LABORATORY SAFETY RULES
- Do Not Pipette By Mouth - Ever
You say, "But it's only water." Even if it is, how clean do you think that glassware reallyis?
Using disposable pipettes? I know lots of people who rinse them and put
them back! Learn to use the pipette bulb or automated pipetter. Don't
pipette by mouth at home either. Gasoline and kerosene should be
obvious, but people get hospitalized or die every year, right? I know
someone who used his mouth to start the suction on a waterbed to drain
it. Do you know what they put in some waterbed additives? Carbon-14.
Mmmm...radiation. He couldn't retch fast enough! The lesson is that even
seemingly harmless substances may be dangerous!
Read the Chemical Safety Information
- A (MSDS)
should be available for every chemical you use in lab. Read these and
follow the recommendations for safe use and disposal of the material.
- Dress Appropriately (for chemistry lab, not fashion or the weather)
No
sandals, no clothes you love more than life, no contact lenses, and
long pants are preferable to shorts or short skirts. Tie long hair back.
Wear safety goggles and a lab coat. Even if you aren't clumsy, someone
else in the lab probably is. If you take even a few chemistry courses
you will probably see people set themselves on fire, spill acid on
themselves, others, or notes, splash themselves in the eye, etc. Don't
be the bad example to others, remembered for all time for something
stupid!
- Identify the Safety Equipment
And
know how to use it! Given that some people (possibly you) will need
them, know the locations of the fire blanket, extinguishers, eyewash,
and shower. Ask for demonstrations! If the eyewash hasn't been used in a
while the discoloration of the water is usually sufficient to inspire
use of safety glasses.
- Don't Taste or Sniff Chemicals
For many chemicals, if you can smell them then you are exposing yourself to a dose that can harm you! If the safety information says that a chemical should only be used
inside a fume hood, then don't use it anywhere else. This isn't cooking
class - don't taste your experiments!
- Don't Casually Dispose of Chemicals Down the Drain
Some
chemicals can be washed down the drain, while others require a
different method of disposal. If a chemical can go in the sink, be sure
to wash it away rather than risk an unexpected reaction between chemical
'leftovers' later.
- Don't Eat or Drink in Lab
It's tempting, but oh so dangerous... just don't do it!
- Don't Play Mad Scientist
Don't
haphazardly mix chemicals! Pay attention to the order in which
chemicals are to be added to each other and do not deviate from the
instructions. Even chemicals that mix to produce seemingly safe products
should be handled carefully. For example, hydrochloric acid and sodium
hydroxide will give you salt water, but the reaction could break your
glassware or splash the reactants onto you if you aren't careful!
- Take Data During Lab
Not
after lab, on the assumption that it will be neater. Put data directly
in your lab book rather than transcribing from another source (e.g.,
notebook or lab partner). There are lots of reasons for this, but the
practical one is that it is much harder for the data to get lost in your
lab book. For some experiments, it may be helpful to take data beforelab.
No, I'm not telling you to dry-lab or cheat, but being able to project
likely data will help you catch bad lab procedure before you are three
hours or so into a project. Know what to expect. You should always read
the experiment in advance.
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