Safety

Safety should be a mindset, you can’t always expect that someone else will tell you how to be safe on
the job. You should be able to assess the risk, and determine the safety features that you need to keep
the risk at a reasonable level.

Different agencies set minimum safety standards for various activities; such as seat belts in cars,
helmets for motorcycle drivers, helmets and shoulder pads for football players. For lab and
workplaces, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sets standards. The standards
serve a dual purpose. It is to make the worker safe, even if they don’t have a safety mindset. It also
prevents employers from subjecting workers to unsafe situations. Laboratories and workplaces can
implement the regulations with various plans, such as a chemical hygiene plan, which looks at the
chemicals used, their risks, and designs the safety requirements for the lab or workplace.

Figure 1. NFPA Diamond (Creative Commons Share alike 4.0 International)

A quick overview of the risks associated with chemicals (not the only risk in a laboratory) is shown by
the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) diamond (Figure 1). The diamond has four colored
squares. Three of them are for general hazards, these general hazards receive numbers from zero
(nonhazardous) to 4 (deadly). The fourth white square can have symbols for additional specific
hazards. The blue square is for health hazards. This can include toxic, corrosive, carcinogenic, etc. The
red square is fire hazard. The fire hazard category is based on what temperature, the chemical
spontaneously ignites in air. Category 4 spontaneously ignites at room temperature. The yellow square
is the reactivity or instability category, it designates if the chemical is unstable, may have violent
reactions, or detonate. The white square can get symbols for oxidizer, acid, alkali, corrosive,
radioactive, and use no water.

A more specific identification of chemical hazards is provided by the Global Harmonized System
(GHS) pictograms. These consist of about 24 pictograms identifying hazards. This system and these
pictograms can be read about here, https://www.osha.gov/dsg/hazcom/ghsguideoct05.pdf. A more
exhaustive listing of the GHS listing of hazard and precautionary codes can be found here,
https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ghs/
There are other hazards in a chemical laboratory besides just the chemicals. There is fire and burn
hazard from bunsen burners, burn hazards from hot plates. Cutting hazards from broken glassware.
Different labs can present different and unique hazards. Beginning work in a new lab, should always
start with an assessment of the risks and selection of the appropriate safety gear.

How do we find safety information on chemicals and materials?

The Safety Data Sheet (SDS) is a good source. Manufacturers are required to provide a SDS for most
materials, and compounds. This used to be called the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS). This can
usually be found with an online search.
A good chemical book reference is the Merck index.
You will need to become familiar with the terminology that describes the health effects of chemicals;
such as corrosive, lacrimator, irritant, mutagenic, perifial neuropity, and many more.
There are regulatory exposure standards such as the Threshold Limit Value – Short Term Exposure
Limit (TLV-STEL), a 15-minute exposure standard, and the Threshold Limit Value – Time Weighted
Average (TLV-TWA) for exposure at work for an 8-hour workday and 40-hour workweek, etc.
Toxicity terms such as LD-50 (Lethal Dose that kills 50% of the population, and LC-50 (lethal
Concentration that kills 50% of the population. These will often be listed with some animal species
that it pertains to.
Some online chemical information sources include:
https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ - This site provides Laboratory Chemical Safety Summary
instead of a SDS (the SDS has a specific regulatory format).
https://www.chemicalsafetyfacts.org/
http://www.chemspider.com/
http://www.inchem.org/
https://webbook.nist.gov/ - This site has significant chemical information but lacks in safety
information.
https://www.sigmaaldrich.com/ - a chemical manufacturer

Procedure
Watch the safety videos

CSU - Channel Island Part 1

CSU - Channel Island Part 2

or the longer

American Chemical Society (ACS) Safety Video

Review the GHS pictograms here, https://www.osha.gov/dsg/hazcom/ghsguideoct05.pdf.

Review the GHS code system here, https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ghs/

And answer the following questions.

Read, fill out, and sign (typing your name is acceptable) the campus safety form in the Appendix

Submit your completed report.

Questions
1. Do gloves provide complete protection from all chemicals?

2. Describe what to do if you get a chemical in your eye.

3. Describe what to do if a big beaker of corrosive sodium hydroxide is splashed onto you.

4. What would you do if a bunsen burner caught fire at the base of the burner, by the flame
adjusting valve?

5. What do you do if you drop a piece of glassware and it shatters, no chemical was involved?

6. What do you do if the fire alarm sounds while you are heating some water on the bunsen
burner?

7. How do you dispose of excess, carcinogenic, corrosive chromic acid?

8. Find and list an online source for the SDS for sodium hydroxide.
 9. Describe the hazards associated with a chemical identified with this GHS pictogram,

10. What does GHS code P231 mean?

Appendix
Updated Spring 2016 Antelope Valley
College
Math / Science / Engineering
Division
Department of
Chemistry

