SAFETY RULES AND GOOD LABORATORY PRACTICES
Chemistry is not a dangerous activity when practiced properly. The chemistry
laboratory can be a place of learning, discovery, and enjoyment. It can also be a place of
frustration and danger but when safety rules and a proper understanding of techniques and
laboratory practices are employed, the chemistry laboratory is no more dangerous than any
other classroom. Observance of these rules is essential for the sake of one’s safety and that
of others in the laboratory. Although most of the safety precautions are just common-sense
practices, they must be developed through training and practice.
A. Safety Rules
1. Safety goggles or safety glasses with side panels must be worn at all times in
the laboratory to protect the eyes from chemical splashes.
2. Contact lenses are not permitted in the lab. The goggles can protect the eyes from
splashes but not from fumes which can dry the contact lenses.
3. The eyes are particularly susceptible to permanent damage by corrosive chemicals
and by flying fragments. Never look into the open end of a test tube or a reaction vessel
especially when it is being heated nor should you point its mouth toward anyone. (The
proper way of heating liquids is illustrated in Common Laboratory Techniques and
Apparatus section, Figure A.5.) Avoid rubbing your eyes unless you know that your hands
are clean.
4. Sandals, open-toed shoes, and high heels are not allowed in the lab. This is to protect
your feet from broken glass, chemical splashes and spills. The restriction on high heels is for
balance.
5. Laboratory gowns must be used properly at all times to protect clothing from
chemical splashes/fire.
6. Long hair is to be constrained.
7. Eating, drinking, and smoking are strictly not allowed in the laboratory.
8. The apparatuses to be used are often delicate or breakable and must, therefore, be
treated with caution. (The laboratory apparatuses usually used are shown in Common
Laboratory Techniques and Apparatus section.)
9. Chemicals must be handled carefully since many are poisonous and dangerously
explosive.
10. Never taste anything. Never directly smell the source of any vapor or gas; instead, by
means of your cupped hand, bring a small sample to your nose. Chemicals are not to be
used to obtain a “high” or clear your sinuses. (The proper way to test for odor is shown in
Common Laboratory Techniques and Apparatus section, Figure A.4.)
11. Perform in the hood any reactions involving dangerous chemicals (e.g. irritating
fumes, unpleasant odors). Exhaust hoods have fans to exhaust fumes out of the hood and
away from the user. The hood should also be used when noxious, hazardous, and flammable
materials are being heated.
12. Never pick up a heated piece of glass. If you must, use tongs, otherwise allow it to
cool.
13. Sitting is not allowed while performing the experiment. Stools/chairs pose hazards by
obstruction in pathways.
14. Do not sit on the laboratory tables. Pranks and horseplay, even when seemingly
innocent, can cause serious injury and are, therefore, strictly forbidden.
15. Do not place personal items like bags, knapsacks, books on the laboratory desks
because they take up valuable work space or may be damaged by fire or chemical spills
16. In case of fire due to gas leakage, immediately turn off the gas tank regulator. To
prevent spreading of the fire, cover it with sand or wet cloth.
17. Experiments other than that required in the procedure are strictly not allowed.
18. Do not leave your experiments unattended. Fire, explosion or any other accident may
occur at this time.
19. The most common laboratory accidents are cuts from broken glassware or
thermometer. Report breakage or damage immediately to the stockroom.
20. Most chemical spills are best handled by quickly absorbing wet material with paper
towels and then washing the area with water.
21. Neutralize a spilled acid or base as follows: (a) acid on clothing, use dilute sodium
bicarbonate solution; (b) base on clothing, use boric acid solution (50 g/L); (c) acid or base
on the desk, use solid sodium bicarbonate for either, followed by water.
22. Report all injuries to the instructor for treatment.
B. Good Laboratory Practices
1. Prepare for each experiment by studying it (both the Introduction and, briefly, the
Experimental Procedure) and answer the Pre-Lab Assignment, if any, before you come to the
laboratory. Completion and submission of the Pre-Lab Assignment is a requirement to
perform the experiment.
2. Do not throw matches, litmus, or any insoluble solids into the sink. Labeled waste
containers are provided to collect hazardous solid or liquid wastes.
3. Leave reagent bottles at the side tables and bring test tubes or beakers to obtain
chemicals.
4. Read the label twice before taking anything from a reagent bottle.
5. Avoid taking excessive amounts of reagent, 1- to 3 mL is usually ample for test tube
reactions.
6. Never return unused chemicals to the stock bottle. You may make a mistake that later
will cause other students’ experiments to suffer.
7. Do not insert your own medicine dropper into the reagent bottles to avoid
contamination. Pour only what you need into a small, clean beaker or test tube. (The proper
way to pour liquids from a reagent bottle is shown in Common Laboratory Techniques and
Apparatus section, Figure A.2.)
8. Do not lay down the stopper of a reagent bottle. It may pick up impurities and thus
contaminate the solution when the stopper is returned. (Figure A.1 in Common Laboratory
Techniques and Apparatus section show the proper way of opening a reagent bottle.)
9. Do not heat thick glassware such as graduated cylinders, volumetric flasks, or bottles;
they break easily, and heating distorts the glass so that the calibrations are no longer valid.
10. All data should be recorded directly into your Answer Booklet, not on loose sheets or
scraps of paper.
11. Good housekeeping is a prerequisite for safe and accurate experimentation. Keep your
work table and the reagent table clean and tidy at all times.
12. The recommended procedure for cleaning glassware is to wash the object carefully with
a brush in hot water and detergent, then rinse thoroughly with tap water, and finally rinse
with a small amount of distilled water. Then allow the glassware to drain dry overnight in
your locker. If you must use a piece of glassware while it is still wet, rinse it with the solution
to be used.
13. You may discuss or argue your ideas and knowledge with your classmates, but don’t
blindly copy their work. Do your own thinking and work and remember that integrity is the
keystone to scientific work.
14. You may also find it useful to refer to your text while working in the laboratory.
C. First Aid
The following are common laboratory accidents that necessitate first aid treatment until
professional help, if needed, is obtained.
1. Chemicals in the eye: Hold the eye open and immediately flush with water. Continue
for at least 15 minutes.
2. Chemicals spilled on skin: Flush with large amount of water for 15 minutes.
3. Severe bleeding: Apply pressure or tourniquet.
4. Minor burns: Apply burn ointment which can be obtained from the stockroom.
