Lesson 1 Lab Safety
What To Do If An Accident Does Occur
What do you do if a chemical accidentally spills on your skin? Splashes in your eye? What if your lab notes catch on fire?
B1.4 Student using eyewash station
Responding quickly and appropriately to an incident can be the difference between discomfort and permanent disability.
If you notice improper or unsafe behavior or if an incident is actively occurring, inform the teacher immediately. Here are some examples that may occur in a high school chemistry lab.
If you notice improper or unsafe behavior or if an incident is actively occurring, inform the teacher immediately. Here are some examples that may occur in a high school chemistry lab.
| Incident | Response |
|---|---|
| chemical spill on skin | Rinse the area under running water for 10 to 15 min. |
| chemical spill in your eyes | Rinse the eye using an eyewash station for 10 to 15 min. |
| chemical spill on counter or floor
|
Use a spill kit to contain and neutralize the chemicals.
|
| person on fire | Smother the fire using a fire blanket. Never use a fire extinguisher on a person. |
| equipment on fire |
Extinguish with a fire extinguisher. |
| stabbed with glass | Leave glass. Seek medical attention. |
Watch This
AGHS Lab Safety Rap @ Youtube Heather Mora
Watch this video as a review of safe laboratory practices.
Practice Questions
Complete the following practice questions to check your understanding of the concept you just learned. Make sure you write complete answers to the practice
questions in your notes. After you have checked your answers, make corrections to your responses (where necessary) to study from.
- After Sam plugs in her microscope, she hears a crackling sound and sees smoke. Flames shoot out of the outlet and quickly start a lab notebook on fire. What should Sam do?
Sam should use the fire extinguisher to put the fire out and then tell the teacher.
- Teba is mixing two solutions together when a violent reaction occurs and some of the solution splashes on her face and gets in her eyes. What should Teba do?
Teba should use the eyewash station (trying to keep her eyes open) for at least 10 to 15 minutes. Then she should tell the teacher.