Some labs
require the sharing of equipment and materials. If you should inadvertently
break or remove from the laboratory a piece of equipment, you may be preventing
other students from completing their lab work. We ask that you exercise care
and consideration when handling laboratory equipment.
Read the following
safety regulations and then indicate with your signature that you understand
and agree to comply before beginning any laboratory work.
LABORATORY RULES
AND SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
1.
Do
not enter the laboratory when an instructor/lab assistant is not present or the
lab door is closed. Finish your lab work in time to clean up before the end of
the scheduled lab period.
2.
Use
an approved disinfectant to clean your lab station at the beginning and end of
each lab as directed by the instructor/lab supervisor.
3.
Perform
only authorized experiments. You must be enrolled in a class with a lab to
perform lab work. Children, friends or visitors are not permitted to be with
you while you do your lab work.
4.
Wear
personal protective equipment (PPE) at all times in the chemistry laboratory
including when cleaning up following an experiment. In addition, appropriate personal attire must
be worn: a shirt with sleeves and either pants or a skirt that covers the
entire leg. Tank tops, tube tops,
spaghetti straps, midriff shirts, shorts, and short dresses are not
acceptable. In general, wearing a
T-shirt, jeans and tennis shoes will be appropriate to meet the lab safety
guidelines.
5.
Shoes which offer reasonable protection will be worn while in the
laboratory. Shoes must cover the entire foot, including the toes, the top of the
foot, and the heel. Sandals,
flip-flops, slippers, Crocs®, and other open shoes are not permitted in the
chemistry lab area.
6.
You will not be allowed
to complete the lab if you are not dressed appropriately.
7.
Eating,
drinking, mouth rinsing, applying cosmetics or lip balm or handling contact
lenses is prohibited in the lab areas. No chewing gum is allowed.
8.
Hair that is longer than shoulder-length must be tied back at all
times. Loose sleeves must be secured as
well.
9.
Be
considerate of others working in the laboratory. Do not distract others while
conducting experiments or accomplishing lab activities. When finished with
equipment or materials to be shared with others, make the equipment or
materials available to others as quickly as possible.
10.
Before
leaving the lab, clean all equipment, glassware and the work area you have been
using. Return equipment and glassware to
their proper places in the laboratory.
11.
Know
the location and proper use of safety equipment in the laboratory.
12.
Immediately
notify the lab instructor of chemical spills, broken glass or other hazards. Do not attempt to clean up such
mishaps/materials by yourself without first alerting your instructor/lab
supervisor.
13.
Immediately notify the
instructor/lab supervisor of any accidents, injuries, or situations in which
exposure to human blood or other potentially infectious materials in the
laboratory has occurred, regardless of how minor they may appear to be.
14.
Apply
Universal Precautions and Body-Substance Isolation infection control procedures
when appropriate to minimize potential exposure to bloodborne
pathogens.
15.
You may be exposed to potentially
hazardous materials in the process of completing your required laboratory
activities. Persons
with specific health concerns such as expectant mothers, wearers of contact
lenses, persons with known hypersensitivities, etc. should consult their
personal physician for advisement about potential risks before continuing in
the course.
16.
Before
doing any laboratory work in labs, view the PowerPoint
presentation on lab safety including bloodborne
pathogen precautions and successfully complete the safety exam.
17.
In
case of an emergency, think prior to aiding a fellow person in distress. Notify your instructor/lab supervisor first.
If you then choose to assist an injured person, provide yourself with
protection from blood or other potentially infectious materials. If possible
exposure occurs, ask for a copy of the incident report and consult with your personal
physician.