The Science Laboratory: How to Stay Safe
Knowledge of laboratory safety rules and regulations is vital for every science student and would-be scientist to follow. Most of these lab rules and regulations are often posted at the laboratory and therefore is mandatory. It is a must that everyone in the lab will follow all of these implementations for safety and protection and to minimize accidents to happen which are inevitable in a science lab. These rules, when followed to the letter will also allow accurate results and eliminate errors when performing laboratory activities.
Foremost written rule in a science lab is to follow safety. It is imperative to check on everything you are wearing at the start of every lab activity. Laboratory gowns protect the wearer from spills and splashes of acids and corrosive materials often leading to unwanted accidents. Loose clothing may expose one from the danger of catching fire as well as untied hair. Long pants should be used instead of short ones and skirt, wear shoes and not sandals. Even if you’re not clumsy, somebody else in the lab is so it is always an advantage to wear appropriate clothes.
Most often, safety goggles are also required to protect the eyes from accidental spills and splashes which are very dangerous. The goggles also protect the eyes from harmful fumes produced by hazardous chemicals. Chemicals that get in the eye must be rinsed immediately with lots of running water and do the same with any part of your body.
Lab-in-charge should strongly prohibit eating and drinking inside the lab. Food must not be brought in and the use of laboratory glassware and tools must not be used for drinking and eating. Playing as well as fooling around the lab should never be done to avoid lab apparatus and equipments from toppling over which can create panic, accidents and also hazards.
Fire extinguishers should be strategically located inside the lab, as well as the fire blanket, eyewash, and emergency shower; and everyone must be properly oriented with its use. All persons who have access to the lab should be aware where the extinguisher is located to minimize time locating it in case of emergency. The basic rule should there be occurrence of fire is to stay calm, stop in your place and roll over to where you will be able to extinguish the fire.
Always use the hand when using a pipette, a basic rule that should be followed even at home. The mouth must never be used for sucking in chemicals you are working with to avoid the risk of accidentally sucking it through and directed to your gut. Chemicals must neither be inhaled and sniffed nor tasted, since some of these are strong and might subject one into extreme jeopardy.
Be attentive to what you are doing in the lab by following proper instructions; never leaving your apparatus unattended; keeping an eye on what is happening during your experiment, and follow safe use and disposal of chemicals. Mixing of chemicals must be done slowly, observe the results, and add small quantities, initially. The mixing of chemicals all at once can be seriously hazardous and may lead to fires in extreme cases.
In addition to all these, it is also important to read the instructions and procedures for every lab activity and write down results immediately thereafter. This will prevent one from doing the wrong procedure so it is good to read the experiment well in advance.
Science Experiments: Making it Fun but Safe
Safety is a vital consideration when performing science experiments, but lab activities should also be made fun and enjoyable to gain interest and attention of the children in school. Science is an integral part of any curriculum and it’s inclusion in school academics is a must. It is therefore a challenge for science administrators to provide kids with fun and lively experiments while exercising caution and safety.
The wearing of the laboratory gown or coat is required in any science experiment no matter how easy the experiments can be, or seem not useful to wear one. This is a protective wear which prevents stains, splashes and spills from getting into their uniform or clothes, as well as harmful chemicals prevented from getting into their skin. The kids will have more fun mixing the substances, (except for the harmful ones, of course!), when they are wearing something that protect them from stains and grime. This is the counterpart of the apron used at home to protect the body from hot spills and splashes that prevents burns as well as protecting their clothes when working with fun colors in art school. Although not all lab activities require the use of gloves, it is also good to have it handy at all times.
The safety and protective goggles protect the eyes from getting splattered with harmful chemicals, as well as splashes of hazardous liquids and dangerous fumes emitted by the chemicals being worked with during experiments. This protective eyewear also protects the student from any small glass particles in case of lab glassware breakage. These safety goggles can also be used for fun science activities done at home.