Safety Rules in the Chemistry Laboratory

General

Notify your instructor immediately of any accident, unsafe behavior, or potential hazard in the laboratory.
Notify your instructor immediately of any chemical spills and clean it up according to directions.
Observe all special precautions mentioned by the instructor or lab tech.
Never leave your personal belongings on the floor. Use the cubbies or cupboard by your seat.
Eating and drinking are prohibited in the laboratory without exception. Store food items in your bag or inside
the cubbies by the door. Leave the classroom if you need to ingest food items.
Students must be supervised by instructor in labs and Instrument Room. Students are not allowed in the
stockroom.
Label all experiments in the ‘Dryer Cabinet’ with Date, Professor Name, Class, and laboratory experiment.
Apparel / Other

11. Safety googles must be worn whenever anyone in the laboratory is working with glassware or chemicals.
Prescription, safety, or sun glasses are inadequate.
12. Closed toe shoes must be worn at all times. Flip-flops, slippers, sandals and any other footwear are not
allowed. You will be asked to leave and get the appropriate footwear.
13. Wear attire that fully covers legs.
14. Lap aprons or lab coats are required. Avoid loose, dangling clothing that may contact the countertops,
chemicals, lab equipment or an open flame.
15. Gloves are not provided. Students provide their own glove supply.
16. Long hair should be tied back when working in the laboratory.
Emergency Equipment

1. Know the locations of showers, eyewash stations, the first-aid equipment, SDS manual, gas shut-off
valve, and fire extinguisher.
2. Know the operation of the emergency eyewash, drench, and shower.
3. Read the labels on all chemicals before using them. Most chemicals are clear like water.
Emergency Procedures

1. If an emergency alarm sounds, proceed immediately to the nearest exit, and remain outside until directed
to return. Your instructor will have to take roll once clear of the building to verify that no-one was left
behind.
2. Consider all chemicals to be hazardous. If a chemical comes into contact with your skin, rinse the area
immediately for at least 60 seconds, then consult your laboratory instructor.
3. If chemicals come in contact with your eyes, proceed immediately to the nearest eyewash station. Hold
your eyes open in the running water for several minutes. A second student may be needed to assist.
4. If a sufficient amount of toxic or hazardous chemicals comes into contact with you or your clothing, you
will be required to use the safety shower. All contaminated clothing must be removed. Students of the
same sex/gender will be asked to assist you if needed. The room will be evacuated for your privacy.
Accident Prevention and Precautions

1. Clean up broken glassware immediately and place in the ‘Glass Disposal Container’, never in the trash.
 2. If a chemical is in a fume hood do not remove it unless instructed. Return caps to bottles.
3. Never use your mouth for pipetting suction. Tools are provided for this.
4. Label all of your glassware to identify contents. Sharpie is preferred over tape because Sharpie is easier
to clean off the glassware. Tape leaves a glue residue.
5. Always pour acid into water, never water into acid. Pouring water into acid may cause the water to
rapidly boil. This same rule applies to bases, like sodium hydroxide. NaOH has an exothermic reaction
with water, so it is very important to contain and monitor your experiment.
6. Be aware of your surroundings when walking around the laboratory. You are responsible for your
experiments and should take the necessary cautions when working around others.
7. Do not use flammable liquids like alcohols, acetone, or ethers anywhere near an open flame.
8. Never leave a flame unattended.
9. No unauthorized experiments are allowed to be performed.
10. Be aware of, and avoid touching hot objects. ‘Hot hands’ are available in every laboratory.
11. Do not place trash in the red bin. The label on the bin states it is only for oils and flammables in an
emergency.
Before You May Leave

1. Dispose of all chemicals in the appropriate containers. Do not leave paper, powders and liquids on the
counters or in the wrong container. Ask instructor if you are unsure about a substance.
2. Remove any labels and tape from glassware. Wash with soap and tap water. Then, rinse with De-ionized
water.
3. Return the clean, dry glassware you use to its drawer. Leave clean, but wet glassware on the drying
racks provided. Do not crowd the drying racks or leave glassware by the sink. Instead, help keep the lab
clean by putting dry glassware away to make space for new glassware.
4. Return materials to the proper container, cupboard or drawer after each experiment. Do not leave
anything out.
5. Make sure your benchtop and balance are clean. Cleaning solution is provided on each benchtop.

I have read the rules described in this document and agree to abide by them. I understand that failure to
abide by these rules may result in expulsion from a particular lab activity (Remember to bring the correct
apparel). Science faculty and staff have the right and the responsibility to uphold these rules if they
believe you pose a danger to yourself or others. Refusal to comply will result in the administration of the
AVC Student Code of Conduct.

Course Number (for example, Chemistry 101L): ______________________________

Course CRN (for example, 34742): __________________________
Instructor: _________________________________
Circle the day or days of the week this lab meets: M T W R F S

___________________________________ _______________________________
________
Student’s Name (Printed) Student’s Signature Date

________________________________________________
Parent/Guardian Signature and Date (if student is under 18)