LAB SAFETY

Laboratory Safety is the joint responsibility of the students, the faculty, the staff, and the college. It is essential that each individual participating in laboratory activities abides by and implements the laboratory safety rules stated below.

All students are required to sign a statement indicating that they have received, read, and understood the laboratory safety rules. Signing this document will also indicate that the student has received instruction about the MSDS sheets, NFPA codes and the Virginia Occupational Safety and Health Hazard Communication Standard (1910.1200) "Right to Know" Laws.

Students must return the signed statement to the instructor prior to taking part in laboratory activities.

Biology

1. Eating, drinking, or the the use of tobacco is not permitted in the Science Lab. Nothing should be placed in or near your mouth:lipstick, pens, pencils, chewing gum, candy, etc.
2. Report unusual odors in the lab to the instructor or staff.
3. Do not enter or begin work in the lab without permission and presence of your lab instructor or other responsible staff member.
4. Perform only assigned lab activities. Read all labels and instructions carefully
5. Report all personal injuries or unsafe conditions to the lab instructor or assistant.
6. Report open or bandaged cuts to the lab instructor before lab begins.
7. Know the location and operational details of laboratory emergency safety equipment, disposal procedures, and evacuation routes.
8. Do not wear and kind of contact lenses when working in the laboratory.
9. Wear acceptable clothing and required protective covering while working in the laboratory. Students must wear aprons at all times. closed toe shoes must be worn in the lab at all times. Short pants, skirts and tops, and sleevelss shirts are not allowed. Students must also wear their own safety goggles during laboratories where eyes safety hazard has been identified. (Goggles are available at the bookstore.)
10. Wear appropriate safety goggles near hazardous chemicals and other potential eye hazards.
11. Do not sit in the vicinity of open flames or other laboratory hazards.
12. All aisles in the lab must be kept open at all times.
13. Secure long hair when working in the vicintity of open flames or other laboratory hazards.
14. Stay out of restrictred areas.
15. Keep personal belongings out of the work area.
16. Secure long hair; avoid loose clothing;
17. All aisles must be kept open at all times. Except for items needed to perform the lab (notebook, calculator, textbook), personal belongings must be kept out of the work area (tables).
18. Take precautions to protect skin, clothing, and belongings from contamination.
19. Wash hands and thoroughly clean work area before leaving the lab. Glassware, equipment, lab tabletops, and countertops must be clean before you leave the lab.
20. Always leave the gas outlets in the off position when Bunsen burners are not in use.
21. Keep sinks free of paper and debris which will clog them.
22. Children and unauthorized visitors are not allowed in the lab.
23. When using dissecting equipment, handle all instruments with care, (by handle or rounded edge) especially scalpels and razor blades.
24. In case of a spill, immediately notify the lab instructor. then use the following guidelines for cleanup:
    • Chemical spills on skin: flood area with water.
    • Chemical spills on floor: neutralize acids and bases and clean up all chemicals using Spill Clean up Kit located behind the safety shower
25. Never pour chemicals back into the original reagent container.
26. Never use flammable liquids such as ether, alcohol, or acetone near a flame.
27. Never taste a chemical or substance in the lab.
28. If you must determine the odor of a substance, gently fan (waft) a little of the vapor towards your nose with your hand, but keep your face at a safe distance.
29. When heating a substance in a test tube, never point the tube toward yourself or anyone else; a bubble of vapor can eject contents violently.
30. If a fire occurs in a beaker, it can be extinguished by covering the vessel with a watch glass or wet paper towel. More extensive fires should be extinguished with a fire extinguisher or fire blanket.
31. Carry out experiments in which noxious fumes are produced, or in which there is danger of explosion, under a fume hood with the safety shield pulled down for protection.
32. Never use mouth suction to fill a pipette with chemical reagents; use a suction bulb or pipette pump.
33. Beware of hot glassware. Use tongs, clamps, insulated gloves, etc., to handle hot glassware.
34. When diluting strong acids, pour acids slowly into water while mixing slowly and carefully. Never add water to an acid.
35. You should know the location of the Material Safety Data Sheets and their purpose.

