CHEM181: Chemistry for Engineers - Laboratory First Semester, AY 2021-2022

CHEM181: CHEMISTRY FOR ENGINEERS - LABORATORY

First Semester, AY 2021-2022

Activity No. 2
SAFETY IN THE LABORATORY

Objectives: 1) To understand the importance of safety in the laboratory.

2) To learn the appropriate conduct for working in a chemistry laboratory.
3) To become acquainted with the layout of the chemistry laboratory,
location of equipment and the safety features of the laboratory.
4) To familiarize with the correct evacuation and emergency procedures.

The information in this activity was adapted from the Safety in Academic Laboratories
guidebook, a publication of the American Chemical Society Joint - Board Council
Committee on Chemical Safety.
Safety is a key concern in any science laboratory but more particularly in the chemistry
laboratory. Students need to understand the hazard posed by chemicals and of various
chemical procedures for them to be able to work safely in the laboratory. Our guide to
working as safely as possible in the laboratory is summarized in a simple paradigm:
Recognize hazards.
Assess the risk of hazards.
Minimize the risk of hazards.
Prepare for emergencies.
I. Your Role in the Laboratory
The prevention of any untoward incident in the laboratory is a collective responsibility
of everyone working in the laboratory. It is you, your classmates, the laboratory
assistant and your instructor’s responsibility to keep the laboratory safe. However, the
most responsible person is you – the one performing the experiment – who can most
directly prevent incidents and maintain safety in the lab.
Accidents in the laboratory often result from:
• an indifferent attitude toward safety
CHEM181: Chemistry for Engineers - Laboratory First Semester, AY 2021-2022

• failure to recognize hazards and hazardous situations

• failure to be alert to the surroundings; and
• failure to read and follow instructions or measures to minimize risks
It is your responsibility to Minimize the Risk of Hazards. When working in the
laboratory, remember to:
1. Conduct proper behavior
a. Do not perform unauthorized experiments
b. Never eat, drink or smoke in the laboratory
c. Never play tricks or engage in horseplay in the laboratory
2. Wear Proper Laboratory Attire
a. Wear your PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) : laboratory gown,
goggles, mask, closed shoes, gloves (if necessary)
b. Long hair should be tied and kept.
c. Remove jewelries and accessories.
3. Safe handling of chemicals
a. Read the procedure before coming to the laboratory and listen to your
instructor’s directions
b. Never sniff a chemical directly. Smell vapors by wafting.
c. Never return reagents to their original containers.
4. Proper housekeeping
a. Put your bags in the designated area. Make sure to free aisles and counters
from unnecessary stuff.
b. Keep chemicals away from edges of the counters to prevent spilling.
c. Clean your workstation before leaving the laboratory.
5. Proper hygiene
a. Never put your hands or pen to your face or mouth while working in the
laboratory.
b. Always wash your hands and arms with soap and water before leaving the
laboratory, even if you wore gloves.
CHEM181: Chemistry for Engineers - Laboratory First Semester, AY 2021-2022

6. Emergency Preparedness

Become thoroughly acquainted with the location and use of safety equipment
and facilities such as:
a. Exits
b. Evacuation route – this is a way to get out of the building if there is an
emergency such as fire or earthquake. In an emergency, the main
evacuation route is through the front door. The detail of this route is put near
elevators, stairways and in main hallways so guests know how to get out in
an emergency.
c. Safety shower – this is an equipment designed to wash a person’s head
and body which has come into contact with hazardous chemicals. This can
also be used in extinguishing fires or to flush contaminants off clothing.

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d. Eyewash fountain – this equipment is used to flush the eyes with water
when dust, irritants or chemicals enters the eye.

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e. First aid kit

CHEM181: Chemistry for Engineers - Laboratory First Semester, AY 2021-2022

II. Guide to Chemical Hazards

A hazard is a potential source of danger or harm. If chemical hazards are not
recognized, this may result to personal injury or damage of property. Risk is the
combination of the possibility of the occurrence of an unwanted incident, the severity
of its consequences and the frequency of exposure to the hazard. Although chemicals
are considered as hazards, they will not present risk to us if we learn to recognize
them and minimize their risk.
Chemical hazards are divided into three broad categories: physical, health and
environmental hazard.

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Physical
Hazards

Explosive Flammable Oxidizing compress corrosive

gas to metals
Health Hazards

Toxic Skin irritant/ acute respiratory

Corrosion toxicity sensitization

Environmental Hazard

Environment and
Aquatic Hazard
CHEM181: Chemistry for Engineers - Laboratory First Semester, AY 2021-2022

There are four broad subclasses of hazards:

1. Toxicity
A toxic substance is a chemical that can cause injury to a living organism. There
are many factors that determine how a living organism will react to a chemical
when it enters your body. Among them are:
a. Route of entry.
There are 4 ways a chemical can enter the body
• Inhalation – this is when the chemical enters the respiratory tract by
breathing
• Ingestion – this is when a chemical enters the digestive tract through the
mouth
• Absorption – this occurs when a chemical comes in contact with the skin,
thus, dermal absorption of the chemical may occur.

• Injection – this occurs when a chemical enters the body through a cut made
in the skin by a sharp contaminated object
b. Dose.
A dose is defined as the amount of toxic substance received at one time.
c. Duration
The health effects of the toxic substance can be described in terms of exposure
and the onset of the effect. The duration and frequency of the exposure is
classified as:
• Acute exposure – this is characterized by the rapid assimilation of the toxic
substance in one or more doses within 24 hours
• Chronic exposure – this is characterized by repeated exposures, typically
of low doses, with a duration measured in months or years.
d. Physical state of toxic substance
2. Flammability
3. Corrosivity
Corrosion is the gradual destruction resulting from the action of a chemical on a
metal or living tissue. All strong acids, strong bases, some weak acids and bases
and some slightly soluble bases are corrosive. Even an acute exposure to a
corrosive chemical can irreversibly destroy living tissue. Your eyes are particularly
vulnerable.
CHEM181: Chemistry for Engineers - Laboratory First Semester, AY 2021-2022

REMEMBER:
When diluting concentrated solutions of acids, you must always slowly add the acid
to the water while stirring the mixture.
4. Reactivity – this is the ability of chemicals to react with other chemicals and
transform into new substances.
III. Recognizing Chemical Hazards: Sources of Information
Information about these hazards can be found in:
1. Posters
2. Manufacturer’s container labels
3. Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)