Safe Practices and Equipment 1 2 You enter the lab and discover that you will be boiling water in a beaker and pouring the hot water into a separate container. In lab, you are working with liquid chemicals. While they are not extremely dangerous, they could still cause harm. 1
3 4 In lab, without thinking, you take off your safety goggles in order to rub your itching eye. Suddenly, your eye begins to burn and turn red. In lab, you suddenly smell something burning. You look down and realize that a rag placed too closely to a hot plate has caught on fire. 2
5 6 You and your lab partners are heading outdoors to conduct a potentially explosive laboratory. A bottle of HCl slips out of your hands and crashes to the floor. The chemical splashes all over your legs. 3
7 8 An accidental fire was set to a piece of paper. The paper was placed in a trash can, but continued to burn violently. To simulate molecular movement, you engage in a lab in which small rubber balls are being thrown across the room. 4
Safety Equipment Description Cards Eye/Face Wash An eye/face wash is a fountain with nozzles that aim at your face when you are positioned over it. The nozzles direct forceful streams of water at your face and eyes. If any hazardous material is splashed on your face or eyes, use the eyewash station to flush the affected area. Fire Blanket A fire blanket is used to wrap a person in if any part of their clothing or body catches on fire. The fire blanket is stored in a marked container. Fire blankets can be especially useful in the field when a fire extinguisher may not be readily available. Fire Extinguisher A fire extinguisher is necessary in case of an accidental laboratory fire. The extinguisher in typically mounted on a wall near the exit of the laboratory classroom. When using a fire extinguisher, always point the nozzle at the base of the fire. 5
Safety Equipment Description Cards Safety Goggles Safety goggles are designed to be worn securely over your eyes with the strap around the back of your head. Safety goggles will prevent any foreign objects or splashing chemicals from damaging your eyes. Protective Rubber/Latex Gloves Gloves protect your hands from corrosive chemicals and volatile solvents. Protective rubber/latex gloves should be fit tightly to the hands and should always be worn when handling chemicals or glassware. Protective Insulated Gloves Insulated gloves protect your hands from hot or cold surfaces or objects. This type of protective glove should always be worn when working with extremely hot items, such as beakers on a hotplate, or extremely cold items, such as dry ice. 6
Safety Equipment Description Cards Safety Shower A safety shower is designed to be used only in an emergency. If any large amounts of hazardous materials are splashed on any part of your body, the safety shower should be used to flush the affected area. Laboratory Apron The laboratory apron is a rubber apron worn in the laboratory to protect your clothes and body from splashes or spilled chemicals. The loop at the top of the apron goes over your head. The tie goes around your back to secure the apron to your body. Safety Glasses Safety glasses are designed to be worn over the eyes to protect them from debris. When worn properly over the eyes, safety glasses will help to foreign object from flying into the eyes. Since they are open on the sides, safety glasses will NOT protect the eyes from chemicals or dangerous fumes. 7