Science Lab Safety Regulations

Enterprise Hig h School, Mrs. Krausz

The following regulations have been compiled for the safety
of students performing work in science classes at Enterprise
High School. Strict observance of the regulations is
mandatory. All students, instructors, and guests are to follow
these regulations, as well as any additional instructions in the
approved textbooks or laboratory manuals.
Students and parents are to read the regulations, sign the form,
and return the form to the instructor. The completed form

must be returned, and the student must pass a laboratory

safety exam before any laboratory activity is conducted.
The student must also keep a copy of these regulations in his
or her notebook for future reference.

Note: Persistent or willful violation of these regulations will

result in a double zero grade, the loss of laboratory
privileges, possible dismissal from the course, or any
combination of the above.

General
1. Conduct yourself in a responsible manner at all times in the laboratory.
2. Never work alone; an instructor must be present during the performance of all laboratory work.
3. Prepare for each laboratory activity by reading all instructions before coming to class. Follow all instructions implicitly
and intelligently. Make a note of all verbal or written modifications by the instructor.
4. Use only those procedures, materials, and equipment authorized by the instructor. No unauthorized experiments! The
instructor must approve any science project or individually planned experiment.
5. Know the proper fire and weather procedures. In an emergency or drill, containers must be closed, gas valves turned off,
fume hoods turned off, and any electrical equipment turned off.
6. When first entering a science room, do not touch any equipment, chemicals, or other materials in the laboratory area until you
are instructed to do so.
7. Observe good housekeeping practices. Keep aisles clear; push your chair under the desk when not in use. Work areas should
be kept clean and tidy at all times. Bring only your laboratory instructions or lab notebook to your work area. Other materials
(books, purses, backpacks, etc.) must be stored in the designated storage area.
8. To prevent injury from chemical spills, stand (do not sit) at lab stations when using caustic or hazardous chemicals.
9. Know the locations and operating procedures of all safety equipment including the first aid kit (health office), eyewash
station, safety shower, fire extinguisher, fire blanket, fire alarm, gas shut off, phone, and exits (see Handling Equipment).
10. Eating or drinking, of any kind, is not permitted in the laboratory room at any time (even during lecture!). Chemical residues
can remain on countertops long after an experiment.
11. Students are not permitted in laboratory storage areas or teachers work area without approval of the instructor.
Clothing
12. Confine long hair during laboratory activities; it is a fire and contamination hazard.
13. Secure dangling jewelry and loose or baggy clothing that could get caught on equipment.
14. Roll long sleeves above the wrist.
15. Wear shoes that cover the toes in the laboratory. No sandals allowed.
16. Lab aprons have been provided for your protection and should be worn during laboratory activities.
17. Wear appropriate eye protection, as directed by the instructor, whenever you are working in the laboratory. Safety goggles
must be worn during hazardous activities involving caustic/corrosive chemicals, heating of liquids, and other activities that
may injure the eyes.
18. Splashes and fumes from hazardous chemicals present a special danger to wearers of contact lenses. Therefore, students
should preferably wear regular glasses (inside goggles, when appropriate) during all class activities where there is potential
exposure to chemicals or chemical fumes.
19. Students with open skin wounds on hands must wear gloves.
Accidents and Injuries
20. Report any accident, no matter how minor, to the instructor immediately.
21. If a chemical should splash your eyes or skin, immediately flush with running water from the eyewash station or emergency
shower for a full, uninterrupted 20 minutes.
22. Report all spills to the instructor. Only the instructor will know the appropriate technique to safely contain the spill.
Handling Equipment
23. Inform the teacher immediately of any equipment not functioning properly.
24. Examine glassware before each use. Never use chipped, cracked, or dirty glassware.
25. Operate electrical equipment (including computers!) with dry hands and only in a dry area.
26. When heating material in a test tube, do not look into the mouth of the tube or point the tube in the direction of any person
during the process.
27. Light gas burners only as instructed by the teacher. Be sure no volatile/flammable materials (such as alcohol or acetone) are
being used elsewhere in the room. Do not put any materials directly in the flame unless specifically instructed to do so by the
instructor.

