ESSENTIAL SAFETY RULES FOR GENERAL TEACHING LABS

Adherence to strict safety protocols is paramount in college general teaching laboratories to ensure the well-being of all occupants and the integrity of experiments. These rules are designed to prevent accidents, minimize exposure to potential hazards, and foster a responsible learning environment.

 

 

 

 

GENERAL CONDUCT AND PREPAREDNESS

  • No Unauthorized Work: Never work alone in the laboratory or perform unauthorized experiments. Always have an instructor or supervisor present and aware of your activities.
  • Be Prepared: Read all laboratory instructions and safety information thoroughly before coming to class. Understand the potential hazards associated with the materials and procedures you will be using.

  • Professional Behavior: Maintain a professional demeanor at all times. Avoid horseplay, pranks, or any behavior that could distract others or lead to accidents.

  • Know Emergency Procedures: Familiarize yourself with the location of all safety equipment, including eyewash stations, safety showers, fire extinguishers, first-aid kits, and emergency exits. Know evacuation routes and assembly points.

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    Report Accidents and Spills: Report any accident, injury, spill, or broken glassware to the instructor immediately, no matter how minor it may seem.

  • Keep Work Area Tidy: Maintain a clean and organized workspace. Only have necessary materials on your bench. Store personal items like backpacks and coats away from the immediate work area and out of aisles.

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    Wash Hands: Always wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water before leaving the laboratory. It is also good practice to wash your hands upon entering the lab.

  • No Food, Drink, or Cosmetics: Never eat, drink, chew gum or tobacco, or apply cosmetics in the laboratory.1 Do not store food or beverages in laboratory refrigerators or areas where chemicals are kept.

  • Avoid Touching Face: Keep hands away from your face, eyes, and mouth while working with chemicals, specimens, or microorganisms.

  • No Cell Phone Usage: Avoid using cell phones or other personal electronic devices while actively engaged in laboratory work, as they can be a source of distraction and contamination.

PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE) AND CLOTHING

  • Eye Protection: Wear safety goggles or safety glasses at all times when working with chemicals, heating substances, or whenever there is a risk of splashes or projectiles. Contact lenses should ideally not be worn in the lab, or if necessary, inform your instructor and wear appropriate eye protection over them.

  • Appropriate Clothing: Wear clothing that covers your arms and legs (e.g., long pants or skirts). Avoid shorts, bare midriffs, and loose, dangling clothing that could catch on equipment or be a fire hazard.

  • Closed-Toe Shoes: Mandatory - Wear closed-toe shoes that cover the entire foot. Sandals, flip-flops, open-toed or open-heeled shoes, and shoes made of woven materials are not permitted.

  • Lab Coats or Aprons: Wear a lab coat or apron to protect your clothing and skin from spills and contamination.

  • Gloves: Wear disposable gloves when handling chemicals, biological materials, or preserved specimens. Remove gloves before leaving the lab or touching communal equipment like doorknobs, phones, or computers. Dispose of contaminated gloves in designated waste containers.

  • Tie Back Long Hair: Tie back long hair to prevent it from coming into contact with chemicals, flames, or equipment

HANDLING OF MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT

  • Handle Chemicals with Care: Treat all chemicals with respect and be aware of their potential hazards (corrosive, flammable, toxic, etc.). Read labels carefully.

  • Proper Dispensing: Never return unused chemicals to their original containers. Dispose of chemical waste in designated, properly labeled containers according to instructor instructions.

  • No Mouth Pipetting: Never use mouth suction to pipette chemicals or any other substances.8 Always use a pipetting device.

  • Handling Glassware: Handle glassware carefully to avoid breakage. Inspect glassware for chips or cracks before use. Dispose of broken glass in designated broken glass containers, not in the regular trash. Use a broom and dustpan to clean up broken glass.

  • Heating Substances: Use appropriate heating methods and never leave heating substances unattended. When heating a test tube, do not point the opening towards yourself or others. Be aware of flammable materials nearby when using open flames.

  • Using Sharp Objects: Exercise extreme caution when using scalpels, needles, or other sharp objects. Always cut away from yourself and others. Dispose of sharps in designated sharps containers.

  • Proper Equipment Usage: Use laboratory equipment only for its intended purpose and as instructed. Report any damaged or malfunctioning equipment to your instructor immediately.

  • Ventilation: Use fume hoods when working with volatile or hazardous chemicals that produce fumes.

By adhering to these safety rules, students can significantly reduce the risk of accidents and create a safer and more productive learning environment in the general biology teaching lab. Your instructor will provide specific safety guidelines for each experiment, and it is crucial to follow those instructions diligently.