Lab Safety
The lab instructor will provide a statement to be signed by the student confirming that the following rules and regulations have been read by the student and summarized by the lab teaching assistant. It also indicates that the student will comply with these rules and regulations and any later additions to them. The student is advised to consult this information frequently and to inquire about points that are not clear. In any laboratory, safety is of the highest importance. The experiments you will perform are designed to minimize hazards, but dangerous materials are involved and accidents can happen. The safety rules given below are meant to prevent accidents and to minimize injuries. Failure to comply with the rules will result in penalties that may involve being ejected from the lab and given an unexcused absence and a grade of zero for the experiment(s).Eye Protection
In labs, there is the potential for spills and splashes of corrosive chemicals and explosions involving broken glass. Getting a chemical in your eyes can be agonizing, even if it would cause no problem anywhere else on your body. (Think about soapy water!) Of course, your eyes are more susceptible to major injury than other parts of your body. For these reasons, eye protection is crucial in the laboratory. You will be issued a pair of safety glasses or goggles during check-in. You must wear safety glasses at all times while in the laboratory. If you wear glasses, safety glasses must be worn over them; a larger pair of safety glasses that can fit over most frames will be issued to you. If you have prescription safety glasses with side shields, or safety glasses from a job or other activity, you may wear them instead of the university-issued glasses. This may require approval by the lab director. Wearing contact lenses in lab is strongly discouraged. If you wear them, you must wear safety glasses as well. You must also sign a waiver stating that you understand the dangers involved and will not hold the university liable if they result in an injury. Refusing or neglecting to wear eye protection will result in penalties. These can range from point deductions to dismissal from the laboratory, depending on the severity or frequency of the offense.Hand Protection
Many of the chemicals used in the general chemistry labs are dilute and pose little harm if a drop falls on the skin. Therefore, nitrile gloves are only provided for select experiments with concentrated acids/bases or toxic solutes. The best safety practice is to be aware of any droplets of chemical solution that occur on the hands and immediately wash one's hands. In general, students should wash their hands with soap and water at the completion of the lab period. When wearing gloves, students should refrain from touching the computer keyboard or other surfaces another person without gloves is likely to touch. Students should not wear gloves outside the lab room, to the hallway or restroom. Students may wear one glove if transporting an empty container to the FOX stockroom when requesting a reagent refill.Clothing and Personal Items
Students are urged to dress with potential lab hazards in mind. Clothing should protect as much of the body as possible. Clothing may have to be immediately removed if grossly contaminated with chemicals or ignited. The following rules apply:-
1Shirt must cover shoulders, frontal area, and extend approximately 6" below the waist
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2Pants must extend to ankles (no tights, leggings or capri pants)
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3Torso must be covered when bending (no bare midriffs)
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4Shoes must cover toes and heels (no flip flops)
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5Long hair must be tied back
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6Loose clothing must be restrained
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7All earbuds and headphones are forbidden in the lab.
Handling Chemicals
The easiest routes for possibly dangerous chemicals and vapors to enter the body are via inhalation or ingestion. Avoid inhalation of fumes of any kind. Eating and drinking are not permitted in the laboratory. Never bring food into the lab and never taste any chemicals in the lab. Also, do not place your mouth on any piece of equipment in the laboratory. Treat all chemicals in the lab as potential hazards. Keep them off your skin and clothes. Many chemicals are thought to pose special risks to unborn children, especially during the first few months of pregnancy. To minimize this risk, consult the lab director if you are pregnant. For additional information on the properties of laboratory chemicals, consult the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) on that chemical or another resource.Safety Data Sheets (SDS)
Full safety data on all chemicals used in the laboratory are included in their Safety Data Sheet (SDS). This includes toxicology, detailed first aid and proper disposal and handling instructions. SDS sheets are available on line at https://ehs.ncsu.edu/laboratory-safety/safety-data-sheets/. They are also available on some chemical distributor web pages or by calling any chemical distributor or manufacturer of the chemical in question.Chemical Hazards Labels
To provide quick visual information about the hazards found in certain areas, the Health-Fire-Reactivity square was developed. The square, or diamond, consists of four areas that provide information about the specific hazards of substances.Figure 1
Chemical Labeling
To prevent accidents in mixing of chemicals, you should always label your glassware according to its contents. Labels are provided in the lab for this purpose. On the label, include:-
•the name of the chemical or chemicals
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•the concentration (if known)
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•the solvent (what it is dissolved in)
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•the date
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•your name or initials