Lab Safety

• Long hair needs to be pulled back
• Wear closed toed shoes
• Clear a path in the lab room and do not leave belongings in the aisles
• No horseplay allowed
• Wear goggles to protect your eyes
• Use the eyewash station if something gets in your eyes
• Wear gloves when working with specimens or chemicals
• Make sure gloves are latex-free if you have a latex allergy
• Wash hands after finishing a lab
• Some labs may require wearing an apron
• Safety shower may be available in case of hazardous chemical exposure
• Do not pick up broken glassware, use a broom and dustpan
• Do not eat or drink in the lab
• Do not taste or smell chemicals
• Do not pour chemicals back into their original bottles
• Properly dispose of chemicals after use
• Some items used in labs need to be disposed of as hazardous waste
• Use a fume hood when dealing with volatile substances
• Handle heated glassware with tongs or heat protective gloves
• Keep water away from electrical cords
• Carry microscopes with two hands
• Be aware of open flames in the lab
• Keep flammable materials away from open flames
• Know how to operate the gas valve for the flame
• Know how to properly heat glassware over a flame
• Keep all flammable materials away from open flames
• Lab rooms may have fire extinguishers and fire blankets
• Refer to Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) for safety information on substances used in the lab