LABORATORY SAFETY

Dr. Ashok Kumar Jeppu

Biochemistry Unit

International Medical School

Management and Science University

Malaysia

Doing things safely is not merely the right way to

work

- it is the only way

In order to have fun doing science experiments, you need to be aware of the dangers and hazards in the laboratory.

Important to

respect the

safety of yourself

and others in the lab

To do this, follow the

safety precautions

THINK SMART. BE SAFE.

Cooperation

Responsibility

concern

Safety First

Lab Safety

What do you think is the most dangerous thing in any laboratory?

The most dangerous thing in any laboratory is someone who doesn’t

know what they are doing

If you don’t know how to use it or don’t know what it is for

• Pencil

• Coin

• You name it…

Accident often result from

An indifferent attitude

Failure to use common sense

Failure to follow

instructionsmaking

GENERAL SAFETY RULES

NO HORSING AROUND!• Never “horse around” or play practical jokes in

the laboratory

• The laboratory is not a place for being silly.

• Focus on completing your experiment correctly and safely

• You should always conduct yourself with mature and appropriate behavior.

Secure loose sleeves or other loose articles of clothing, such as ties and bows.

TIE BACK LONG HAIRTie back long hair and loose clothing

when working near an open flame : Roll up long sleeves

During lab work, keep your hands away from your face

Don’t wear open-toed shoes or sandals in laboratory situations

Never put anything into your mouth during a lab experiment

Never eat, drink, or apply cosmetics in a laboratory setting;

food, drink, and cosmetics can easily become contaminated with

dangerous chemicals

Follow the safety instructions carefully

• Become thoroughly acquainted with the location and use of safety equipment and facilities such as

• Exits

• Safety shower

• Eyewash fountains

• first aid kit.

Notify your teacher if any accidents occur

Keep your work area uncluttered Take to the lab station only what is necessaryClean up your lab area after you are finished

Chemical Safety

• Wear SAFETY APRON

•Wear protective goggles whenever heating or pouring hazardous chemicals

•Make sure an emergency eyewash station is available in the laboratory

Chemical Safety

After handling chemicals, always wash your hands with soap and water.

Chemical Safety

Never mix chemicals together unless you are told to do so

Chemical Safety

Follow the instructions of your teacher when disposing chemicals

Never mix chemicals for the “fun of it.” See unauthorized experiments

Use only the chemicals need for an investigation. Keep all lids closed when a chemical is not in use. Notify

teacher if spills occur.

Chemical Safety

• Dispose of all chemicals as instructed by teacher. To avoid contamination do not return chemicals to their original containers

• Be careful when working with chemicals such as acids or bases. Always pour them over the sink rather than over your work area

• When diluting an acid always add small amounts of Acid to Water. A to W. Awww. W to A. WAAAAA!

• Rinse acids or bases off of skin immediately. Notify teacher immediately of spills.

Chemical Safety

• Do not inhale fumes directly.• When instructed to smell a substance,

wave or waft fumes toward your nose and inhale gently.

Chemical Safety

Never taste any chemicals

Before undertaking any work become familiar with the hazards of the chemicals involved

Chemical Safety

Glassware Safety

Glassware Safety

• Become familiar with the hazards of the apparatus and the operations involved

• Check the condition of glassware before and after using it.

• Inform your teacher about any broken, chipped, or cracked glassware; it should not be used.

• Do not pick up broken glass with your bare hands.

Glassware Safety

• Never force glass tubing into rubber stoppers

• Never place glassware near edges of your work surface.

• Never eat or drink out of lab glassware

• Hot glass does not look hot. Don’t pick up any glassware

that may have been heated without checking to see if it is

hot first

Using Sharp Instruments

• Handle scalpels and razor blades with extreme care.

• Never cut material toward yourself or others. Cut away

from you and others.

• Notify your teacher if you cut yourself.

Electrical Safety

• Keep electrical cords away from areas where someone may trip on them or where the cords can tip over laboratory equipment.

Electrical Safety

•Never handle electrical equipment with wet hands.

•Be sure your hands and your lab area are dry before using electrical equipment

Electrical Safety

Electrical Safety•Never poke anything into electrical outlets

•Unplug cords by pulling the plug and NOT the cord

•Turn off and unplug all electrical equipment as soon as you are finished using the equipment.

Heating Safety

Heating Safety

1. Let hotplates cool down before touching them. Test to see if they are cool enough by bringing the back of your hand close to them.2. Use tongs to handle hot objects.3. The only type of glassware that may safely be heated is either Kimax or Pyrex.4. Never heat anything that you are not instructed to heat

Heating Safety

•Never heat a closed container

•Point test tubes or bottles that are being heated away from you and others. Chemicals can boil or splash out of the tube

•Only glassware that is thoroughly dry should be heated.

•Never leave a hotplate unattended.

Fire Safety

Fire Safety• Make sure that fire extinguishers and fire

blankets are available in the laboratory

• Tie back long hair and confine loose clothing

• Wear safety goggles when working with flames

• Never reach across an open flame

• Make sure you know how to light a Bunsen

burner. If you do not your teacher will show

you

• Make sure water, gas burners, and electric hot plates are turned off. Hot plates and other electrical equipment should also be unplugged.

First Aid

Injury: BurnsTo do: Immediately flush with cold water until burning sensation is lessened

First Aid

Injury: CutsTo do: Do not touch an open wound without safety gloves. Pressing directly on minor cuts will stop bleeding in a few minutes.

First Aid

Injury: FaintingTo do: Provide fresh air and have the person recline so that their head is lower than the rest of their body.

First Aid

Injury: The eyesTo do: Flush eyes immediately with plenty of water for several minutes. If a foreign object is lodged in the eye, do not rub the eye.

Radioactive Biohazard

Symbols

Dress Code

1.Wear a lab coat or apron when directed

2.Wear safety goggles when directed.

3.Tie back loose hair whenever chemicals or

open flames are being used.

4.Do not wear loose, baggy clothing or loose

jewelry (ID badge lanyards) when working with

chemicals or open flames.

Lab Safety Rules

General Safety

• Listen and follow directions• No Monkey or Horseplay• Don’t eat or drink without permission• Keep your hands and place dry• Touch electrical instruments with dry hand• Be careful with hot or electrical appliances

Lab Safety Rules

•Tell your teacher if anything breaks or spills•Clean your desk before and after experiments•Wash your hands•Handle animals with care and respect

•Report all accidents, no matter how minor,

immediately to the teacher.

•Know what to do in the case of specific

accidents such as acid spills, fires, or chemicals

on skin or in eyes.

To Summarize

1. Use common sense.

2. Follow the teacher’s

directions.

3. If you don’t know, ask.

4. Do the right thing.

Thank You

BE SMART! THINK SAFE!

And now for a quiz…Choose the best answer for the following questions.

1.When in the lab, you must always wear

a)Long socks

b)Eye goggles

c)A hard hat

2.When is food and drinks allowed in the lab?

a)When you are hungry or thirsty

b)Anytime

c)Never

True or False?

3. _____You can keep your hair down during labs.

4. _____You should read the directions for a lab once before beginning.

5. _____If you don’t know what you are supposed to do in a lab, you should ask the teacher.

6. _____If a minor accident occurs, you do not have to notify the teacher.

Matching: Write the letter of the missing key word on the blank in front of the statement.

a) Equipment

b) Horseplay

c) Sleevesd) Hands

Key Words

Statements

7. Roll up long ________.8. Return all ________ to its proper place.9. Wash your ______ at the end of all labs.10. Do not engage in ________ in the lab.