R.A.

McMath Secondary
Laboratory Safety Guidelines

These guidelines are intended for YOUR protection. They are listed by the main
types of hazards found in a school laboratory. You will find an extra copy of the
handout posted in the “Super Lab”.

A. GENERAL SAFETY PRACTICES

1) Become familiar with the location and proper use of safety equipment.

2) Read all directions before starting an experiment. Clarify directions if

necessary with the teacher. Teacher supervision is mandatory in all lab
activities.

3) A safety conscious attitude is required at all times while working in the lab.
No fooling around.

4) Wear safety goggles.

5) If you wear contact lenses, notify the teacher.

6) Wear protective clothing and closed shoes during laboratory sessions

(minimize exposure of the skin: e.g. no shorts, no sandals).

7) Long hair shall be fastened back.

8) In the case of any accident, take appropriate action first and always notify
the teacher immediately after.

9) If a chemical substance comes in contact with the skin, rinse off immediately
with large amounts of water and notify the teacher.

10) When any foreign substance enters the eye, rinse the eye immediately for
15 minutes and notify the teacher.

11) In case of large chemical spills all over your skin or clothing, use the safety
shower.

12) Notify the teacher if you encounter any cracked or chipped glassware.
Heating cracked or chipped glassware is dangerous.

13) To test whether an object is hot or not, slowly approach it with the back of
your hand.

14) Bottles should never be held by the neck.

15) Never eat or drink in the laboratory.

16) Lab materials are to be used in the lab ONLY.

17) The Science Prep room and chemical storage room are of limits to students.
18) Always clean off bench and sink after completion of an experiment. Dispose
of all wastes appropriately.

19) At the end of the laboratory session, wash your hands thoroughly with
warm water and soap.

B. HANDLING OF CHEMICALS AND EQUIPMENT

20) When using a chemical, make sure you have the correct chemical and
concentration for the experiment. Read the label on the container twice before
using and once when returning it. Read any safety labels.

21) Never use a chemical from an unlabelled bottle and do not try to identify its
contents by smelling the opened bottle. If in doubt, ask the teacher or lab
technician.

22) Label all containers when preparing solutions.

23) Always pour chemicals from the side opposite the label.

24) Always use suggested amounts of required chemicals.

25) Never mouth pipette, always use the pipette pump or bulb.

26) Add acid to water; never water to acid (Always Add Acid)

27) When handling a chemical solution in a test tube, use a test tube holder,
hold the test tube at an angle and do not point its mouth at anyone. Move the
test tube gently while heating. “Loaded gun”.

28) When inserting glass tubing or a thermometer into (or removing) a rubber
stopper, lubricate with silicone grease or soapy water and also protect hands
with gloves or towelling. It is strongly recommended that this procedure be
done by the teacher or lab assistant.

29) Never pull electric plugs out of a socket by the cord. Electrical shocks may
occur and equipment will be damaged.

C. DISPOSAL OF WASTE CHEMICALS AND SHARP OBJECTS

30) Dispose of chemicals as instructed by your teacher using the disposal

containers provided. With the approval of the teacher, some chemicals may be
flushed down the drain using a lot of water. Never use this method of disposal
unless specifically approved by the teacher.

31) Solid chemicals should be disposed of into marked containers.

32) In case of a mercury spill (e.g. from a broken thermometer) notify the
teacher or lab technician. Mercury vapour is toxic. A mercury spill clean-up
kit is required for the safe disposal of spilled mercury.

33) Large spills of acid, base or solvent will be looked after by the teacher or lab
technician with appropriate spill kits. Inform the teacher immediately.
34) Small spills of dilute acid can be neutralized with sodium bicarbonate
(baking soda) and dilute base can be neutralized by acetic acid (vinegar).

35) Never return extra chemicals to the original stock bottle.

36) Broken glassware should be placed in a special container marked “BROKEN

GLASS ONLY”. Never place broken glass in garbage cans.

37) Sharp objects for disposal should be placed in the appropriately labelled
container. Ex: Scalpel blades go in a ‘sharps’ container.

38) At the end of an experiment, all animal specimens and culture media must
be collected in special biohazard bags.

D. HANDLING OF BIOLOGICAL SPECIMENS

39) While dissecting animals, use a sharp scalpel and always cut away from
yourself. Gloves are optional.

40) Students will wear safety goggles during dissections.

41) Handle animals and poisonous plants with care. Always wash your hands
thoroughly after working with plants and animals.

42) Micro-organisms must always be handled carefully. Make sure that you are
familiar with the appropriate techniques before handling cultures of micro-
organisms.

E. FIRE

43) When a large fire occurs, evacuate the room, make sure nobody is left
behind and close the doors. Ring the fire alarm in the hallway.

44) In case of a small fire, always use a fire extinguisher to smother the flames.
Never use water on a chemical fire.

45) If clothing catches fire, do not walk around (you will spread the fire). Stop,
drop and roll. The teacher or lab technician will smother the flames by
wrapping you in a fire blanket.

46) Never pour flammable chemicals down the sink as they may catch fire in
the pipes. All flammable liquids should be disposed of into a solvent waste
container indicated by the teacher.

47) Never leave a Bunsen burner flame unattended.

48) Never use an open flame near a flammable liquid.