What do you need to know about Lab Safety?

No one wants to have an accident in the lab, so it’s imperative to follow lab safety rules . Follow the instructions! Whether it’s listening to your instructor or lab supervisor or following a procedure in a book, it’s critical to listen, pay attention, and be familiar with all the steps, from start to finish, before you begin.

What are the most common lab safety mistakes?

Suzanne and I put our heads together to come up with 10 of the worst and most common examples of lab safety stupidity that we had witnessed (or committed!!). Here they are… please feel free to add your own in the comments section..

How are good laboratory practices can be broken?

These 10 common examples show how good laboratory practices can be broken and why they are important to keep in mind while working at the bench. Many times recalibrating, remeasuring, or redoing an experiment is all that’s needed to return to best practices in the lab.

What should you avoid when working in a laboratory?

Avoid distracting or startling persons working in the laboratory. Use equipment only for its designated purpose. Combine reagents in their appropriate order, such as adding acid to water. Avoid adding solids to hot liquids. All laboratory personnel should place emphasis on safety and chemical hygiene at all times.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTEw9UJ7_R8

Confine long hair and loose clothing. Do not work with hazardous chemicals or processes when alone in the laboratory. An instructor must supervise undergraduate students at all times. Always use chemicals with adequate ventilation or in a chemical fume hood.

How to choose protective equipment for a lab?

Use the MSDS or Personal Protective Equipment Selection Guide (in Adobe PDF format) to select the needed equipment. Post a sign on the door to notify others of the lab hazards and list emergency contact numbers. Inspect equipment and apparatus for weaknesses, cracks or damage before beginning work.

What should you do in case of an emergency in a lab?

In the event of an emergency, pull the nearest “Pull BOX”, evacuate the area, and close all doors. Avoid direct contact with any chemical. Never smell, inhale or taste laboratory chemicals. Always wash hands and arms with soap and water after removing gloves and before leaving the work area.

What should you avoid when working in a lab?

Avoid direct contact with any chemical. Never smell, inhale or taste laboratory chemicals. Always wash hands and arms with soap and water after removing gloves and before leaving the work area.