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Safety in the Laboratory

In order to avoid personal injuries and injuries to fellow students while performing experiments, it is necessary that you read and understand the following regulations before performing any experiments. The department reserves the right to exclude any person from the laboratory who endangers him/herself or others.

A. Personal Protection

  1. Approved safety goggles (not glasses) must be worn at all times when chemicals are in use in the laboratory. Soft contact lenses shall not be worn in the laboratory, even under goggles. If you have a medical condition that requires that you wear contact lenses, please see the instructor in advance.

  2. If splashed in the eye, immediate and extensive washing with cool water only is absolutely essential to minimize damage. Use an eye wash bottle, a hose, an eye fountain or an eye cup at once. If you spill any chemical on yourself, immediately wash with large amounts of water; then notify your instructor.

  3. The wearing of gloves and aprons is strongly advised when working with toxic and/or corrosive substances (gloves must never be a substitute for neatness and careful technique). Do not use organic solvents to wash organic compounds from the skin; they will only spread the damage over a wider area. Organic solvents also tend to penetrate skin, carrying any dissolved substances quickly into the body. Soap and water are more effective.

  4. Do not apply ointments to chemical or thermal burns. Use only cold water.

  5. Do not eat or drink in the laboratory. Do not eat or drink from laboratory glassware. Do not use mouth suction in filling pipettes with chemical reagents. (Use a suction bulb.)

  6. Confine long hair securely when in the laboratory. Closed-toe shoes must be worn in laboratories at all times. A laboratory apron is essential when wearing flammable clothing (notably synthetic/plastic materials). Such an apron affords protection on all occasions.

  7. Exercise great care in noting the odor of fumes. Whenever possible avoid breathing fumes of any kind. See also C-6.

  8. No smoking in the laboratories.

  9. You are advised to obtain medical attention for cuts, burns, eye splashes, inhalation of fumes, or any other laboratory accident. If needed, your laboratory instructor will arrange for transportation to Olin Health Center. An accident report must be completed by your laboratory instructor.

  10. No headphones or earphones (for example, personal stereo) shall be worn in laboratories.

B. Property Protection

  1. In case of fire, call the instructor at once. If you are near an extinguisher, bring the extinguisher to the fire, but let the instructor use it.

  2. Know the location of all safety equipment: fire extinguisher, safety showers, fire blankets, eye washes (any water hose works in an emergency) and exits.

  3. Treat all liquids as extremely flammable, corrosive and toxic unless you know them to be otherwise.

  4. Clean all spills promptly with water (except water-reactive substances) and paper towels. If you have any doubts about the proper clean-up procedure, ask your instructor.

  5. Dispose of all chemicals properly. For hazardous waste, use the waste containers in your laboratory. Ask your instructor how to dispose of waste chemicals you are unsure about.

  6. Place broken glass in the appropriate container. Do not put broken glass in the waste paper cans.

C. Laboratory Technique

  1. Read the experiment before coming into the lab. This will allow you to plan ahead so that you can make the best use of your time. The more you rush at the end of a laboratory, the greater your chance of making a mistake or having an accident.

  2. Do not perform unauthorized experiments. You alone will bear the consequences of unauthorized experimentation. Never work in the laboratory alone!

  3. Do not remove chemicals or equipment from the laboratories.

  4. Don't force glass tubing into rubber stoppers. (Protect your hands with a towel when inserting tubing into stoppers, and use a lubricant.)

  5. Disconnect the power when working on electrical equipment. If you must work on an instrument while powered, observe extreme caution in handling bare wires and make sure that all equipment is electrically grounded before touching it. Be careful not to spill liquids on or near electrical equipment.

  6. Use hood facilities. Odors and gases from chemicals and reactions are usually unpleasant and in many cases toxic. Clean up all liquid spills immediately.

  7. View reactions from the side, keeping glass and safety goggles between you and the reactants. Do not look into the open mouth of a test tube or reaction flask. Point the open end of the tube away from you and other laboratory workers.

  8. Be a good housekeeper. Order and neatness improve efficiency and minimize accidents.

  9. Laboratory safety is the personal responsibility of every individual in the laboratory. Report unsafe practices.



This page created December 20, 1998 by Simon J. Garrett.