninformed and careless can result in serious injuries. Don't take chances with your own safety or with anyone else's.
Following are important guidelines for staying safe in the science classroom. Your teacher may also have safety guidelines and tips that are specific to your classroom and laboratory. Take the time to be safe.
Safety Rules!
Start Out Right
Always get your teacher's permission before attempting any laboratory exploration. Read the procedures carefully, and pay particular attention to safety information and caution statements. If you are unsure about what a safety symbol means, look it up or ask your teacher. You cannot 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.

Safety Symbols
All of the experiments and investigations we will do include safety symbols to to alert you to particular safety concerns. Become familiar with these symbols so that when you see them, you will know what they mean and what to do. It is important that you read this entire safety section to learn about specific dangers in the laboratory.
Eye Protection
Clothing Protection
Hand Safety
Heating Safety
Electric Safety
Chemical Safety
Animal Safety
Sharp Objects
Plant Safety

Eye Safety
Wear safety goggles when working around chemicals, acids, bases, or any type of flame or heating device. Wear safety goggles any time there is even the slightest chance that harm could come to your eyes. If any substance gets into your eyes, notify your teacher immediately, and flush your eyes with running water for at least 15 minutes. Treat any unknown chemical as if it were a dangerous chemical. Never look directly into the sun. Doing so could cause permanent blindness.
Avoid wearing contact lenses in a laboratory situation. Even if you are wearing safety goggles, chemicals can get between the contact lenses and your eyes. If your doctor requires that you wear contact lenses instead of glasses, wear eye-cup safety goggles in the lab.
Safety Equipment
Know the locations of the nearest fire alarms and any other safety equipment, such as fire blankets and eyewash fountains, as identified by your teacher, and the procedures for using them.
Neatness
Keep 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 the laboratory. Never eat, drink, or apply cosmetics in a laboratory setting. Food, drink, and cosmetics can become contaminated with dangerous materials.
Certain hair products (such as aerosol hair spray) are flammable and should not be worn while working near an open flame. Avoid wearing hair spray or hair gel on lab days.
Sharp/Pointed Objects
Use knives and other sharp objects with extreme care. Never cut objects while holding them in your hands. Place objects on a suitable work surface for cutting.
Heat
Wear safety goggles when using a heating device or a flame. Whenever possible, use an electric hot plate as a heat source instead of an open flame. When heating materials in a test tube, always angle the the test tube away from yourself and others. In order to avoid burns, wear heat-resistant gloves whenever instructed to do so.
Electricity
Be careful with electrical cords. When using a microscope with a lamp, do not place the cord where it could trip someone. 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 and unplug electrical equipment when you are finished.
Chemicals
Wear 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 safety gloves when working with acid and bases or whenever you are told to do so. If a spill gets on your skin or clothing, rinse it off immediately with water for at least 5 minutes while calling to your teacher.
Never mix chemicals unless your teacher tells you to do so. Never taste, touch, or smell chemicals unless you are specifically directed to do so. Before working with a flammable liquid or gas, check for the presence of any source of flame, spark, or heat.
Animal Safety
Always 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 Safety
Do not eat any part of any plant or plant seed used in the laboratory. Wash hands thoroughly after handling any part of a plant. When in nature, do not pick any wild plants unless your teacher instructs you to do so.
Glassware

Examine all glassware before use. Be sure that glassware is clean and free of chips and cracks. Report damaged glassware to your teacher. Glass containers used for heating should be heat-resistant glass.
The above information can be summarized in the following lab expectations. You are required to follow them at all times. Failure to follow the lab expectations can result in the lose of lab privileges.
Lab Expectations
1. Enter the room quietly and sit in your assigned seat.
2. Listen quietly to all directions.  Ask questions if you are unsure.
3. Stay in your seat unless directed to get up.  Avoid horseplay.
4. Follow the directions in the lab book.  Ask your teacher before you try a "new idea".
5. Never eat or drink in the lab.  You never know what was put in the beaker before you used it.
6. Clean up all messes immediately.
7. Wear goggles when you heat anything or mix chemicals.
8. Use the equipment with care so that the students after you have the same opportunity to learn.
9. Clean your lab area before you leave.
   
I have read the lab expectations. I agree to practice lab safety in the classroom.

 
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