Laboratory Safety

CHEM-1411General Chemistry I Lab Laboratory Safety

Safety Requirements • Laboratory Goggles • Closed shoes No flip-flops • Long pants or jeans • Lab Coat or Lab Apron (Optional) • NO shorts; NO skirts!

Dress Code in Detail • Wear a lab coat or lab apron all the time • Wear long pants or jeans that cover your legs completely • Wear splash-proof goggles or safety glasses when doing an experiment • State and Federal law require the use of safety eyewear by anyone working in a chemical laboratory. • Splash-proof goggles are available for sale in the department office. • Click and Read this! • Wear shoes that cover and protect your feet completely • No sandals, flip-flops, open-toed shoes, nor shoes with open sides nor heels. • If you come to the lab dressed inappropriately you will be asked to leave and you will not receive credit for the experiment

Dress Code • Clothing needs to cover and protect your body all the way down to your ankles, your shoulders and upper arms • shirt, blouse, jeans • Do not wear clothing that is too loose – it can: • knock over containers on the work bench • dip into chemicals • drag into flames • Ladies: No shorts, nor short nor mid-length skirts • Gentlemen: No shorts, short T-shirts, tank tops, or muscle shirts • The skin of your body must be covered

Dress Code • Wear clothing which you don't care too much about • Some chemicals are very corrosive: strong acids, strong bases • Tiny droplets of chemicals are very likely to get on your clothing • Chemicals can stain your clothes • Chemicals can burn holes in your clothes

Dress Code • Wear comfortable shoes • Sneakers or comparable shoes • No elevated shoes nor high heels! • Wear socks • these provide extra padding and protection • Come prepared to change clothes • If you do not want to spend the entire day dressed in your lab clothes, then bring a change of clothes • It is also a good idea to have some spare clothes in case of an emergency

Dress Code • Tie back long hair • Loose, long hair can also block your vision, which can lead to accidents • Long hair can accidentally fall into flames or chemicals • Do not wear valuable jewelry while working in the lab • Necklaces and bracelets/bangles may catch glassware and knock it over • Chemicals may damage jewelry

Safety Requirements Reprised Laboratory Goggles Closed shoes Long pants or jeans If not… No lab! (No kidding!)

Safety in the Lab • Two exits in each lab • Do not block the exits • Fire extinguishers in every lab • Safety shower and an eye wash station • Only use them in case of emergency! • Fume hoods in every lab • For use with noxious, toxic chemicals • They should be in working condition all the time. • If there is a problem, inform the instructor

Chemical Safety Prepare each lab before class • Know what chemicals you will be working with • Pay attention to the introduction to the lab: there may be specific safety instruction before each lab • Do not dispose of waste down the drain unless otherwise instructed. Check with your instructor • All waste should be put in properly labeled containers, stored in the ventilation hood • Read all labels carefully before disposing chemicals. Some chemicals have similar names but very different chemical and physical properties

Chemical Safety (1) Strong Acids and Bases Know what chemicals you will be working with When using strong acids or bases be very careful chemical burns fumes damage to clothing splashing Always pour the acid or base slowly into water while stirring Never the other way around to avoid splashing

Chemical Safety (2)Spills • Remove contaminated clothing and wash skin with soap and water • If the spill is over a large area, go to the emergency showers • If the spill is in the eyes, rinse with water at the eyewash stations • For spill clean-up: check with the instructor • Flammable solvents: extinguish all flames • Spill reagents for acids, bases and organic solvents are located in the labs

Chemical Safety (3)Spills • Notify the instructor immediately • Notify your neighbors at your lab bench! • Use sodium bicarbonate to neutralize acid spills and rinse with large amounts of water • Use boric acid or dilute hydrochloric acid to neutralize bases. Rinse with large amounts of water • If you break a mercury thermometer, notify the instructor immediately. Do not touch or handle mercury! • Clean up spills immediately • Keep the balance area clean! • Never pour liquids on the balance • Always use weighing paper or a weighing boat

Chemical Safety (4) Chemical and Waste Disposal • Know about Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) • Non-flammable, non-toxic, water-soluble liquids can be disposed in the sink, if directed • All other waste in containers designated for that purpose

Disposal of Chemical Waste Aqueous waste in “Aqueous Waste” container Organic waste in “Organic Waste” container Solid waste in “Solid Waste” containers Broken glass in “Broken Glass” container NO paper towels, disposable pipettes, latex gloves, or chemicals! Solid waste in “Solid Waste” containers Recyclables Paper, glass and plastic bottles, Aluminum cans, etc. Trash cans are for trash, not for recyclables or chemicals

Lab Safety Policies (1) The following rules will be enforced with dismissal or suspension • Personal protection is required • Bookstore sells safety goggles • Lab coats or aprons optional • NO horseplay, pranks, or other potentially dangerous mischief • No eating, drinking*, or applying make-up in the labs • The campus is smoke-free. Smoking is never permitted in a lab! • Unauthorized experiments are prohibited • Never work alone • Students are not allowed to work alone without supervision, unless with written permission from the instructor

Lab Safety Policies (2)Emergency Procedures In Case of Emergency • Stop all experiments, turn off burners and equipment and leave the room • Report the nature and location of the emergency to the appropriate fire, rescue or medical authorities • Assist the injured. But do not move seriously injured people • If severe bleeding, apply pressure until help arrives • Do not try to treat a cut yourself

Lab Safety Policies (3)Fires • Stay calm and warn the instructor • Small fires in containers can be extinguished by covering with, e.g., a beaker or watch glass • Instructor will use a CO2 or dry powder extinguisher for larger fires • If uncontrollable, leave immediately, sound alarm, and call the fire department • If a person’s clothing is on fire, douse them with water (showers) or wrap in fire blanket when they drop and roll • Get immediate medical attention

Basic Safety (1) • Keep your work areas clean at all times • Each student must know the location of basic safety equipment • Sandals and open-toe shoes are not allowed in the lab • A labcoat or apron must be worn at all times • Drinking, eating and smoking are not allowed in the lab • Do not pour water in concentrated acids or bases • Do not taste any chemicals • Do not smell any chemicals • Never pipette by mouth • Never use flammable material near an open flame • Measure volumes of liquids in a graduated cylinder

Basic Safety (2) • Dispose of chemicals in an appropriate manner • Never use chemicals from an unlabeled container • Never place material to be weighed directly on the balance • Dispose of excess material; never put it back in the original container • Volatile, poisonous chemicals, skin-irritants, or bad-smelling chemicals need to be handled with care in a fume hood • Never point test tubes at others while doing a reaction

Basic Safety (3) • Laboratory gas burners (Bunsen burners) are only lit with a striker • Bunsen burners are only used for heating non-flammable materials • Lab burners can be used on the lab bench in the absence of volatile chemicals • Hot and cold objects look exactly the same. Be aware of temperature before you touch anything • Be careful with glassware: it can break! • Never handle broken glass with your bare hands. Use a brush and a dustpan to clean up broken glass.

Basic Safety (4) Experiments can only be performed when the instructor is present Students need to be able to locate the fire blankets, eye wash station, emergency showers and exits All used glassware must be rinsed with soapy water (if necessary), tap water and distilled water, then placed in the back of the lab for collection and further clean-up Lab benches need to be wiped clean after use Return equipment and chemicals after use to where you found it

Emergency Phone Number 222-0911 Think First! Safety First!!

Saint Philiip’s College is Tobacco-Free Campus police will issue tickets to smokers

Laboratory Safety