Safety Rules and Regulations

1. Listen to all instructions given by you teacher and follow them carefully. This is the most important rule to follow for a lab.
2. Read your lab assignments before coming to class.
3. Perform only those experiments on which you have been instructed.
4. Your behavior and attitude in lab should be excellent, both your safety and the safety of others depend upon it. There should not be any loud talking or horse play.
5. Wear safety goggles and apron when:
a. Working with heat.
b. Working with any type of grinding, cutting, soldering, etc.
c. Working with chemicals.
d. Instructed to do so by your teacher
e. Goggles should be worn even when wearing contact lenses.
6. It is your responsibility to take care of the lab equipment, use it only as instructed, report any damages to your teacher. Any broken glass is to be reported to the teacher and cleaned up immediately.
7. If you are in doubt about any procedure, ask your teacher.
8. Tie back long hair to prevent injury. Hair can catch on fire or block your view.
9. Wash your hands after each lab experiment.
10. Clean and dry your lab work area at the close of the lab period. Return all equipment and materials to proper place.
11. Be very careful when operating electrical equipment.
a. Lab working surface, equipment, and your hands should not be wet.
b. Check all cords and plugs to be sure they are in good condition. Look for exposed or broken wires and insulation in poor condition.
c. Report to your teacher any equipment that is not working.
d. Remember electricity is conducted by water. Therefore keep electrical equipment dry.
12. When you are working with an open flame or heating some materials never leave them unattended. Keep your clothing and hair away from the flame. Never use water on an oil or grease fire. Never heat a substance containing alcohol.
13. Scalpels can make very serious cuts if not used properly. When working with a scalpel hold as you would a pencil when writing.
14. Microscopes are very delicate, expensive instruments. They should always be carried with two hands and handled gently.
a. Carry it in an upright position with the base resting on your other hand.
b. Use only lens paper when cleaning lenses.
c. Keep microscope in an upward position on table. Do not tilt it to look at a specimen.
d. When using the low power (coarse) adjustment knob, do not look through ocular.
e. Always begin focusing under low power.
15. Dissecting instruments should not be jabbed into the tar in the bottom of the dissecting pan and should not be used for anything besides dissecting.
16. Some bacteria cultures can be disease causing. The disease causing (pathogenic) bacteria should not be grown or handled by students. All bacteria cultures should be disposed of by your teacher. The room should be disinfected after use of bacteria cultures.
17. It is very important that you wash and dry your hands after working with any type of chemicals, bacteria or specimen.
18. Never mix unknown chemicals together or any chemicals which you are not instructed to combine. If diluting acids, always pour acid into water.
19. During lab activities, the teacher should be notified immediately if you cut yourself with any type of equipment.
20. Place all solid waster and specimens in designated containers not in laboratory sinks.