Be respectful toward the authority of the lab technician
No pranks, fooling around, or unprofessional behaviour
Pay attention and focus on the experiment
Protective clothing
Laboratory coat
Eye protection
Closed shoes
Gloves
Lab safety rules - Do's
Adhere to all safety rules
Familiarize yourself with the practical procedure before the practical
Know the location of safety equipment
Report any incidents
Clean the working area and equipment
Wash hands thoroughly
Adhere to proper waste disposal
Lab safety rules - Don'ts
No eating, drinking, or applying makeup
No electronic devices
No unauthorized experiments
No loose long hair or clothing
Never leave an experiment unattended
Never pour chemicals down the drain unless permitted
Biohazard
Indicates biological hazard
Explosive
Indicates explosive hazard
Environmental hazard
Indicates environmental hazard
Corrosive
Indicates corrosive hazard
Harmful/Irritant
Indicates harmful or irritant hazard
Oxidizer
Indicates oxidizing hazard
Toxic
Indicates toxic hazard
Flammable
Indicates flammable hazard
Electrical
Indicates electrical hazard
First Aid
Indicates first aid equipment location
Emergency Shower
Indicates emergency shower location
Eye wash station
Indicates eye wash station location
The National Fire Protection Association has developed a visual guide for a number of chemicals that offer a quick review of the health hazard, flammability, reactivity and special hazards a chemical may present.
Glassware
Handle with care
Ensure glassware is clean and dry before use
Never use cracked or chipped glassware
Take care with glass that might have been heated
Heating plates & Bunsen Burners
Never leave unattended
Only use when necessary
Allow equipment to cool off before packing away
Electronic balances
Ensure balance is clean at all times
Ensure balance is on a stable and level surface
Allow balance to set up and calibrate before weighing
Never exceed maximum weighing limits
Never shake, tilt or bang the balance
Micro-pipettes
Handle with care
Never aspirate without using a tip
Use appropriate tips
Do not tilt the pipette after aspirating liquid
Fume hood
All experiments producing toxic or noxious gases must be conducted in the fume hood
Ensure fume hood is functioning properly before conducting any experiment
Shakers & Incubators
Ensure equipment is functioning properly before use
Advanced lab equipment should only be used by trained personnel
Heating glass
1. Heat gradually
2. Never without any contents (it will crack)
3. Make sure the outside of the glass is dry before starting heating
Never leave heating plates or Bunsen burners unattended
Only use the equipment when necessary
Allow equipment to cool off before packing it away
Ensure that the balance is clean at all times
Ensure that the balance is always on a stable surface and is level
Allow the balance to set up and calibrate itself before weighing
Never exceed the maximum weighing limits of the balance
Never shake, tilt or bang the balance
Handle all pipettes with care. Never drop or bang them onto the table or floor
Never aspirate without using a tip and always use the appropriate tips
Do not tilt the pipette after aspirating liquid. If any solution enters the pipette report it to the lab technician
All experiments producing toxic or noxious gases must be conducted in the fume hood
Ensure that the fume hood is functioning properly before conducting any experiments. The screen should be lowered to the correct level
Ensure that the fume hood is clean before and after conducting an experiment
Make sure the incubators are set to the correct temperature and the shakers are set to the correct speed