How To Stay Safe in a Science Lab at School

Many dangerous chemicals and equipment can be found in science labs, so it's important to follow all of the safety precautions when using them.You must abide by the rules of the lab to keep yourself and the environment safe.Proper use of the tools and instruments will ensure a safe and healthy lab experience.

Step 1: The lab has long pants and closed-toe shoes.

Ensuring that your body is not exposed to contaminants is one of the most important aspects of lab safety.The first step in wearing proper protective equipment is coming to the lab with long pants and closed-toe shoes.If you drop something on your feet, you should wear a hard top.You will put on the rest of the PPE when you get to the lab.Roll up long sleeves and Tuck in baggy clothing.

Step 2: Don a lab coat.

The lab coat protects you and your clothes from spills.If there is a spill, it can be quickly removed.In order to be effective, the lab coat needs to fit you well.Whenever you are in the lab, wear a lab coat.It needs to be buttoned all the way up.The sleeves can be cumbersome if they are too long.

Step 3: Wear goggles to protect your eyes.

When handling chemicals or working with anything with a splash or explosion hazard, goggles must be worn.Goggles must be wrapped around the sides of your face to protect your eyes.Regular glasses don't offer enough protection against splashes.You should wear safety goggles over your regular glasses.

Step 4: Gloves are worn for safety.

Depending on what you are doing, you may need to wear different types of gloves.For basic safety and protection from harmful chemicals, disposable latex or nitrile gloves will be worn.You will most likely use this in your lab at school.If you are working with hot or cold substances, you will need to wear gloves that are appropriate for the job.You need to wear rubber gloves when working with electricity.

Step 5: Follow instructions carefully if you listen to your teacher.

All of the necessary safety precautions will be discussed by your teacher before the lab begins.All safety procedures will be detailed at the beginning of the year.If you don't know the right way to handle something, always ask the teacher.Follow any safety guidelines posted in the lab at all times.

Step 6: Do not eat or drink in the lab.

Eating or drinking in a lab can lead to injury.If you have a hazardous chemical on your hands and you touch your food with those hands, you could ingest it.If you drink beverages, the same goes for you.Remove your gloves and lab coat, wash your hands, and then consume food or drink if you need to.In the lab, chewing gum is not allowed.

Step 7: Remove jewelry by tying your hair back.

If they catch on anything, they can present a hazard.You can catch your hair on fire if it falls into a flame.Chemicals can get underneath a ring or bracelet and cause irritation.If you can, come to class without jewelry so you don't have to keep it.

Step 8: Get coats, chairs, and bags out of the way.

If you're going to the lab, make sure to put your things in a place where they won't cause a trip hazard.The two best places to store them are under the lab bench and in the cubbies at the front of the class.All of your things should be grabbed from under the bench or wherever they were left when you leave class.

Step 9: Immediately report spills, breakages, or accidents to your teacher.

Everything must be reported to the teacher.They know how to make sure no one gets hurt.If glass breaks, don't clean it up until you tell your teacher about it.The clean-up may need a different way to be handled.

Step 10: You should know where the safety equipment is located.

Before you do any lab work, you should get instructions from a qualified person on how to use the safety equipment.Ask if you're not told about safety equipment.Before it happens, it is best to know what might go wrong.You will be able to respond quickly and correctly.Eye wash stations overhead showers fire extinguishers for different types of fires, vent hoods solvent cabinets and containers lockouts for moving apparatus aprons, goggles, neoprene gloves are typical safety equipment.

Step 11: When heating test tubes, point them away from yourself and others.

To avoid rapid boiling and liquid splashing out of the tube, heat the test tube slowly.Pressure can build up inside a plugged or stopped tube and cause it to shatter.If the tube does boil or splash over, you should point it away from yourself and others.

Step 12: Don't pour acid into water.

The water and acid reaction releases heat.Adding water to acid can cause it to explode.The acid can cause serious injury if it splashes into your eyes and person.

Step 13: You should keep your workspace clean.

Ensuring that everything is tidy will help you avoid spills.A clean workspace makes sure there isn't anyContamination between Experiments.At the end of every lab session, clean your workspace.

Step 14: Excess reagents should not be replaced in the original container.

When a chemical is removed from its container, it can't go back in.This will prevent the chemical from being contaminated with other chemicals, dirt, or dust.You should properly dispose of excess chemical if you have it.

Step 15: Take precautions when there are flames.

The Bunsen burner is an open flame and must be treated with extreme caution.Don't bend over the flame if there is nothing dangerous near the burner.When you're done using it, turn the flame off.ROLL until the flame has been smothered, if your clothes catch fire, remember to stop what you are doing, and drop to the ground.

Step 16: When handling chemicals, use a vent hood.

Chemicals emit noxious fumes that can be toxic if breathed in.You don't have to be exposed to the fumes when working in a fume hood.If you don't know if you need a fume hood, use the hood just in case.

Step 17: After working, wash your hands.

Before you leave the lab, it is important to wash your hands.This will make sure that you have washed your hands.Remove all of your PPE and wash your hands.Rub them with soap for at least 30 seconds.