CHAPTER 1

1.2 Safety rules
Student: Roaa Hussein  Class: 7A  Date: 24/2/2022

1. Explaining safety issues

Explain the importance of each of the following safety instructions.
(a) During an experiment always place a Bunsen burner on a heatproof mat before it is lit.
This is a very important instruction because it prevents it from burning the table and if there
are any chemicals spillages, it will protect the table.
(b) Experiments involving any toxic gases should be performed in a fume cupboard.
This is essential because there may be people in the lab not wearing respirators or safety
equipment so it is for your safety and the safety of others that you must stay inside the fume
cupboard, so nobody comes to any harm.
(c) Tripods should be left to cool before returning them to their storage cupboards.
If they are not left to cool, someone may be using them after you and may get burnt when they
touch them.
(d) The area around lab benches should be kept clear of bags and chairs.
Someone might trip over the bags and chairs and drop some chemicals, or the bags may catch
on fire if the fire is being handled incorrectly.
(e) Your teacher may indicate that liquid waste from an experiment should be placed in labelled
containers rather than tipping it down the sink.
If you tip them down the sink, the chemicals may mix and have an explosive reaction and may
burn something, so the containers keep everything and everyone safe from the harmful
chemicals.

2. Safe work practices

The following illustration shows good examples of safe working in the laboratory. Identify all the
safe practices demonstrated by the student in the illustration.

This student is doing everything correctly as she

is wearing her lab coat to protect her clothes and
skin if there are any chemicals spillages, she is
wearing her safety goggles to protect her eyes
from dangerous fumes, and she has also placed
the Bunsen Burner on a heat proof mat to
prevent the table from being burnt. What she
could do for extra safety measures is that she
could wear gloves to protect her hands and place
the phial on a tripod so she doesn’t accidentally
drop the chemicals.

© John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd Core Science Stage 4 Worksheets