Name: Ahmad Abdulkadir Arabi

American University of Nigeria

DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

INTRODUCTION TO BIOLOGY

B1O120 LAB 1

SAFETY PROTOCOL IN

THE LABORATORY
Introduction:

Health and safety factors are very essential in the chemistry laboratory,
just as they are in the biology laboratory; however, these considerations
are especially important in the chemistry laboratory because it contains a
variety of chemicals that can have serious consequences for the handlers
as well as the tools and equipment used to handle the chemicals. The
chemicals employed in the laboratory have varied degrees of ignition,
toxicity, and corrosion, which implies that all chemicals should be
utilized with extreme caution. This report specifies how the following
safety regulations will be followed each time a laboratory activity is
performed:
o Chemical hygiene protection
o Getting Ready for Laboratory Activities
o Personal protective equipment and eyewear:
o Response to an emergency:
o Handling and storage of hazardous waste chemicals:
Chemical hygiene protection:
It is critical to use extreme caution when handling the tubing and the sto
pper since the tubing may break, resulting in serious damage. Using a ha
nd towel to grasp the tubing can assist reduce the impact of the broken ju
gged edge. 
Lubrication with glycerin, alcohol, or water may also be beneficial in cir
cumstances when the tube is unable to penetrate the stopper. 
A regular inventory examination will be performed on the chemicals, an
d a copy of the inventory will be supplied to local emergency responders
; no food will be stored with the chemicals. 
No chemical will be stored in a food container since other students may 
eat the contents of the food container, resulting in emergency situations, 
especially if the contents of the container included extremely toxic chem
icals such as nitrogen dioxide or any other chemical (Bauer et al 102).
Getting ready for laboratory activities:
Eye protection and other personal protective equipment: All certified
safety goggles and glasses, including face shields, must be worn at all
times in the chemical laboratory. Because there is a risk of explosions in
the laboratory, chemical handlers understand that a standard prescription
lens is typically insufficient. Compounds such as nitric acid are
extremely harmful, thus any contact with these chemicals should be
monitored and treated with caution (Bauer et al 102).
Personal protective equipment, glass ware and eye ware:
All glassware will be labeled with the contents and stored in their
designated locations; all equipment will be stored in locations that allow
for easy identification, replacement, and access whenever they are
needed; and all atmospheric pressure distillations will not be carried out
in closed systems because closed systems are prone to exploding when
heated. When there is a laboratory activity or experiment in progress, the
windows should be opened or, better yet, an air conditioner should be
left running because most chemicals are less dense than air and thus are
likely to evaporate. Some chemicals, on the other hand, are very
pungent, making free circulation of air very important lest the chemical
handlers be choked in very dangerous fumes.
Emergency response:
Emergencies often arise when there is a chemical spill, contact with the
chemicals, particularly in the eye or skin, or when a chemical handler
has consumed some chemicals or breathed the fumes created by
chemical reactions. The chemical may have varied effects on the
handlers and should be notified immediately, while first aid should be
administered to the injured individual to lessen the effects of the toxins.
Handling and storage of hazardous waste chemicals:
The recommended procedure for handling chemicals that are intended
to be discarded will be followed at all times in the laboratory; wastes are
hazardous because they are ignitable, toxic, reactive, and corrosive; as
such, they will be stored in containers that are in good condition and
compatible with the contents. These containers will be appropriately
labeled and kept in specified places. According to Bauer et al (67), the
bottles will not be filled to the brim and will always be capped to
prevent spillage on the floor whenever they are knocked over, or even
better, to prevent the fumes from escaping onto the surrounding
environment. It is also important that any accidental spillage be reported
to the instructor as this may help in mitigating the possible effects that
the chemical so spilled could have on the people or students handling the
chemical.

Some laboratory hazard and safety signs include:

o The first aid kit: (It indicates the availability of first aid kit.)

o It indicates the area where fire blankets are located. It is used to

smother the fire to contain and control fire
o Fire extinguisher (Lab fires are extremely dangerous, which
explains why every lab is required to have a proper fire
extinguisher.

o Bio-hazard: It provides warning on lab equipment that may

contain biohazardous materials like blood samples.
 o Flammable Material Hazard: Chemicals labelled as flammable
have the tendency to ignite and should be store accordingly.
Keep the chemicals away from flames, sparks, and oxidizing
substances. Etc.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, lab safety protocols are preventive measures that are kept
in mind to avoid disastrous accidents in the laboratory be it biology lab,
chemistry lab or physics lab.