1. Lab Safety Procedures
SCIENCE

2. General Laboratory Procedures
NEVER “horse play” in the laboratory.
NEVER play with laboratory equipment or materials.
ALWAYS follow instructions and wait until you are told to begin before starting any investigation.

3. General Laboratory Procedures
NEVER eat, taste or touch anything in the laboratory.
NEVER carry out unassigned experiments.
Wear safety goggles, laboratory aprons, and gloves when instructed to do so.

4. General Laboratory Procedures
Keep ALL books and nonessential items away from the work area.
Keep your work area clean. Dispose of waste materials in appropriate containers.
Report ALL injuries or accidents to your teacher immediately.

5. General Laboratory Procedures
NEVER use broken or cracked glassware.
ALWAYS wear shoes in the laboratory. Sandals are NOT suggested.
Tie back long hair and restrict any lose clothing.

6. General Laboratory Procedures
Turn off any gas jets or electrically operated equipment when you have completed the laboratory investigation.
ALWAYS wash your hands after EVERY experiment.

7. Working with Fire and Heat
Use a hot plate for heating whenever possible as opposed to a bunsen burner.
Use test tube holders, tongs, or heavy gloves to handle hot items.
DO NOT put your face or hands over any boiling liquid.

8. Working with Fire and Heat
When heating chemicals or other materials, be sure the containers are made of heat-proof glass.
NEVER point a heated container at anyone. Be especially careful with heated test tubes.
Keep flammable materials away from heat sources.

9. Working with Fire and Heat
Turn off heat source as soon as you are finished with it. Do not move it until it has cooled. Leave a note to indicate that a hot plate has been recently used, since it is difficult to tell if the plate is still hot without touching it.

10. Working with Acids and Bases
Acids and Bases are very chemically active. When they are combined with water they may splatter, often landing on the hands or on the face of the person using the chemicals. To prevent this type of splattering, ALWAYS add ACIDS and BASES TO WATER, NOT the other way around.

11. Working with Acids and Bases
Should you get an acid or base on your skin, flush the area with running water and notify your teacher immediately.

12. Working with Electrical Equipment
Be careful with electrical cords. NEVER leave them where someone might trip over them. Keep the cords away from heat and water.
Grasp the plug when disconnecting an electrical outlet. DO NOT pull on the cord.

13. Working with Electrical Equipment
NEVER touch cords or electrical outlets with wet hands.
Turn off ALL electrical equipment when an investigation is completed.

14. Safety Symbols Disposal Alert
This symbol appears when care must be taken to dispose of materials properly.

15. Safety Symbols Corrosive
This symbol appears when the substance is corrosive and can burn or eat away at things

16. Safety Symbols Biological Hazard
This symbol appears when there is a danger involving bacteria, fungi, or protists that might be harmful to humans.

17. Safety Symbols Thermal Safety
This symbol appears as a reminder to use caution when handling objects that can burn skin by being too cold or too hot.

18. Safety Symbols Sharp Object Safety
This symbol appears when a danger of cuts or punctures caused by the use of a sharp object exists.

19. Safety Symbols Fume Safety
This symbol appears when chemical reactions could cause dangerous fumes and cause possible danger to respiratory tract.

20. Safety Symbols Electrical Safety
This symbol appears when care should be taken while using electrical equipment. Possible danger from electrical shock or burn.

21. Safety Symbols Irritant Safety
This symbol appears whenever there are substances that can irritate the skin or mucous membranes of the respiratory tract.

22. Safety Symbols Chemical Safety
This symbol appears whenever there are chemicals that can react with and destroy tissue and other materials.

23. Safety Symbols Toxic Safety
This symbol appears whenever there is a substance that may be poisonous if touched, inhaled, or swallowed.

24. Safety Symbols Open Flame Alert
This symbol appears when use of an open flame could cause a fire or an explosion.

25. Safety Symbols Eye Safety
This symbol appears when proper eye protection should be worn at ALL times by anyone performing or observing science activities.

26. Safety Symbols Clothing Protection Safety
This symbol appears when substances could stain or burn clothing.

27. Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)
The MSDS is a document that states the safety information about a chemical:
Chemical Name
Chemical Formula
How to store the chemical
How to clean a spill of the chemical
How to dispose of the chemical
Hazards of the chemical

28. The Texas Hazard Communication Act
The purpose of the Texas Hazard Communication Act was to ensure the protection of students in the science lab, as well as, the protection of employees who may be exposed to hazardous chemicals on the job.

29. Locating Emergency Equipment
Fire Extinguisher
Fire Blanket
Eye Wash
Shower

30. Lab Safety
BE SAFE & ENJOY!