Lab Safety: It’s your responsibility!

1. Lab Safety:It’s your responsibility! • "I didn't mean to" and "It wasn't my fault" are two statements that have no place in the lab. If someone is hurt or equipment is broken, these statements cannot undo the harm. • Horse-play will not be tolerated. If it occurs, those involved will be disqualified from the lab and given a zero for the assignment. • Act in a safe manner at all times, otherwise you will not have the privilege of participating in lab activities. • Know what to do if there is an accident.

2. Lab Safety Guidelines • Before starting a lab activity • Read all of the instructions and make sure you understand them • Talk to your teacher immediately if you or your group do not understand some of the lab instructions • Do any pre-lab assignment • Get your materials and be sure equipment works and you have enough of what you need • Maintain a safe workspace • Bring only what you need for your lab, such as • Paper or lab notebook, instructions, pencil • Leave other items out of the way, including • Binders, backpacks, books, jackets • Keep aisles clear at all times to allow safe passage through, and exit from, the room

3. More Guidelines • You will not be allowed to work in the lab if • You are playing or goofing off before or during a lab • You are not prepared for the lab as instructed • You do not follow instructions • You are unsupervised (you must be under a teacher’s supervision in all lab situations – no exceptions) • If a fire alarm goes off during an experiment in which you are using equipment or chemicals, you must leave the lab in a safe condition while the class is gone: • Turn off equipment and gas valves • Secure tops onto chemical bottles • Listen for evacuation instructions from your teacher • Always behave responsibly in the lab in order to hold on to your lab use privileges. • Students are not allowed in the science storerooms.

4. Equipment • Be sure equipment and glassware are in good repair before using them • Electrical equipment • Unplug by pulling on the plug, not the cord • Use in a dry area, with dry hands, away from the table’s edge • Avoid use of equipment with exposed and/or frayed wires • Carry equipment securely to avoid dropping • Notify your teacher immediately if you notice equipment is not working properly or is not in good working condition • Sharp objects • Cut and point with the sharp end away from you • Pass to another person by extending the handle, not the sharp side, toward the other person • Avoid walking around while holding a sharp object

5. More Equipment • Hot objects • Keep openings of hot containers pointed away from you and others • Use hand protection, clamps or tongs to handle hot objects • Do NOT seal hot containers • Do NOT touch hot objects; instead, hold the back of your hand near them to determine if they are hot • Glassware • Be sure is it clean and not broken or chipped; notify your teacher if it is not in good condition • Do not put glassware into or onto water or equipment that is much hotter or colder; the glass may shatter • Handle and place glass carefully so it won’t break • Avoid forcing stoppers and caps onto or off of glassware

6. Working with Chemicals • To smell a chemical, you need to waft the vapors (point the open container away from your face and fan the vapors toward your nose). • If you spill a chemical: • First, move away from the spill (and others near you) • Immediately notify your teacher • When combining acid and water, always add acid to water (never water to acid), to avoid acid splashes. • If an acid is splashed on your skin, wash your skin immediately with plenty of water.

7. Chemical Labels • Containers of hazardous materials bear a label specifying: • Appropriate hazard warnings. • Identification of the chemical in the container and identification of the hazardous components. • Name, address, and telephone number of the chemical manufacturer • Symbols and signs may be used to designate specific hazards • The circular pattern at the right indicates a biological hazard • Below are symbols for corrosive, explosive, flammable and poison hazards

8. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) must be worn whenever you are instructed to use it. Gloves must be removed without contaminating yourself (Your teacher will demonstrate this technique) Goggles, aprons, and close-toed shoes will be required for some labs Long hair and bulky clothing are dangerous in the lab. There is a danger of catching fire, as well as being drawn through chemicals. Wear appropriate clothing. Tie back long hair. Personal Protection • Rings, watches, and jewelry are dangerous in the lab. • Corrosive or irritating liquids may get underneath a ring or watch and produce irritation. • Dangling jewelry may catch on a piece of labware and cause an accident.

9. Eye and Hand Safety • When instructed to do so, gloves and goggles must be worn at all times in the lab area. • Contact lenses should NOT be worn when using chemicals unless you use the non-vented goggles. Let your teacher know if you wear contacts. • An eye wash station is located on the a sink in the lab. • The station should only be used if chemicals come in contact with the eyes. • Eyelids have to be forcibly kept open to ensure effective washing. • If something gets into your eyes, flush eyes and eyelids with water for at least 15 minutes.

10. Other Safety Equipment • A safety shower is located in room 30 • The shower provides an effective means of treatment in the event that large amounts of chemicals are spilled or splashed onto the skin or clothing • Fire safety blanket • Fire blankets may be used to extinguish clothing that is burning, but should never be used on any other type of fire. • Fire Extinguisher • The fire extinguisher only operates about 10 seconds. • The user must get close to the fire - 5 or 6 feet! • To operate an extinguisher, think P-A-S-S. • P -- pull the pinA -- aim the hose at the base of the fireS -- squeeze the handleS -- sweep the hose back and forth • Only teachers should be operating fire extinguishers

11. Accidents Can Happen Remain calm! A minor problem quickly becomes a major one if you don't. Report all accidents immediately, no matter how small Broken Glass Is the most common accident in the lab. If you are using the equipment properly, you will not get into trouble for accidentally breaking a piece of glassware. If you are not using the equipment properly, or if horse-play is involved, you will be required to pay for the broken glassware. If glassware is broken, remove yourself and others from any chemicals that may have spilled. There may be many small slivers of glass that you do not immediately notice. Watch for minor cuts often occur after this type of accident rather than during it. Accidents • Cuts and Scrapes • - Do not come into contact with another person's blood. • - Report the situation to your teacher and let him or her help the injured person.

12. Chemical Labels • This diamond-shaped symbol shows specific types of hazards and their degree of severity. • The diamond should be clearly visible on all hazardous chemical labels. • Blue = Health HazardRed = FlammabilityYellow = ReactivityWhite = Special Hazard Information • Numbers 1-4 represent increasing hazard • 1: small/mild • 2: moderate • 3: serious • 4: severe/deadly SPECIFIC HAZARD (corrosive, reacts in water, acid)

13. The MSDS • The MSDS – Material Data Safety Sheet – contains detailed, required, safety information for each chemical. • The MSDS is the best and most complete source of information about chemical safety. • There are binders available to teachers containing MSDS information for BUHS science department chemicals.

14. Lab Clean-Up • Lab Station Clean-Up • Clean-up is important for the safety of others and for the preservation of equipment. • Your lab station and equipment should be cleaned before you leave class • What clean-up should be done after each lab? • Dispose of chemicals as directed by your teacher; do not put them into the sink or trash unless instructed to do so. • NEVER put unused chemicals back into their original container. • Wash all glassware and other containers as instructed, then store properly. • Turn off and clean equipment, then store as instructed by your teacher. • Clean and dry your lab table. • If you used chemicals, the last thing you should do after completing and cleaning up your lab is wash your hands. • The lab area should be left ready for the next class.