Article Rich Productivity Top Safety Rules in Any Chemistry Lab

Top Safety Rules in Any Chemistry Lab

If you’re a chemistry professional and spend a lot of your professional hours in a lab of one form or another. If that is the case, it will serve you quite well to re-introduce yourself to the many important safety rules that will help you – and the other scientists working around you – stay safe at all times. 

Rule 1: Walk don’t run 

When you are going through any type of chemistry lab, make sure to walk at all times. There should be no running in the lab at any time due to the fact that there are countless different pieces of equipment that can break if you accidentally knock into them. On top of that, there may also be wires that you could trip on, liquids that you could spill and more. 

Rule 2: Wear proper protective attire 

Whenever you are headed into a lab to get to work, it is crucial that you wear the correct, protective attire. 

  • That attire includes closed-toed shoes. Sandals, flip flops, or other such open-toed shoes are not permitted in the lab.
  • Your hair must be tied back. If you have long hair, make sure that it is either in a ponytail or bun so that you do not risk getting your hair in the way of any work you are doing. 
  • Make sure that whenever you are working, you are working with safety goggles on. That will make sure that your eyes are protected from any unforeseen accident, spills or splashes that may occur while you work in the lab. 

Rule 3: Handle chemicals with care

When you are handling chemical, it is crucial that you do so with care and caution. Wear gloves when pouring and handling chemicals. If there is a spill, it is crucial that it is cleaned with the correct cleaning material as soon as possible. 

Rule 4: Handle equipment with care 

Melissa at Angene wants to remind you how to handle anything equipment in the lab.

“It is crucial that whenever you are working with equipment that you handle it with care,” she says. “This includes microscopes, beakers and much more. One rule of thumb is to simply never use your bare hands. You do not know how hot a given chemical reaction can be, or how corrosive a given material. For that reason, use gloves or tongs when you are working with containers.”

Rule 5: Broken glass 

It is imperative to remember that if you drop a break a piece of glassware, remember not to touch it. First you must get the correct cleaning material and protective equipment to make sure that nothing touches your skin or gets in your eyes during the cleaning process.

Rule 6: Eye wash/shower stations 

In the unlucky event that you get any chemicals or particles in your eyes, make sure that you walk calmly to the wash station and rinse your eyes for 15 minutes. Make sure that your eyes are open when you rinse them. 

If chemicals get onto your skin, walk to the shower and pull on the red handle. Stand under the shower and rinse of your body for a full 15 minutes.