Laboratory Safety Contract

PURPOSE
Science is a hands-on laboratory class. You
will be doing many laboratory activities
which require the use of hazardous
chemicals. Safety in the science classroom is
the #1 priority for students, teachers, and
parents. To ensure a safe science classroom,
a list of rules has been developed and pro-
vided to you in this student safety contract.
These rules must be followed at all times.
Two copies of the contract are provided. One
copy must be signed by both you and a par-
ent or guardian before you can participate in
the laboratory. The second copy is to be kept
in your science notebook as a constant
reminder of the safety rules.

GENERALRULES

1. Conduct yourself in a responsible man-
ner at all times in the laboratory.
2. Follow all written and verbal instruc-
tions carefully. If you do not understand
a direction or part of a procedure, ask the
instructor before proceeding.
3. Never work alone. No student may work
in the laboratory without an instructor
present.
4. When first entering a science room, do
not touch any equipment, chemicals, or
other materials in the laboratory area
until you are instructed to do so.
5. Do not eat food, drink beverages, or
chew gum in the laboratory. Do not use
laboratory glassware as containers for
food or beverages.
6. Perform only those experiments autho-
rized by the instructor. Never do any-
thing in the laboratory that is not called
for in the laboratory procedures or by
your instructor. Carefully follow all
instructions, both written and oral.
Unauthorized experiments are prohib-
ited.
7. Be prepared for your work in the labora-
tory. Read all procedures thoroughly
before entering the laboratory.
8. Never fool around in the laboratory.
Horseplay, practical jokes, and pranks
are dangerous and prohibited.
9. Observe good housekeeping practices.
Work areas should be kept clean and tidy
at all times. Bring only your laboratory
instructions, worksheets, and/or reports
to the work area. Other materials (books,
purses, backpacks, etc.) should be stored
in the classroom area.
10. Keep aisles clear. Push your chair under
the desk when not in use.
11. Know the locations and operating proce-
dures of all safety equipment including
the first aid kit, eyewash station, safety
shower, fire extinguisher, and fire blan-
ket. Know where the fire alarm and the
exits are located.
12. Always work in a well-ventilated area.
Use the fume hood when working with
volatile substances or poisonous vapors.
Never place your head into the fume hood.
13. Be alert and proceed with caution at all
times in the laboratory. Notify the
instructor immediately of any unsafe
conditions you observe.
14. Dispose of all chemical waste properly.
Never mix chemicals in sink drains.
Sinks are to be used only for water and
those solutions designated by the
instructor. Solid chemicals, metals,
matches, filter paper, and all other insol-
uble materials are to be disposed of in
the proper waste containers, not in the
sink. Check the label of all waste con-
tainers twice before adding your chemi-
cal waste to the container.
15. Labels and equipment instructions must
be read carefully before use. Set up and
use the prescribed apparatus as directed
in the laboratory instructions or by your
instructor.
16. Keep hands away from face, eyes,
mouth and body while using chemicals
or preserved specimens. Wash your
hands with soap and water after per-
forming all experiments. Clean all work
surfaces and apparatus at the end of the
experiment. Return all equipment clean
and in working order to the proper stor-
age area.
17. Experiments must be personally moni-
tored at all times. You will be assigned a
laboratory station at which to work. Do
not wander around the room, distract
other students, or interfere with the labo-
ratory experiments of others.
18. Students are never permitted in the
science storage rooms or preparation
areas unless given specific permission
by their instructor.
19. Know what to do if there is a fire drill
during a laboratory period; containers
must be closed, gas valves turned off,
fume hoods turned off, and any electri-
cal equipment turned off.
20. Handle all living organisms used in a
laboratory activity in a humane manner.
Preserved biological materials are to be
treated with respect and disposed of
properly.
21. When using knives and other sharp
instruments, always carry with tips and
points pointing down and away. Always
cut away from your body. Never try to
catch falling sharp instruments. Grasp
sharp instruments only by the handles.
22. If you have a medical condition (e.g.,
allergies, pregnancy, etc.), check with
your physician prior to working in lab.

CLOTHING

23. Any time chemicals, heat, or glassware
are used, students will wear laboratory
goggles. There will be no exceptions to
this rule!
24. Contact lenses should not be worn in the
laboratory unless you have permission
from your instructor.
25. Dress properly during a laboratory activ-
ity. Long hair, dangling jewelry, and
loose or baggy clothing are a hazard in
the laboratory. Long hair must be tied
back and dangling jewelry and loose or
baggy clothing must be secured. Shoes
must completely cover the foot. No san-
dals allowed.
26. Lab aprons have been provided for your
use and should be worn during labora-
tory activities.
ACCIDENTS AND INJURIES
27. Report any accident (spill, breakage,
etc.) or injury (cut, burn, etc.) to the
instructor immediately, no matter how
trivial it may appear.
28. If you or your lab partner are hurt,
immediately yell out “Code one, Code
one” to get the instructor’s attention.
29. If a chemical splashes in your eye(s) or
on your skin, immediately flush with
running water from the eyewash station
or safety shower for at least 20 minutes.
Notify the instructor immediately.
30. When mercury thermometers are bro-
ken, mercury must not be touched.
Notify the instructor immediately.

