Lab Safety
An important part of your Earth Science work will take place
in the laboratory. The lab is a safe environment in which to work
if some general rules are observed and if the people who work
in the lab are informed and careful. These guidelines are specifically
for Earth Science, and you might have others in other science
courses.
As a first step toward becoming an informed lab worker, read the
following safety rules. Discuss them with your teacher, with your
lab partners, parents and with other members of the class. Reread
them to make sure that you understand each rule. Ask your teacher
about the rules that are unclear to you. When you are sure that
you understand all of the safety rules, sign and date the contract
in the space provided. Signing the contract indicates that you
are aware of the rules of the laboratory. You will be allowed
to work in the lab only after you have signed this contract, had
your parent sign the contract, and have passed a safety test.
DRESS CODE
1. To protect your eyes from possible injury, always wear safety
goggles when doing laboratory work, except microscope work. Wear
glasses rather than contact lenses when you work in the lab.
2. Tie back long hair and loose clothing and remove jewelry
when you work at the lab station. Roll up loose sleeves that might
fall into chemicals or become caught on equipment.
3. Do not wear open-toed shoes or sandals in the lab. Never
go barefoot.
PREPARATION FOR LAB WORK
4. Prepare for the experiment by reading all of the directions
before you start the lab. Be sure you understand all directions.
Discuss the procedures with your lab partner or team. Assign specific
tasks to individuals, especially if time is a factor in the procedure.
5. Before you begin work, make sure that you know how to
operate the equipment that will be used in the experiment.
PERFORMING AN EXPERIMENT
6. Keep your lab work area clear of any materials that are not
needed for performing the experiment. Texts, notebooks, book bags,
sweaters and other materials should be stored away from the work
area.
7. Handle all equipment as directed. Note safety precautions
in the instructions for your experiments.
8. Handle all sharp instruments with extreme care. Remember
that they are considered weapons if they go out of the room or
are handled in an inappropriate manner.
9. Do not stir solutions with a thermometer; use a glass
stirring rod. If a thermometer breaks, inform your teacher at
once, and follow your teacher's directions for cleaning it up.
10. Take extreme care not to spill materials in the lab.
Report all spills immediately, and follow your teacher's directions
for cleaning them up.
11. Never use an open flame in lab.
12. Use tongs or a clamp to pick up hot containers. Test
the temperatures of equipment and containers that have been heated
by placing the back of your hand near any object before picking
it up. If you can feel heat, the object might be too hot to handle.
13. Dispose of materials only as directed. Do not pour chemicals
into a sink or put specimens into the trash or sink.
14. After you have completed your work, turn off all equipment
and clean your work area. Return all equipment and materials to
the appropriate storage places.
15. Wash your hands before and after each experiment.
16. Never eat or drink in the lab. Never eat or drink from
lab equipment.
17. Perform only those experiments authorized by your teacher.
18. Do not work alone in the lab.
FIRST AID or EMERGENCIES
19. Report any accident to Mr. Toon immediately, no matter how
minor the accident might seem. Follow your teacher's recommendations
for further treatment.
20. Report all fires to your Mr. Toon at once, and leave
the room. Do not try to put out a fire by yourself. If a person's
clothing or hair is on fire, smother the fire with a fire blanket
or use the water faucets.
21. Know the locations of the fire extinguisher, fire blanket,
first aid kit, and other safety equipment. Learn how to use each
item.
22. Know the shortest exit route
from the lab, from the corridor, and from the building.
HANDLING CHEMICALS
23. Read the labels on chemical containers twice. Many chemicals
look alike. Label all containers into which you put materials.
24. Do not touch, taste, or smell chemicals unless directed
to by your teacher. Waft fumes toward your nose by waving your
hand over the mouth of the container if directed to smell a chemical.
25. To avoid the contamination of chemicals, do not return
unused chemicals to the bottle. Dispose of chemicals only as directed
by your teacher.
26. Always pour acid into water; never pour water into acid.
27. Do not use your mouth to draw liquids into a pipette;
use a pipette bulb.
28. Never point the open end of
a heated test tube toward yourself or anyone else.
HANDLING GLASSWARE
29. Do not use cracked, chipped, scored, or badly scratched
glassware.
30. Never handle broken glass with your bare hands. Tell
your teacher, and let your teacher clean up broken glass.
31. Allow plenty of time for hot glass to cool before touching
it. It shows no visible signs of its temperature, and can cause
painful burns.
HANDLING LIVING ORGANISMS
32. Treat all microorganisms as if they were harmful. Use antiseptic
procedures, as directed by your teacher, when working with microbes.
Dispose of microbes as your teacher directs.
33. Treat living organisms carefully. Do not cause pain,
discomfort, or injury to an organism. Follow your teacher's directions
when handling animals. Wash your hands thoroughly after handling
animals or their cages.
DISSECTIONS
34. Secure dissection specimens in the pan. Do not dissect a handheld
specimen.
35. Use dissection tools as directed. Use the right tool
for the job.
GENERAL GUIDELINES
36. No horseplay.
37. No practical jokes.
I have read and understand all the Earth science class rules and
lab safety rules and will abide by them while in class and in
the lab. Infractions of rules can result in my removal from class
and a zero on the assignment.