Safety Rules

Dress Code Many materials in the lab can cause eye injury. Goggles should always be worn when chemicals are being heated or mixed. This will protect your eyes from chemicals that spatter or explode. An eye wash station is available. If you happen to get some chemical in your eye, flush thoroughly with water for 15 minutes and report to the nurse.

Dress Code Wear lab aprons whenever you work with chemicals, burners, candles or when your teacher tells you to.

Dress Code Tie back long hair and secure loose clothing. Remove jewelry that can hang down and interfere with working in the lab. Young ladies and gentlemen never comb their hair in lab. And ladies never put makeup on in the lab.

General Safety Rules Enter the room quietly! Go directly to your assigned seat. Prepare for the investigation by getting out the materials you need & putting everything else in your backpack or folder and place it on the floor under your chair or under the table.

General Safety Rules Read & listen to all directions. BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY. If you have questions or are not sure how to handle a particular chemical, procedure, or part of an activity, ASK FOR HELP!

General Safety Rules HORESEPLAY can never be tolerated in the lab. Horseplay can lead to spills, broken containers, & damaged equipment. Never throw anything to another person; be careful where you put your hands and arms; and no wrestling, punching, or shoving in the lab.

General Safety Rules NEVER HANDLE ANY EQUIPMENT until you are given specific permission to do so.

General Safety Rules Take extreme care not to spill anything in the lab. If spills do occur, ask your teacher immediately about proper clean-up procedures. Never simply pour substances into the trash container.

General Safety Rules Eating & drinking in the lab is out. When you eat or drink in the lab you run the risk of ingesting the chemicals. This is NEVER done unless the lab calls for it.

General Safety Rules Clean up your lab area completely before you leave. This is no time to be a pig! Your lab station should be spotless before you begin your investigation and you must leave it that way for the next group. Report all messes to your teacher.

First Aid REPORT ALL ACCIDENTS TO THE TEACHER IMMEDIATELY. It doers not matter how small.

First Aid Know the location of safety equipment in the classroom. This includes the fire blanket, fire extinguisher, first aid kit, eye wash station, & shower. Your teacher will administer any first aid necessary.

First Aid Learn what to do in case of specific accidents. Know where to go and what to do if you get something in your eyes, if you spatter yourself with chemicals, if a fire is started, or any other emergency.

Heating & Fire Safety Always use goggles, tie back hair, & cover clothing when working with candles and burners.

Heating & Fire Safety Never heat substances you have not been instructed to heat.

Heating & Fire Safety Maintain a clean work area & keep all materials away from open flames. This means lab notebooks, instruction sheets, and pencils.

Heating & Fire Safety Make sure you know how to light and how to extinguish a burner. You will be instructed how to do so. NEVER leave an open flame unattended.

Heating & Fire Safety Point test tubes or other containers being heated AWAY from you, your lab partner, and anyone else. Always watch chemicals being heated, they can splash, or boil out of their containers.

Heating & Fire Safety HOT!! Chemicals that have been heated require proper handling to protect you from burns. Never grab them with your hand. Use tongs, clamps or heat gloves.

Chemical Safety NEVER MIX CHEMICALS FOR THE “FUN” OF IT. You might produce something that is dangerous or explosive.

Chemical Safety NEVER touch, taste, or smell a chemical unless directed to do so by your teacher, Should you need to smell a chemical, do so by holding the chemical 6 inches away from you and gently waving your hand over the substance towards your nose. This will “waft” some of the fumes toward your nose without exposing you to a large dose of noxious material.

Chemical Safety Use only those chemicals your teacher instructs you to. Keep lids closed on all containers. Notify your teacher if a chemical is spilled.

Chemical Safety Dispose of all chemicals the way you are instructed to do.

Chemical Safety Rinse off any chemicals that have spilled or splashed onto your skin immediately.

Sharp Instruments Handle scalpels, scissors, & blades with extreme care. Point blades down toward the floor. Pass the equipment to another by handing them the handle. Always cut away from you.

Sharp Instruments Notify the teacher if you are cut.

Animals Animals are to be treated respectfully. NEVER poke or prod the animals with your fingers or other devices.

Animals Never feed the animals unless you have been given permission to do so.

Animals Handle the animals only if you have been given specific permission to do so. Animals are never handled if there is a guest teacher.

Clean-Up Rules Extinguish all flames & burners.

Clean-Up Rules When you are finished or are instructed to do so, clean up your work area & return all clean equipment to its proper place.

Clean-Up Rules Wash your hands after every investigation.

Clean-Up Rules Return to your table, be seated, & wait quietly for the teacher to dismiss you. The teacher, not the bell, dismisses you. REMEMBER, IF IN DOUBT, ASK YOUR TEACHER!!