Since eyes are especially vulnerable in the chemistry lab, approved safety goggles MUST BE WORN AT ALL TIMES. Failure to do so will result in IMMEDIATE EXPULSION from the lab and an unexcused absence for that experiment. It only takes a few seconds for a chemical to seriously damage your eye.
Eye injuries, whether chemical or mechanical, must always be considered serious. The best procedure in case of chemical injury to the eye is immediate and prolonged (15 - 20 minutes) flushing with water. Eyes must be forced open to be washed well.
A) Soft contact lenses are not to be worn under any circumstances in the lab. These lenses are permeable and absorb chemicals that are present in the lab air, causing injury to the eyes even after leaving the lab.
B) Hard contact lenses are not recommended for wearing in the lab. Abrasions and cuts can occur to your eye if the eye has a hard contact lens on it and it is washed with the eye wash. Chemicals that are present in the lab air are mixed with the moisture on your eyes. Since hard contacts float on that moisture, these chemicals can concentrate behind the contact lens and may not be washed out by ordinary blinking. Contact lenses should be replaced by prescription glasses except in the rare case where that is not possible. In any event, wearers of contacts or prescription glasses must protect their eyes with safety goggles. IF you must wear hard contacts, wash them thoroughly after leaving the class.
Bare feet or any type of open shoe or sandal can not be worn in the chemistry lab. Shorts and short skirts are also not permitted. Unprotected legs and feet are vulnerable to broken glassware and spilled chemicals.
In the case of minor cuts or burns, report them immediately to your instructor. Minor first-aid treatment can be given in the lab.,
If a person is seriously injured, do not attempt to move the person. Notify your instructor immediately. Stay with that person until help arrives. The university police must be notified and an ambulance will be called.
No food or drink of any kind is allowed in the lab. If you were to eat or drink in the lab you would be introducing chemicals into your body resulting in illness, serious illness, or poisoning. If you want to eat or drink, wash your hands and leave the lab to eat or drink in the hallway. NEVER TASTE ANY CHEMICAL OR FOOD ITEM USED IN THE LAB, no matter how appetizing it looks.
Exercise great care in noting the odor of fumes. Use the wafting method to "smell" the fume. Avoid breathing fumes of any kind. Some chemicals must be handled only in the fume hood.
All book bags, purses, and coats must be stored in the designated area away from the lab work area. Do not place anything on the floor of the lab in the work area. It is easy to trip over a book bag, backpack, or purse while walking around the lab. The work station desk must also be kept clear of all items that you are not using. Only your lab book, notebook, calculator, and pen or pencil need be at the work station.
Long hair should be tied back or pinned up, so it will not fall into chemicals or flames. Long sleeves need to be pushed up so they are not dragged into chemicals or flames.
Never perform any unauthorized experiment. Don't let your curiosity take over for common sense.
The Safety Shower is mainly used in the case of corrosive chemicals spilled or splashed over a large portion of your body and must be washed off immediately. Clothing soaked with strong acid or alkali should be removed. This is no time for modesty. Plenty of running water is the best first-aid treatment for all acid or alkali accidents. Rapid and immediate treatment is essential. Use lots of water; a little water or a damp cloth may be worse than none because of the heating effect.
Do not dispose of litmus paper, solid chemicals, or boiling chips in the sink. These items are to be placed in the waste baskets provided.
Do not pour organic chemicals down the sink. Dispose of them as directed by your instructor.
When disposing of liquid chemicals or solutions in the sink, flush with large quantities of water.
Do not put broken glassware in the waste baskets. Dispose of it in the container marked broken glass.
Familiarize yourself with the location and proper use of the fire extinguishers and fire blankets. Should a fire alarm sound while you are working in the lab, turn off your Bunsen burner and leave the building by the nearest exit. Try to remain together as a group and wait for further instructions.
Small fires should be extinguished by using a wet cloth. Fire extinguishers are used for larger blazes.
When a person's clothing catches fire, the first thing to do is throw him to the floor and roll him so as to smother the flames quickly. Never let him remain in a standing position even if you must trip or knock him down. This procedure will prevent injury to the respiratory passages and eyes by the flames and fumes which would naturally rise and envelop the head.
Never turn a fire extinguisher of any type on a person whose clothing is on fire. Eye injury may result from the dry-chemical type and frost bite from the "snow" of the carbon dioxide type. Do not use the safety shower to extinguish a person on fire.
Before leaving the lab, wipe down your desk top and wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water.
Responsible behavior is essential. No horseplay in the lab. Dangerous spills of chemicals and broken glassware created by thoughtless actions will not be tolerated.
Think about what you are doing. If you see someone doing something careless, speak up.
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