Safety

Safety in the lab should always be practiced with the utmost precaution. This lab deals with hot water, a heat exchanger, and water valves. Always wear your personal protective equipment (ppe) in the lab a. Lab coat buttoned up completely to avoid from spills and other materials from harming your clothes or skin b. Completely closed toed shoes and long pants ie. No skirts, shorts, or dresses c. Safety Goggles must be warn as well to protect your eyes from any harmful materials and liquids d. Rubber gloves should always be worn to avoid harmful chemicals spilling or getting on your hands. 1) All persons in the lab must understand all safety procedures in case of emergencies or lab accidents e. Eyewash station location in case of materials entering the eye i. You must wash your eyes for 15 minutes to ensure you clean out all the harmful materials f. Safety Shower location ii. This should be used for when harmful materials are on your skin or you are on fire. g. Fire Extinguisher iii. An ABC fire extinguisher should always be in the lab to put out all types of fires. Remember that if the fire is too large to fight you should not use the fire extinguisher. In certain cases it may be safer to just fight the small fire and put it out. h. Fire Alarm iv. When a fire is too big and cannot be put out with an extinguisher and also poses a threat to other people in the building you must PULL the fire alarm to clear the building and get everyone out safely before it puts anyone in harms way. i. First Aid Box v. The location of the first aid box is very important because every second wasted could potentially turn a non-treating injury into a very serious one. The faster an injury is looked at the better chance of being able to reduce the chance of further harm. j. Lab/Campus Security vi. In cases where outside problems may put you in harm while in the lab it is smartest to lock the doors, turn out the lights, and call for help using the local security number or police. 2) Under no circumstances should there ever be food or drink in the lab. This is to ensure no one ingests any harmful materials. 3) For people with long hair make sure it is tied up and put back to avoid the risk of it getting into harmful chemicals and materials. 4) If an injury occurs make sure to notify a superior ASAP as they will be able to help with aiding the problem. 5) On departure of the lab make sure to wash your hands thoroughly to avoid bring out any lab substances or materials that could be harmful to you or others you come into contact with. 6) Use all the equipment for their intended purposes to avoid any misuse or problems that may occur when trying to improvise. 7) If the lab needs to be left over night make sure all safety precautions are taking to ensure that no overnight accidents happen while left unattended. 8) Always work in teams in the lab. Solo work is not accepted to ensure safety is always upheld and an extra person can assist with helping during accidents. 9) Read lab procedure before entering lab to make sure you understand the steps and the cautions of performing the lab. Avoid deviating from the intended procedure as unplanned work can lead to unexpected risks and hazards. 10) Absolutely no horse play in the lab to avoid any collisions or mistakes that could be made for no explainable reason. 11) When using chemicals or solvents that can give off harmful scents make sure to use the fume hood to avoid the scent from encapsulating the room and having it be breathed in by you or fellow lab mates. Make sure the fume hood exhaust fan is always on. 12) Only move high-pressure cylinders if you have been trained or certified to by your organization. These cylinders are very dangerous and could explode and cause DEATH if handled or stored incorrectly. 13) To avoid any experimental errors make sure all labels are proper and kept up to date in the lab. Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) are used to identify chemicals. Be familiar with the sheets and how to read them as provide all information about the specific chemical you are using from storage, to safety and chemical composition. 14) Never force any equipment as this may lead to breaking glass or machinery. It can also lead to injury and or death depending on what you are using. 15) Glassware must always be handled with care k. Hot and cold glassware look the same so be sure of what you are doing with the glassware to avoid burns or injury l. Broken glass must be disposed of immediately and must be dumped into a specific broken glass container 16) All spills must be cleaned up immediately to make sure no one slips or gets the chemicals on them. If a large spill occurs be sure to inform your supervisor to find out the best way to clean the spill 17) When using high pressure cylinders make sure that the regulator is proper and not broken to ensure no leaks occur while being used. 18) When leaving a lab be sure to turn off all ignition sources and close all compressed air cylinders. Also be sure to turn out the lights and lock the doors. 19) Always follow the directions of your instructor. They will be able to make sure your experiment is done safely and properly to avoid injury and accidents. If you are ever confused or want to know something more about the lab or safety just ASK. Little knowledge is dangerous knowledge. 20) Finally practice safety until it becomes a habit m. SAFETY SAVES LIVES