Topic 0

LAB SAFETY
Scientists at work… where?
 Why is Safety in the lab so important?

A science laboratory is used for carrying out practical

investigations.
They can involve using dangerous chemicals and practical
equipment such as Bunsen burners.
Some practical equipment, such as test tubes, are easily
breakable so care must be taken.
The pupils’ and teacher’s health and safety are very important to
ensure that no one gets hurt.
 What happens when safety rules aren’t
respected…

Texas Tech Lab Explosion

 Chemical accidents history

https://www.mun.ca/biology/scarr/Los_Alamos_Accident_1958.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1967_Marburg_virus_outbreak

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1978_smallpox_outbreak_in_the_United_Kingdom

https://www.ehs.ucsb.edu/sites/default/files/docs/ls/mercury_poisoning.pdf

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheri_Sangji_case

https://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/14/nyregion/yale-student-dies-in-machine-shop-accident.html

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2012/jun/11/brain-tissue-autism-freezer-fault

https://www.hawaii.edu/news/2016/07/01/independent-investigation-of-lab-accident-complete/

https://www.trentotoday.it/cronaca/incidente-laboratorio-chimica-universita-trento.html

…
 Chemical accidents history in schools…

Texas City Disaster (1947): Though not a school, this incident had a significant impact on safety regulations in schools. A ship carrying
ammonium nitrate fertilizer exploded in Texas City, Texas, causing a massive explosion and fires. This event raised awareness about the
dangers of hazardous materials in schools.

Judson High School (1972): A chemical explosion occurred at Judson High School in Converse, Texas, when a student mixed chemicals in a
restroom. This accident led to injuries and significant property damage.

Elder High School (1981): A chemistry experiment went wrong at Elder High School in Cincinnati, Ohio, resulting in a fire that caused severe
burns to several students. This incident prompted discussions about safety protocols in school laboratories.

Ramapo High School (2002): A chemical explosion occurred during a science demonstration in Franklin Lakes, New Jersey. The teacher
involved in the demonstration suffered burns, and several students were injured.
Woodson High School (2014): In Fairfax County, Virginia, a chemistry teacher suffered burns during a classroom demonstration. The incident
raised concerns about safety procedures in schools and the need for additional training for teachers.

Lily Secondary School (2019): In Ontario, Canada, a chemical spill occurred during a science experiment at Lily Secondary School. Several
students and staff members were exposed to toxic fumes, leading to evacuations and hospitalizations.
Both of these incidents underscore the critical importance of safety protocols, proper training, and supervision when working
with chemicals in school settings. They also serve as reminders of the potential dangers associated with science
experiments and the need to prioritize the safety of students and educators.

Judson High School (1972):

● Location: Judson High School in Converse, Texas, USA.
● Incident: On May 15, 1972, a chemical explosion occurred in a restroom at Judson High School. The explosion was the
result of a student mixing chemicals inappropriately, leading to a volatile reaction.
● Consequences: The explosion caused injuries to several students and significant property damage within the school.
Some students were treated for burns and other injuries.
● Aftermath: This incident prompted a reevaluation of safety measures and the handling of chemicals in school
laboratories. It served as a reminder of the importance of strict safety protocols and the need for proper supervision
and education when it comes to working with hazardous substances in educational settings.
Ramapo High School (2002):
● Location: Ramapo High School in Franklin Lakes, New Jersey, USA.
● Incident: In January 2002, a chemical explosion occurred during a science demonstration at Ramapo High School. The
teacher involved in the demonstration was conducting an experiment that went awry, resulting in a fire and
explosion.
● Consequences: The teacher suffered burns, and several students sustained injuries during the incident. Emergency
responders were called to the scene to provide medical assistance and control the situation.
● Aftermath: This incident raised concerns about safety procedures in school laboratories and the need for additional
training and precautions when conducting experiments. It highlighted the importance of teacher preparedness and
the necessity of conducting experiments in a controlled and safe manner to prevent accidents.
Chemicals and Hazards Table
Complete the table with the name of each chemical and its hazard symbol. You could either draw the hazard
symbol or give its meaning.

Extension:
Have you heard of any of these chemicals
before? Do you know anything about them?
What would you do if you found this?

How could you make this sign more useful?

 Safety Symbols

These are science safety

symbols.
They tell you about
why something might be
dangerous
– but most importantly, they
don’t use words.
 Hazard Symbols Descriptions
What do you think the following hazard symbols mean?

1 2 3

Could burn the skin and damage the Catches fire when it comes into Could cause damage to animal and plant
eyes. Avoid breathing in vapours. contact with oxygen and a heat source. life if released into water systems.

