Biology Lab Safety Contract

You will be responsible for understanding and following this safety contract in science class this year.
Failure to follow the safety contract may result in removal from one or more labs, with additional
consequences as determined by the teacher, your parents/guardians, and the administration.
General safety rules:
1. Conduct yourself in a responsible manner at all times in the class. There will be no
horseplay. It does not matter if you did not start it. It does not matter if you were just
kidding.
2. Read all directions for an experiment before you begin work. Think and follow them exactly as
written. If you have questions, ask the teacher for assistance.
3. Never perform experiments or activities that are not authorized by the teacher. If you develop
your own experiment, get permission before performing it.
4. Never work alone. No student may work on a lab activity unless the instructor is present.
5. Do not handle equipment or supplies until you have permission.
6. Be careful with materials to prevent spills. If they do happen, notify the teacher immediately
and follow her instructions for proper clean-up.
7. Keep your table area and the area on the floor around it clean at all times, not just at the end of
the lab period. Leave any backpacks and personal items at the side of the classroom so they
do not get messed up or cause someone to trip. Push in chairs when not in use.
8. Never eat in the lab unless it is a part of the official experiment. Wash your hands before and
after each experiment.
9. Be alert and work with caution at all times. Let the teacher know if you see an unsafe
condition.
10. Do not wander around the room, distract other students or interfere with other experiments.
Stay out of the stock room or preparation room unless instructed by the teacher.
11. Handle any living organism used in a lab activity with humanely and with care. Preserved
biological specimens are to be treated with respect and disposed of as instructed by the
teacher.
Dress code:
12. Follow all instructions for using special safety clothing and equipment.
13. Use safety goggles when using fire and any equipment or substances that might get into your
eyes. Regular glasses do not substitute for safety goggles.
14. Tie back long hair and remove or secure any loose or baggy clothing or jewelry that might
hang down into chemicals or flame. Do not wear contact lenses or open shoes such as
sandals during labs.
First aid:
15. Report all accidents, no matter how minor, to your teacher immediately. This includes cuts,
spills, and fires, no matter what caused the accident.
16. Know where the following safety equipment is and how to use it:
a. Eye wash
b. Fire blanket
17. Know where the following safety equipment is, but the teacher will use it or will direct you in its
use:
a. Spill kit
b. First aid kit
c. Fire extinguisher

18. If you spill chemicals on your skin, immediately flush with cool, running water for at least 20
minutes. If the chemical spills in your eyes, follow the directions in using the eyewash station,
also for 20 minutes. Notify the instructor immediately.
Heating and fire safety:
19. Never use a candle, hot plate, or other heat source without wearing safety goggles.
20. Do not heat any chemicals or materials unless instructed to heat them. Do not put anything
into a flame unless instructed.
21. Keep your area clean and all materials away from the flame. Do not reach across the flame.
22. Do not leave a heat source or hot container unattended until it is cool. You can test its heat by
placing the back of your hand close to it. If you can feel heat and must move it, use protective
gloves, a clamp or tongs.
23. Do not put hot glassware in cold water or pour cold water into it. It may shatter.
24. When heating chemicals in a tube or bottle, always point the open end away from yourself and
others. Do not heat it while the container is closed. Do not look into it while it is heating.
25. Use a wire or asbestos screen to protect glassware from the flame if using a candle. Use a
pad to protect the table if you take hot glassware off the heating element.
26. Make sure glassware is either completely dry or filled to the proper level with the proper liquid
so that it doesnt crack.
27. Use the fire blanket if your clothing catches on fire. A classmate will quickly get it for you. You
should stop, drop, and roll to put out the flame. If chemicals or something at your table
catches fire, place it in the water bath at your table to extinguish the flame. If it is too large,
use the fire blanket to smother the flame. If it is too large, the teacher will use the fire
extinguisher.
Chemical safety:
28. Never mix chemicals for the fun of it or to see what happens.
29. Do not touch, taste, or smell a chemical unless you have been given permission. If you are
instructed to smell a chemical, gently wave your hand over the opening of the container and
brush the fumes toward your nose that remains away from the opening. Keep your hands
away from your eyes and mouth.
30. Read chemical labels carefully. Use only enough chemicals to do the experiment. After you
have taken your chemical, replace the lid. Notify the teacher if there is a spill.
31. Be extra careful while using acids and bases and pour them over the sink, not at your work
table. If you are mixing acid and water, always add the acid to the water. The mixture will get
hotter. Do not pour the water into the acid. Rinse any acids or bases off your skin or clothing
with water. Immediately notify the teacher.
32. Dispose of all chemicals as instructed by the teacher, even if you did not use them. Never
return them to the original container to prevent contamination. Sinks are used only for disposal
of water and solutions approved by the teacher. Check to make sure you are using the proper
waste container for any other materials.
33. If using mercury thermometers, do not touch the mercury if the thermometer breaks. Notify the
teacher immediately.
34. When pouring chemicals, hold the containers away from your body. When carrying them, hold
them securely and walk carefully back to your table.
Equipment safety:
35. Inspect all equipment before using. If you do not know how to use it, ask the teacher for help.
36. When inserting glass tubing into a holed stopper, do not force it. Use a turning motion and a
lubricant. The teacher will demonstrate the proper technique.
37. Do not use broken or chipped glassware. If it breaks during the experiment, notify the teacher
and dispose of the broken glassware in the proper trash container.

38. NEVER EAT OR DRINK FROM LAB GLASSWARE.

39. When using a knife or razor blade, use extreme care and always cut away from you.
40. Notify the teacher immediately if you are cut in the lab.
End-of-experiment rules:
41. Thoroughly clean glassware before returning it. Clean your work area, disposing of unused
chemicals and used products as instructed by the lab instructions or the teacher. Your area
and equipment should be clean and dry. Glassware should be clean. The teacher will tell you
if it should be dry as well.
42. Wash your hands after completing the experiment and clean-up.

Sign the Google Form below to certify that you have read the rules
and safety procedures outlined in this Biology Lab Safety Contract. By
signing you agree that in order to ensure your safety and the safety of
the other students, you will abide by these rules and any other safety
instructions your teacher gives you. You understand that if you violate
these rules you will be removed immediately from the lab and you may
not be able to return to the lab for the remainder of the year.