Science laboratories are full of hazardous chemicals and other equipment that must be operated with care. Therefore, make sure you fully understand all safety rules and procedures before starting any experiment. To ensure your safety and reduce the potential for injury or other health problems, obey all laboratory rules! For example, make sure you wear proper work clothes and know how to use all laboratory equipment correctly.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Wearing Proper Work Wear
Step 1. Enter the laboratory wearing long pants and closed shoes
One of the most important aspects of protecting your body from chemical contamination is wearing long pants and closed shoes; most likely, your uniform concept already meets these rules. If possible, choose shoes with hard toes so you don't hurt your feet if something hits them.
- Upon arrival at the laboratory, wear other necessary clothing in accordance with the safety procedures in the laboratory.
- Tuck clothes that are too long and loose in your pants and roll up sleeves that are too long.
Step 2. Wear a lab coat when conducting the experiment
Lab coats are essential clothing to protect you from splashes of chemicals and other materials. If chemical liquid is splashed, you just need to take off the suit and replace it with another suit. To increase its effectiveness, choose a suit that fits you well and don't take it off before class ends.
Sleeves that are too long can interfere with your experiment
Step 3. Protect your eyes with laboratory goggles
No need to wear it all the time; most importantly, wear these glasses when you are going to work with chemicals that have the potential to splash or explode.
- Make sure the laboratory goggles you wear completely cover all parts of your eyes tightly so that your eyes are protected from all directions.
- Ordinary glasses are generally not enough to protect your eyes from splashes or spills of material. Also wear laboratory glasses over regular glasses.
Step 4. Put on laboratory gloves
Actually, there are several types of gloves that you can use. For standard protection from hazardous chemicals, you can use disposable nitrile or latex gloves. Most likely, this type of glove is provided by your school laboratory.
- If you are going to work with very hot or very cold substances, you will need to use special gloves that are suitable for those temperatures.
- If you are working with any equipment that conducts electricity and has the potential to cause a fire, you will need to wear rubber gloves.
Method 2 of 3: Complying with Laboratory Safety Procedures
Step 1. Listen carefully to all the instructions given by your teacher
Before the experiment takes place, your teacher will most likely tell you all the safety procedures and precautions that you must understand first.
- If you don't know the right way to react to something, don't hesitate to ask your teacher.
- Always follow all the rules and procedures given by your teacher or posted on the laboratory wall.
Step 2. Never eat or drink in the laboratory
Eating or drinking while the experiment is in progress could cause serious problems and/or potential injury. If you have recently touched a hazardous chemical and then touch your food or drink afterwards, the chemical you ingested could be harmful to your health.
- If you want to eat or drink, take off your gloves and coat, wash your hands thoroughly, get out of the lab, and eat your food there.
- Chewing gum is also not allowed in the laboratory!
Step 3. Tie your hair and remove all the jewelry you are wearing
Loose hair and dangling jewelry have the potential to cause problems if they are exposed to chemicals or bump into gas cylinders. In addition, your hair can catch fire if accidentally exposed to fire. Corrosive chemicals can also damage the jewelry you wear, you know!
If possible, leave all of your jewelry at home so you don't have to go through the hassle of removing it in the lab and risk losing it
Step 4. Store your belongings in the space provided
When you first enter the laboratory, put all your belongings in the location provided; putting it under the laboratory table or in front of the class is the wisest decision.
When leaving the class, make sure that no luggage is left behind
Step 5. Report to the teacher immediately if any spilled substance, broken tube, or other accident occurs
No matter how simple the case, make sure you still report it to a teacher or professional laboratory officer. They certainly know the best way to deal with everything so that no one gets hurt.
If a glass is broken or liquid is spilled, don't clean it yourself! Instead, bring up the problem to your teacher so he or she can recommend the correct procedure for cleaning it up
Method 3 of 3: Operating the Tool Correctly
Step 1. Know the location of all safety equipment
Listen carefully to the instructions of the teacher or laboratory personnel regarding the tools and safety procedures that you need to understand before starting the experiment. If they don't share this information, make sure you ask. Believe me, knowing the bad possibilities that can happen prematurely is a wise action. That way, you will know how to work quickly, correctly, and safely in the laboratory. Some examples of commonly used safety tools are:
- Sink to clean the eyes
- Shower for bath
- Fire blankets (a tool to extinguish fires)
- Fire extinguisher
- Smoke hood
- Special cabinets or containers to store all chemical liquids and laboratory equipment
- Specific procedures to protect researchers from unexpected equipment operation or hazardous energy leaks
- Apron, laboratory goggles, latex laboratory gloves, asbestos laboratory gloves
Step 2. Keep the mouth of the test tube away from you while it is being heated
Heat the test tube slowly to prevent the substance from boiling too quickly and splashing out of the tube. Never heat a tightly closed test tube because the air pressure that builds up can cause the tube to burst.
Keep the mouth of the test tube away from your face to prevent potential injury if the contents of the tube overflow or splash out
Step 3. Pour the acid into the water, not the other way around
Mixing water and acid can produce an exothermic reaction, which is a reaction that releases heat energy or light energy (for example, an explosion or spark). Acid should always be poured directly into the water. If you do otherwise, there's a high chance that an explosion will occur.
Acid can splash into your eyes and cause serious injury
Step 4. Make sure your desk is always neat and clean
Apart from avoiding the possibility of you spilling something, you've also reduced the risk of contamination occurring between each try.
Clean and sterilize your workbench at the end of each trial session
Step 5. Do not return excess chemical to its original container
Chemicals that have been removed from their container should not be returned to the same container. You must remember this rule to avoid contamination with other chemicals, dust, or dirt.
If any chemical remains, make sure you dispose of it according to the detailed procedure described by your teacher
Step 6. Be careful when working with fire
Remember, Bunsen burners are connected to a gas fuel source and should be used with care; For one thing, make sure you don't put flammable materials near and/or work too close to the fire. Turn off the burner immediately after use.
If your shirt catches fire, immediately STOP whatever you're doing, DROP on the floor, and ROLL over on the floor until the fire goes out
Step 7. If possible, use a fume hood when working with hazardous chemicals
Remember, most chemicals give off toxic fumes that are very dangerous if inhaled. Working with the help of a fume hood helps you to operate all kinds of substances without having to be afraid of inhaling the fumes.
If you're not sure if you really need to use a hood, feel free to play it safe by sticking to it while working
Step 8. Wash your hands after doing the practicum
At the end of each experiment, make sure you always wash your hands thoroughly before leaving the laboratory to remove any chemical residue or contaminating substances.
- Also wash your hands after removing safety equipment.
- Wash your hands with warm water and soap for at least 30 seconds.
Warning
- Do not enter the laboratory without the approval of the appropriate authorities.
- Do not touch any equipment unless instructed by the teacher or laboratory personnel.
