Rosseau Lake College Science Department

Safety Precautions in the Laboratory

The safety guidelines described in this document pertain to all labs you conduct in the school. They are designed to provide a safe workplace for you and your classmates. You are responsible for your safety and the safety of those around you. Failure to act in a safe and responsible manner will result in the removal of science lab privileges. Refer to these guidelines periodically throughout the semester to maintain your awareness of them.

General Safety Precautions

  1. Report any accidents to your teacher immediately – No matter how small.
  2. Never work alone in the Science lab and never without teacher supervision.
  3. No eating is allowed in a lab. Keep food and beverages out of the labs.
  4. Keep book bags out of the aisles or out of the lab.
  5. Be prepared for your lab. Understand the procedure and ask your teacher to explain any part you do not understand before you start the lab.
  6. Never taste a chemical or material in the lab unless authorized by your teacher.
  7. When trying to determine the odour of a chemical DO NOT smell it directly. Use the wafting technique.
  8. Dispose of broken glass, chemicals and other wastes in the designated containers.
  9. Never sit at or on a lab bench during an experiment.
  10. Keep work area clean and free from clutter when performing experiments.
  11. Never leave an experiment unattended.
  12. Use common sense in the laboratory. Think safety at all times. Horseplay is never tolerated in a lab.

Safety Equipment

  1. Know the location of the fire extinguishers, fire blanket and eye wash station. Know how to use each of these items.
  2. Wear safety goggles whenever you are heating a substance, handle corrosive materials or whenever your teacher asks you to.
  3. Contact lenses should not be worn during labs: use prescription glasses with goggles instead.
  4. Dress properly during a lab activity. Long hair must be tied back, and dangling jewelry and baggy clothing must be secured. Shoes must completely cover the foot.

Handling of Chemicals

  1. All chemicals in the laboratory are to be considered dangerous. Do not allow chemicals to come into contact with skin or eyes. Wash your hands thoroughly after working in a science lab.
  2. When heating a liquid in a test tube, be sure to point it away from other students.
  3. Always fill pipettes with suction bulbs NEVER with your mouth.
  4. Check the label on all chemical bottles before removing any of the contents. Observe the label for any signs and instructions that recommend caution.
  5. Never return unused chemicals to their original bottles.

Handling Glassware

  1. Do not use cracked or chipped glassware.
  2. Do not tightly stopper a flask where gas is being created. It could explode.
  3. Clean and return all glassware at the end of the lab or place it in the designated area depending on your teachers instruction.

Accidents and Injuries

  1. If chemical are spilled on skin rinse well with running water for as long as directed by teacher.
  2. For chemicals splashed in the eye, rinse immediately at the eye wash station for at least 30 minutes. Hold eyelids open.

Keep this list in your notes!