Lab Safety

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 Learning Objectives

At the end of this simulation, you will be able

to…
• Use the correct clothing to work in the lab
• Describe the do’s and don’ts in a laboratory
• Correctly use the lab safety equipment
• React in an emergency situation

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 Safety First

• Wear the appropriate

personal protective
equipment.
• When working in a new
lab, look around and
identify the safety
equipment so you can
react quickly in case of an
emergency.
• Keep track of all the steps
that you are performing
• Write down the chemicals
you were using.
• Make sure you label all
your samples with the
content, potential
hazards, the date and
your initials.
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 Safety First Cont’d

After you're done with

an experiment
• clean all used
glassware
• return reagents to
the correct storage
area
• dispose of waste in
the appropriate
containers
• clean the workbench
with ethanol.

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 Lab Safety Practices

• Eating, drinking, smoking and storing food and

drink in the laboratory is not permitted.
• Wear clothes that cover your entire body.
• Leave all personal items such as backpacks,
purses or jackets outside, so they don't become
contaminated. Make sure you do not contaminate
light switches, door knobs and especially your
smartphone.
• Keep your hands clean and your nails short
• Make sure you wash your hands before leaving
the lab.
• Always wear appropriate personal protective
equipment for the task at hand.

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 Lab Safety Practices Cont’d

• The lab room should be kept clean and tidy and

all emergency exits should be clear.
• Never place reagents on the floor.
• Chemicals need to be stored in appropriate
cabinets to avoid accidents.
• Keep your workbench tidy and remove all the
items that are not needed.

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Hazard Symbols

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 Lab Safety Equipment – Safety Shower

• Safety shower should be

used if your clothes get
drenched in a hazardous
chemical or your clothes
catch fire.
• Get under the shower as
fast as possible and pull
the lever.
• Take off your clothes
while rinsing the
affected body parts.

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 Lab Safety Equipment – Eye Wash

• Always wear appropriate

eye protection.
• Immediately go to the
eyewash station if your
eyes are exposed to
chemicals
• Wash them for at least
20-30 minutes.

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Lab Safety Equipment – Fire Extinguisher

• Classes of fires:
• class A ordinary
combustibles or
fibrous material:
wood, paper, plastic;
• class B flammable or
combustible liquids:
paint, kerosene;
• class C energized
electrical equipment:
switches, panel
boxes;
• class D combustible
metals: magnesium,
potassium.
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 Lab Safety Equipment

• Fire blankets can be used to smother fires or

protect yourself.
• The first aid kit is used for minor injuries such as
cuts.
• Evacuation plans should be placed near the exits.
• Chemistry labs often contain fume hoods that
protect the user from chemical exposure.

11
 Fire Emergency

• If there is a fire in the lab make sure you follow

these steps:
• Keep calm and assess the situation
• If the fire is very small, such as a liquid in a
flask that catches fire, try to extinguish it by
smothering it with a lid.
• If the fire is out of control, ensure the safety of
everybody in close vicinity of the fire.
• Raise the fire alarm and press the circuit
breaker to turn off all machines in the lab.

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 Fire Emergency

• What to do when people are on fire?

• The most effective way to extinguish burning
clothes is by rolling on the floor.
• Never wrap a fire blanket around a standing
person because it can create a chimney effect
and burn the person's face.
• If the safety shower is close, use it to
extinguish the flames and cool the burns.

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 Lab Safety Equipment – Lab Coat

• Lab coats should be

worn to prevent possible
contamination.
• Lab coats must be long-
sleeved and buttoned
up to fully protect both
skin and clothes from
spills.
• Lab coats should also be
frequently laundered on-
site or by a professional
laundering service.

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 Chemical Spills

• Depending on the amount and type of chemicals

involved, spills are categorized into minor and
major spills:
• Minor spills: Spills that can be cleaned up by
lab personnel without putting themselves or
others at risk.
• Major spills: Involve large amounts of
chemicals or highly dangerous reagents. Make
sure you evacuate the lab and contact the
appropriate emergency personnel.
• If a chemical is spilled over a person, immediately
get them to the safety station and flush the
affected area thoroughly.
• Additionally, take off affected clothing to limit
further exposure.
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 Minor Chemical Spills

• Before you start cleaning up a chemical spill you

need to identify what chemicals are involved.
• In the case of acid or base spills, the spill needs
to be neutralized first.
• Strong acids can be neutralized with baking soda
(a weak base) and strong bases can be
neutralized with acetic acid (a weak acid).

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 Corrosive Chemicals

• Corrosive chemicals visibly damage or permanently

change materials on contact.
• The major types of corrosive substances include
strong acids, bases, and dehydrating agents.
• Protective apparel including lab coats, gloves,
closed-toe shoes and long-sleeved clothing
should be worn when handling corrosive materials.
• Manipulation of corrosive materials should occur in
a fume hood if there is a risk of explosion or
chemical splashes.

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Corrosive Chemicals

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