Lab 1 and Safety Vocabulary

Lab Safety: Key Terms and Core Concepts

  • Lab safety involves all measures the laboratory worker, laboratory owner, institution, and regulatory agencies take to eliminate potential harm to human health and well-being.

  • Although steps are taken to reduce risks in the workplace, safety is a matter of personal responsibility.

  • Understanding the basic lab safety rules and how the equipment is used may prevent accidents and minimize damage overall.

Key Terms You Must Know

  • Personal Responsibility: accepting accountability for your own actions, decisions, and thoughts, and understanding their impact on yourself and others.

  • Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): equipment used to prevent or minimize exposure to hazards.

  • Globally Harmonized System (GHS): a system that creates a standard approach to classifying chemical hazards, and communicating that information on labels and Safety Data Sheets (SDS).

  • Safety Data Sheets (SDS): a standardized document provided by a chemical manufacturer or supplier to communicate the hazards of a chemical or chemical mixture and provide recommendations for safe handling, storage, and disposal.

Introduction to Laboratory Safety

  • Laboratory safety involves all measures described above to prevent harm.

  • Safety is a personal responsibility; everyone must act safely.

  • Understanding basic lab safety rules and equipment usage helps prevent accidents and minimize damage.

General Rules

  • No guests are allowed in the lab.

  • Know emergency procedures, and the use and location of emergency equipment (exits, extinguishers, fire blanket, eyewash, first aid, etc.).

  • In case of fire, evacuate the room and assemble outside the building.

  • Report all accidents to a laboratory supervisor, no matter how insignificant they appear.

  • Be aware of your surroundings and potential dangers created by others.

Personal Protection

  • No food, gum, cosmetics, nor drinks in the lab.

  • Wear appropriate attire such as lab coat, gloves, goggles, pants, closed-toe shoes, etc.

  • Long hair should be tied to the back.

  • Regularly wash hands thoroughly with soap and water.

Handling Chemicals & Equipment

  • Keep all containers capped with the appropriate lid.

  • If chemicals splash into your eyes or skin, flush for 15 minutes15\ \text{minutes}!

  • Notify the instructor of broken glassware or if something breaks in the process.

  • Keep your work area clean and clutter-free.

GHS Pictograms

  • GHS pictograms communicate hazards associated with chemicals. The page lists several categories and hazard types, including:

    • Oxidizers

    • Flammables, Self‑Reactives, Pyrophorics, Self‑Heating, Emits Flammable Gas, Organic Peroxides

    • Explosives, Self-Reactive, Organic Peroxides

    • Acutely Toxic (severe)

    • Burns Skin; Damages (corrosive to) Gases Under Pressure

    • Eyesensitive and Corrosive to Metals

    • Carcinogen, Respiratory Sensitizer, Reproductive Toxic

    • Toxic to aquatic environment

    • Acutely toxic (harmful), Irritant to skin, eyes or Toxicity, Target Organ

    • Toxicity, Mutagenicity

    • Aspiration Toxicity

    • Respiratory tract, Skin sensitizer

    • Hazardous to the Ozone layer

Safety Data Sheets (SDS)

  • Federal law requires written information regarding hazardous chemicals used in the lab to be available to all students and employees.

  • The standard and chemical name of any ingredient found in a concentration greater than >1\% poses a health hazard.

  • Safe use and handling instructions

  • Procedures for cleaning up a spill or leak

  • Proper first aid

  • Date of preparation, name, address, and telephone number due to place of origin.