Lecture#1 Introduction To Lab Safety

Lec#1- Introduction to Lab Safety:
Principles and practices

Laboratory: Facility that
provides controlled conditions in
which scientific or technological
research, experiments, and
measurement may be
performed.
Workplace: Location where

someone works for his or her
employer,
a place of employment.
Principles: a general scientific theorem or law that has
numerous special applications across a wide field.
Procedures: a particular way

of accomplishing something
or a series of steps followed in
a regular definite order.
Accident-Any unplanned event
that results in injury or damage
or ill health of people or
environment etc.
Exposure-is the contact with a

hazard or a chemical that
causes injury. The dose
represent the amount of
exposure (dose is measured
differently for chemical,
radiological, or biological
exposure).
Safety: Safety is the state of being "safe", the condition of
being protected from harm or other non-desirable outcomes.
Harm - physical injury or damage to health
Hazard - a potential source of harm to a worker
Hazards and Their Effects

Workplace Hazard Example of Hazard Example of Harm Caused
Thing Knife Cut
Mycobacterium
Material Tuberculosis
tuberculosis
Source of Energy Electricity Shock
Condition Wet floor Slips, falls
Risk vs Hazard
Risk- A probability or threat of damage, that someone will be

harmed by the hazard.
Hazard - a potential source of harm to a worker
General Safety Policy
• SQU is committed to provide,

maintain, and improve safe
working conditions in its
laboratories and offices
• SQU will strive to eliminate the

dangers to the health, safety
and physical well-being of
students, employees and
visitors
General Laboratory Safety
Why does it matter?
• Safe working protects
• You
• Your work
• Other lab workers
• Visitors
• Cleaners
What does the law say?
– You must work safely

– You must not endanger others
– You must not misuse safety
equipment
Who Is responsible for Safety?
• General
•All students, employees and
visitors are responsible for a
safe working environment
•Management is responsible
for providing:
•Safe working conditions
•Safe equipment
•Training
Safety Equipment
• Know the location of safety equipment (Safety showers, eye wash

stations & fire extinguishers.
• Make sure safety equipment is not blocked
Emergency Evacuation
• Know your exit route
• Know the location of fire alarm

pull-stations
• Notify your supervisor,

department coordinator, or
relevant staff
What are the general hazards in a laboratory?
• Breakage of glassware
• Sharps
• Spillages
• Pressure equipment & gas
cylinders
• Extremes of heat & cold
• Chemical hazards
• Biological hazards
• Radiation
• Fire
And many more!
Glassware
• Use correct techniques for the

insertion of tubing onto glassware
• Never use glassware under pressure
or vacuum unless it is designed for
the job and suitably shielded
• Dispose of broken glassware – it is a

risk to you and others
• Always dispose of broken glass in a
glass bin or sharps bin and not in a
general waste bin
General Tidiness
• Keep your workplace tidy

• Clear up waste, deal with
washing up and put things
away as you finish with them
X
• Make sure everything is safe
before you leave things
unattended
• A tidy laboratory avoids

accidents to everyone
First Aid
• For ALL chemical splashes,
wash with plenty of water
for 20 minutes
• Control bleeding with direct

pressure, avoiding any
foreign bodies such as glass
• Use first aid kit in the lab,

for major accident call the
emergency number
Protecting your health
• If you have an allergy to lab

materials or suffer from a medical
condition which may affect you in
the laboratory (e.g diabetes or
epilepsy)
• Ensure that your supervisor,

department or college knows
• Working outside normal hours

and at weekends need to have
prior permission
When in doubt – ASK!!!
• DO NOT GUESS!!!!
• Do not carry out a new or unfamiliar

procedure until you have been fully
trained & understand the precautions
necessary for safe working
Protecting yourself
• Wear the clothing and

protective wear identified in
your risk assessment
• Laboratory coats must be
kept fastened
• Don’t wear sandals or open
shoes
Generally, safety is driven by 3 factors:
1. Environmental factors (facilities, design, location,

equipment, procedures, standards, protocols, ..etc.)
2. Personnel factors (attitude, personality, knowledge,
training, skills,...)
3. Behavioral factors (safe practices, age, routine, fatigue,
..etc.)
It is important to analyze all situation in the laboratory in terms

of these 3 factors.
As a user of the laboratory;
• Did I receive all the information I need to make informed

decision about the safety around me?
• Did I give this information to others. Am I willing to change
my ways to improve overall safety ?
• Am I practicing all I know and have learned in the
laboratory.
• Do I need more training?
For Everyone: If I noticed a deficiency in the safety protocol,

did I notify my supervisor, lab technician or the concerned
persons?
General lab safety rules
You should know about……..!
1. Safety signs and emergency numbers

2. Building's evacuation procedures
3. Place of lab's safety equipment
4. Lab areas for different chemical disposals
5. Glassware should never be utilized as food or beverage
containers.
6. Never try to repair an equipment problem on your own.
7. Never lift any glassware/solutions above eye level.
8. Never smell or taste chemicals.
9. Do not pipette any chemical by mouth.
10. Chemical splashing into your eye(s)/skin, immediately flush the
affected area(s).
RAMP……………….!
1. Recognize the possible routes of exposure to a hazardous

chemical
2. Assess the level of risk to eyes, skin, ingestion or inhalation or
other risks for a given set of experiments
3. Minimize the risks by preventing exposure through good
laboratory practices and personal protective equipment (PPE)
Emergency numbers to make a call…!
Fire: 4444
Medical: 2414 4315
2414 1721
Security: 2414 1003
2414 3999
112 (from GSM)
Technical: 3333

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Lec#1- Introduction to Lab Safety:

Principles and practices

Workplace: Location where

Procedures: a particular way

Exposure-is the contact with a

Harm - physical injury or damage to health

Hazard - a potential source of harm to a worker

Hazards and Their Effects

Risk- A probability or threat of damage, that someone will be

• SQU is committed to provide,

• SQU will strive to eliminate the

– You must work safely

• Know the location of safety equipment (Safety showers, eye wash

• Know the location of fire alarm

• Notify your supervisor,

• Use correct techniques for the

• Dispose of broken glassware – it is a

• Keep your workplace tidy

• A tidy laboratory avoids

• Control bleeding with direct

• Use first aid kit in the lab,

• If you have an allergy to lab

• Ensure that your supervisor,

• Working outside normal hours

• Do not carry out a new or unfamiliar

• Wear the clothing and

1. Environmental factors (facilities, design, location,

It is important to analyze all situation in the laboratory in terms

• Did I receive all the information I need to make informed

For Everyone: If I noticed a deficiency in the safety protocol,

1. Safety signs and emergency numbers

1. Recognize the possible routes of exposure to a hazardous

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