CHEM 120L - General Safety and Procedures

PPE required in the chem lab

• lab safety goggles/shielded/close-fitted safety glasses

• footwear must be full coverage and slip resistant

• lab coats are not mandatory

general safety in the lab

• hair tied back

• no food or drink

preventing accidents and injury

• never leave experiment unattended

• keep sink and bench top clean

• wipe spills and bottle rings

• end of day clean up

• aisles and benches clear (bags in cubbies or under sink cabinets)

• hands away from face eyes body

first aid: chemicals on the skin

• go to nearest sink, eyewash, or shower and flush area with water

• inform TA or instructor

• go to health services for irritation or pain, know about the chemical

first aid: chemicals in the eye

• locate emergency eye wash closest to your station

• wash with flowing fresh water for at least 10 minutes

• someone inform instructor

• go to health services after flushing

first aid: cuts, abrasions, or burns

• rinse cut with water to remove chemicals

• run cold water on burns

• report to instructor or TA for treatment and dressing if needed

major injury or illness

call 911

minor injury or illness

health services or UW police

safety: fire and explosions

• know nearest fire exit, alarm, and extinguisher

• assemble apparatus for access to valves and switches

• keep back to clear exit in a fire

Fire or explosion somewhere else (alarm rings)

fire alarm sounds: turn off gas, electricity, water and leave through indicated exit

Fire or explosion in the lab

fire/explosion in the lab: evacuate, close doors, pull alarm and leave immediately

dealing with flammable liquids

• only get what’s immediately needed

• vapor of almost all organic solvent is flammable

• keep flames, sparks, and heating away from solvents

• prevent vapor by keeping lids closed

class A fire

combustible material (paper, wood, and most plastics)

class B fire

flammable/combustible liquid (gasoline, solvent, grease, oil)

class C fire

electrical equipment (appliances, wiring, circuit breakers, outlets)

where are fire extinguishers, what kind

hallway outside the lab; multipurpose dry chemical extinguisher (type abc)

how to use extinguisher

PASS

• pull pin

• aim low

• squeeze handle

• sweep slow and even at the base

when to use extinguisher

• everyone is leaving and 911 is dialled

• fire is small, localized, smoke/heat is controlled

• extinguisher matches the type of fire

• confidence

what to know before using a chemical

boiling point, flash point, vapor pressure, toxicity, explosive limits, incompatibilities and other precautions, found on safety data sheet (SDS)

what creates most of the danger in the lab

vapors. may be toxic, flammable, or both. handle in the hood

when handling chemicals…

keep hands (especially gloved) away from face eyes and skin

to sample a chemical by odor…

fan toward the nose after filling lungs with air

acid water rule

pour acids into water, never water into acid

rules with poruing from a bottle

• keep stopper out of contact with anything but air

• clean drips and spills off bottle

• re-cap/stopper immediately

what to do with excess chemicals

don’t return to stock bottle. give to another student or dispose in waste container

unlabeled chemicals

don’t use, report to TA or instructor. ensure all chemical are properly labeled at the work space

heating flammable liquids

gas or open flame can never be used. only use electric heating mantle, heating block, sand bath, or steam bath

how to neutralize acid/base

wash with lots of water. for big spills, spill kits are in the storeroom

what goes down the sink

nothing! everything in the waste containers

what to do with broken glass

clean with brush and dustpan or absorbent cotton held with tongs. never use paper towel, discard in the glass waste not garbage pails

what is not safe for vacuum suction

• cracked chipped or otherwise weakened

• thin-walled flat bottom flasks like erlenmeyer

• packing flasks on full suction

• disassembly with suction on

how to carry glass tubing and long glassware

vertically

rolling items should be placed…

on a right angle to the edge

when shouldn’t you use a pippete

if it has ragged edges or shortened ends. discard or send for repair, report to TA or instructor

cleaning electronics

dont immerse in water, use damp cloth if needed

general safe handling of electronics

don’t pour over electronics, keep cords away from water and liquid