Students should always read experiment instructions to make the activity fun and safe. This is equally important for them to be prepared of the activity beforehand and they will be able to get all things done and their materials ready before the start of the activity. Being ready means lesser mistakes done and following of instructions properly minimizing accidents to happen while practicing safety. There is fun when activities performed makes them enjoy it especially when there are reactions observed and explosions seen but safety is still the first factor to be considered when doing lab activities or experiments.
Chemistry Lab: Safety Rules and Regulations
The chemistry lab is the most prone to accidents because it involves working with useful and harmful chemicals therefore it is important to follow strictly lab rules and regulations when doing experiments. Most often, these chemicals pose danger to people therefore following safety rules are of prime importance as well as proper use of laboratory equipments are needed to avoid any untoward accidents and lab casualties to happen.
Basic safety rules should be followed while working in a chemistry laboratory and here are some of them. Wear appropriate clothing especially a lab gown worn over your clothes, while working in the lab. This is to avoid spillage and stains of chemicals from getting into your clothing. Some corrosive chemicals leave holes on clothes and can get into the skin. Some can even set the lab on fire. Loose clothing should not be used in labs to avoid the risk of catching fire and long hairs should be tied as well. Safety lab goggles should also be used to protect the eyes from the fumes and splashes from these harmful chemicals.
Knowledge of each chemical is important by reading the attached material safety data sheet (MSDS) posted in the lab. Follow exactly the recommendations for each chemical’s safe use and disposal. Never use a pipette with the help of your mouth to avoid the danger of sucking chemicals into your body, use hands when handling it. Observe proper mixing of chemicals otherwise this will lead to serious untoward incidents that may happen. Never sniff and taste them as well, you might not be aware of the consequences these chemicals can pose to your health. Never eat and drink inside the lab, and never use lab tools and glass wares for eating and drinking.
In the laboratory, all the laboratory apparatus should be handled properly; there should be a lab orientation in the proper handling of all equipments. There should be an emergency drill in case of fire and accidents and everyone must be oriented especially on the operation and location of the safety appliances and materials to be used such as the fire extinguishers and fire blankets in case of fire, eyewash when there are chemical spills in the eyes, and emergency showers in case of chemical spillage and splashes in the whole body.
Protective Eyewear: Protecting the Eyes
Most people in the world consider the eyes as the most vital organ they possess; it is therefore fitting that we take extra effort in its care. You can just imagine how frustrating it is when we lose our eyes, not seeing the sunrise and the moon, the flowers and the trees, your parents and your kids, and more beautiful creation you wish to see, not to mention the things you would like to do and achieve when you still have that perfect set of eyes.
In order to preserve our eyesight, it is therefore important to provide it with the proper protection it needs. To prevent eye damage and eye injuries from happening, protective eyewear is highly recommended.
People wear sunglasses and it’s probably the most common form of eye protection these days. We can prevent eye damage from sunburn as well as the destructive ultraviolet rays from the sun. We need to wear shades especially when we are outdoors such as going to the beach, departure for a trip, leaving for a vacation, going out for a walk or jog and just strolling or taking a walk. When the eyes are not guarded, this may later lead to temporary blindness and cataract, since too much exposure to the sun may result to damage from its ultraviolet rays. It is imperative to bring sunglasses all the time to prevent eye damage from occurring.
There are also important tasks that we have to do that needs the use of goggles to protect our eyes. These protective eyewear not only shields our precious eyes from the damaging ultraviolet rays of the sun but it also makes our vision clear as well as save the eyes from harm against any outside elements, such as when performing risky lab experiments.
We often hear of many eye injuries happening to people who are engaged in sports. That is why most athletes nowadays wear protective eyewear such as sports goggles during practices and the actual games, to guard the eyes from any injury that may occur. There are several types of safety goggles recommended for use and it is safe to use as long as it protects the eyes. Most hockey players wear full-face masks; and almost every player now wear sports polycarbonate lenses once they when they set out for a rigorous play. This has recently prevented sports-related eye injuries and there are now several types of safety goggles recommended for sports use. Depending on the sports and activities in which you participate, there are forms of eye protection available for you and it is best to wear one today to keep your eyes injury free, protected, and safe.