4 5
Could cause illness or death
Could irritate the
if taken into the body.
skin.
Hazard
Symbols
We found them in rooms, specific
conditions, they can have different
colours, shapes, borders, but they
conserve the same meaning.
 General Safety Rules
1. Listen to or read instructions carefully before attempting to do anything.
2. Wear PPE and use CPE
3. Notify your teacher if any spills or accidents occur.
4. Listen when someone is speaking.
5. Make sure your coats and bags are not in the way.
6. No food or drink in labs.
7. Do not run
8. Never “muck around” or play practical jokes in the laboratory.
9. Stand up when using chemicals.
10. After handling chemicals, always wash your hands with soap and water.
11. During lab work, keep your hands away from your face.
12. Tie back long hair.
13. Roll up loose sleeves.
14. Know the location of the fire extinguisher, fire blanket, eyewash station, and first aid kit.
15. Keep your work area uncluttered. Take to the lab station only what is necessary
16. Never put anything into your mouth during a lab experiment.
17. Clean up your lab area at the conclusion of the laboratory period.
 Chemical
Safety

1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Wear protective Never mix Never taste any Wash your hands Follow the If you need to smell Do not put your
goggles whenever chemicals together chemicals (you after handling instructions of your the odour of a nose over the
heating or pouring unless you are told should never taste hazardous teacher when chemical, waft the container and
hazardous to do so (and then anything in the lab). chemicals. disposing of all fumes towards your inhale the fumes.
chemicals. only in the manner chemicals. nose with one hand.
specified).
 Heating Safety
2. Heat glassware by
3. Always point the
1. Only glassware that placing it on a wire
top ends of test tubes
is completely dry gauze platform on a
that are being heated
should be heated. ring-stand. Do not
away from people.
hold it in your hand.

4. When heating a test

tube, move it around 5. Use tongs and/or 6. Never reach across
slowly over the flame protective gloves to an open flame or
to distribute the heat handle hot objects. burner
evenly.
 Glassware
Safety
• Chipped or cracked glassware should not be used. Show it to me
(teacher) as soon as possible.
• When pouring liquids into glassware, make sure the container
you are pouring into is resting on a table away from the edge.
• If a piece of glassware gets broken, do not try to clean it up by
yourself. Notify your teacher.
• Do not place hot glassware in water. Rapid cooling may make it
shatter.
 Personal Protective
Equipment (PPE)
Collective Protective
Equipment (CPE)

Quiz: Is the fume hood that

protect people or are the
people to protect
themselves with the fume
 True and False?
You are allowed to enter the chemical preparation/storage area any time you need to
get an item.

I must always tie my hair back in Science.

I must leave the Bunsen burner on the blue safety flame when I am not using it.

It is important to tell the teacher straight away if I have any sort of accident.

I can sit down when I am doing experiments.

It is okay to wear my goggles on my head when I am doing experiments.

Whatever place in the lab is fine to leave my bag.

Microbes and Chemicals can harm me if I suck my fingers or pens.

Return all unused chemicals to their original containers.

I must only touch the apparatus when I am told to by the teacher.

 Rules Resume
Chemical safety
General Safety Rules
1.Wear protective goggles
1. Listen to or read instructions carefully before Heating safety whenever heating or pouring
attempting to do anything. hazardous chemicals. Glassware safety
2. Wear PPE
1. Only glassware that is 1. Chipped or cracked
3. Notify your teacher if any spills or accidents occur.
thoroughly dry should be heated. 2. Never mix chemicals together glassware should not be
4. Listen when someone is speaking.
5. Make sure your coats and bags are not in the way. unless you are told to do so (and used. Show it to me
2. Heat glassware by placing it on then only in the manner (teacher) as soon as
6. No food or drink in labs.
a wire gauze platform on a ring- specified). possible.
7. Do not run
stand. Do not hold it in your
8. Never “muck around” or play practical jokes in the 2. When pouring liquids into
hand.
laboratory. 3. Never taste any chemicals (you glassware, make sure the
9. Stand up when using chemicals. should never taste anything in the container you are pouring
3. Always point the top ends of
10. After handling chemicals, always wash your hands lab). into is resting on a table
test tubes that are being heated away from the edge.
with soap and water.
away from people.
11. During lab work, keep your hands away from your 4. Wash your hands after
face. 3. If a piece of glassware gets
4. When heating a test tube, move handling hazardous chemicals. broken, do not try to clean
12. Tie back long hair.
it around slowly over the flame to it up by yourself. Notify
13. Roll up loose sleeves. your teacher.
14. Know the location of the fire extinguisher, fire
distribute the 5. Follow the instructions of your
heat evenly. teacher when disposing of all
blanket, eyewash station, and first aid kit. 4. Do not place hot glassware in
15. Keep your work area uncluttered. Take to the lab chemicals. water. Rapid cooling may
5. Use tongs and/or protective
station only what is necessary make it shatter.
gloves to handle hot objects. 6. If you need to smell the odour
16. Never put anything into your mouth during a lab
experiment. of a chemical, waft the fumes
6. Never reach across an open
17. Clean up your lab area at the conclusion of the towards your nose with one hand.
flame or burner
laboratory period.
7. Do not put your nose over the
container and inhale the fumes.