Safety Rules for a Chemical Lab

A chemistry laboratory is a place where new discoveries can be made. However, you must be careful when working with chemicals so you don't harm yourself, others, or your environment. The laboratory can be a dangerous place. By understanding basic safety rules, you can prevent these dangers from happening. It can be a good idea to have a poster on the wall in the laboratory so you can remember the rules and show them to others.

Clothing

• Wear goggles at all times to protect your eyes. If you wear contacts, take them out and use glasses, along with the goggles. Fumes can accumulate under contact lenses causing blindness or injuries. Do not wear open-toed shoes or shorts. It is always safest to cover as much skin as possible to prevent injuries to your skin. Tie your hair back away from your face, especially when you will be around fire.

Basic Rules

• Food and drink can easily become contaminated if brought into the lab. For this reason, it is best not to eat or drink in the lab. Do not taste chemicals or directly smell anything. If you want to smell something, hold the chemical far from your face and lightly inhale with your nose with short inhalations until you pick up the scent. Do not inhale the vapors. Personal possessions should be left out of the lab. Chemicals can harm these things if spills or other accidents occur. Wash your hands before and after handling chemicals. Find out where the first-aid kit and fire extinguishers are located, as well as any other important equipment or safety areas.

Handling

• Always consider unknown chemicals to be a hazard. Double-check what a chemical is before using it. Understand what symbols on chemical labels mean, such as hazard symbols. Never pour water into acids. This causes steam explosions. Pour acid into water instead. If a chemical gets in your eyes, flush it out with water immediately. If chemicals get on your skin, wash with soap and water. Do not point test tubes at people. Always pay close attention to your work. Dispose of your chemicals into proper waste containers. If you break something or have a spill, clean the area immediately.

Fires

• Many chemicals you deal with in a chemical laboratory are highly flammable. Treat all chemicals like you would treat gasoline, with the exception of water. Doing so can prevent fires from happening. Never heat organic solvents with a flame in open vessels, such as flasks. Instead, heat them with a steam bath. Solvents, such as acetone and benzene, should not be put in open beakers and flasks. Vapors can creep out and ignite. Be aware of hot glass; it may burn you if not properly handled with gloves. Keep a fire extinguisher in the lab, and know where it is.