ORGANIC CHEMISTRY

LABORATORY SAFETY
CHEM 315

“GUIDELINES AND TUTORIAL”

1/14/2020
 ASSIGNMENT
• This Guidelines and Tutorial accompanies the
lab textbook “Mohrig” (chapter 1), which is
assigned reading for the second module of
CHEM 315 laboratory.
• In addition to the reading in the lab textbook,
there are several short videos that are linked
to the slides in this document that you need to
view.
 QUIZ
• After you have completed the reading and
viewing assignment, you must pass an on-line
Safety Quiz administered through BlackBoard.
• You must pass the quiz 100% before attending
in-person lab.
• You will be provided multiple opportunities to
pass the safety quiz, but the first will count as
your grade.
 RESPONSIBILITY FOR
SAFETY IN THE LAB
• Both YOU and the University are responsible for your
personal safety.
• The University is responsible for:
– informing you of potential hazards in the laboratory;
– providing you with a safe laboratory environment;
– providing instruction in safe and proper procedures.
• You are responsible for:
– reading and understanding the safety instructions given in the textbook and
videos;
– understanding safety instructions given by your instructor during lab;
– working safely using the safety instruction you receive;
– following safety procedures and practices.
 ROUTES OF CHEMICAL EXPOSURE
• Inhalation
– This is the most common mode of exposure. Chemical vapors, gases, aerosols, mists or dust can be
absorbed through the mucous membranes of the mouth, nose, throat, or lungs.

• Skin and Eye Contact

– You may think of the skin as barrier, but chemicals can penetrate the skin. Such contact may be
indirect such as when you adjust your glasses while wearing dirty gloves and then later adjust your
glasses with gloves off. Contact with items that others have used or touched is also possible.
– Eye exposure can be indirect through vapors, or direct via a splash (when not wearing goggles), or by
touching your eye while your hand or glove is contaminated by a chemical.

• Ingestion
– Ingestion is usually by accident. It is avoided by never eating or drinking in the laboratory, and by
cleanliness practices, such as washing your hands after working with chemicals. Do not place your
fingers in your mouth when working with chemicals. Always wash your hands when you leave the
lab.
• Injection
– This can occur by skin puncture with a dirty piece of glassware or apparatus. Breaking a piece of
glassware is a common route; chemicals can enter through a cut.
 ROUTES OF CHEMICAL EXPOSURE
• Mohrig gives more details about routes of exposure. Read
what he has to say about:
o fume hoods (inhalation);
o the degree of protection afforded by wearing gloves and goggles (skin and eye
contact);
o avoiding all contact with your mouth while in lab (ingestion);
o and the various ways you can encounter broken glass in lab (injection).

• The University discourages you from wearing contact lenses, even when your eyes are
protected by goggles. Mohrig has moved away from earlier warnings about wearing contact
lenses in lab. No one will check if you are wearing contacts. But if you decide to do so, you
should inform yourself of possible hazards by reading other sources of information.