28. Use a burner with extreme caution. Never leave a lit burner unattended. Keep your arms and clothing away from the flame
and turn it off when not in use.
29. Use the fume hood whenever noxious, corrosive, or toxic fumes are produced or released.
30. When using a digital balance, always use a weigh boat or weigh paper to protect the balance pan. Always turn it off after use.
31. Always use hot plate holders, test tube holders, or tongs to handle hot glassware. Hot and cold glassware have the same
visual appearance. Determine whether an object is hot by bringing the back of your hand close to the object. Do not immerse
hot glassware in cold water; it may shatter. When bending glass tubing, allow time for the glass to cool before further
handling.
32. To cut small-diameter glass tubing, use a file or tubing cutter to make a deep scratch. Wrap the tubing in a paper towel
before breaking the glass away from you with you thumbs. Fire polish all ends.
33. Match hole size and tubing when inserting glass tubing into a stopper. Lubricate the stopper hole with water to ease insertion,
using towels to protect the hand. Carefully twist (never push) glass tubing into stopper holes.
34. Exercise caution in using scissors, scalpels, dissecting needles, and other sharp-edged instruments. Pass them with handles
extended when handing them to other persons. Always cut away from your body.
35. If you do not know how to use a piece of equipment, ask the instructor for help.
Handling Chemicals
36. All chemicals are to be considered dangerous. Do not touch, taste, or smell any chemicals unless specifically instructed to do
so.
37. Check the label on chemical bottles twice before removing any of the contents. Take only as much chemical as you need.
38. To prevent contamination and accidental reactions, NEVER return unused chemicals to their original containers. NEVER
exchange stoppers of bottles, or lay stoppers on the table.
39. Be sure that caps or lids of containers used for chemicals are securely closed after use.
40. Be aware if the chemicals being used are hazardous. Know where the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) is and what it
indicates for each of the hazardous chemicals you are using.
41. Never grab a flask, beaker, test tube, or container by its lid or stopper.
42. When diluting acids, always pour acids into water, never the reverse (a memory tool: AAA--always add acid). Combine
liquids slowly while stirring to distribute heat buildup throughout the mixture.
43. Keep hands away from face, eyes, and clothes while using solutions, specimens, equipment, or materials in the laboratory.
44. Never carry hot equipment or dangerous chemicals throughout a group of students. Take great care when transferring dilute
acids and other chemicals from one part of the laboratory to another. Hold them securely, with both hands, and walk
carefully. Never carry concentrated chemicals around the laboratory; the instructor will do so for you.
45. Use a rubber bulb or pipette pump (never your mouth) when suctioning, measuring, or transferring small quantities of liquid
with a pipette.
46. Never remove chemicals or other materials from the laboratory.
Plants and Animals (Biology Only)
47. Rinse dissection specimens periodically or whenever fumes or chemicals are released in the dissection process.
48. Never handle animals in the laboratory unless directed to do so by the instructor.
49. Handle all living organisms in a humane manner. Even preserved biological materials are to be treated with respect and
disposed of properly.
50. Never insert your fingers or objects through the wire mesh of animal cages to pet or tease the animals.
51. Notify the instructor at once if an animal bites you.
52. Never bring animals or poisonous plants to school.
Bacteria, Fungi, and Plasmids (Biology Only)
53. Never open petri dishes containing bacterial or fungal growth unless directed to do so by the instructor.
54. Dispose of all discarded bacterial and fungal cultures by sterilization as directed by the instructor.
55. Wash hands thoroughly after contact with bacteria, fungi, or plasmids.
Cleanup and Disposal
56. Your lab station must be personally monitored at all times. You are assigned a lab station at which to work, and you are
responsible for its care. Do not leave your station to wander around the room, distract other students, or interfere with the
laboratory experiments of others.
57. Dispose of all chemical waste properly. NEVER mix chemicals in sink drains. Solid chemicals, metals, matches, filter paper,
and all other insoluble wastes are to be disposed of in proper waste containers set out by the instructor. It is very important
to check the label of all waste containers twice before adding your chemical to the waste container.
58. Clean out the sink and sink drain traps after every period.
59. Wipe down and dry the balance and balance pan after every use (corroded balance pans cause inaccuracy of the balance).
Cover the balance at the end of the laboratory period.
60. Clean (with detergent), rinse, and wipe dry all work surfaces (including the sink) and any apparatus after use.
61. Return all equipment clean and in working order to the proper storage area.
62. Remove all broken glassware from the work area as soon as possible. Never handle broken glassware directly; use a dustpan
and counter brush. Dispose of broken glass in the designated broken glass receptacle, never in the trashcan.
63. Be sure all glassware is clean before use. Clean glassware thoroughly after use. Residue may cause errors in new
experiments or cause a violent reaction or explosion.
64. Wash hands with soap and water before leaving the laboratory.