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What safety rules should be followed in a science laboratory? |
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Don't consume food or drink in a science lab. Do wear safety goggles if working with potentially hazardous materials.
Answer
Some dos and donts from my lab...
A. Personal Safety It is strongly recommended that students in all chemistry courses wear laboratory coats during laboratory sessions.
Adequate eye protection must be worn at all times in the laboratory.
Contact lenses may be prohibited from the lab area. Although, this is becoming less common as current research from many sources conclude that wearing contact lenses does not increase the risk of eye injury and may it fact be slightly beneficial in some cases. This has caused many organizations like the American Chemical Society and the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health to retract statements saying that contact lens wearing should not be allowed. However, contact lenses should in no way be substituted for proper eye wear. Also, due to the varied nature of lab work and the many different chemicals that are used there are still certain instances where it is not advisable to wear contacts and where no data concerning contact wearing hazards exists yet.
In any event should something get into your eyes while wearing contacts then it is advisable to immediately start flushing your eyes at an eye-wash station and then later remove lenses after flushing your eyes for the recommended time. Also be sure never to touch or try to take out contacts while in the lab and before you have thoroughly washed your hands in order to remove any hazardous substances.
These are the current conditions where OSHA recommends against lens use:
"when working with acrylonitrile, methylene chloride, 1,2 dibromo-3-chloropropane, ethylene oxide, and methylene dianiline."
Another study says that isopropyl and ethyl alcohol also may pose a risk to lens wearers.
Always point test tubes away from yourself and others, and never look directly down a test tube unless with a watch glass.
No eating, drinking, gum-chewing or smoking in the laboratory.
Keep lab areas clear - hang coats on the coat rack and don't leave bags and books in the aisles.
Long hair and jewelery should be tied back or otherwise held in place.
Chemicals must never be poured in the eyewash basins.
Never taste chemicals. If you spill any chemical on yourself, immediately wash it off and report it. Use extreme care in smelling chemicals.
Chemicals splashed in the eyes must be thoroughly flushed out by washing in the eyewash for a minimum of 15 minutes. Report any such incident immediately.
Never pipette by mouth - always use a safety bulb.
Know the location and operation of the safety shower, eyewashes, fire blanket and fire extinguishers.
Never remove any chemicals or equipment from the laboratory.
Study the procedure beforehand and be aware of potential hazards and safety precautions. Always follow the prescribed procedures.
Unassigned experimentation is not permitted. Any extra laboratory work must be done with the permission and presence of a chemistry faculty person.
Any accident or injury should be reported immediately to the laboratory supervisor.
Certain medical conditions (e.g., epilepsy, fainting spells, etc.) could make an otherwise safe and controlled laboratory environment hazardous, both for the student who suffers from the condition and for others around him/her. Students with such medical conditions that might arise unexpectedly must make this known to the laboratory instructor during or before the scheduled introductory session. Such information will be held in strict confidence.
B. Laboratory Housekeeping Every student is responsible for leaving the equipment at his/her station clean and in good order, and the bench clean and tidy.
Chemicals should never be left in the balance room. Weigh out the amount you need, re-cap the bottle and return the chemical to its place in the laboratory. Dispose of used weighing boats in the waste container provided.
If any chemical is spilled in weighing, be sure to clean up the balance pan and the counter immediately. Neglected chemical spills have caused injury to other students.
If you are in doubt about the correct procedure for using any instrument or equipment, be sure to ask the laboratory supervisor or the laboratory technician for assistance. Much of the equipment you will be using is delicate and very expensive.
C. Waste Disposal Chemical spills must be cleaned up immediately, using the method recommended by your instructor. Mercury spillages pose a very serious health hazard. Report any broken thermometers immediately so that correct clean-up and decontamination procedures can be implemented. Do not take more chemical than will be required for any experiment. If you inadvertently take a small amount extra, never return it to the reagent bottle. Consult your instructor for the correct disposal method. Do not dispose of chemicals in the sinks without first checking with your instructor. Follow correct disposal methods as they are explained to you. Broken glassware must be disposed of in the broken glassware container - never in the garbage cans. Be sure to never throw away biohazardous material in a regular trash can. If you are working with such a substance then your lab should have a specialized disposal area where biohazardous waste can be contained until sterilization by either chemical means or through heating.
First answer by Comrade. Last edit by Deeptendu. Contributor trust: 123 [recommend contributor]. Question popularity: 213 [recommend question]
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