Title of the Lesson: Safety in the Laboratory

Intended Learning Outcome:

By the end of the lesson, the students should be able to identify the rules and guidelines regarding the
“Safety in the Laboratory”

Introduction:

In any laboratory– a chemistry laboratory or other science laboratory– where chemicals are used, there
will be hazards. Students need to understand the chemical hazards and of various chemical procedures
to work safely in the laboratory. Even with remote learning where doing hands-on performance of
laboratory exercises is unfeasible, one cannot neglect the adverse effects of chemical hazards, even
those found and used in homes. As you go along with experiments in this course, some with use of
simulations, videos or with the use of materials available in your homes, the practice of laboratory
safety is of utmost importance.

Presentation

Doing safety is not the right way to work – it is the only way.

Full document available in: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Bb4iHb-1z5baQDyOZSiE-cEGdfaMpbOz/view?usp=sharing

The information herein was adapted from:

• Chemical Safety Publication of American Chemical Society (ACS) joint

Board-Counsel Committee;
• Safety in the Laboratory “ LigtasEskwela Program” of Merck, Inc.; and
Handouts of various seminars, conferences and congress organized by
Integrated Chemists of the Philippines (ICP), Philippine Association of
Chemistry Teachers (PACT) and the
• Environmental Management Bureau – Department of Environment and
Natural Resources (EMB-DENR)
YOUR RESPONSIBILITY FOR ACCIDENT PREVENTION
Accident prevention is a collective responsibility that requires the full cooperation of
everyone in the laboratory. Your safety is both you and your laboratory instructor`s first
concern, report unsafe acts to her or him. Everyone is responsible for accident
prevention, especially you, the person actually carrying out the laboratory procedures.
Accidents often result from
• An indifferent attitude,
• Failure to use common sense, and  Failure to follow instructions, making a
mistake.

GUIDE TO CHEMICAL HAZARDS

Before undertaking laboratory work, become familiar with the hazards of chemicals
involved. Read and heed the labels before using the chemicals. Be sure you know that you
follow all the safety precautions that protect you and others from those hazards. Chemicals can
cause harm if they are not handled properly, they can be toxic, flammable, corrosive or
reactive.

• TOXIC substances are poisonous (acute) and have carcinogenic,

tetratogenic, or mutagenic effect on human and other organism.

• FLAMMABLE substances can create fire under certain conditions;

examples of these are friction sensitive substances like solvent.

• CORROSIVE substances are acidic or basic and are capable of corroding

metals. By chemical action, it can cause severe damage when in
contact with living tissue e.g., HCl, HNO3

• REACTIVE substances are unstable under normal conditions and

readily undergo violent changes without detonating; reacts
violently with water and create spontaneously explosive mixture like
toxic gases, vapors, and fumes and are capable of detonating e.g., cyanide
or sulfur bearing substances.
TOXIC CHEMICALS CAN ENTER THE BODY BY FOUR ROUTES:

• INHALATION through respiratory tract (lungs) by breathing

• INGESTION through the digestive tract. This can occur through

eating; chewing gums; applying cosmetics or smoking in the laboratory;
using a contaminated beaker, say, as a cup for drinking coffee; or
eating lunch without washing your hands after working in the laboratory.

• ABSORPTION through body openings such as the ears or eyeball socket,

through cuts in the skin, or even through intact skin.
• INJECTION of a toxic substance through a cut made in the skin by
a sharp, contaminated object. Possibilities include mishandling a
sharp-edged piece of a contaminated broken glass beaker or misuse
of a sharp object such as a knife or hypodermic needle.

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

1. Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)

Additional information about hazardous reagents can be found on MSDS. The U.S.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) do not require or prefer any
particular format or ordered presentation of topics for an MSDS. It only mandates that the
MSDS be in English and that it includes CAS registry number, chemical name, composition of
mixture, physical/chemical properties, fire and explosion hazard data etc.

DANGER signifies that the hazards can cause serious injury (e.g., blindness) or death.
WARNING signifies that the hazards can cause less than serious injuries.
CAUTION warns users to be careful when using, handling, or storing the chemical.
2. Labels 3. Catalogue

4. Posters
a. Safety Data b. Safety Labelling

c. Mixed Storage of Chemicals d. Periodic Table

- Signage
 e. Signage

Emergency Eyewash First Aid Boxes Fire Extinguishers Fire Blankets

Showers Fountains

f. Internet

MSDS - ChemDAT

GLOBALLY HARMONIZED SYSTEM (GHS)

GHS refers to the “Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of
Chemicals” developed by the UN. Its goals are harmonized criteria for the
classification for physical, health, and ecological hazards; harmonized communication
with regard to hazardous substances labelling, material safety data sheets,
transport labelling of dangerous goods, occupational health and safety, and consumer
protection. This was implemented in 2010.

New Pictograms; the most striking feature of GHS

 1. Physical Hazards

Explosive Flammable Oxidizing compress gas corrosive

2. Health Hazards/Environmental Hazard

Acute toxicity Corrosive irritant / Toxic Environment and

sensitization Aquatic Hazard

Don’t store flammable substances near oxidizers

Creates fire! Increases fire!

Fume Hood
The laboratory chemical hood is a ventilated enclosure that protects you from being exposed to
chemical fumes, gases, and aerosols that are generated within the enclosure.
 Class D: Fires of metals (Aluminum, sodium,
potassium etc.)

Fire theory

Fire Source: REMOVE one - you have no fire!

Classes of fire

Class A: Fires of solid, organic

materials (wood, paper, etc.)

Class B: Fires of liquid materials

(alcohol, oil, paraffin, etc.)

Class C: Fires of Gases (hydrogen, methane,

 DON´T RETURN TO THE BUILDING UNLESS IT’S SAFE ALREADY!!!

Emergency Exits
1. The sign must be clear.
2. Show the way to the closest exit.
3. Equipped with emergency lighting.
4. Never locked.
5. Free from bags and other equipment.
6. Directly connected to emergency stairs.

Emergency call
1. Know the location of the emergency phone
2. Make an emergency call! GIVE THE ORDER OF INFORMATION
Where was the accident?
What is your name?
What happened?
How many injured?
Don’t finish the call, before the other person gives his O.K.!!!!
3. Inform the nearest FIRST AID staff.

Sources of danger
1. Physically dangerous
2. Biologically dangerous
3. Chemically dangerous
4. Hazard people – are people who are stressed, bored, tired, taking medication or has
health problems, poorly supervised, got wrong instruction or has poor training
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