Safety in the Chemistry Lab Introduction: Safety in a chemistry laboratory is everyone’s responsibility. An accident in the laboratory can cause serious injury. However, many accidents are preventable by following some very simple procedures and using common sense. Laboratory Practices to follow: 1. Always wear ANSI Z. 87 splash-proof goggles or glasses. Anytime that we are performing laboratories that require chemicals, safety glasses should be worn. This even includes washing glassware as some chemicals can be splashed into the eyes during cleaning. Injury to your eyes is entirely preventable. 2. Do only the work assigned by the course instructor. We provide chemical appropriate protocols for all of the experiments. Accidents can happen if the protocol is modified and not approved by the instructor. 3. Wear the appropriate clothing. Do not wear open toed shoes or sandals to laboratory. Closed toed shoes provide the most protection for your feet from chemical spills or broken glass. 4. Place backpacks under the laboratory benches. Backpacks and other personnel items left in the aisles can cause other classmates to trip and fall. Additionally, backpacks left on the laboratory bench can become contaminated with chemicals should there be an accidental spill. 5. Do not eat or drink in the laboratory. Food and drinks can become easily contaminated with chemicals when working in the laboratory. Wash your hand thoroughly when leaving the laboratory. There is a chance that you may have reagents on your hands and it can be transferred to your eyes, nose or mouth by touching your face. 6. Dispose of waste materials appropriately. Your instructor will notify you on the correct method for disposing of waste chemicals. Broken glass containers are provided for glass disposal. No not place broken glass in the trash.

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7. Keep the laboratory clean. Remember that safety is a group effort. Dispose of materials as directed and put items back where you found them. 8. Use the fume hood appropriately. Some experiments require reagents or procedures to be performed in the fume hood. Your instructor will inform you when to use the fume hood. Fume hoods remove vapors and are essential in order to protect others from chemical exposure. 9. Read the experiment before attending laboratory. A lack of preparedness is a major safety concern. Not knowing what you are doing in the laboratory puts everyone in danger. 10. Avoid touching hot objects. Hot plates, clamps, and heated test tubes can all cause serious burns. Do not lay hot glassware on a paper towels to cool as this may start a fire. 11. Read the reagent bottles carefully to make certain you are using the appropriate chemical for the experiment at hand. 12. Immediately report all physical and chemical injuries to your instructor. Despite the best efforts accidents will happen. The following are guidelines on what to do if an accident occurs.

Chemical Spills on the laboratory bench or floor: Notify your neighbors and the instructor about the spill and the reagents involved. Your instructor will inform you how to clean up the spill. Chemical Spills on a Person: 1. On your body. Remove contaminated clothing if appropriate and flood the affected area with cold water for 15 minutes and use soap to wash the chemical from the skin with soap and water. 2. In your eyes. If chemical is splashed in your eyes, immediately get help to the eyewash station. At the eyewash station, wash your eyes for 20 minutes. You should force your eyes open and rotate your eyeballs to flush all of the affected areas.

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3. In your face. If a chemical splashes on your face while you are wearing goggles, DO NOT REMOVE your goggles. Wash the affected area and then carefully remove your goggles.

Burns:

Flush the area with cool water for 20 minutes and notify the instructor.

Cuts and Wounds: Broken glass can cause serious cuts and wounds. If you should cut yourself, notify the instructor and avoid contaminating the affected area with laboratory chemicals. Fire:

STOP-DROP-ROLL. You should STOP what you are doing; DROP to the floor; ROLL to extinguish the flames. DO NOT RUN to the fire blanket or safety shower. Please read the following safety agreement. Sign and date the agreement and turn it in to your instructor. NOTE: Your instructor has the right to dismiss you during the laboratory for safety violations. If you are dismissed from the laboratory a grade of zero will be recorded for that particular laboratory. Repeat safety offenders will not be allowed into the laboratory and can receive a grade of 0 for all laboratories.

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UCA Safety Agreement (Kelley) Read the Agreement below and then check the agree box at the bottom. Laboratory Safety Agreement As a student at the University of Central Arkansas, I understand the importance of and agree to follow the following safety guidelines while in the chemistry laboratory: 1. I will wear ANSI Z87-approved safety glasses or goggles at all times while in the lab except during pre-lab lecture or when my lab instructor informs me that it is safe to remove them. 2. I will know where safety equipment is located and how to use it, including the fume hoods, safety showers, eyewash stations, exits, fire blankets, and fire extinguishers. 3. I will read and understand the lab before I come to class. I will complete any assigned pre-lab exercises before I come to lab. 4. I will not work by myself in the lab. 5. I will not perform unauthorized experiments. 6. I will wear clothing that is conducive to lab work, making sure to wear shoes that cover my feet, to not wear loose sleeves, and to tie back any long hair. 7. I will follow all waste disposal procedures as outlined by my lab instructor. When in doubt about how to dispose of a particular chemical, I will ask my lab instructor. 8. I will wash my hands thoroughly before leaving the lab. 9. I will immediately report any injury, physical or chemical, to my lab instructor, no matter how minor it might seem at the time. 10. I will report any chemical spills to my instructor immediately. 11. I will avoid touching hot objects and will label hot objects as such to notify others. 12. I will make sure to read labels on reagent containers before I use them. 13. Generally, I will avoid inhaling fumes. I will use the fume hood when directed to do so. When I am directed to smell a gas, I will waft vapors toward me. 14. I will not eat or drink while in the lab. 15. I will not use tobacco products while in the lab. 16. I will inform my instructor prior to the first lab session if I have any particular allergy to a chemical or if I have a medical condition that might need to be considered while in the lab. 17. I will not taste any chemical while in the laboratory. 18. I will strive to maintain a clean lab, cleaning up any spills of liquids or solids, returning equipment and chemicals, and keeping common work areas (such as the balances and hoods) clean. 19. I will ask questions when I have them so as not to perform an unsafe experiment. 20. I will make sure that gas jets are turned off when I am finished with them. 21. I will dispose of broken glass in broken glass containers. 22. I will not put solids in the sink. 23. I will keep the laboratory bench free of purses, backpacks, etc. Your Last Name:

Your First Name:

Your UCA ID Number: I agree to the UCA Chemistry Safety Agreement_______________________ (Please sign)

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Name_______________________

Section_______________________

Post-Lab Assignment: 1. When should goggles or safety glasses be worn in the laboratory?

2. What is the purpose of the fume hood?

3. If a chemical splashes into your eyes, what should you do?

4. How do you dispose of broken glass?

5. List the safety violations made by Jim in the following laboratory situation. Jim walked into the laboratory and began reading the laboratory assignment for the day while eating a candy bar. At the beginning of the laboratory, Jim began washing test tubes while his safety glasses were perched on his forehead. While conducting the experiment a gas was produced that had an irritating odor. Jim ignored the obnoxious odor and proceeded to continue his experiment. During the course of the laboratory, Jim accidently spilled chemical reagent on his lab partner’s backpack, but did not notify his partner. While cleaning up, Jim broke a test tube in the sink and decided to place the broken glass in the trash. Jim finished the laboratory and left glassware and used paper towels on the bench-top. Jim walked out of the laboratory and went to the Student Center to eat lunch.

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