• It is also your responsibility to avoid distractions while working in the lab. Watch this 1 min.
video about cell phone use in the lab. https://youtu.be/rT1cwgk-h4w
 PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT
You must be properly attired and wear PPE at all times during lab. These
are the requirements:
• ATTIRE
– Pants/skirts must be worn and must be full-length and touch the shoes.
Neither bulky loose-fitting clothing nor tight, close-fitting clothing is
acceptable.
– Upper body wear should cover the upper chest and arms.
– Shoes must be closed-toe and closed-heel and completely cover the tops of
the feet. The uppers should be leather or leather-substitute for best
protection - porous fabric shoes are unacceptable. Heels should not be so high
as to affect stability in standing or walking.
– Socks must completely cover the ankle: at least crew length.
– Long hair must be tied back or confined.
– Avoid wearing jewelry that can affect manual dexterity or become
contaminated.
 PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT
You must be properly attired and wear PPE at all times during lab. These
are the requirements:
• PPE
– Safety goggles must be worn in the laboratory at all times, whether you are
actually performing an experiment or not. It is a Virginia state law. Wearing
contact lenses is strongly discouraged. You must provide your own goggles and
bring them to lab each week.
– Lab coats, which must be worn in the laboratory at all times, are provided to
students by the Chemistry Department or may be purchased from the GMU
Bookstore. All lab coats must be at least knee-length and have snap front
closures. Transport your lab coat to lab each week in the supplied plastic bag.
– Gloves should be worn whenever you work with chemicals. Wash your hands
immediately after removing gloves. Do not handle your calculator wearing
gloves. This is the proper way to remove and dispose of gloves.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3I_kKVNrEMo
 EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS
• Become thoroughly acquainted with the location and
use of safety equipment and facilities such as exits,
safety showers, eyewash fountains, fire
extinguishers, and spill kits in your assigned lab.
 EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS
How to use safety equipment
• Never put yourself in danger.
• It is likely that your instructor will be the first to respond to an
incident.
• However, in some situations you may be the only person able to
respond.
 Eyewash – seconds count – get yourself or the other
person to the eyewash fountain as quickly as possible.
Watch this 2-min. video on how to properly use an
eyewash fountain. https://youtu.be/2O95MzSr1rE
 EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS
 Safety shower – don’t hesitate – get yourself or the other person to
the safety shower as quickly as possible.
Use a safety shower in case of a chemical spill on your body, or if your
hair or clothing are on fire.
Watch this 2-min. video on how to properly use a safety shower.
https://youtu.be/sMwTYyQzzS0
 Fire Blanket – Remember!: If clothing is on fire, running will
make the situation worse by fanning the flames. Firmly tell the person
to stop, drop, and roll. This may smother the flames. In the meantime,
try to wrap a fire blanket around the person.

Find out what to do in 1 minute: https://youtu.be/odkIFSuYe-I

 EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS
 Fire extinguisher– Take a few minutes (4) to learn about
the four classes of fires and how to use a fire extinguisher.
https://youtu.be/OauxaRXQ2IM?t=497
 Student Reaction in a Fire
Your instructor is present and fully The instructor/preproom personnel is
functional? either not present or is incapacitated?
This is how it is supposed to go. The instructor can
Although we want you to be informed on the
make an informed decision about risks and solutions
if a fire is ignited in your area. The proper STUDENT
operation of a fire extinguisher, we do not
response is therefore to: expect you to use it. If a fire is ignited in your
area, the proper STUDENT response is to:
1) Immediately & calmly, notify the instructor.
2) If possible, shut down any reaction in progress 1) Immediately notify everyone in the
by removing heat/energy source and/or by room.
pulling plug on power cord. 2) If possible every student should shut
3) Wait for instructor to evaluate situation. down any reaction in progress by
4) If instructor calls for evacuation, then removing heat/energy source and/or by
everyone in the lab should shut down any pulling plug on power cord.
reaction in progress as in 2) above, and then 3) Proceed to the nearest exit and pull the
proceed to the nearest exit.
nearest fire alarm.
5) Evacuate the building.
4) Evacuate the building.
6) Assemble in front of Planetary Hall (across
from JC) for a positive headcount; wait for 5) Assemble in front of Planetary Hall
instructor before leaving the area. (across from JC), wait for instructor,
police or EMS before leaving the area.

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 Credits
• University of Wisconsin CHEM 344 Organic Chemistry Laboratory Safety

• Western Washington University The Chemistry Dep’t &

Environmental Health and Safety Organic Chemistry Laboratory Safety Tutorial

• “Safety in Academic Chemistry Laboratories” 8TH ED.

BEST PRACTICES FOR FIRST- AND UNIVERSITY STUDENTS
A Publication of the American Chemical Society Joint Board–Council Committee on Chemical Safety

• College of Charleston Laboratory Safety