Laboratory Safety

What’s Wrong with this Picture? Explore: What is going on this picture? What are some things you know are unsafe to do during lab? What are some things you feel might be unsafe to do during lab?

Playing Safety Symbol Bingo In the following slides, you will see a safety symbol that is represents an element of laboratory safety. Guess the symbol as a class and then record the picture on your bingo sheet. Place a bean or item provided to you. Please do NOT mark on the bingo sheets! You only really need to know what the symbol means, the rest is common sense. (You can download all these slides from my webpage if you want to know all the information later.) If You have Bingo, please wait until the end and we’ll check it. We’ll keep going until we go through all 10 lab safety symbols. Afterwards, we’ll recap by examining photographs and determining what laboratory safety rules are being broken! Get ready and good luck!

What am I?

Safety Goggles Used for Eye protection. The most common used safety item in the biology laboratory. Use when there are Chemicals, Flames or Heating. They give you protection against flying objects or toxic substances. If your eyes come into contact with a substance, use the eye wash immediately.

What am I?

Poison Do not let it on your skin or inhale its vapor. Wash your hands after handling. Can cause death if eaten or drunk. Let your teacher know immediately if you come into direct contact. Always hold test tubes or flasks away from your nose and face and waft odors towards you.

What am I?

Fire Hazard Wear safety goggles with fire hazards. Tie back loose hair and clothing. Ask your teacher about lighting and extinguishing fires during a lab.

What am I?

Physical Safety This activity involves physical activity. Use caution to avoid injuring yourself and others. Follow all instructions from your teacher. Alert your teacher if there is any reason you should not participate in this activity.

What am I?

Glassware Hazard Glassware is present and can cause injury. Glassware should be cleaned with each use to avoid contamination. Alert your teacher if there is any broken glassware. Broken glass goes in a special “sharps” container, not in the regular trash.

What am I?

Sharp Object Scissors, scalpels, razor blades, pins, and knives are sharp so use care. Always direct sharp edges and points away from yourself and others. If you are cut or bleeding, let your teacher know immediately. Use only as directed.

What am I?

Heat Hazard Use clamps or tongs to hold hot objects. Use an oven mitt or gloves when handling hot materials. Use clamps or tongs to hold hot objects. Always heat objects in a test tube away from you and others. Hot plates, hot water and hot glassware can cause burns. Glassware looks the same when hot or cold, so use care when heating any type of glass. Rapid changes in glass temperature can cause it to expand, crack and/or explode! Plastic tools should never be heated on a hot plate! They will melt! Never touch hot objects with your bare hands. Heat Hazard

What am I?

Corrosive Chemical Indicates an acid or other corrosive chemical. Wear gloves at all times and safety goggles! Avoid getting in skin or eyes. Do not inhale vapors. Wash your hands after lab activity.

What am I?

Electrical Hazard Avoid electric shock. Never use electrical equipment around water or when your hands are wet. Be sure cords are untangled and unplugged when not in use.

What am I?

Animal Safety Treat live animals with care. Be careful when dissecting preserved animals. Wear safety goggles! Wear latex gloves! Wash your hands after lab.

Now it’s your turn! Determine the following reasons these people are violating laboratory safety rules. Try to use terms you have already learned through the 10 basic safety symbols. Check your Bingo sheet; does anyone have Bingo?

What’s wrong with this picture?

What’s wrong with this picture?

What’s wrong with this picture?

What is wrong with this picture?

What’s Wrong with this Picture? Reflect: As a class, let’s review some of the safety violations that we can see. What were some things you saw at the beginning? What are some things you see now after learning about lab safety? Any Questions about Lab Safety and Safety Procedures?

Now let’s play a Game… In efforts to get to know another and make good observations/inferences, I’m going to give your lab bench a phrase. The first person reads the phrase I wrote and draws a picture of how they would communicate it to the next person. They fold down the phrase and pass it down. The next person looks at the picture and writes a description of what is happening. They fold down the picture and pass it down. Continue in this pattern until you reach the end of the row. We’ll share our results! And NO PEEKING! It’s like a game of operator and telephone… the phrase is “Carol didn’t wear her safety goggles, now she doesn’t need them.” (Like the picture on the goggles cabinet.)

Lab Safety Video http://www.teachertube.com/viewVideo.php?video_id=194405&title=Science_Lab_Safety_Video_Rap&vpkey