HANDLING CHEMICALS

31. All chemicals in the laboratory are to be
considered dangerous. Do not touch,
taste, or smell any chemicals unless
specifically instructed to do so. The
proper technique for smelling chemical
fumes will be demonstrated to you.
32. Check the label on chemical bottles
twice before removing any of the con-
tents. Take only as much chemical as
you need.
33. Never return unused chemicals to their
original containers.
34. Never use mouth suction to fill a pipet.
Use a rubber bulb or pipet pump.
35. When transferring reagents from one
container to another, hold the containers
away from your body.
36. Acids must be handled with extreme
care. You will be shown the proper
method for diluting strong acids. Always
add acid to water, swirl or stir the solu-
tion and be careful of the heat produced,
particularly with sulfuric acid.
37. Handle flammable hazardous liquids over
a pan to contain spills. Never dispense
flammable liquids anywhere near an open
flame or source of heat.
38. Never remove chemicals or other materi-
als from the laboratory area.
39. Take great care when transporting acids
and other chemicals from one part of the
laboratory to another. Hold them
securely and walk carefully.

HANDLING GLASSWARE
AND EQUIPMENT

40. Carry glass tubing, especially long
pieces, in a vertical position to minimize
the likelihood of breakage and injury.
41. Never handle broken glass with your
bare hands. Use a brush and dustpan to
clean up broken glass. Place broken or
waste glassware in the designated glass
disposal container.
42. Inserting and removing glass tubing
from rubber stoppers can be dangerous.
Always lubricate glassware (tubing, this-
tle tubes, thermometers, etc.) before
attempting to insert it in a stopper.
Always protect your hands with towels
or cotton gloves when inserting glass
tubing into, or removing it from, a rub-
ber stopper. If a piece of glassware
becomes “frozen” in a stopper, take it to
your instructor for removal.
43. Fill wash bottles only with distilled
water and use only as intended, e.g., rins-
ing glassware and equipment, or adding
water to a container.
44. When removing an electrical plug from
its socket, grasp the plug, not the electri-
cal cord. Hands must be completely dry
before touching an electrical switch,
plug, or outlet.
45. Examine glassware before each use.
Never use chipped or cracked glassware.
Never use dirty glassware.
46. Report damaged electrical equipment
immediately. Look for things such as
frayed cords, exposed wires, and loose
connections. Do not use damaged elec-
trical equipment.
47. If you do not understand how to use a
piece of equipment, ask the instructor for
help.
48. Do not immerse hot glassware in cold
water; it may shatter.

HEATING SUBSTANCES

49. Exercise extreme caution when using a
gas burner. Take care that hair, clothing
and hands are a safe distance from the
flame at all times. Do not put any sub-
stance into the flame unless specifically
instructed to do so. Never reach over an
exposed flame. Light gas (or alcohol)
burners only as instructed by the teacher.
50. Never leave a lit burner unattended.
Never leave anything that is being
heated or is visibly reacting unattended.
Always turn the burner or hot plate off
when not in use.
51. You will be instructed in the proper
method of heating and boiling liquids in
test tubes. Do not point the open end of
a test tube being heated at yourself or
anyone else.
52. Heated metals and glass remain very
hot for a long time. They should be set
aside to cool and picked up with cau-
tion. Use tongs or heat-protective
gloves if necessary.
53. Never look into a container that is being
heated.
54. Do not place hot apparatus directly on
the laboratory desk. Always use an insu-
lating pad. Allow plenty of time for hot
apparatus to cool before touching it.
55. When bending glass, allow time for the
glass to cool before further handling. Hot
and cold glass have the same visual
appearance. Determine if an object is hot
by bringing the back of your hand close
to it prior to grasping it.

QUESTIONS

56. Do you wear contact lenses?
􏰀YES 􏰀NO
57. Are you color blind?
􏰀YES 􏰀NO
58. Do you have allergies?
􏰀YES 􏰀NO
If so, list specific allergies___________
________________________________
________________________________

Flinn Scientific’s Student Safety Contract
AGREEMENT

I, ___________________________,
(student’s name) have read and agree
to follow all of the safety rules set
forth in this contract. I realize that I
must obey these rules to ensure my
own safety, and that of my fellow stu-
dents and instructors. I will cooperate
to the fullest extent with my instructor
and fellow students to maintain a safe
lab environment. I will also closely
follow the oral and written instructions
provided by the instructor. I am aware
that any violation of this safety con-
tract that results in unsafe conduct in
the laboratory or misbehavior on my
part, may result in being removed
from the laboratory, detention, receiv-
ing a failing grade, and/or dismissal
from the course.
Student Signature _________________________________
Date______________________

Dear Parent or Guardian:

We feel that you should be informed
regarding the school’s effort to create
and maintain a safe science class-
room/laboratory environment.
With the cooperation of the instruc-
tors, parents, and students, a safety
instruction program can eliminate,
prevent, and correct possible hazards.
You should be aware of the safety
instructions your son/daughter will
receive before engaging in any labora-
tory work. Please read the list of safety
rules above. No student will be permit-
ted to perform laboratory activities
unless this contract is signed by both
the student and parent/guardian and is
on file with the teacher.
Your signature on this contract indi-
cates that you have read this Student
Safety Contract, are aware of the mea-
sures taken to ensure the safety of
your son/daughter in the science labo-
ratory, and will instruct your son/
daughter to uphold his/her agreement
to follow these rules and procedures
in the laboratory.
Parent/Guardian Signature___________________________________________
Date ______________________________