Lab Safety Presentation

By Stefanie Iannalfo Including:

•Avoiding Accidents and injuries

•Proper clothing in the Lab

•Before and After Lab Steps

•Proper lab Behavior

•Safety Symbols

•And More

In order to participate in lab activities it is important to know how to properly demonstrate all of the safety precautions needed. If safety precautions are not taken seriously major injuries may occur, especially in experiments involving hazardous materials. Other than learning from experiments, it is crucial to understand how to correctly conduct any and all safety steps before, during, and after experiments.

Have a complete and total understanding of the experiments steps before entering the laboratory.

Make sure your teacher is present for any experiments. Never do experiments alone.

Clear your working bench of all books and other extra materials.

Check all the labels of the chemicals you are supposed to be using. If you accidentally use the wrong substances it could be dangerous. (Remember some chemical formulas have only one number or letter different from other chemicals)

While entering a science lab do not touch any materials, chemicals, or equipment until your instructor tells you to.

Know the exact location of all safety equipment in the laboratory.

Emergency Fire

Blanket

Emergency

Fire

Extinguisher

First Aid Kit

Eye Wash and

Emergency Shower

1. Most labs require you to wear safety goggles to protect your vision. Most chemicals used in labs can be very damaging if they came in contact with your eyes. If a chemical does get in your eyes use the emergency eye shower. After this immediately tell your teacher.

2. The use of gloves is not needed for all lab experiments. If you come in contact with living organisms, hazardous chemicals, or hot substances safety gloves can be useful. You should know before you start the activity if you are going to be handling such substances.

3. A laboratory coat or apron is a very important item to wear for laboratory work. If your laboratory coat is contaminated in any by any harmful substance it is crucial to immediately remove the coat.

4. You are always required to wear shoes in any laboratory experiment. Sandals and sneakers are not considered proper shoes to wear in labs. If a chemical was to spill to the ground, your feet would need to be protected by close-toed shoes.

The only materials that should be present in the lab are the materials that are necessary to perform the experiment. Food, drink beverages, and gum are not supposed to be in the lab. Any objects that are needed for the experiment such as test tubes, containers, or flasks should be put in the lab before you enter the lab. Any extraneous materials in your work space could interrupt and affect your experiment.

• Avoid any behavior that might startle or distract any other worker. This includes running through lab area, fooling around, and pushing or shoving other workers.

•Avoid any unnecessary walking or conversation.

•Do not use equipment for anything but its intended use.

•Do not store food or beverages in containers meant to be used for scientific uses only.

Point the end of a test tube away from you or your partners.

Do not look directly into a test tube, always observe contents from the side of the test tube.

Tie back any lose hair that could come in contact with materials.

When using electrical outlets, always hold the plastic cover firmly when you are plugging or unplugging. NEVER pull on the cord to unplug a wire from an outlet.

Never taste a substance you are working with.

If you are asked to smell a substance fan your hand by the substance to direct the smell towards your nose. Never directly smell a substance.

Knowing how to handle an accident is as important as knowing how to avoid one.

•If any chemicals are to come in contact with your eyes, immediately flush eyes with water for more than 10 minutes.

• If you are to ingest any chemicals try to drink large amounts of water.

•If any chemicals come in contact with your skin immediately flush the site of contamination with water, and remove any affected clothes.

•In the case of minor burns immediately put under cold running water.

IMPORTANT Make sure to report all injuries to instructor immediately.

How to Safely Work With Chemicals

Avoid any unnecessary contact with potentially dangerous chemicals.

Conduct chemical experiments in well ventilated areas.

If you are unable to use a well ventilated area, use only chemicals that would suit the area in which you are able to use.

Do not allow the circulation of dangerous chemicals into specifically cold or hot rooms, for under such conditions some chemicals might reactant differently.

Store chemicals in their appropriate and needed containers and temperatures.

It is important to know the meaning of safety symbols in the science lab. Safety symbols

are pictures used to point out hazardous substances and necessary precautions to be aware of. This is a chart of important symbols to know before conducting any experiment.

burn hazard be careful working with burners, hot plates, and hot materials

electricity hazard keep work area and hands dry

sharp object hazard glassware, scalpel, scissors

vapor hazard hand waving technique; fume hoods

clothing hazard wear lab apron

eye hazard WEAR safety glasses; no contacts

flammable gas hazard be careful using a bunsen burner; turn off gas outlet when done

explosion hazard work carefully;follow directions; do not misuse dangerous chemicals

plant hazard avoid thorns; sharp edges; wear gloves

animal hazard clean cages; avoid dangerous species

radiation hazard note labels indicating radioactivity

poison hazard don't eat or drink in the lab; never taste test; wash hands

water hazard avoid off limits area; wear PFD's

There are many different kinds of hazards in laboratory. You should know how to

distinguish the different hazards before you run an experiment. Once you know all the

types of dangers it is important to understand how to reduce your chance of

having an accident occur during your experiment.

Any chemicals that have been spilled need to immediately cleaned up.

*If an acid is spilled, use a base to dilute it. If a base is spilled, use an acid to dilute it. This process will make cleaning up such chemicals less dangerous.

After finishing the experiment make sure to discard any chemicals. Do not pour any chemicals down the sink.

Return any safety equipment you used such as your apron, glasses, and gloves.

Before leaving the laboratory make sure all gas lines and water faucets are turned off.

http://www.biology.ewu.edu/Biosubsite/foldfile/Resources/Lab/chemrules.htm#accident

http://www.chem.vt.edu/RVGS/ACT/lab/safety_rules.html1. Visit the Utah State 7th Grade Integrated Science Core Curriculum Page.

Updated by: Glen WestbroekUtah State Office of Education.Howard Debeck Elementary School

8600 Ash Street Richmond, B.C. V6Y 1S2

Richmond School District Homepage http://nobel.scas.bcit.ca/debeck_pt/science/safety.htm

www.dadsrockshop.comscience.valleyheights.org/ safety.htm

www.tlc-direct.co.uk/. ../Fire_Blanket/www2.kumc.edu/safety/ orientation/itvhzc2.htm

Works Cited