SAFETY RULES AND GOOD LABORATORY PRACTICES

Chemistry is not a dangerous activity when practiced properly. The chemistry laboratory can be a
place of learning, discovery, and enjoyment. It can also be a place of frustration and danger but when
safety rules and a proper understanding of techniques and laboratory practices are employed, the
chemistry laboratory is no more dangerous than any other classroom. Observance of these rules is
essential for the sake of one’s safety and that of others in the laboratory. Although most of the safety
precautions are just common-sense practices, they must be developed through training and practice.

A. Safety Rules
1. Safety goggles or safety glasses with side panels must be worn at all times in the laboratory to
protect the eyes from chemical splashes.
2. Contact lenses are not permitted in the lab. The goggles can protect the eyes from splashes but
not from fumes which can dry the contact lenses.
3. The eyes are particularly susceptible to permanent damage by corrosive chemicals and by flying
fragments. Never look into the open end of a test tube or a reaction vessel especially when it is
being heated nor should you point its mouth toward anyone. (The proper way of heating liquids is
illustrated in Activity No. 2 Common Laboratory Techniques and Apparatuses, Figure A.5.) Avoid
rubbing your eyes unless you know that your hands are clean.
4. Sandals, open-toed shoes, and high heels are not allowed in the lab. This is to protect your feet
from broken glass, chemical splashes and spills. The restriction on high heels is for balance.
5. Laboratory gowns must be used properly at all times to protect clothing from chemical splashes/fire.
6. Long hair is to be constrained.
7. Eating, drinking, and smoking are strictly not allowed in the laboratory.
8. The apparatuses to be used are often delicate or breakable and must, therefore, be treated with
caution.
9. Chemicals must be handled carefully since many are poisonous and dangerously explosive.
10. Never taste anything. Never directly smell the source of any vapor or gas; instead, by means of
your cupped hand, bring a small sample to your nose. Chemicals are not to be used to obtain a
“high” or clear your sinuses. Perform in the hood any reactions involving dangerous chemicals
(e.g., irritating fumes, unpleasant odors). Exhaust hoods have fans to exhaust fumes out of the
hood and away from the user. The hood should also be used when noxious, hazardous, and
flammable materials are being heated.
11. Never pick up a heated piece of glass. If you must, use tongs, otherwise allow it to cool.
12. Sitting is not allowed while performing the experiment. Stools/chairs pose hazards by obstruction in
pathways.
13. Do not sit on the laboratory tables. Pranks and horseplay, even when seemingly innocent, can
cause serious injury and are, therefore, strictly forbidden.
14. Do not place personal items like bags, knapsacks, books on the laboratory desks because they
take up valuable work space or may be damaged by fire or chemical spills.
15. In case of fire due to gas leakage, immediately turn off the gas tank regulator. To prevent
spreading of the fire, cover it with sand or wet cloth.
16. Experiments other than that required in the procedure are strictly not allowed.
17. Do not leave your experiment unattended. Fire, explosion, or any other accident may occur at this
time.
18. The most common laboratory accidents are cuts from broken glassware or thermometer. Report
breakage or damage immediately to the stockroom.
 19. Most chemical spills are best handled by quickly absorbing the spill with paper towels and then
washing the area with water.
20. Neutralize a spilled acid or base as follows: (a) acid on clothing, use dilute sodium bicarbonate
solution; (b) base on clothing, use boric acid solution (50 g/L); (c) acid or base on the desk, use
solid sodium bicarbonate for either, followed by water.
21. Report all injuries to the instructor for treatment.

B. Good Laboratory Practices

1. Prepare for each experiment by studying it (both the Introduction and, briefly, the Experimental
Procedure) and answer the Pre-Lab Assignment, if any, before you come to the laboratory.
Completion and submission of the Pre-Lab Assignment is a requirement to perform the experiment.
2. Do not throw matches, litmus, or any insoluble solids into the sink. Labelled waste containers are
provided to collect hazardous solid or liquid wastes.
3. Leave reagent bottles at the side tables and bring test tubes or beakers to obtain chemicals.
4. Read the label twice before taking anything from a reagent bottle; there is a lot of difference
between the properties of 1 M H2SO4 and those of concentrated (18 M) H2SO4.
5. Avoid taking excessive amounts of reagent, 1 to 3 mL is usually ample for test tube reactions.
6. Never return unused chemicals to the stock bottle. You may make a mistake that later will cause
other students’ experiments to suffer.
7. Do not insert your own medicine dropper into the reagent bottles to avoid contamination. Pour only
what you need into a small, clean beaker or test tube.
8. Do not heat thick glassware such as graduated cylinders, volumetric flasks, or bottles; they break
easily, and heating distorts the glass so that the calibrations are no longer valid.
9. All data should be recorded directly into your Answer Booklet, not on loose sheets or scraps of
paper.
10. Good housekeeping is a prerequisite for safe and accurate experimentation. Keep your work table
and the reagent table clean and tidy at all times.
11. The recommended procedure for cleaning glassware is to wash the object carefully with a brush in
hot water and detergent, then rinse thoroughly with tap water, and finally rinse with a small amount
of distilled water. Then allow the glassware to drain dry overnight in your locker. If you must use a
piece of glassware while it is still wet, rinse it with the solution to be used.
12. You may discuss or argue your ideas and knowledge with your classmates, but don’t blindly copy
their work. Do your own thinking and work and remember that integrity is the keystone to scientific
work.
13. You may also find it useful to refer to your text while working in the laboratory.

C. First Aid
The following are common laboratory accidents that necessitate first aid treatment until
professional help, if needed, is obtained.
1. Chemicals in the eye: Hold the eye open and immediately flush with water. Continue for at least
15 minutes.
2. Chemicals spilled on skin: Flush with large amount of water for 15 minutes.
3. Severe bleeding: Apply pressure or tourniquet.
4. Minor burns: Apply burn ointment which can be obtained from the stockroom.