Safety in the Chemistry Lab

• Safety EquipmentEvery chemistry laboratory has a number of items “built in” to the facility for use in case of an accident or

simply to ensure the safest laboratory operation possible. It is important to know the location and

instructions for operation of each of these items.

• If you think you might need to use any of the equipment in this table for an emergency, don’t hesitate.Call out to inform others of the situation and immediately use the equipment as instructed.

Spill control station

First aid kit • All labs should have access to a first aid kit.• _____________________________________________________________• Such a kit should contain an antibiotic cream or ointment and plenty of

bandages.• Burns are the most common injury in the chemistry lab. While ice followed

by cold water is generally enough, the kit may contain a topical anestheticcream. It is critical to ensure a student has no anesthetic allergies beforeusing such a product.

• Avoid burns from hot glass or metal by bringing your hand near the objectfirst to test for heat.

• Small cuts closely follow burns on the list of chemistry lab injuries. Thesemay be treated with the antibiotic cream and a bandage.

Glass disposal container

• Containers clearly marked “Chemical Disposal” should be used for disposingsolutions or precipitates containing heavy metals or any other toxicchemicals.

• Some organic waste may release toxic fumes. Such waste often warrants itsown container, which may be covered and/or placed in the fume hood.

• Some chemicals such as dilute solutions of acids and bases and non-toxicsalts may be flushed down the sink with plenty of water.

• If you are unsure, ALWAYS ASK your lab instructor.

Fire alarm • Though it may be in the hall outside of your lab, you must know where thefire alarm is located.

Table 1.1.3 Laboratory Safety Equipment

Safety Equipment Information Regarding Operation

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Safety Equipment Information Regarding Operation

• ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

• May contain gas jets, sinks, lights, and electrical outlet• Enclosed by a sliding safety glass window• May store chemicals emitting toxic fumes• Useful for venting odours, smoke, and toxic fumes

Eyewash station • If a chemical is splashed or spilled into the eyes, they should be heldopen and rinsed continuously for 10 to 15 min. Contact lenses should beremoved.

• Eyewash stations may be operated by pushing on a hand bar and/or a footpedal.

• Some labs may use a squeeze bottle apparatus or a piece of rubber tubingattached to a sink.

• Spills over a large portion of the body require removal of clothing andwashing of the entire region for 10 to 15 min under the safety shower.

• Safety showers are operated by pulling on a ring that will begin the flow ofsome 200 L of water over a drained area of the lab.

• Small fires such as those that occur in a beaker or a crucible usually may besmothered by placing a ceramic pad or cover on top.

• If a larger fire occurs, pull the safety pin from the top of the extinguisher,point the hose at the base of the fire, and squeeze. Extinguishers operateby depriving the fire of oxygen and by lowering the temperature.• There are five classes of fires:• Type A: ________________________________________________• Type B: ________________________________________________• Type C: ________________________________________________• Type D: ________________________________________________• Type E: ________________________________________________

• Most extinguishers contain carbon dioxide and are good for class A, B, andC fires.

• A fire extinguisher should never be used on a person.• STOP, DROP, and ROLL is the best way to extinguish a fire involving a person.

A fire blanket may be used in combination with this process to smother thefire.

• Fire blankets may be enclosed in a box or a cylindrical container attachedto a wall, or they may be upright. An upright blanket may be wrappedaround the victim while he or she is standing.

Emergency gas shut off • The emergency gas shut off valve allows all gas outlets in the laboratory tobe shut off at once.

• To use the shut off, turn a handle so it is perpendicular to the gas line orsimply push a large red button.

• At the end of the day, this valve should always be left in the off position.

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Fire Safety - Using Fire Extinguishers

The Fire Triangle Take away any one of these components and you stop the fire.

To use a fire extinguisher (PASS):

• P____________________________________________

• A____________________________________________

• S________________________________________________________________________________________

• S____________________________________________

• Remember, too much is better than too little

Types of Fires

Fire ________________ is a term used to denote the type of fire, in relation to the combustion materials which have ignited.

This has very important impacts on the type of suppression or _____________________________

_____________________________ which can be used.

Fire Blanket & How to Use

1. P_________________________________________

2. P_________________________________________

3. S_____________________ _____________________

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Activity 1.1: Safety in the LaboratoryQuestionWhere is the safety equipment located in your chemistry laboratory?

Procedure1. In the space below, draw an outline map of your chemistry laboratory, including every item in Table 1.1.3. which appears in

the room

2. Are there items missing that could contribute to safety in your lab? List them below:

Quick Check1. How would you deal with each of the following accidents should it occur during a lab you are performing

this year?

