Laboratory Safety Colleyville Heritage High School

Lab Safety: Everyone is Responsible! "I didn't mean to" and "It wasn't my fault" are two statements that have no place in the lab. If someone is hurt or equipment is broken, these statements cannot undo the harm. Horse-play will not be tolerated. If it occurs, those involved will be disqualified from the lab and given a zero for the assignment. Lack of pre-lab preparation is the main threat to safety in our lab. If you and your group are unprepared, you will be unsure of yourself, waist time, and have a good chance of making a mistake that leads to a problem.

No Food or Drink in the Lab You should never eat or drink in the lab because of possible past as well as present contamination with toxic materials.

Microbiology Safety The lab will have microbes active and you will use goggles, gloves, masks, and aprons when working with them. “Sterile techniques” will be observed during all labs. Do not open any incubators without teacher permission.

Safety Glasses and Aprons 1. Safety Glasses Must Be Worn in the lab area. 2. Safety glasses are stored in the chemical cart in the center of the lab area. 3. Other protective clothing, such as gloves and aprons are at your option, unless otherwise noted.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Training Contact lenses should NOT be worn in the lab without teacher permission. 1. It is almost impossible to remove contacts after chemicals have been splashed into the eyes. 2. Chemicals trapped under contacts will damage the eye even more than normal. 3. The plastic used for some types of contact lenses is permeable to vapors found in the laboratory. If these vapors are trapped behind the lens, extensive irritation may occur.

Personal Safety Considerations 1. Long hair and bulky clothing are dangerous in the lab. Tie back long hair. 2. There is a danger of catching fire, as well as being drawn through chemicals. 3. Wear appropriate clothing and closed shoes. 4. Rings, watches, and jewelry are dangerous in the lab. 5. Corrosive or irritating liquids may get underneath a ring or watch and produce irritation. 6. Dangling jewelry may catch on a piece of labware and cause an accident.

Accidents Can Happen: 1. Remain calm! A minor problem quickly becomes a major one if you don't. 2. Report all accidents immediately, no matter how small. 1. Types of accidents and how to handle them: Broken Glass: The most common accident in the lab, even with the best of care. 1. If you are using the equipment properly, you will not get into trouble for breaking a piece of glassware. 2. If you are not using the equipment properly, or if horse-play is involved, you will be required to pay for the broken glassware.

Broken Glass 1. If glassware is broken, stop where you are. Report the breakage to your teacher. 2. Do not move until your facilitator says it is safe to do so. There will most likely be many small slivers of glass that you do not immediately notice. 3. If anyone is cut, report it immediately. 4. Your facilitator will collect the broken glass, not you. More minor cuts occur after this type of accident than during it.

Heating Precautions Never heat a closed container. The internal pressure will rise and it will explode. The material may burn. Never point an open topped container toward another person. Quickly heated materials can pop out on someone. If they are caustic the effect is greater when hot.

Cuts and Scrapes: 1. Do not come into contact with another person's blood. 2. Report the situation to your teacher and let him help the injured person. 3. There is always a possibility of infection, even with the most minor injury. For this reason you should report any cut or scrape, even if there is no visible blood. 4. If there is blood at any lab station, everyone is to turn off all burners and move to your seat in the classroom area until told it is safe to return to the lab.

Electrical Safety Never become part of the circuit ! Use breakers, fuses and GFI’s Never short out a battery or power source – it can blow up. Pull plugs out of the wall socket.. Not by the wires. Electrical shock can cause heart rhythm problems including fibrillation that require CPR.

Chemical Spills: 1. Water analysis uses many chemicals. 2. You are to treat all chemical spills as DANGEROUS. 3. Stop where you are and let your facilitator advise you about what to do. 4. Consult the proper Material Safety Data Sheet before doing anything.

Chemical Safety Warning Signs - NFPA, ANSI, OSHA 1. Did any of the spill get on your skin or clothing? Sometimes adding water is the worst thing you can do. 2. Depending on the chemical spilled, we might just have a mess to clean up or we might have a very dangerous situation. 3. The most potentially dangerous chemicals used in our lab are corrosive acids and bases. Even though you will normally be using chemicals that have been diluted, you should always treat acids and bases with care.

Fire: 1. When you are not heating something - turn the burner off. 2. Lab burners are the source of most problems: 3. Bunsen burners have very few malfunctions. If a malfunction occurs, turn off the gas and notify your facilitator- end of problem. 4. The flame from alcohol burners is hard to see. Pay close attention when using them. 5. Be aware when a burner is in use at your lab station. Be extremely careful during that time.

Fire continued. 1. Paper is the most common type of fire in the lab. 2. This type of fire is cause by carelessness and easily prevented. Take only one lab sheet to your station to follow your written procedures and record data. Leave all reference materials at your desk. If you need to refer to reference material, leave the lab area to do so. 3. If a paper fire occurs, push the paper into the lab sink and turn on the water - end of problem.

Fire Dangers and Your Reactions 1. Clothing or Hair is the most dangerous type of fire in the lab. 2. Don't panic! If the fire is not at your lab station - stay away ! 3. If you are the one involved in a fire - stay where you are - help is coming. "Stop, drop, and roll" is still the best course of action. 4. If your partner is involved in a fire - get the fire blanket. Your facilitator will be racing you to the blanket and both of you will help your partner smother the fire.

