Lab Safety Procedures

Study Notes

Here is a summary of the text in detailed bullet points:

• In the chemistry lab, students will be working with chemicals and equipment, and it's essential to know how to stay safe while doing so.

• The first target of the unit is to learn about lab safety policies and procedures to help prevent accidents.

• The instructor wears goggles to protect their eyes from chemical spills or shattered glass, and lab coats to protect their clothes from chemical splashes.

• Goggles can be worn over glasses, and students are encouraged to purchase their own goggles if they want to.

• Contact lenses can be problematic in a chemistry lab, as they can trap chemicals in the eye; students are advised not to wear contact lenses in the lab.

• Before starting an experiment, students should read the directions carefully to know what they're doing and follow the instructions.

• Students should never work alone in the lab and should always have a lab partner or buddy.

• The science storeroom is off-limits to students unless the instructor gives permission to enter.

• Students should not take any chemicals or equipment from the lab without permission, as it may cause discipline issues.

• In the lab, students should be careful not to trip over objects on the floor, and chairs should be left in the classroom to avoid clutter.

• If a student makes a spill, they should clean it up immediately with paper towels.

• If a student breaks a glass, they should not clean it up themselves; instead, they should notify the instructor and classmates, and the instructor will handle the cleanup.

• The chemical shower is only to be used in emergency situations where a student's life is in danger, and they should remove their clothes and glasses before using it.

• The eye wash is for flushing out chemicals from the eyes, and students should remove their glasses and contacts before using it.

• The fume hood is used for experiments that produce toxic gases, and it sucks the gas out of the air.

• The fire extinguisher is for putting out fires on objects, not people; the fire blanket is for putting out fires on people.

• Students are responsible for acting in an emergency, such as if a classmate is on fire, and should not wait for the instructor's attention.

• After completing an experiment, students should clean up after themselves and leave the lab in the same condition as they found it.

• Chemicals can usually be disposed of by pouring them down the drain, but some chemicals may require special disposal methods, which the instructor will indicate.- If you have questions about chemicals or safety issues, you can ask the instructor or look up the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) online, which provides information on the dangers of working with a particular chemical.

The MSDS is a safety sheet that tells you about the dangers of working with a chemical, including its flammability, reactivity, and safety precautions.
Employers are required to have an MSDS on hand for any chemicals employees may be exposed to in the workplace, not just in a chemistry lab.
The hazard diamond is a quick and simple way to identify the dangers associated with a particular chemical, and it has four squares: red for flammability, blue for health, yellow for stability, and white for special warnings.
The hazard diamond is often found on chemical bottles and train cars, and it provides a quick reference for understanding the dangers of a chemical.
The flammability rating on the hazard diamond ranges from 0 (non-flammable) to 4 (highly flammable).
The health rating on the hazard diamond ranges from 0 (not hazardous to health) to 4 (highly hazardous to health).
The stability rating on the hazard diamond ranges from 0 (stable) to 4 (unstable).
The white diamond on the hazard diamond provides special warnings or precautions for working with a chemical.
There are several chemical warning symbols used worldwide, including: corrosive (beaker spilling), irritant (exclamation point), explosive (explosion), flammable (fire), oxidizer (O on fire), hazard to health (person with star), poison (skull and crossbones), compressed gas cylinder (stick of dynamite), and environmental hazard (dead tree and dead fish).
These chemical warning symbols are used everywhere in the world and do not require language to understand, making them a universal warning system.

Description

Learn about the essential safety policies and procedures to follow in a chemistry lab to prevent accidents and ensure a safe working environment. This includes wearing protective gear, following experiment instructions, and knowing how to handle emergencies. Understand the importance of lab safety and how to act responsibly.