(a) While heating a small amount of alcohol in a beaker, it bursts into flame.

(b) Your partner hands you a piece of hot glass they’ve just bent after heating over a Bunsen burner.

(c) A test tube full of concentrated hydrochloric acid is dropped and broken on the floor.

2. How could you have prevented each accident from happening to begin with?

ASSIGNMENT #3: Complete Activity 1.1, "Quick Check" Q #1-2, Vocab of Lab Equipment Safety Worksheet & Dress the Partthis assignment is to be completed in this workbook.

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Lab Equipment Safety

____ 1. vticretoep aerwyee ___________________________

____ 2. alb onarp _______ ___________

____ 3. ieretpvoct esvlog ____________________________

____ 4. keerba gtnso _____________________________

____ 5. frie etxngreihusi _____________________________

____ 6. eswayeh stianot _______________ ________________

____ 7. slgaasewr __________

____ 8. oht eplta ________ ___________

____ 9. ocspcieorm _________________

____ 10. rseul ____________

a. A tool that is useful for handling hot glassware, particularly beakers.

b. A heating device that is often used instead of open fl ames in the classroom science lab.

c. The safety device in the science lab that you would use to rinse your eyes if you got chemicals or dirt in them.

d.. Guidelines that are important follow for a safe and fun experience in the science lab.

e. A fragile, expensive piece of equipment used for looking up close at small objects.

f.. Science lab safety clothing thprotects your eyes.

g.. Science lab clothing that protecyour clothes from chemicals and stains.

h. A necessary safety device that is used to put out fi res.

i.. Safety clothing for the science lab thprotects your hands.

j. Tools such as beakers, test tubes, fl asks, and slides, that are made of glass and are fragile.

Vocabulary of Lab Equipment SafetyDirections: Unscramble the vocabulary words in the fi rst column. Match the words to the defi nitions in the second column.

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Name:When to Wear:

Name:When to Wear:

Name:When to Wear:

Directions: Below are three pictures of protective equipment for the science lab. a) write the name of each itemb) write a scenario in which you would need that protection.

Dress the PartBackground: There are several pieces of clothing that have been developed specifi cally for use in the science laboratory. You have probably already used protective goggles, a lab apron, and protective gloves while working in the classroom science lab. In this activity you will identify different pieces of protective equipment, and think of situations in which you should use them.

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Safety ProceduresAny time you know you will be working in the laboratory, it is important to arrive fully prepared to perform all work as safely as possible. We call this lab preparedness. The following are some things you should always do before you begin doing a lab.

• Read the ____________________________________________________________________, paying closeattention to any safety issues.

• Prepare any _____________________________that may be required. Your teacher will often ask you toprepare a_____________________________before you arrive for lab.

• Clear all binders, backpacks, book bags, coats, etc. away from your _____________________________.

• Always wear _____________________________ during the laboratory period.

• Wear lab aprons or lab coats if available.

• _____________________________long hair to keep it away from flames or chemicals.

• Secure loose sleeves or jewellery to keep them away from flames or chemicals.

• Consider wearing clothing made of natural fibres such as cotton and wool, as those are the most fire resistantfibres.

• Do not wear _____________________________shoes or shorts/skirts/etc. during laboratory work.

• Be sure all equipment is in good working order. Do not use _____________________________glassware or_____________________________electrical equipment.

• Never attempt laboratory procedures without your instructor’s _____________________________and directinstruction/supervision.

Laboratory Technique

There are several things that all good chemists know about using equipment and chemicals in the lab. We refer to these things as proper laboratory technique.

• Always approach lab work with a _______________________attitude and keep voices kept to a reasonablevolume.

• Do not ________________________________________________________or chew gum during laboratoryperiod.

• Never _______________________ or _______________________chemicals.

• Never inhale chemicals directly. Use your hand to _______________________odours toward you.

• Bring your hand near metal or glass to test for heat. Handle hot equipment with appropriate__________________, test tube holders, or mitts.

• Never use open flames around flammable materials. Use a hot plate or mantle.

• Clamp test tubes near the top and hold at a _____angle with constant __________________and the endpointed _______________________ from everyone during heating.

• Never leave heat sources unattended. _______________________Bunsen burners and hot plates when not inuse.

• When diluting chemicals, always _______________________with water. It is particularly important to add_______________________ ______________________________________________never the other wayaround. 19

Laboratory Clean UpLast, but not least, there are a number of things that relate to laboratory clean up. Some of these things may be related to accidents that occur in the lab. Others simply relate to leaving the lab in as good, or better, condition than you found it.

• Sweep __________________________________ into a dustpan and place it in the proper disposalcontainer. Always notify teacher & neighbours of any broken glass.

