SOUTHERN LUZON STATE UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF TEACHER EDUCATION

Lucban, Quezon

CHM01 Lab: Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory

Module (Week 2)

Title: Laboratory Safety

Overview: A chemical laboratory can be a hazardous place to work if common safety rules are not enforced. If basic rules
are strictly enforced, the chance of one being injured becomes very small. With proper understanding of what you are
doing, careful attention to safety precautions, and adequate supervision, you will find the chemical laboratory to be a safe
place in which you can learn much about chemistry.

Objectives: At the end of this module, the students must be able to:

1. Determine the different safety practices in the laboratory.

2. Enumerate the different emergency procedures.

3. Realize the importance of knowing the safety and emergency procedures in a laboratory.

Discussion:

LABORATORY SAFETY PROCEDURES

Laboratory accidents belong to two general

categories of undesirable events: mishaps caused by your
own negligence and accidents beyond your control. Although
accidents in the laboratory fortunately are rather rare events,
you nevertheless must be familiar with all safety rules and
emergency procedures. If you know and follow safe working
practices, you will pose no threat of serious harm to yourself
or others.

Every laboratory system will have some unique

features for the prevention of accidents or for handling
emergencies. It is important that you become thoroughly
familiar with the special safety aspects of your own
laboratory area. Some general precautions and procedures
applicable to any chemical laboratory are summarized
below.
Figure 1. Common Laboratory Safety Symbols
Source: https://www.freeimages.com/premium/laboratory-safety-
symbols-1146254

1. WEAR APPROVED EYE PROTECTION AT ALL TIMES. Very minor laboratory accidents, such as the splattering
of solution can cause permanent eye damage. Wearing laboratory goggles can prevent this eye damage. In the chemistry
teaching laboratories safety glasses (goggles) of an approved type must be worn by all persons in the room at all times that
anyone is working with or transporting glassware or conducting any experimental work.

2. WEAR PROPER PROTECTIVE CLOTHING. Proper protective clothing must be worn by all persons in the room
at all times that anyone is working with or transporting glassware or conducting any experimental work. Exposed skin is
particularly susceptible to injury by splattering of hot, caustic, or flammable materials. Students and instructors need to be
protected from their necks to below their knees. This requirement includes no shorts, no short skirts, no sleeveless garments,
and no bare midriffs. Long lab coats or aprons are required if shorts or short skirts are worn. Makeshift coverage such as
shirts being used as aprons, paper taped over the knees, etc., is not considered to be suitable. Tight fitting clothing, long
unrestrained hair, clothing that contains excessive fringe or even overly loose-fitting clothing may be ruled to be unsafe.

3. WEAR PROPER PROTECTIVE FOOTWEAR No sandals, no opentoed shoes, and no foot covering with
absorbent soles are allowed. Any foot protection that exposes any part of one’s toes is unsuitable for wear in the laboratory.

4. NEVER EAT, DRINK, OR SMOKE IN A CHEMICAL LABORATORY. Tiny amounts of some chemicals may cause
toxic reactions. Many solvents are easily ignited. Food and drinks are never allowed in the labs. This includes all visible

CHM01 LAB: INORGANIC CHEMISTRY LAB 1

insulated water bottles or mugs, containers of water or flavored drinks, containers of ice intended for consumption, etc. If a
food or drink container is empty or unopened, it needs to be inside a backpack, etc., and out of sight.

5. NEVER WORK IN A CHEMICAL LABORATORY WITHOUT PROPER SUPERVISION. Your best protection
against accidents is the presence of a trained, conscientious supervisor, who is watching for potentially dangerous situations
and who is capable of properly handling an emergency.

6. NEVER PERFORM AN UNAUTHORIZED EXPERIMENT. ‘‘Simple’’ chemicals may produce undesired results
when mixed. Any experimentation not requested by the laboratory manual or approved by your instructor may be considered
to be unauthorized experimentation.

7. NEVER INHALE GASES OR VAPORS UNLESS DIRECTED TO DO SO. If you must sample the odor of a gas
or vapor, use your hand to waft a small sample toward your nose.

