Physics Laboratory Safety Rules and Procedures

The “safety rules and procedures” document outlines good practice to

avoid accidents and health hazards and to protect the laboratory
equipment .Students will not be allowed to start with their practicals until
have read and signed this document. Students must also pass a short
test on the safety rules and procedures.

1. All students need to be on time and prepare for laboratory classes.

If you are 20 minutes late you will not be allowed in the laboratory
venue.

2. Carefully follow all written and verbal instructions from the

lecturer/instructor and laboratory staff. When in doubt, ASK!!

3. No learner will be permitted in the laboratory without a lecturer/instructor.

No visitors are permitted.

4. Dress properly during a laboratory activity. Dangling jewelry, long hair, and
loose or baggy clothing are a hazard in the laboratory. Long hair must be
tied back, and dangling jewelry and baggy clothing must be secured. Shoes
must completely cover the foot. No sandals allowed in the laboratory.

5. Learners who bring their bags to class are to store them under the
laboratory counter, away from the workstations. All pathways are to be kept
clear to prevent tripping over your gear and so that other learners can pass
unhampered.

6. Smoking, eating and drinking in the laboratory or experimental work area

are prohibited in all laboratories.

7. Conduct yourself in a responsible manner at all times in the laboratory. No

loud talking or jokes are allowed in the laboratory.

8. Laboratory activities require your undivided attention and cellular phone

use is not permitted.

9. When first entering a laboratory room, do not touch any equipment until
you are instructed to do so.

10. Report all incidents, injuries or breakage to the instructor immediately. Also
report equipment that you suspect is malfunctioning.

11. Learn where the safety and first-aid equipment is located. This includes fire
extinguishers, fire blankets (necessary if trained for first aid, otherwise ask
the lecturer/instructor for assistance).

12. Be careful when working with apparatus that may be hot. If you must pick
it up, use tongs, a wet paper towel or an appropriate holder.
13. If a thermometer breaks, inform the lecturer/instructor immediately. Do not
touch either the broken glass or the mercury with your bare skin.

14. Ask the lecturer/instructor to check all electrical circuits before you turn
“on” the power.

15. When working with electrical circuits, be sure that the current is turned off
before making adjustments in the circuit.

16. Know what to do if there is a fire drill or any emergency during a laboratory
session, containers must be closed, and any electrical equipment turned
off.

17. Always handle radioactive materials with tongs as cautioned in your

instruction manuals. (Note: All the given radioactive sources are for
experimental purposes and produces low dose of radiation at minimum
exposure, however signs of pregnancy must be reported before the
experiment starts. Make use of campus clinic if in doubt).

18. Return all equipment in a good and clean condition to the designated
location at the end of the laboratory session.

19. Never hesitate to ask questions especially if there is any question

concerning proper operating procedure. Be sure that you understand
every instruction before proceeding.

20. For the all practical sessions, students must obtain the following information
as published on the Physics Laboratory notice board on the 7th Floor:
 Their Group code
 Their laboratory position number
 Laboratory room number for each practical session
 The experiments to be done
 Date and time or periods of a practical session.

21. Only the official result / report book will be marked. It is the responsibility
of the learner to obtain the official report book before the practical session
starts.

22. Each practical is considered as a test. Therefore you may not:

 Copy a friend’s results

 Talk and play around in the laboratory

23. If absent for a practical period, a doctor’s note, note from health care
center, reference letter or death certificate in the case of a funeral, is to be
produced within 7 days. If no note is produced, a zero will be given for
the relevant practical. Do not wait until the end of the semester or year,
as it will not be accepted. Hand it to the lecturer/instructor during the
practical session or hand in at the markers office Room 7204 and Room
7207 or Office 7203.
24. After completing a practical with all results recorded and equipment
restored, the learner must wait inside the allocated workstation until the
lecturer/instructor arrives for signing (stamp).

25. Never change workstations, however if instructed to do so, Indicate in

your report book (next to the relevant experiment)

26. All final results to be recorded in ink without alteration. If changes are
made during the course of the practical, the lecturer/instructor is to initial.
No alterations made to results after the practical will be accepted and the
experiment will not be marked.

27. The lecturer/instructor has to sign/stamp all your results before you leave
the laboratory. It is your responsibility to check that it has been done.
Unsigned/unstamped experiments will not be marked.

28. The practical session ends promptly at the end of the periods allocated.
After that time, no experiments will be stamped. Stop immediately when
you are told to do so and pack up.

29. All calculations are to be done after the practical session. You may get help
from students, friends and even the lecturer/instructor in doing the
calculations. Centroids are to be indicated in all graphs

30. Your result book has to be handed in BEFORE 11H30 AM on the deadline
day.

 You may hand your book in before that time.

 Should your book be handed in late, you will NOT GET MARKS for that
session.

31. Submit your report book in the postbox located on the main entrance to
office 7201/3/4/6/7 (Lab offices).

32. Learners should regularly check the notice board, MOODLE, or office 7204
or 7207 for progress marks and for possible changes and updates in the
timetable.