• Clean up spilled chemicals immediately with the __________________________________.Be sure tonotify neighbours of any chemical spill.

• Never return _________________chemical to the original stock bottle. Either share it with anotherstudent or properly d_________________ of any excess.

• Always wash glassware well with _________________ and a _________________, then rinse it, andleave it to air dry.

• Rinse your _________________ well following the use of any chemicals.

• Wipe your lab bench with __________________________________when you have completed your lab.

• Clean up should begin with a reasonable amount of time to allow all equipment to be washed well andreplaced in the appropriate spot.

• For experiments that run for more than one period, clearly l_________________all materials and leavethem in the appropriate place as instructed by your teacher.

Assessing Risk

Identify at least 6 things going wrong in the "What-not-to-do-Laboratory"1. ________________________________2. ________________________________3. ________________________________

4. ________________________________5. ________________________________6. ________________________________

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Directions: Fill in the blank with the correct word.A list of possible answers is provided in the word bank:

1. It is easier to ___________ an accident than to deal with the consequences.

2. A lab ________ will help protect your clothing from chemical spills or stains.

3. You should never ________ , drink, or chew gum while you are conducting a science experiment.

4. One of the most common lab accidents is breaking ______________ .

5. A _________________ should not be used as a stirring rod.

6. The ______________ is one of the most fragile and expensive pieces of school laboratoryequipment.

7. Weighing a very ___________ object could permanently damage a spring scale by stretching outthe spring.

8. You should wear protective ____________ when using heat, chemicals, or when cuttingsomething in the science lab.

9. When not in use, a hot plate should be left _____________ .

10. If you get something in your eyes, an ___________ station will enable you to rinse your eyes.

thermometergoggleseyewasheatprevent

unplugged microscope apron glassware heavy

Lab Equipment Safety Practice Worksheet

ASSIGNMENT #4: Complete Activity 1.1 & "Quick Check" Q #1-2 this assignment is to be completed in this wor book.

11. While people who participate in extreme sports must think about safety all the time, scientists neverneed to consider it. TRUE / FALSE

12. Causing an accident can be annoying, embarrassing, and possibly painful. TRUE / FALSE

13. Long, loose hair and lots of dangling jewelry is appropriate science lab attire. TRUE / FALSE

14. A messy workspace is safer, and may give you inspiration to do good science work. TRUE / FALSE

15. Gloves help protect your hands from harmful substances. TRUE / FALSE

16. It is very important to always follow directions. TRUE / FALSE

17. Glassware is fragile, so you should be sure to place it away from the edge of the table to prevent itfrom being knocked over. TRUE / FALSE

18. It is best to assume that glassware is never hot, because it does not appear hot. TRUE / FALSE

19. It is common sense not to break or deface tools for measuring length, such as rulers.TRUE / FALSE

20. ��������������������������������� ���������������labs. TRUE / FALSE

Directions: Decide whether the statement is true (T) or false (F).

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Practice Test

1. Where is the closest fire alarm to your chemistrylaboratory?

2. Outline the route you should follow in case of a firealarm while you are in chemistry class.

3. How many fire extinguishers are in your laboratory?What are their classifications?

4. Knowing you have lab on a particular school day,describe how you should dress.

5. Give the name and use of each of the followingpieces of equipment:

6. List three things you should do before beginningany chemistry experiment.

7. Give three uses for the fume hood.

8. What is the most common injury in the chemistrylab? How might you avoid this injury? How wouldyou treat this injury?

9. How would you assist your lab partner in each of thefollowing cases?(a) Partner has spilled a chemical into his or her eyes.

(b) Partner’s clothing has caught fire.

(c) Partner has spilled concentrated acid onto thefloor.

(d) Partner took more chemical than required for thelab.

(e) Partner has broken a test tube on the floor.

10. What is the meaning of each of the following labels?

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11. Outline a three-step procedure for cleaningglassware at the end of the period.

12. Why should long hair always be secured back duringlab?

13. Why do you suppose food and drink are not allowedduring lab?

14. What do you think is safer: the laboratory or yourkitchen? Explain why.

15. Give the name and use of each of the followingpieces of equipment:

16. Where should binders, book bags, and backpacks bestored during the lab?

17. What is an MSDS? Where might an MSDS be foundin your school?

18. Where would you dispose of each of the following?(a) a few milliliters of excess dilute acid

(b) a sample of heavy metal precipitate

(c) an excess piece of glass tubing

(d) used litmus paper

(e) a few milliliters of excess acetone (nail polishremover)

19. What is the meaning of each of the following labels?

20. Give four things to keep in mind while heating a testtube half-filled with liquid.

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