LABORATORY ACCIDENTS
Lab Safety:Everyone is Responsible!
/ "I didn't mean to"and"It wasn't my fault"and “just kidding” are 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 preparationis the main threat to safety in our lab. If you and your group are unprepared, you will be unsure of yourself, waste time, and have a good chance of making a mistake that leads to a problem. READ THE LAB INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE YOU BEGIN.
/ At the beginning of each lab period, you will be given a chance to ask questions. If you are unsure of some procedure, now is the time to ask. Always pay close attention to any verbal instructions given at this time.
SCENARIO:Students in a high school biology class were heating test tubes in a hot water bath on a hot plate. While heating the test tubes, the liquid in the tubes bubbled and popped, shooting out of the end and landing on one of the students. Then another student instinctively grabbed the hot beaker from the hotplate to remove it and burned her hand because she forgot the beaker was hot. She dropped the beaker on the countertop. The water from the beaker spilled on the countertop and ran off the side, into the lap of the other lab partner, burning him. Another student tried to brush the boiling water away, cutting his hand and getting burned by the water also. All four of the lab partners were hurt in one careless incident. What are the lab practices that should have been followed in order to be safe in the lab? Who was responsible for the groups safety?What was the correct first aid to be given after this accident?
The most common cause oflaboratoryaccidentsisbrokenglass, trips and falls, then getting burned.
Lack of pre-lab preparation is the main threat to safety in a lab. If you are unprepared,
youwill be unsure of yourself, waste time, and have a good chance of making a mistakethatleads to a problem. Always keep in mind that, if someone is hurt or equipment isbroken, these statements cannot undo the harm.
BEFORE BEGINNING A LAB IN THIS ROOM:
- READ / KNOW WHAT YOU ARE ABOUT TO DO
- REMOVE BOOKS FROM THE TABLETOP
- PUSH ALL STOOLS AND CHAIRS IN UNDER TABLES
- NO ONE SITS DURING LABS
- WEAR SAFETY GOGGLES
- TIE BACK LONG HAIR
- WEAR PLASTIC APRONS (if required)
- WEAR LATEX GLOVES (if required)
FIRE : Small fires can be smothered or extinguished with one of the two fire extinguishers. PEOPLE on fire should be WRAPPED in the FIRE BLANKET.
Evacuate the building if a large fire occurs, do not try to fight the fire.
CHEMICALS: Wash them off your hands / body immediately with lots of running water. Use the shower if chemicals are spilled all over your clothing.
BURNS: Wash with cold water. Do not put ointment on them.
EYES: If you get something in your eye, use the eyewash. Hold your eye open over the eye wash for 20 minutes to flush out the chemical.
CUTS: Wash with SOAPY water. Cover with bandage.
BROKEN GLASS: Use the broom to clean up, NOT your hands. Put broken glass in the broken glass trash can only.
REPORT ALL INCIDENTS TO THE TEACHER. LAB PARTNERS ARE RESPONSIBLE for reporting injuries while they are being treated.