SCIENCE LABORATORY SAFETY is the RESPONSIBILITY of EVERYONE!
Safety First Science is a class that involves many interesting and exciting laboratory activities intended to help you learn and discover! However, the laboratory activities will require the use of unfamiliar items such as chemicals, specialized tools, organisms, and expensive lab equipment. Safety in the science classroom is the #1 priority. This will ensure that students learn without injury and the science laboratory experience is available for all students. To guarantee a safe science classroom, a list of rules has been developed and provided to you in your Safety Agreement. These rules must be followed at all times. A signed Safety Agreement is required to participate in laboratory activities. A student will be removed from the science laboratory immediately for his/her personal safety and the safety of all other students if the rules in the Science Laboratory Safety Rules are not followed.
Respect & Responsibility Conduct yourself in a respectful and responsible manner at all times in the science laboratory!
Respect & Responsibility What is wrong in these situations?
Clothing Requirements Long hair, baggy clothing, dangling jewelry, sandals, shorts, skirts/dresses are safety hazards in the laboratory. To participate in science laboratory activities: Long hair must be tied back. Clothing must be fitted. Dangling jewelry must be removed. Closed-toe shoes and pants must be worn. Be prepared - Laboratory activities begin with an attire check!
Clothing Requirements Which hair style, clothing, and shoes meets the requirements? Why?
Laboratory Environment Work areas should be kept clean and orderly at all times. Bring only your science book and writing instruments to the work area. Books or supplies should not be placed on the laboratory counters or floor. Books and supplies not related to the science laboratory activities should be placed in the student s assigned drawer or locker. Jackets, bags, or purses are not allowed in the science laboratory and should be placed in the student s assigned locker.
Laboratory Environment What can you observe about the students and laboratory environments in these photos?
Equipment Do not touch any equipment, supplies, organisms, or other materials in the science laboratory and classroom without permission from the teacher. Use equipment (including scissors and sharp items) only as directed by teacher.
Equipment What can you observe about the equipment in these photos?
Instructions & Lab Activities Follow all written and verbal instructions carefully. Ask questions if you do not understand the instructions. Perform only approved science laboratory activities, and do not stray from the instructions. Remember to always read the laboratory activity for homework the night before a lab.
Personal Safety To keep ourselves safe, we must take safety precautions in the science laboratory: Wash your hands with soap and water before and after the science laboratory activity. Never eat, drink, chew gum, or taste anything in the science laboratory. Never put on makeup or Chap Stick in the science laboratory. Keep hands away from face, eyes, and mouth while using science laboratory materials. When directed to sniff in the lab, do not place nose over item. Follow the teacher s directions for wafting the odor to the nose.
Personal Safety Wafting: Hold the substance in one hand. Wave your other hand over the container towards your face. Gently sniff.
Safety Equipment Wear and use safety equipment including goggles, gloves, and safety tongs or mittens. Never remove safety goggles during a science laboratory activity. There are no exceptions to this rule! Cold or very hot materials can only be touched with heat safety items such as safety tongs, safety mittens, or rubber gloves. Wear safety gloves and do not remove the gloves unless instructed to do so.
Safety Equipment Goggle Song The "Goggle Song" is sung to the tune of "I'm a Little Teapot." I'm a little scientist, short and stout. Here are my goggles, here are my eyes. When I don't wear my goggles, my teacher shouts, PUT THEM ON OR YOU GET OUT!
Safety Equipment What can you observe about the students safety equipment in these photos?
Accidents Report any accident (spill, breakage, etc.), injury, or broken equipment to the teacher immediately. Students should not clean up spills or broken items! Let the teacher know so that the teacher or custodian can take care of the spill or broken glass. Glass should be used cautiously and chipped, cracked, or scratched glassware should never be used.
Clean Up It is expected that laboratory students will clean all work areas and equipment at the end of a laboratory activity. This means Dispose properly of any and all waste materials. Properly clean and store glass. Properly store equipment, materials, and specimens. Clean work area. Wash hands.
Clean Up Waste Disposal: First ask your teacher where and how to dispose of waste. Never pour anything down the drain unless you are told to do so. A waste bottle will be supplied for substance that cannot go down the drain.
Emergency Learn how to handle emergency situations. Remember If you have an emergency situation, yell: CODE 1
Emergency Learn where the safety equipment is located and how to use it. Fire Extinguisher: There is one fire extinguisher at the front of the classroom. There is another fire extinguisher in the hallway outside the front door of the classroom. There are three doors in the classroom that you can exit from in the event of a fire.
Emergency Fire Blanket: Do not panic. Shout out for help: Code 1. Open the container that holds the fire blanket and remove it. Open the blanket up and throw it over the fire. Never wrap a person in a fire blanket who is standing upright. This will cause a chimney effect. If a person is on fire, they need to stop, drop, and roll. Then throw cover over the person.
Emergency Eye Wash: Do not panic. Shout out for help: Code 1. Get to the eye wash station and turn the eye wash on. Rinse both eyes with water for a minimum of 15 minutes. Keep your eyelids open by using your hands to ensure adequate flushing of the eyes.
Emergency Body Wash: Do not panic. Shout out for help: Code 1. Get to the body wash station and turn the body wash on. Rinse off the area that has been affected.
Let s Practice Science Laboratory Safety
What s Wrong With This Picture?
What s Wrong With This Picture?
What s Wrong With This Picture?
What s Wrong With These Statements? Mohammad says that his teacher is solely responsible for preventing laboratory accidents. Keshia started the laboratory activity before reading it through completely. Ricardo decided to see what would happen if he mixed the two substances even though the laboratory activity did not say to do so. Stephanie says that the safety goggles mess up her hair and give her raccoon eyes. She takes them off when the teacher is not looking. Alex and Tasha accidentally break a beaker full of some chemical. Instead of risking getting in trouble, they quickly clean up the mess with paper towel and throw it in the garbage.