1. Eating, drinking, or the the use of tobacco is not permitted in the lab. Nothing should be placed in or near your mouth: lipstick, pen, etc.
2. Report unusual odors in the laboratory to instructor or staff.
3. Do not work in the lab without the permission and presence of responsible faculty or staff.
4. Perform only assigned lab activities. Read all labels and directions carefully.
5. Report all personal injuries or conditions that appears to be unsafe to the lab instructor.
6. Report open or bandaged cuts to the lab instructor before lab begins.
7. Know the location and operation of all laboratory emergency safety equipment, disposal procedures, and evacuation routes.
8. Do not wear any kind of contact lenses when working in the lab.
9. Students will wear aprons when working in the lab. Open toed shoes, short pants, short skirts, and sleeveless shirts will not be permitted in the lab.
10. Wear appropriate safety goggles near hazardous chemicals and other potential eye hazards.
11. Do not sit in the vicinity of open flames or other laboratory hazards.
12. All aisles in the lab must be kept open at all times.
13. Secure long hair when working in the vicintity of open flames.
14. Stay out of restrictred areas!
15. Keep personal belongings out of the work area.
16. Take precautions to protect skin, clothing, and belongings from contamination.
17. Wash hands and thoroughly clean work area before leaving the lab. Glassware, equipment, lab tabletops, and countertops must be clean before you leave the lab.
18. Always leave the gas outlets in the off position when Bunsen burners are not in use.
19. Keep sinks free of paper and debris which will clog them.
20. Children are not allowed in the lab.
21. Before a spill is cleaned up, immediately notify the lab instructor.
22. Never pour chemicals back into the original reagent container.
23. Never use flammable liquids such as ether, alcohol, or acetone near a flame.
24. If you must determine the odor of a substance, gently fan (waft) a little of the vapor towards your nose with your hand, but keep your face at a safe distance.
25. When heating a substance in a test tube, never point the tube toward yourself or anyone else; a bubble of vapor can eject contents violently.
26. If a fire occurs in a beaker or evaporating dish, it can be extinguished by covering the vessel with a watch glass or wet paper towel.
27. Carry out experiments in which noxious fumes are produced, or in which there is danger of explosion, under a fume hood with the safety shield pulled down for protection.
28. Always use a pipump or suction bulb to fill a pipet.
29. Beware of hot glassware. Use tongs, clamps, insulated gloves, etc., to handle hot glassware.
30. When diluting strong acids, pour acids slowly into water while mixing slowly and carefully. Never add water to an acid.
31. You should know the location of the Material Safety Data Sheets and their purpose.

Physics/Natural Sciences

1. Students are not permitted in the lab without the permission and presence of responsible faculty and/or staff. Visitors, children, and pets are not permitted
2. Perform only assigned lab activities.
3. Eating, drinking, or the the use of tobacco or illegal substances is not permitted.
4. Soft contact lenses should not be worn when chemicals are used.
5. Wear appropriate clothing: open shoes, sandals, or bare feet are forbidden.
6. Secure long hair; avoid loose clothing; report open and bandaged cuts to the instructor before lab begins.
7. Students must wear protective covering (aprons, goggles, gloves, etc.) when are as directed.
8. All aisles must be kept open at all times. Except for items needed to perform the lab (notebook, calculator, textbook), personal belongings must be kept out of the work area (tables).
9. Know the location and operation of laboratory safety equipment and evacuation routes. In case of evaacuation of the building, take your personal belongings with you, follow the instructions of the instructor and/or designated floor wardens and congregate in the designated area so that a head count can be performed. Stay away from areas used by rescue personnel.
10. Report all unsafe conditions, unusual odors, or damaged equipment to the instructor who will determine the proper course of action.
11. All personal injuries, however minor they appear at the time, must be reported to the instructor: the college is required by law to file accident reports.
12. If chemicals are used during a lab session, never taste or inhale vapors of chemicals. Chemicals spilled on the skin should be washed off immediately and the skin flushed with cold water for several minutes. Further action, if needed, will be determined by the instructor.
13. Ask the instructor the proper method of disposal of chemicals and wastes. Broken glassware will be handled by the instructor.
14. Return equipment to its proper location after use.
15. Stay out of restricted areas - prep room, storage area, etc.
16. Follow instructions from faculty and staff; students not followings instructions will be asked to leave the lab and may be removed from the corresponding class.
17. Material Safety Data Sheets and the Campus Hazard Communication Plan are on file in the lab and are available to anyone who would like to consult them.
18. Turn off pagers and cell phones.
19. Mechanical: Keep clear of rotating, flying, or falling objects. Turn switch of electrical appliances OFF before plugging them in the outlet and/or handling equipment.
20. Electrical: Have instructor check electrical circuits before activating them. Turn power OFF before reaching into a circuit or changing settings. Watch for cracked cords and wires of other defective conditions. Damp environment reinforces the lethal effects of electrical currents.
21. Heat: Use protective gloves and/or tongs when handling hot objects. Wear aprons and goggles.