Lab Safety Rules for
use with
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GENERAL GUIDELINES
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1.
Be alert and responsible at all times in the laboratory. 2.
Follow all written and verbal instructions carefully. If you do
not understand a direction or part of a procedure, ASK BEFORE PROCEEDING
WITH THE ACTIVITY. 3.
Never work alone in the laboratory. No student may work in the
science classroom without the presence of the teacher. 4.
When first entering a science room, do not touch any equipment, chemicals,
or other materials in the laboratory area until you are instructed to
do so. 5.
Perform only those experiments authorized by your teacher. Carefully
follow all instructions, both written and oral. Unauthorized experiments
are not allowed. 6.
Do not eat food, drink beverages, or chew gum in the laboratory.
Do not use laboratory glassware as containers for food or beverages. |
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7.
Be prepared for your work in the laboratory. Read all procedures
thoroughly before entering the laboratory. Never fool around
in the laboratory. 8.
Always work in a well-ventilated area. 9.
Observe good housekeeping practices. Work areas should be kept
clean and tidy at all times. 10.
Be alert and proceed with caution at all times in the laboratory.
Notify the teacher immediately of any unsafe conditions you observe. 11.
Dispose of all chemical waste properly. Never mix chemicals in
sink drains. Sinks are to be used only for water. Check with your
teacher for disposal of chemicals and solutions. 12.
Labels and equipment instructions must be read carefully before use.
Set up and use the equipment as directed by your teacher. 13.
Keep hands away from face, eyes, mouth, and body while using chemicals
or lab equipment. Wash your hands with soap and water after performing
all experiments. 14.
Experiments must be personally monitored at all times. Do not
wander around the room, distract other students, startle other students,
or interfere with the laboratory experiments of others. 15.
Know the locations and operating procedures of all safety equipment
including: first aid kit(s), and fire extinguisher. Know where
the fire alarm and the exits are located. 16.
Know what to do if there is a fire drill during a laboratory period;
containers must be closed, and any electrical equipment turned off. |
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CLOTHING
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17.
Any time chemicals, heat, or glassware are used, students will wear
safety goggles. NO EXCEPTIONS TO THIS RULE! 18.
Contact lenses may be not be worn in the laboratory. 19.
Dress properly during a laboratory activity. Long hair, dangling
jewelry, and loose or baggy clothing are a hazard in the laboratory.
Long hair must be tied back, and dangling jewelry and baggy clothing
must be secured. Shoes must completely cover the foot. No
sandals allowed on lab days. 20.
A lab coat or smock should be worn during laboratory experiments. |
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ACCIDENTS AND INJURIES
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21.
Report any accident (spill, breakage, etc.) or injury (cut, burn, etc.)
to the teacher immediately, no matter how trivial it seems. Do
not panic. 22. If you or your lab partner is hurt, immediately (and loudly) yell out the teacher's name to get the teacher's attention. Do not panic. (This is important whether your Virtual Laboratory is located on your home computer or in a school or library computer lab/classroom. Know what to do, where to go, and whom to call in an emergency! And always let someone know where you are going to be!) 23.
If a chemical should splash in your eye(s) or on your skin, immediately
flush with running water
for at least 20 minutes. Immediately (and loudly) yell out the
teacher's name to get the teacher's attention. |
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HANDLING
CHEMICALS
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24.
All chemicals in the laboratory are to be considered dangerous. Avoid
handling chemicals with fingers. Always use a tweezer. When making an
observation, keep at least 1 foot away from the specimen. Do not taste,
or smell any chemicals. If the instructions ask you if a substance
(reactant or product) has an odor, hold the container away from you
and gently fan the fumes, if any, toward you. Never put your nose into
the container! 25.
Check the label on all chemical bottles twice before removing any of
the contents. Take only as much chemical as you need. 26.
Never return unused chemicals to their
original container. 27.
Never
remove chemicals or other materials from the laboratory area. |
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HANDLING
GLASSWARE
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28. Never handle broken glass with your bare hands. Use a brush
and dustpan to clean up broken glass. Place broken glass in the
designated glass disposal container. 29.
Examine glassware before each use. Never use chipped, cracked,
or dirty glassware. 30.
If you do not understand how to use a piece of equipment,
ASK THE TEACHER FOR HELP!
(In the Virtual Laboratory, use the HELP or Technical Support function.) 31.
Do not immerse hot glassware in cold water. The glassware may
shatter. |
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HEATING SUBSTANCES
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32.
Do not operate a hot plate by yourself. Take care that hair, clothing,
and hands are a safe distance from the hot plate at all times.
Use of hot plate is only allowed in the presence of the teacher. 33.
Heated glassware remain very hot for a long time. They should
be set aside in a designated place to cool, and picked up with caution.
Use tongs or heat protective gloves if necessary. 34.
Never look
into a container that is being heated. 35.
Do not place hot apparatus directly on the laboratory desk. Always
use an insulated pad. Allow plenty of time for hot apparatus to
cool before touching it. |
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ANIMALS IN THE LABORATORY
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36.
Occasionally you will encounter live animals in the science lab or outdoors
while doing field work. Please be careful to keep from being bitten. If
an animal bites you while in the lab or in the field, INFORM your teacher
immediately! Remember that to handle animals is a privilege. Treat all
live animals and preserved specimens that you encounter or handle with
respect. (In the Virtual Laboratory, there is no danger of being bitten, but you should always treat animals with respect, regardless of whether they are alive, preserved, or virtual!) |
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