SAFETY

• Most laboratory accidents are basically senseless, they could have been averted by adequate anticipation and proper laboratory techniques. Depending on the degree of seriousness, accidents may result in pain, injury, added expense and inconvenience for anyone involved. HELP AVOID ACCIDENTS by observing the following:
• 1.      In every experiment, follow the procedures carefully and intelligently. Many chemicals and mixtures are potentially dangerous if handled carelessly. In case of doubts, consult your instructor.
• 1.      Double check the labels of bottles to be sure that you have the correct reagent. Using the wrong chemical may result in an undesirable situation.
• 1.      Wear appropriate clothing in the laboratory, no shorts, no tant tops, and no sandals. Be covered from the neck to the feet. Wear a laboratory gown over your clothes. Tie back long hair, out of the way of flames.
• 1.      When heating substances in a test tube, never point it towards yourself or to someone near you. Also, never look directly down into the mouth of a flask, beaker, crucible or other container which is being heated because of the danger of spattering and bumping (sudden formation of steam). Always wear an eye protector (goggles) when performing experiments. Contact lens wearers must use additional safety goggles; prescription glasses can be used instead.
• 1.      Do not taste any chemicals unless procedure tells you to do so. Poisonous substances are not always labeled as such in the laboratory. When specifically directed to taste a particular substance, do it safely as follows: allow the end of a glass rod to just touch the substance lightly then bring it to the tip of your tongue. Immediately was mouth with water afterwards.
• Do not inhale any vapors give off by a reaction. To determine the odor of a liquid, fan the vapors with your hand towards your nose and sniff cautiously. Never hold a test tube or container directly near your nose because of the danger of choking or of heated liquid bubbling up your nose.
• When mixing acid and water, always pour the acid into the water with constant stirring, NEVER the reverse to prevent spattering
• 1.      Make sure that gas generators and other special set-up of apparatus are well-assembled and sturdy so that they do not break down at a crucial moment or become hazardous.
• 1.      Particular care should be exercised when dealing with corrosive acids, alkalis, poisonous gases and flammable materials. Students will frequently be reminded of the safety precautions in the activities that have an element of danger.
• 1.      All experiments that produce noxious, toxic fumes and gases must be performed under the hood. A fume hood is a well-ventilated room/cell in the laboratory.
• 1.      Do not eat or drink in the laboratory. If the hands are contaminated with any poisonous material in the course of the experiment, the material might eventually find its way to the mouth causing inadvertent poisoning.
• 1.      Try to avoid knocking over the apparatus, set-up or glassware. Your laboratory manual and the necessary chemicals and glasswares are all that should be on your table. This will avoid spillage of chemicals and breakage of glassware.
• No unauthorized experiments should be performed
• 1.      Avoid contact to corrosive chemicals with any part of the body since this may produce burns, stains and other unpleasing reactions. If this happened, wash off the exposed area with plenty of water. Notify your instructor at once. Wear gloves as indicated.
• 1.      The same common sense care which holds in the home kitchen holds in a chemistry laboratory. This is especially true in the use of burners and handling heated objects.
• 1.      Get into the habit of always washing your hands before leaving the laboratory.