Laboratory Regulations & Agreement for Chemistry
The laboratory is a place for serious work and you should conduct yourself in a businesslike manner. You will be working with toxic chemicals and unfamiliar apparatus which, if handled carefully and properly, will insure the safety of you and your classmates. You have certain additional responsibilities that do not apply to other classrooms, and these are explained in this agreement. Failure to abide by the following regulations indicates your willingness to forfeit your grade on that experiment. Repeated violations which affect the safety of you and your classmates could result in your removal from this course. Two copies of the contract are provided. One copy must be signed by both you and a parent or guardian before you can participate in the laboratory. The second copy is to be kept in your chemistry notebook/folder as a constant reminder of the safety rules.
1. You must wear approved safety goggles whenever chemicals, heat or glassware are being used in the lab. Persons in close proximity to such hazards must also wear goggles. NO EXCEPTIONS.
2. You must tie back long hair and restrict bulky clothes. When working with flames, you must also remove all clothing made of nylon.
3. Follow all written and verbal instructions carefully. If you do not understand a direction or part of a procedure, ask the instructor before proceeding.
4. No food, drinks or gum in the lab EVER.
5. No horse play in the lab.
6. Read each assigned lab experiment carefully BEFORE entering the lab.
7. All chemicals or other materials from the laboratory must stay in the lab area.
8. Any accident involving even the most minor injury must be reported to the lab instructor at once. DO NOT HESITATE TO SHOUT FOR HELP IN YOU HAVE A PROBLEM!!
9. DO NOT ATTEMPT ANY UNAUTHORIZED EXPERIMENTS. Perform only laboratory operations and activities in which you have received instructions and have been given permission.
10. You must locate and be familiar with all safety features explained by your instructor: Fire extinguishers, fire blankets, eye wash fountains, emergency shower, and fire exit route.
11. Your hands may become temporarily contaminated with chemicals during the experiment. Keep them away from your eyes, face, and body. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap before you leave the lab.
12. Never point a test tube toward anyone! A reaction in it, or heating it, could cause it to explode.
13. Always dilute acids by pouring the concentrated acid into water. Otherwise, the heat generated may cause the water to vaporize quickly and produce splattering of the acid.
14. ALL SPILLS AND DRIPS must be cleaned up IMMEDIATELY. Rinse them with plenty of water and clean up with paper towels. This is especially important when reagents have been dripped on dispensing.
15. Never put your face directly over a solution, beaker, or test tubes. You may use your hands to fan the odor.
16. Only paper products should be placed in the waste basket. All other materials, glass, metal pieces, precipitates and matches should be placed in the assigned disposal containers. DO NOT PUT ANY SOLIDS IN THE SINK.
17. READ ALL LABELS CAREFULLY, AND READ THEM TWICE. Many chemicals have very similar names and formulas. Using the wrong chemical could result in a dangerous reaction.
18. Transport chemicals in an appropriate container. Securely hold the container & walk carefully.
19. Never return unused portions of chemicals to the stock bottle. This requires you to plan ahead and be conservative.
20. When working with flames light the match first and do NOT reach over the flame. Use the burner only as directed.
21. Only heat beakers or test tubes. Graduated cylinders bottles are not Pyrex and will break. Likewise, test tubes will break if heated above the liquid level. Always apply the flame intermittently on the glassware until it is hot.
22. Graduated cylinders are ONLY FOR MEASURING LIQUIDS. Do NOT mix chemicals in them.
23. Pick up broken glass with tongs or a dust pan & broom NOT your fingers. Dispose of broken glass in glass bucket.
24. Do not allow experiments to run unattended.
25. Be alert. Notify your instructor when you recognize any hazardous or unsafe conditions, such as defects in electrical equipment, leaking containers, and sharp edges on glassware.
26. Tips of droppers should be held at least 1 inch above the reaction vessel.
27. Students are never permitted in the science storage rooms or preparation areas unless given specific permission by their instructor.
AGREEMENT
I, ______, have read and agree to follow all of the safety rules set forth in this contract. I realize that I must obey these rules at all times to insure my own safety, and that of my fellow students and instructors. I will cooperate to the fullest extent with my instructor and fellow students to maintain a safe lab environment. I will also closely follow the oral and written instructions provided by the instructor. I am aware that any violation of this safety contract that results in unsafe conduct in the laboratory or misbehavior on my part, may result in being removed from the laboratory, detention, receiving a failing grade, and/or dismissal from the course.
______
Student signature Date
Dear Parent or Guardian:
We feel that you should be informed regarding the school’s effort to create and maintain a safe science classroom/laboratory environment. With the cooperation of the teachers, parents, and students, a safety instruction program can eliminate, prevent, and correct possible hazards. You should be aware of the safety instructions your son/daughter will receive before engaging in any laboratory work. Please read the list of safety rules above. No student will be permitted to perform laboratory activities unless this contract is signed by both the student and parent/guardian and is on file with the teacher. Your signature on this contract indicates that you have read this Student Safety Contract, are aware of the measures taken to insure the safety of your son/daughter in the science laboratory, and will instruct your son/daughter to uphold his/her agreement to follow these rules and procedures in the laboratory.
______
Parent/Guardian Signature Date