LABORATORY & CHEMICAL SAFETY

Independent University, Bangladesh is committed to providing a safe laboratory environment for

its faculty, staff, students and visitors.
The purpose of this guide is to promote safety awareness and encourage safe working practices
in the laboratory. These brief guidelines should serve as a reminder of things you can do to
work more safely and are applicable to all users of the laboratory.

All research workers are expected to adhere to safety guidelines and maintain safety standard
expected in a university facility where direct staff observation is not possible.

Laboratory Hazards
Hazards in the laboratory fall into three general categories:

Equipment:
A wide variety of equipment is used for different activities. Most of the equipment is delicate,
sensitive and expensive. Before you use any equipment you must learn about its operation and
its safety implications. Misuse of equipment can lead to injury delay in project work and
substantial cost in repair bill.

Gases
A variety of compressed gases are used, some of which may be toxic, corrosive, flammable, or
explosive. These hazards have been minimized by the use of proper equipment, proper
confinement, ventilation, safety valves, etc., and by procedural controls. You must learn about
the safe handling of gases before embarking on their use. An accident with any of these could
be catastrophic.

Chemicals
Acids, bases, etching solutions and solvents are commonly used in materials chemistry and
device fabrication. These are "hands on" hazards which are hard to control by engineering
controls only. These chemicals can cause severe burns, tissue damage, organ damage,
asphyxiation, and genetic damage if used improperly. You must take chemical safety
instructions before using any chemical.
UNDERGRADUATE TEACHING LABORATORY SAFETY REGULATIONS 1. NO STUDENT
MAY WORK IN A LABORATORY UNLESS AN INSTRUCTOR IS ON DUTY.
 2. RECOMMENDED EYE PROTECTION MUST BE WORN AT ALL TIMES IN THE
LABORATORY, UNLESS SPECIFICALLY INSTRUCTED OTHERWISE.
3. NO SMOKING, EATING OR DRINKING IS PERMITTED.
4. LABORATORY COATS ARE RECOMMENDED WHILE WORKING IN THE
LABORATORY.

In addition to these four basic rules, the following regulations should be

observed: 1. No student may perform an unauthorized experiment.
2. Never leave an experiment in progress unattended.
3. Any chemical which produces toxic vapors must be used in a fume
hood. 4. Wipe-up spilled chemicals and bottle `rings' immediately.
5. Never handle or pour flammable liquids near an open flame.
6. Report all accidents to the instructor immediately.
7. Unless given specific permission to the contrary, NEVER pipette a liquid by mouth; Use a
rubber bulb.
8. Keep the sinks clean.
9. At the end of the period, make sure the hood, work area and sink are clean and
tidy. 10. Always store flammable liquids in appropriate cabinets.
11. Do not store incompatible reagents together (e.g., acids with organic solvents). 12. Do not
store ethers or similar chemicals for extended periods of time as explosive peroxides could
form.
13. Date chemicals when received and opened.
14. Make sure that all electrical cords are in good condition and all electrical outlets are
earthed. 15. Remain out of the area of a fire or incident if you are not in position to help.
Laboratory Safety Equipment

Extracted Wet Bench

Extracted wet bench capture, contain, and expel emissions generated by hazardous chemicals
or chemical reactions. All laboratory experiments with chemicals should be done in extracted
wet bench. While it is possible to predict the release of undesirable or hazardous effluents in
most laboratory operations, surprises can always happen. Therefore, the extracted wet bench
offers an extra measure of protection.
Fume hood should not be used for long-term chemical storage.
Chemical Storage Cabinets
Storage of flammable and corrosive chemicals in the lab should be limited to small quantities as
far as possible. Flammable materials should be stored in flammable material storage cabinets.
Storage outside of the cabinet should be limited to materials used in the current process and
must be returned after use to the appropriate storage cabinets. Leaving chemicals on benches
or working areas is hazardous and is not acceptable.
Plastic cabinets are designed for corrosion resistance and used for storing acid and other
corrosive materials.
Acids and other corrosive chemicals in the chemistry laboratory are stored under the fume
hoods.

Refrigerators
To prevent potential safety hazards, the length of storage of chemicals should be kept to a
minimum and refrigerators should be periodically inspected.

