Laboratory Safety Guidelines

Study Notes

Laboratory Safety

Unauthorized Experiments: Never conduct experiments without instructor supervision.
Prohibited Activities: No smoking, practical jokes, or eating in the lab.
Jewelry: Avoid wearing jewelry due to safety hazards.
Hair: Tie back long hair.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Wear safety goggles and lab coats.
Footwear: Wear closed-toe, low-heeled shoes with non-slip soles. Avoid sandals, open-toed, open-backed, or high-heeled shoes.
Laboratory Tables: Do not sit on lab tables.
Distractions: Avoid distracting or startling others.
Electronics: No cell phone or earphone usage during lab work.
Emergency Equipment: Know the locations of safety showers, eyewash stations, and fire extinguishers.
Chemical Contact: Avoid skin and eye contact with chemicals.
Hot Glassware: Handle hot glassware carefully.
Spills and Accidents: Report any spills, injuries, or accidents to your instructor immediately.
Leaving Experiments: Avoid leaving an experiment unattended while it is in progress.
Equipment Use: Use equipment only for its intended purpose.
Heating Apparatus: Turn off heating apparatus, gas valves, and water faucets when not in use.
Test Tubes: Do not point the open end of a test tube at anyone while heating.
Flammable Solvents: Ensure no flammable solvents are present when lighting a flame.
Chemical Labels: All containers must have proper labels. Never use unlabeled chemicals.
Fume Hoods: Work with hazardous chemicals in a properly functioning fume hood.
Pipette Use: Use a pipetting device, never mouth suction, to fill pipettes.
Solution Mixing: Do not use your thumb as a stopper. Swirl gently or use parafilm to mix solutions.
Chemical Handling: Handle chemicals, reagents, and stains carefully. Follow all warnings on labels. Consult Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) for potentially hazardous chemicals.
Tasting Chemicals: Do not taste or intentionally smell chemicals unless it is part of the experimental procedure.
Laboratory Housekeeping: Keep your workspace clean and orderly.
Hand Hygiene: Keep hands away from face, eyes, mouth, and body while using chemicals. Wash hands after removing gloves and before leaving the lab.
Reagent Disposal: Do not pour reagents and chemicals down the sink. Dispose of them in designated containers.
Sharp Objects Disposal: Dispose of broken glassware and sharp objects in designated containers.
Workspace Cleaning: Thoroughly clean your workspace at the end of the lab session.
Emergency Procedures: Know the location of all exits, emergency phones, and emergency numbers. Understand how to operate fire extinguishers, alarm systems, fire blankets, eye washes, first-aid kits, and safety showers. Follow the established emergency plan in case of an emergency or accident.

Laboratory Techniques

Mass Measurement:
- Mass: The amount of material in a substance.
- Weight: Force due to gravity.
Volume Determination:
- Graduated cylinders, pipettes, burettes, and volumetric flasks measure liquid volumes.
- Volumetric flasks and graduated cylinders measure the volume of liquids.
- Pipettes and burettes deliver specific volumes.

Description

Test your knowledge about essential laboratory safety protocols. This quiz covers various safety practices and guidelines that ensure a safe lab environment. Knowing these rules is crucial for any student working in a laboratory setting.