8. EXERCISE PROPER CARE IN HEATING OR MIXING CHEMICALS. Be sure of the safety aspects of every
situation in advance. For example, never heat a liquid in a test tube that is pointed toward you or another student. Never
pour water into a concentrated acid. Proper dilution technique requires that the concentrated reagent be slowly poured into
water while you stir to avoid localized overheating.

9. BE CAREFUL WITH GLASS EQUIPMENT. Cut, break, or fire-polish glass only by approved procedures. If a
glass-inserter tool is not available, use the following procedure to insert a glass rod or tube through a rubber or cork stopper.
Lubricate the glass and the stopper, protect your hands with a portion of a lab coat or a towel, and use a gentle twisting
motion to insert the glass tube or rod.

10. NO HORSEPLAY. Horseplay and pranks do not have a place in instructional chemistry laboratories.

EMERGENCY PROCEDURES

1. KNOW THE LOCATION AND USE OF

EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT. Find out where the safety
showers, eyewash spray, and fire extinguishers are located. If
you are not familiar with the use of emergency equipment, ask
your instructor for a lesson.

Figure 2. Emergency Exit 2. DON’T UNDER-REACT. Any contact of a chemical

with any part of your body may be hazardous. Particularly
Source: https://www.vectorstock.com/royalty-free-vector/emergency-
exit-sign-man-running-out-fire-exit-vector-27317697 vulnerable are your eyes and the skin around them. In case of
contact with a chemical reagent, wash the affected area
immediately and thoroughly with water and notify your instructor. In case of a splatter of chemical over a large area of your
body, don’t hesitate to use the safety shower. Don’t hesitate to call for help in an emergency.

3. DON’T OVER-REACT. In the event of a fire, don’t panic.

Small, contained fires are usually best smothered with a pad or
damp towel. If you are involved in a fire or serious accident, don’t
panic. Remove yourself from the danger zone. Alert others of the
danger. Ask for help immediately and keep calm. Quick and
thorough dousing under the safety shower often can minimize the
damage. Be prepared to help, calmly and efficiently, someone else
involved in an accident, but don’t get in the way of your instructor
when he or she is answering an emergency call.

These precautions and procedures are not all you should

know and practice in the area of laboratory safety. The best
Figure 3. Emergency Eyewash and Shower
insurance against accidents in the laboratory is thorough familiarity
Source: http://www.runwangda.net/emergency-eyewash-
and understanding of what you’re doing. Read experimental inspection-checklist/
procedures before coming to the laboratory, take special note of
potential hazards and pay particular attention to advice about safety.

Take the time to find out all the safety regulations for your particular course and follow them meticulously.
Remember that unsafe laboratory practices endanger you and your neighbors.

CHM01 LAB: INORGANIC CHEMISTRY LAB 2

Evaluation:

Part I. Intructions: Explain your answers in no more than two lines.

1. In getting a sample odor, wafting by hand is done instead of direct inhalation of the sample, why?

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. The words 'approved' and 'proper' are used several times in the discussion of the safety laboratory procedures, why is
this so?

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. Supervision in a laboratory is a must even with students in higher years, why is this necessary?

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

4. Overreacting and underreacting are contrasting words, yet the two must be avoided in the laboratory, why is this so?

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

5. Playing pranks is a grave conduct inside the laboratory. Cite examples on how it can be ground for severe disciplinary
action.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

Part II. Intructions: Explain your answer in no more than five sentences.

1. There are times when a laboratory experiment takes more than five hours, yet, eating and drinking is prohibited in a
laboratory. If you badly need to drink, what should you do?

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

References:

Emergency Eyewash and Shower Inspection Checklist. (n.d.). http://www.runwangda.net/emergency-eyewash-inspection-

checklist/

icefront. (2020). Laboratory Safety Symbols. https://www.freeimages.com/premium/laboratory-safety-symbols-1146254

Peck, L., & Williamson, V. (2009). Experiments in General Chemistry: Inquiry and Skill Building. Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole,
Cengage Learning.

CHM01 LAB: INORGANIC CHEMISTRY LAB 3

SubhanBaghirov. (2020). Emergency Sign. https://www.vectorstock.com/royalty-free-vector/emergency-exit-sign-man-
running-out-fire-exit-vector-27317697

CHM01 LAB: INORGANIC CHEMISTRY LAB 4