Laboratory Safety

1
Laboratory Safety

• Rules and Guidelines for Working in Chemistry
  Labs at OCCC

2
General Rules

• Never enter the lab or conduct experiments unless
  your instructor or a lab assistant is present.
• Always learn the location of exits and safety
  equipment when working in the lab.
• Horseplay, pranks, or other acts of mischief or
  disrespect are not allowed.
• No unauthorized experiments or changes to
  experiments are allowed.
• When in doubt, ask before doing.

3
General Rules

• Only your lab notebook, calculator, and pen or
  pencil are allowed at the lab bench.
• Other personal belongings, including cell phones,
  must be stored in the designated area.
• No smoking, eating, chewing gum, or drinking is
  allowed in the lab or in the physics and
  chemistry areas of the Science Center.
• Do not apply lip balm or make-up or handle
  contact lenses in the lab.

4
General Rules

• Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water
  before leaving the lab.

5
Personal Protective Equipment

• A laboratory apron and goggles must be worn at
  all times in the laboratory.
• You must wear appropriate personal attire in the
  chemistry laboratory
• a shirt with sleeves that covers the shoulders
  and entire torso
• either pants or a skirt that covers the entire
  leg.
• Students without appropriate personal attire will
  not be allowed to participate in lab.

6
Personal Protective Equipment

• Shoes that cover the entire foot (top of foot,
  toes and heel included) must be worn in the lab.
• Sandals are not allowed.
• Students without appropriate footwear will not be
  allowed to participate in lab.
• Hair that is longer than shoulder length must be
  tied up
• Long, loose sleeves must be secured.

7
Handling Chemicals

• Handle all chemicals as if they were hazardous.
• You may be exposed to potentially hazardous
  materials in the process of completing your
  required laboratory activities.
• Consult your personal physician for advice if you
  have specific concerns.

8
Handling Chemicals

• Read labels and follow precautions carefully.
• Read the label when you take a chemical off the
  bench and then read it again before you use it
• Never taste chemicals.
• Always use a pipet filler to pipet chemicals
  (including water).
• Never smell chemicals unless directed by your
  laboratory instructor.
• Use the technique know as wafting

9
Handling Chemicals

• Always add concentrated acids or bases to water.
• Never add water to concentrated acids or bases.

10
Chemical Spills and Broken Glass

• Report all spills to your instructor.
• Clean up all spills immediately by following
  directions provided by your instructor.
• Never pick up broken glass with your hands.
• Use broom and dustpan
• Dispose of broken glass and disposable glass
  supplies in the broken glass container. Only
  glass goes into the container!

11
Fires

• Keep flammables away from bunsen burners and hot
  plates.
• Never leave a lit bunsen burner unattended.
• Report all fires to your instructor immediately.
• Try to extinguish the fire yourself only if you
  are capable.

12
Fires

• Small paper fires
• extinguish with water or fire extinguisher
• Chemical fires
• smother with sand or fire extinguisher
• Electrical fires
• fire extinguisher
• Personnel fires stop drop and roll wrap fire
  blanket around victim safety shower

13
Injuries

• Report all injuries to instructor
• Treat all body fluids as if they were infectious
• Assume they are contaminated with bloodborne
  pathogens such as the AIDS virus or Hepatitis B
• Do not expose yourself to danger when aiding a
  fellow student
• Protect yourself with gloves before handling body
  fluids
• Seek medical advice for injuries

14
Injuries

• Minor Cuts
• Wash with soap and water.
• Dry and bandage appropriately.
• Serious Cuts
• Stop blood flow by applying pressure to the
  wound.
• Seek immediate medical attention.
• Burns
• Cool under running water.
• Seek medical attention if necessary.

15
Injuries

• Chemicals in eyes
• Wash eyes at the eyewash for 15 minutes.
• Seek medical advice.
• Chemical spills on the body
• Rinse exposed body part under water.
• Wash thoroughly with soap and water.
• Large spills may require the use of the safety
  shower located in each lab.

16
Clean Up and Waste Disposal

• Clean up after yourself.
• If you spill chemicals at the balance, in the
  hood, or on your bench, notify your instructor
  who will advise you on the correct clean-up
  procedure.
• Do not leave chemicals, spatulas, or used
  weighing paper in the balance room or hood.
• Return chemicals to cart.
• Throw away weighing paper.
• Wash spatula.

17
Clean Up and Waste Disposal

• Put away all equipment and glassware.
• Wash your lab bench with water and then dry with
  paper towels at the end of lab.
• Always follow the instructions given in your lab
  manual or by your instructor for waste disposal.
• Ask your instructor if you are unsure of the
  proper disposal method.

18
Clean Up and Waste Disposal

• Discard broken glass and disposable glass
  supplies in the broken glassware box.
• Liquid waste disposal
• Inorganic waste container (white) in hood
• Organic waste container (red) in hood
• Solid chemicals
• Red solid waste can