Activity No.

SAFETY IN THE CHEMICAL LABORATORY

INTRODUCTION

In the chemistry laboratory, the used of equipment, glassware, and chemicals, by the
students are potential for accidents. Accidents do occur even how careful one performs the
activity; hence, safety is a prime concern in the chemistry laboratory. All the activities must be
done exactly as described in the laboratory manual instructions and other safety rules. Likewise,
prudent management and ultimate disposal of laboratory wastes must be observed
conscientiously.

OBJECTIVES

At the end of the exercise, the student can:

1. develop consciousness on safety precautionary measures in doing laboratory work;

2. demonstrate proper and safe handling of chemicals, equipment and wastes; and
3. identify safety symbols and their meaning.

A. Personal Safety Precautions

1. Wear a laboratory gown to protect your clothes against explosions, splattering chemicals and
spillage.
2. Wear safety goggles to protect your eyes at all times.
3. Tie back long hair. Long hair can accidentally fell into flames or chemicals. Many hair
sprays, gels, mousses, etc. are flammable! Loose, long hair can also block your vision,
which can lead to accidents.
4. Always wear goggles during laboratory period.
5. No mobile phones, audio equipment is allowed in the laboratory.

B. Laboratory Safety Rules

1. D​ rinking, eating and smoking in the laboratory are prohibited.

2. Report all accidents (even minor injuries) to your instructor.
3. Read the directions carefully before performing an activity. Safety precautions must
be strictly followed all throughout the laboratory period. If the directions are not clear
consult your instructor.
4. Never alter procedure. It must be the teacher who will be responsible for any changes
therein.
5. Read the label twice before using any chemicals. Wrong chemicals may cause
accidents or explosions.
6. Never use unlabeled chemicals. It might be poisonous or might cause a violent or
dangerous reaction when mixed with other chemicals.
7. When opening a reagent bottle do not lay the stopper of a bottle on the table to avoid
contamination. When you remove the glass stoppers from bottles, hold the stopper
between the index and the middle finger of your pouring hand if it is a winged-top
stopper; if it is a flat-top stopper, lay the stopper upside down on the table.
8. Never insert spatula or medicine dropper into a reagent bottle. Use a dropper or
spatula provided for each reagent bottle.
9. When filling a pipette, always use a rubber aspirator. ​Never pipette by mouth​.
10. Always withdraw the exact amount of chemical that you need. Never return the
excess chemical to the bottle.
11. Never taste any chemical substance.
12. Use your hand to waft or fan the vapor towards your nose to determine the smell of
any chemicals
13. Always add acid to water while mixing continuously, never water to acid.
14. Any chemical spilled on the table must be cleaned up at once. If it is an acid,
neutralize by sprinkling powdered sodium hydrogen carbonate (NaHCO​3​) on it. If
you spill any acid on the skin, wash with plenty of water.
15. When heating liquids, never point the mouth of the test tube towards anybody.
16. Never look into the test tube or flask containing boiling liquid or while reagents are
mixed.
17. Flammable chemicals like alcohol, acetone, gasoline and kerosene should not be used
near an open flame.
18. Always return the reagent bottle to the tray from where it was taken.

C. Safety Equipment

1. First Aid Kit.​ A ​ first aid kit is available if needed. It contains gauze, adhesive bandages,
antibiotic ointment, etc. If any injury occurs that cannot be attended to by the instructor, you
can be escorted to the clinic to receive treatment from the health care professionals, or can
wait in the laboratory for an Emergency Medical Service (EMS) team if the injury is severe.
2. ​Fire Extinguishers​. There are fire extinguishers outside the laboratory room and they are
usually attached to the wall. To use a fire extinguisher, always remember the acronym ​PASS
- ​P​ull the pin, ​A​im the nozzle at the base of the fire, ​S​queeze the lever/handle, and ​Sw
​ eep
from side to side across the base of the fire! When the fire is out, clean up the area! ​Note:
Never spray a person with a fire extinguisher.
3. ​Fire Alarm.​ If a fire alarm sounds you should evacuate the building immediately!

D. Emergency Measures​.

​ mall chemical spill​. Wipe liquid spills with tissue papers and dispose of them as your
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instructor suggests. Solids should be dissolved in water, if possible, and wiped. Otherwise,
sweep them with a broom and a dust pan and dispose them as your instructor suggests.

​ arge chemical spill.​ Move away from the area of the spill. Warn the people around and
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immediately call your instructor! Let the instructor handle the clean-up!

3. ​Chemical splash in your face with protected safety goggles.​ Always wear goggles during
laboratory period. In case chemicals splash in your face, call your instructor for help and do
not remove your goggles. Go to the eye wash station and rinse your face quickly with the
goggles still on. Then remove the goggles and rinse your face again.

4. B​roken glass in your face without using the safety goggles.​ If this sort of accident happens,
you may not be able to see well enough to go to the eye wash station on your own. Call for
help and cooperate with anyone who comes to your aid.