Eyewash Stations
Eyewash station which is basically a sink with continuous flow of tap water is available in the
chemistry laboratory and is accessible to all laboratory personnel.
Always flush the eyewash line before use. Water should not be directly aimed onto the eyeball,
but rather, aimed at the base of the nose. This increases the chance of effectively rinsing the
eyes free of chemicals (harsh streams of water may drive particles further into the eyes). If
wearing contact lenses remove them as soon as possible to rinse eyes of any harmful
chemicals.
Fire Safety Equipment
Please familiarize yourself about the location of Fire Alarms. Fire Extinguishers are located near
exit.

Suggestions
Learn the locations of the eyewash and fire extinguisher and know how to use them. While
working in the laboratory, beware of burns from forgotten, still-lit burners and from hot
glassware. Wash your hands at the end of each laboratory class.
If you are unsure about any directions, ask your instructor. For example, ask for his/her
instructions when disposing of used chemicals. Finally, never hurry when performing
experiments. Safety always has the highest priority.
Hazard Symbols

The following symbols are used to identify definite classes of dangerous substances. They can
also be used in combinations. As a rule, labels are limited most often to a maximum of two
symbols.

F: Flammable

Substances with flash point between 0°C and 21°C; gases that form
flammable mixtures with air under atmospheric conditions; substances that
release large amounts of flammable gases in contact with water or moist air;
substances that can ignite under atmospheric conditions at ambient
temperature without energy supply.

F+: Highly Flammable

Substances with flash point below 0°C and boiling point below 55°C under
atmospheric conditions.

E: Explosive

Any substance that can explode when ignited and any substance that is
more shock or friction sensitive than nitrobenzene.

T: Toxic

Substances that constitute a serious acute or chronic risk upon ingestion,

inhalation or skin contact. The lethal dose LD50 for ingestion by rats is
situated between 25 and 50 mg per kilogram body weight.

T+: Very Toxic

Substances that constitute a serious acute or chronic risk upon ingestion,

 inhalation or skin contact. The lethal dose LD50 for ingestion by rats is lower
than 25 mg per kilogram body weight.
O : Oxidizing

Substances that induce highly exothermic reactions when in contact with

other substances, notably flammable substances. As they very often contain
oxygen, they can maintain or induce fires. Non-oxygen containing oxidants
include chlorine and bromine.

Xn: Harmful

Substances that cause limited damage upon ingestion, inhalation or skin

contact. The lethal dose LD50 for ingestion by rats is situated between 200
and 2000 mg/kg body weight. LD50 values for inhalation or skin contact are
higher.

Xi: Irritant

Substances that cause inflammation upon direct, prolonged, or repeated

contact with skin or mucous membranes.

C: Corrosive

Substances that affect living tissue. Some substances become corrosive

when in contact with water or moist air.

Radioactive

Unstable isotopes whose nuclei emit particles of radiation.

N: Harmful to the Environment

Substances that immediately or in time endanger one or more

biocompartments.
Biohazard
 Hazardous Infectious Material:
May cause serious disease that
result in illness or death.

Other Toxic Effects: Poisonous substance not immediately dangerous to

health. May cause death or permanent damage as result of repeated
exposures. May be a skin or eye irritant. May be a skin or respiratory
sensitizer that produces a chemical allergy. May cause cancer, birth
defects, or sterility.

Eye Hazard: Eye protection required. Eyes require protection from flying
debris, such as sharp flakes of flint.

Splash/Eye Hazard: Full-face mask required. Whole face requires

protection from flying debris, such as sharp flakes of flint, or corrosive
liquids, such as acids

Spill/Cut Hazard: Clothing and body require protection from sharp

objects (such as flint flakes) or corrosive liquids, such as acids.

Respiratory Hazard: Lungs require protection from fine dust suspended

in air, such as dust from screening sediments.

Respiratory Hazard: Respirator required. Lungs require protection from

toxic fumes.
 Location exit Location

emergency exit Direction to emergency exit

Location infirmary Direction to infirmary Location

of firehose reel

Location of fire blanket Laser

area Radio activity, Ionizing radiation

Area where no halogenated products shall be handled