Lab Safety Equipment: Eye Wash Station: The eye wash station is located on the wall of the science lab.  The station should only be used if chemicals come in contact with the eyes.  Eyelids have to be forcibly kept open to ensure effective washing.  Be sure to wash from the nose out to the ear. This will avoid washing chemicals back into the eye or into an unaffected eye.  Flood eyes and eyelids with water for a minimum of 20 minutes.

Eye Wash continued. 1. Contacts should not be worn during labs. If you are wearing them when involved with an accident, remove them as soon as possible to rinse eyes of any harmful chemicals. 2. After the science teacher determines the eyes are completely flushed, both of the victim's eyes should be covered with a clean or sterile gauze.

Safety Shower: The safety shower is located on the west wall of the science lab.  The shower provides an effective means of treatment in the event that large amounts of chemicals are spilled or splashed onto the skin or clothing.  As long as the hanging handle is pulled down, the safety shower will supply a continuous stream of water to cover the entire body.  Individuals should remove clothing, including shoes and jewelry, while under an operating shower.

Fire Safety Blanket: 1. The fire safety blanket is located by the safety shower. 2. Fire blankets are not the best means to extinguish a fire. They may be used to extinguish clothing that is burning, but should never be used on any other type of fire. 3. Fire blankets are a good means to keep shock victims warm. Never wrap a standing student in the blanket. This creates a "chimney effect", bringing the fire directly to the student's face.

Fire Blanket Caution: Never wrap a standing student in the blanket if they are on fire. This creates a "chimney effect", bringing the fire directly to the student's face.

Fire Extinguisher: 1. Only a Haylon fire extinguisher should be used on a fire involving personal clothing. The materials from other extinguishers can cut off oxygen to a person surrounded by the cloud of chemicals. 2. The fire extinguisher is located on the front wall. 3. Only the science facilitator is authorized to use the fire extinguisher. 4. Fire extinguishers are classified according to a particular fire type.

Types of Fire Extinguishers: 1. Combustibles: Type A. Wood, cloth, paper, rubber and plastics. 2. Flammable liquids: Type B. oil, grease and paint thinners, organic solvents. 3. Energized electrical equipment. Type C. 4. Our lab fire extinguisher is Type ABC, effective against Types A, B, and C. 5. The average fire extinguisher only operates about 10 seconds. Don't waste it! 6. You must get close to the fire - as close as 5 or 6 feet!

Fire Extinguisher Training 1. To effectively operate an extinguisher, think P-A-S-S. 2. P -- pull the pin A -- aim the hose at the base of the fire S -- squeeze the handle S -- sweep the hose back and forth 3. Sprinkler System: 4. Sprinklers located throughout the lab area are automatically activated.

Sprinkler Systems 1. Students should not attempt to alter the system in any way. 2. Items in the lab should be stored at least 18 inches away from the sprinkler heads. 3. Items should not hang from the sprinkler heads. 4. Intense heat should not be used near the sprinkler heads. 5. Evacuate the room if the water system activates.

DILUTING STRONG ACIDS To safely dilute strong acids ( or bases ) you add the acid to water. Remember the pneumonic of “A & W Root beer” …. Acid in Water. If you reverse it, an explosion may occur that would spread the chemical.

Lab Station Clean-Up: 1. Clean-up is important for the safety of others and for the preservation of equipment. 2. Your lab station and equipment should be cleaned before you worry about the lab report. 3. What clean-up should be done after each lab? 4. Dispose of chemicals as directed by your facilitator. 5. NEVER put unused chemicals back into their original container.

Lab Cleanup: 1. Return chemical containers to the chemical table or chemical analysis kit. 2. Wash and dry all glassware, then store properly. 3. Clean hardware, but DO NOT wash. If any hardware is wet, dry completely before storing. This is to prevent rusting. 4. Clean and dry your lab table. 5. In the Environmental course do not dispose of chemicals into the environment. Bring them back to the lab for proper disposal.

Acid / Base Dilution and Neutralization Make sure if your diluting an acid or base that you add that chemical to the water first. It can cause the water to separate into the H2 and O2. The gases will splatter out and cause chemical burns. Neutralization is the adding of an acid to a base to produce water and a salt.

Laboratory Safety Links. 1. Chemical Safety Labels and Signs - The Science Room Chemical Safety Labels and Signs 2. Laboratory Survival Manual - The University of Virginia Laboratory Survival Manual 3. Environmental Health & Safety Department - Oklahoma State University Environmental Health & Safety Department 4. Laboratory Safety - Univeristy of Maryland Laboratory Safety 5. Hazardous Material Classification - Knowledge by Design Hazardous Material Classification 6. Laboratory Safety Resources - Vermont Safety Information Resources Laboratory Safety Resources 7. Laboratory Safety - Howard Hughes Medical Institute Laboratory Safety 8. #1 Material Safety Data Sheet Database - Cornell University #1 Material Safety Data Sheet Database 9. #2 Manufacturers MSDS Pages - MSDS Provider #2 Manufacturers MSDS Pages 10. Chemical Safety Cards - Centers for Disease Control, the CDC Chemical Safety Cards 11. EPA Hazardous and Toxic Chemical Search - Environmental Protection Agency EPA Hazardous and Toxic Chemical Search 12. Toxic Substances and Public Health - U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Toxic Substances and Public Health