​ arge splash of dangerous chemical on your clothing and/or body​. Quickly follow this
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procedure while continuously ​yelling for help:
a. Move away from the area where the spill occurred.
b. Call loudly for help and to warn others to stay away from the spill!
c. Remove any contaminated clothing.
d. Use the cold running water for or as long as you can stand it (The treatment for
chemical exposure is 15 minutes under cold running water.)

6. ​Small, open fire.​ If a small, open fire occurs, move away from the fire and call for help! You
can use a fire extinguisher to put off the fire. When the fire is extinguished, clean the area!
7. ​Large fire​. Call for help and leave the area immediately! The fire alarm will probably sound
and when it does, evacuate the building and inform everyone where the fire is located. In
case of fire, the safety of persons must be the first concern. Try to extinguish the fire if you
can. If not, call the fire department and go to a safe place. Do not panic.

8. ​Clothing on fire​. When a one of your classmates clothing catches fire, roll him over on the
floor to smother the flame. Never let him stand. This is to prevent injury to the respiratory
passage and eyes by the flames that would naturally rise and envelop the head. Never use the
fire extinguisher of any type on a person. It may be toxic and may damage the eyes or skin.

9. ​Fire Alarm.​ If a fire alarm sounds, you must evacuate the building immediately! To evacuate
properly, you should quickly and calmly do the following:
a. Turn off all flames from all sources and unplug any hot plates or other electric
equipment you are using.
b. Take your bag and purse with you. We never know whether the evacuation will last
for 5 minutes or longer.
c. Walk calmly out the door, down the hall, down the stairs, and away from the
building.

E. First-Aid in the Laboratory

Situation Safe Response
Burns Flush with cold water.
Cuts & Bruises Treat as directed by instructions included in the first aid kit.
Provide person with fresh air, have him recline in a position so
Fainting that his head is lower than his body; if necessary; provide Cardio-
Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR).
Turn off all flame from all sources and gas jets, wrap person in
Fire fire blanket; use fire extinguisher to put off fire. DO NOT use
water to put out fire. Do not use fire extinguisher on person.
Foreign Matter in Eyes Flush about 15 minutes with plenty of water then go to the doctor.
Note the suspected poisoning agent, contact the teacher for
Poisoning
antidote. Seek medical attention immediately.
Apply pressure or compress directly to the wound and get medical
Severe bleeding
attention immediately.
For a direct on human
body: 1. Wash area with plenty of water, use safety shower if needed.
1. Spills, general 2. Use sodium hydrogen carbonate (baking soda)
2. Acid burns 3. Use boric acid or vinegar (dilute acetic acid)
3. Base burns
▪ Neutralize acids with powdered sodium hydrogen carbonate
(sodium bicarbonate/baking soda), or bases with vinegar (5%
Acid/Base Spill
For a spill not directly acetic acid solution).
▪ Avoid inhaling vapors.
on human body
▪ Spread diatomaceous earth to absorb the neutralized chemical.
▪ Sweep and dispose as hazardous waste.
▪ Immediately leave the contaminated area.
Mercury Spill ▪ Close interior doors and windows, and heating and air
conditioning vents in the incident room.
▪ Open exterior doors and windows for proper air ventilation.
F. Common Safety Symbols

The common safety symbols are internationally accepted (Globally Harmonized System
of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals, United Nations New York and Geneva, 2005)

G. Waste Management and Disposal

Proper waste disposal begins with good waste management. This includes minimum
waste generation, reusing surplus materials, and recycling of appropriate (i.e., uncontaminated)
waste. The waste you generated must be disposed of properly. Laboratory waste items such as
sharps and glass must also be disposed of with care in appropriately labeled containers. Below
are further steps to be followed:
1. You should make an effort to keep waste to a minimum. The best way to do so is
by reducing the amount of chemicals you use, which minimizes the quantity of waste
generated. Whenever possible, chemicals used should be substituted with less
hazardous chemicals.
2. Chemical quantities should be kept to a minimum. Get only what will be used in
activity. Besides preventing or minimizing waste generation, chemicals
should be recycled or reuse.

3. When waste is generated, it must be disposed of properly. Sink disposal may not
always be appropriate and may end up contaminating drinking water. Alternative methods of
disposal should be considered including treatment, and disposal.
4. Chemically contaminated needles, syringes, and razor blades should be disposed
of inside a proper sharps container. Syringes or needles must never be disposed of
in a laboratory waste bin or a general waste container.
5. Clean empty glass bottles and broken glassware may be recycled. To clean an
empty glass bottle, it must be "triple rinsed" with water or another suitable solvent
 and air-dried before disposal. Chemically contaminated laboratory glassware such
as sample tubes, droppers, and glass wool must be disposed of as controlled waste.
6. No matter how small or large a waste quantity is handled, wear the laboratory gown
and goggles.