SCHOOL OF SCIENCE & ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY

ENGINEERING MATERIALS LABORATORY

STUDENT SAFETY MANUAL

To the Student.
Welcome to the Engineering Materials Laboratory, School of Science and Engineering
Technology, Durham College. We hope that you find the laboratory interesting and informative
experience. The purpose of this course is to acquaint you with several of the techniques used to
modify and test the properties of metals, available to the practicing engineer.
This manual contains various rules and regulations pertaining to the operation of the laboratory.
IF IN ANY DOUBT ASK!!!
SAFETY IS EACH PERSON’S FULL-TIME RESPONSIBILITY!

A. General Safety Rules.

1. Make sure that you know the location of the nearest fire extinguisher and eyewash
station.
2. Always follow directions and wait until you are told to begin any laboratory procedure.
3. Use only the equipment the teacher has authorized you to use.
4. Never use any equipment without prior training.
5. Under no conditions are unauthorized or unsupervised experiments to be performed.
6. After hours work is not permitted (i.e. on weekdays before 8:00 am or after 5:00 pm and
any time at weekends).
7. Any work is to be performed in the presence of at least two persons. Anybody working in
the lab must have at least one other person in the immediate vicinity (i.e. with a clear line of
sight between the two people), who can take appropriate action in an emergency.
8. Report all spills, accidents or broken equipment immediately to the teacher.
9. Please avoid bare lights or ignition sources in the laboratory.
10. Do not eat or drink in laboratory area. Deposit all trash in the receptacles near the door
upon entering the laboratory.
11. Wear appropriate clothing (long trousers, long sleeves and closed shoes). Remove or
correct loose clothing.
12. Wash hands with soap before and after each experiment.

Laboratory Safety Manual prof. Katy Zaidman Page 1 of 3

 SCHOOL OF SCIENCE & ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY

ENGINEERING MATERIALS LABORATORY

13. Use goggles for eye protection. Since contact lenses provide special considerations, the
use of regular glasses is recommended on laboratory days.
14. Footwear should protect against slipping and from falling materials. Wear closed toed
shoes as directed by your teacher.
15. Tie back long hair and avoid dangling jewelry or clothing that can become entangled in
machinery.
16. Keep all hands, hair, arms and sleeves away from the openings of all vessels and tools.
17. Disconnect appliances by pulling the plug rather than pulling the cord.
18. Clean up your work area when finished. Dispose rags in designated container. Do not spill
hazardous materials to drain.
19. Do not dispose of sharps (e.g. broken glass) in regular trash cans (to avoid the risk of injury
to janitors). Either use a specially designed sharps container or carefully take the sharps
out to the dumpster.
20. Ask the teacher for assistance when uncertain of proper and safe procedures to follow.

B. Safe Operation of Equipment

1. Each item of equipment presents its own separate hazards.
2. Common hazards in the metallurgy lab include (but are not limited to): electrocution, burns
and trapping of limbs in moving equipment.
3. Never remove guards or operate equipment without them.
4. If an item of equipment has safety interlocks, do not attempt to defeat the purpose of the
interlocks.

C. Working with corrosive chemicals.

1. Acid or alcohols can cause severe burns to skin and eyes.
2. Acids and alcohols should only be mixed in a fume cupboard or vented area ( are
prepared in advance)
3. The acid should be added to the dilutant, not the other way around
4. Use Sodium bicarbonate solution to neutralize acids on skin.
5. Use only cold water to wash out eyes.
6. Do not allow clothing wet with chemical to stay in contact with skin. Launder contaminated
clothing before reuse.
7. Never mix different waste chemicals (explosion hazard).

Laboratory Safety Manual prof. Katy Zaidman Page 2 of 3

 SCHOOL OF SCIENCE & ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY

ENGINEERING MATERIALS LABORATORY

8. Regular trash cans are not to be used for the disposal of chemically contaminated items.
9. Thoroughly wash gloves before taking them off (this also protects you).
10. If you suspect that an item of waste may be contaminated, treat this as a hazardous waste
chemical.
11. Nitric acid -clear to yellow fuming liquid, acrid, suffocating odor, corrosive, causes severe
burns to eyes/skin/respiratory tract, causes bronchitis and/or lung damage with heavy
exposure. Treat this material in the fume hood. Make sure that the fan is on. Never lean
into a hood. Avoid generating and breathing mist. Avoid all personal contact, including
inhalation. Use in well-ventilated area. Always wash hands with soap and water after
handling.

D. Heat treatment.
1. Use heat-resistant gloves and long sleeves.

2. Never leave anything unattended while it is being heated.

3. Exhaust fans in the hood must always be on when furnaces are being heated.
4. Tongs of proper length must be used with proper care.
5. Stand on one side of quenching tank. Oil flying up can burn face, eyes etc.
6. Work in pairs - one opens and closes furnace door, the other handles hot parts.
7. Handling hot metal. Write HOT with soapstone on any piece cut out, welded, or heated for
any reason, so the next person will handle it with care.

F. Cutting and Grinding.

Persons using cutting and grinding equipment shall protect their eyes by the use of safety
glasses provided in the room.

Laboratory Safety Manual prof. Katy Zaidman Page 3 of 3