Taliana Marganian

Chem 001A
Safety First
What practices are followed to ensure safety in the laboratory?

Why?
Academic laboratory accidents are estimated to occur 10–50 times more frequently than chemical plant
accidents. Laboratory accidents often have unexpected outcomes that may result in permanent injury.
Dressing appropriately and following laboratory safety rules will reduce the incidence and severity of
accidents and help keep students safe.
  1. Create a laboratory safety diagram in the space below by doing the following:
a. Sketch the outline of your laboratory room including all doors and windows
b. Mark and label the position of the following laboratory safety equipment.
1. Fire blanket   6. Chemical disposal area
2. Fire extinguisher   7. Broken glassware disposal
3. Safety shower   8. Chemical spill clean-up kit
4. Eyewash station   9. Location of goggles
5. Fume hood 10. Location of gloves
c. Locate and read the evacuation instructions that are posted in your laboratory. Describe how
you should evacuate in case of an accident.

d. Label the fire exits in the diagram and add the evacuation route to your picture (this should
be posted in your room).

Laboratory Safety Diagram

  2. Biohazard materials are disposed of in biohazard bags when you are finished working with them.
a. On the diagram above, label where the bags are generally located.
b. What color are the bags?

Safety First 1
Model 1 – Laboratory Attire
This student is dressed inappropriately This student is dressed appropriately
for laboratory work. for laboratory work.
   

  3. Look at the two students in the model above.

a. List at least three inappropriate items of dress for the student on the left.
1. open-toed shoes
2. hair is not in a ponytail
3. flowy shirt/no goggles
b. List at least three appropriate items of dress for the student on the right.
1. closed toed shoes
2. hair is up
3. skin is covered/ goggles on
  4. Why wear goggles while working with chemicals and glassware?
goggles protect your eyes from getting any chemicals, or pieces of glass into

them if something is broken or gets sprayed.
  5. When working with a Bunsen burner what precautions should be taken with respect to your
clothing and hair?
Hair should always be tied up and away from any fire, there should not be any flowy
clothing that can catch on fire.
  6. Why should one avoid wearing shorts or skirts while working with chemicals and with glassware?
Any skin that is exposed is in risk of getting cut or burnt when working with chemicals
and glassware
  7. What type of shoes should a student wear while working with chemicals and with glassware?
always wear closed toed shoes when doing a lab

  8. If an accident occurred in the laboratory, which of the two students in the model would have
protection provided by their clothing? Why?

The student on the right

2 POGIL™ Activities for High School Chemistry

Model 2 – Scenes in the Lab

1 2 3 4

5 6 7 8

9 10 11 12

  9. Complete the table below using the pictures in Model 2.

Scene Potential Concern Proper Safe Behavior
 1 running walk, be aware of surroundings
use a broom and clean up any broken
 2 Broken or chipped glassware pieces and dispose
 3 listening to music on headphones need to be alert, keep in a backpack.

 4 eating or drinking anything dont eat or drink in lab

 5 Bacteria growing in an open Petri dish— put a lid and place in a safe area
could spread to other areas.
 6 report the spill to teacher, replace
spilled liquid
cap and lid asap
 7 walking through spilled liquid clean any spills, tell teacher
drain for certain chemicals, teacher will
 8 Dispose of waste in designated locations. instruct
dont leave unattended. turn off before
 9 Hot plate turned on, could cause burns.
leaving
10 sharp objects - scissors, scalpels Dispose of used scalpel blades in a sharps
container; put all scissors away when fin-
ished.
11 dissection, with a pin in it left alone cover any dissections and dispose
after use
12 open wound on hand use a bandage and protective
gloves.

Safety First 3
Read This!
Communication with your teacher in the laboratory can also help prevent accidents or injuries to yourself
and others. For example, you should always tell your teacher if you spill something or are cut or injured
when performing an experiment. You should also alert your teacher if any equipment or glassware is
broken. Your teacher can provide Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS), which contain safety information
about chemicals you may come in contact with in the laboratory. Chemicals should be disposed of safely,
as directed by your teacher. Do not dump chemicals into the sink or trash.
10. Suppose you spill a chemical on yourself:
a. What information can your teacher provide for you concerning that chemical?
Where the chemical should be disposed of, and the safety precautions to take
concerning that chemical.
b. Where is the information located?
Material Safety Data Sheet
11. Why is it important to let your teacher know if you cut, burn or injure yourself when performing
an experiment?
The teacher can provide first aid and prevent the same accident to take place again.
12. Why should you tell your teacher if any equipment or glassware is broken?
So that the teacher can give you instructions and also replace the material that was
broken.
13. Why should you never perform unauthorized experiments or ignore written directions for an
experiment?
Performing unauthorized experiments can be very harmful and dangerous causing
reactions that can expose a person to a toxic gas or many unexpected results.
14. Your teacher asks your group to create a list of ten rules that everyone must follow in the labora-
tory. What rules would your group include? After developing a list, send a representative from
your table to another group to compare responses.

1. wear appropriate clothing

2. Be aware of your surroundings
3. do not eat or drink in the lab
4. clean and report any spills or breakage in lab
5. be aware of the chemical you are using
6. do not taste or smell chrmicals
7. dispose of waste properly
8. Know the location of safety equipment
9. Know how to handle accidents
10. wear safety gear

4 POGIL™ Activities for High School Chemistry