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1. Conduct in the Lab
- a. The science laboratory is place to do serious work. (it is not a playground)
- b. Never perform any unauthorized experimentation.
- c. Always report any accident, injury, or incorrect procedures to your instructor, immediately.
- d. Respect any live animals that may be in class. Please do not harm! If preserved animals are used, take the
lab seriously and do not play games with your specimen, like poking the eyes for fun, etc.
2. Dress Attire
- a. Always wear safety glasses when working with chemicals, fire, any potentially dangerous labs,or any time
your instructor directs you to.
- b. Tie back long hair or anything else that can potentially catch on fire, get in chemicals, etc.
- c. Shoes that cover your feet are always required in a science lab. Don't wear your best clothes.
3. Handling Chemicals
- a. Read labels on reagent (chemical) bottles carefully, so you know what you are using.
- b. Avoid contaminating chemicals. Do not return unused chemicals to the reagent bottles or containers. This
includes distilled water.
- c. Reagent bottles and any chemicals found on the front table for the class to use, should NOT be taken to your
table. Pour the smallest amount that you estimate you need into a beaker or plastic cup. Do not use eye-droppers
(pipettes) or graduated cylinders to obtain chemicals from the reagent bottles.
- d. Graduated cylinders are used for measuring liquids only. (no solids! And do not use for mixing chemicals.)
- e. Never taste any chemical or anything else, even if it is "edible", unless specifically directed to do so.
- f. When you do need to smell any substance, waft it's vapor gently towards your nose.
- g. Always add acid to water slowly when making acid solutions.
- h. Dispose of left over "solid" chemicals into the designated trash receptacle. Pour any chemical solution not
used or used in an experiment into the designated sink. Some chemical solutions need to be placed into a special
designated waste bottle, and your instructor will indicate to do this, when necessary. Pure water (you need to be
100% sure) - can be emptied into other designated receptacles.
4. Heating Substances
- a. Use your Bunsen burner ONLY when you have something ready to be heated up.
- b. When heating anything, use the proper equipment, safety glasses and heat slowly at first, to prevent
breaking.
- c. When heating substances in a test tube, do not point the mouth of the test tube toward anyone, and keep
the test tube moving in the flame. The test tube should be at about a 20 degree angle and slightly on the side of
the test tube, under the flame. (not directly over the bottom of the test tube.)
- d. Matches and/or lighters are to be used ONLY to light the Bunsen burner. They are not toys.
5. Safety Equipment
- Know the location of the safety equipment and how to use the fire extinguisher, fire blanket, first aid kit and
other safety equipment.
6. Burns, Cuts and Other Injuries
- a. For any burns, chemical spills, cuts or any other accident on your body, notify the instructor, immediately, and
take care of the injury.
- b. If a chemical splashes in your eyes or on your body, flush with water. Your instructor will tell you for how long.
If in doubt that a substance is on your body - simply wash the area with water, at least peace of mind.
- c. Cuts need to be cleaned with soap and water, then covered with a band-aid - even if it is not bleeding.
7. Spills or Breakage on the Floor
- For any chemical spills on the floor, immediately notify your instructor for instructions. If something breaks, use a
dust pan and broom clean up the accident. "If you break it - you clean it up." Be careful with broken glass. Put into
the designated receptacle.
8. Fire
- In case of fire, do not panic. Notify your instructor. If it is a small fire use a wet towel over it or blow it out. Do not
blow out paper fires. If it is a large fire notify your instructor immediately for directions and you may have to use a
fire extinguisher or a fire blanket. Never use a fire extinguisher on a person. Use a fire blanket instead.
9. Ingesting Chemicals
- If for some reason, any substance is ingested, notify your instructor, immediately. Poison Control may need to be
called. If in doubt, and you think a little bit went into you mouth - rinse your mouth out. Please don't ingest
chemicals - even if it is "edible." (see exception 3e above)
10. Final Issues and Common Sense
- a. Think before acting. Do not play around, especially physically or with chemicals, even if it is water. Do not run
or rush around the room.
- b. Remember, there are chemicals, equipment, and procedures that can injure you or damage property if not
used correctly and some times for no apparent reason. Keeping equipment and substances in the middle of your
table over a protective mat can eliminate many of the possible, potential issues mentioned above.
- c. Use common sense, be safe and focus on what you are doing in a science lab at all times.
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