Science Safety Guideline

Follow all directions carefully. Learn where all safety equipment is located and how and when it use it. No eating or drinking in the lab room (including gum and candy). No running, pushing, or fooling around in the lab room.

Report all accidents and any possible hazards to the teacher immediately. Know what the lab equipment is called and how to use it before doing the lab. Read and make sure you fully understand the lab procedure before performing the lab. Never perform any unauthorized experiments or work alone in the lab.

Keep work area clean and free of clutter. Dress properly on lab days: roll up long sleeves, don’ t wear loose, bulky clothing, and tie back long hair. Wear safety goggles and gloves when working with chemicals, Bunsen burners, hot plates, or doing dissections. Never leave a Bunsen burner or hot plate unattended.

Never reach over a flame or place flammable objects near a flame. Do not touch hot equipment, use tongs. Never point the opening of a test tube towards anyone or yourself, when heating it. Dispose of chemicals and materials per the teacher’s instructions. Don’t just pour them down the sink or throw them in the garbage.

If a solution spills or equipment breaks, call the teacher over immediately, for instructions on how to clean it up. Don’t directly smell substances. Waft (wave) the odor towards you to smell it. Never taste substances in lab. Handle dissecting scissors, pins, and probes with extreme care. Never cut towards anyone or yourself, always cut away from everyone.

Respect any organism that is being dissected. Carry microscopes with two hands, one holding the arm and the other under the base. Place microscopes gently on the counter. Be sure to pose any and all questions and concerns you have to the teacher.

Safety is very important during all labs. Failure to follow the safety rules will result in discontinuation and removal from that lab and possible removals from future lab activities. Any incomplete or missed labs from failure to follow the safety rules will be given a zero.