How to not hurt yourself in labs and other potentially dangerous situations

Due to the inherently dangerous business that are chemicals and the large opportunity that you as chemistry students will have to deal with them, there are a few very important things we should discuss prior to any labs this upcoming year…

Who would like a third eye? An extra set of arms?

Get over it. Hearing the same safety rules multiple times causes you to have actually learned something. Congrats! We haven’t even made it to day 3 yet.

Using these precautions could keep relatively harmful things from happening to you and your neighbors.

Believe it or not, I do know what I am talking about and have a reason for saying the things that I do. Listen to what I have to say and following the instructions will be that much easier.

The Lab Table is a holy land that shall stay free from nastyness that accumulate over the year. Please make sure to clean before and after every lab that we do.

If you don’t listen to the last slide, when you get something sloshed in your eye, I recommend paying a visit to the eyewash. Its in the back corner next to the fire blanket.

If you start a fire, stay calm. Come find me. I will use the fire blanket that is in the back next to the eye wash to quash the flames. If you are on fire, please start the stop, drop, and roll exercise you learned at a young age.

Chemicals aren’t healthy for anyone. If spilled on to your lab desk, please grab a wet towels and wipe it up.

If you get some on your skin (hands, forearms, etc) please just go to the sink and wash off using soap.

Do not rub your hands in your eyes after having messed with chemicals. If you do, see slide 9.

A lot of accidents (not all) could be prevented with a little common sense. Though the materials that we are using are not very dangerous, anything can begin a terrible cascade of events. Please just think before doing something unwise in the lab….