Safety in the Laboratory

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How can we protect ourselves and others from harm?

Science classrooms are not like any other class at Massey High School. We call the class rooms LABORATORIES (often "labs" for short) and they have some special rules that keep everyone safe. There are also pieces of safety equipment that are unique to labs.

The lab rules are:

The lab also has a fire extinguisher, fire blanket, sand bucket, eye wash and safety glasses. If you follow the rules and instructions given to you by your teacher a fire will not occur. However, if there is a fire a FIRE EXTINGUISHER and/or FIRE BLANKET can be used to put it out. SAND BUCKETS are where used matches are put.

If some types of chemicals get in your eyes the EYE WASH can be used to flush them out. Your teacher will show you what to do. However, if you wear SAFETY GLASSES this should not be needed.

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Glossary

Key terms and definitions.

Eye wash: A safety device that sprays water to rinse the eyes in case something harmful gets into them, like chemicals.
Fire extinguisher: A tool that puts out small fires by spraying special foam or powder to stop the chemical reactions causing the fire.
Fire blanket: A large piece of fire-resistant material used to smother small fires by covering them, cutting off the oxygen they need to burn.
Laboratory: A special room with equipment for conducting experiments and making observations. What our Science classroom is called.
Safety glasses: Protective eyeware that shields the eyes from potential hazards, like chemicals or debris, and helps keep them safe during experiments.
Sand bucket: A container filled with sand for used matches.

Chemical Safety

Some chemicals used in laboratories are harmful. When you are working with chemicals in the laboratory or at home, it is important that you keep them away from your body. Laboratory chemicals can enter the body in three ways: ingestion, inhalation and absorption.

Ingestion

Chemicals that have been ingested (eaten) enter the stomach, and may be absorbed into the bloodstream. The chemicals can interfere with body processes.

Inhalation

Chemicals that are breathed in (inhaled) can cross the thin cell layer of the alveoli in the lungs and enter the bloodstream.

Absorption

Some chemicals are able to pass through the skin in a process called absorption. For example, cat and dog owners often treat their pets with a tick and flea solution by placing some of the solution on the pet's skin, where it is absorbed (soaks in) and enters the animal's blood.

Chemical Codes

The chemicals at school or at the hardware shop have a diamond-shaped warning symbol on the label. These symnols are a chemical code. The symbols and their meansings are shown below.

Material Safety Data Sheets

Each chemical substance has an accompanying pamphlet called a Material Safety Data Sheet, or MSDS. An MSDS is a document containing important information about a hazardous chemical commonly used in a workplace (e.g. laboratory). The MSDS must state:

a hazardous substance's product name
the chemical and generic names of certain ingredients
the chemical and physical properties of the hazardous substance
health hazard information
precautions for safe use and handling
the manufacturer or importer's name, and their New Zealand (or Australian) address and telephone number.

An MSDS contains important safety and first aid information for teachers and technicians about each chemical used in the laboratory.

For example, the extract that starts at the bottom of this page is from the MSDS for hydrochloric acid.

The MSDS provides employers, workers and other health and safety representatives with the necessary information to safely manage the risk from exposure to hazardous substances.

First Aid Measures

Minimising the risk of injury reduces the chance of needing to deal with something going wrong. You should always let your teacher or laboratory technician know as soon as an injury or accident happens. The following guidelines are an extract from the MSDS for hydrochloric acid and are an example of what to do if there is an accident involving this chemical.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Everyone who works in a laboratory wears safety glasses and shoes with covered tops. If you are handling chemicals, then you should wear disposable gloves. If there is a risk of damage to your clothes, then a laboratory coat is a good idea. These clothing items help keep you safe.

Together, they are called personal protective equipment, abbreviated to PPE.

Chemical Safety Thinking Questions

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