Chemistry Department

General Chemistry Laboratory

Laboratory Safety
October 2020
• Before entering lab, always wear
• Lab coat
• Safety goggles
• Gloves
• Always tie long hair

• Never wear
• Open toe shoes
• Short sleeves
• Contact lenses
• Jewellery
• No horseplay at laboratory • If neccesary, dilute while smelling • Do not taste chemicals

• Know about the chemicals • Do not randomly mix the chemicals • Always check the labels of
before using them chemicals before using them
• Never add water to concentrated acid. • Never sit on laboratory benches • Being overconfident can lead
Always add acid to water. dangerous situations at lab.

• If faced with any complication, always • Mobile phones are strictly forbidden
report to the laboratory assistant • Belongings belong to the lockers
 Masks

• Masks should be used in order to avoid exposure to dust and liquid particles which is
composed of solid or liquid chemicals.
• Mask as is handy use and compatible with the skin, different types of filter masks are also
available depending on the chemicals used.
 Gloves

• Wear wisely and double!

• Considering variations in laboratory conditions, one type of gloves cannot
be able to provide full protection.
• It should be noted that latex gloves do not resist many chemicals and
solvents and also may cause allergic reactions in some people. So
neoprene (rubber) or disposal nitrile based gloves should be preferred for
protection.
• Heavy work gloves should be used for protection from liquid nitrogen and
heat.
• Not all gloves are created equal!
• For every chemical a label contains with information about warnings, risks and precautions. Before handling a
chemical these labels should carefully be read and blind spots must be asked to the laboratory instructor.

1. Product Indentifier
2. Signal Word
3. GHS Pictograms
4. Hazard Statements
5. Precautionary Statements
6. Supplier Information
7. Additional Customer Requirements
• Tags of hazardous materials like chemicals, in
addition to hazard signs, must display the
dangers these chemicals pose and must inform
about the necessary precautions.
• R (Risk) factors express the hazard levels of the
chemicals.
• In the Regulations for Hazardous Chemicals are
given some R codes and their combinations,
with clear descriptions of the dangers, to be
used on the tags of hazardous materials and
products.
 • Following examples require precautions while using them:
1. Chemical Carcinogens: Benzene, chloroform, formaldehyde which are widely used
chemicals are suspected or known carcinogens.
• Choose to use alternative chemicals with less toxic effects
• Use a fume hood while working with these chemicals
• Store chemicals in a safe place when not in use
• Choose the most appropriate gloves and always wash your hands after
removing them.
2. Mercury: The widespread use of mercury and its compounds in the
laboratories may be overlooked because of its dangerous structure.
• Elemental mercury; severe toxic volatile vapors. Therefore, when poured, it
should be cleaned very well.
• All transactions will be made in accordance with mercury should be done in a
fume hood.
• Spills should be cleaned immediately with appropriate methods.
• Do not heat the surface contaminated with mercury; heating increases the
vapor pressure of mercury.
• If possible, use special thermometers including non-toxic material instead of
mercury ones.
Procedure for cleaning spilled mercury: 3. Close interior doors and windows leading to other rooms.

1. If people were in the room when the spill occurred, be 4. Avoid skin contact with mercury, breathing of mercury

sure that their shoes, clothing, and other articles have not vapor and, using a vacuum cleaner to clean up a mercury

been splashed with mercury before they leave the room. spill. Because mercury vapors are readily absorbed

Keep people away from spill area. through the lungs into the bloodstream, they are

2. Turn off the oven and similar tools and allow them to cool particularly hazardous. Mercury vapors are also heavier

to room temperature. It should be known that odorless than air and may linger in higher concentrations at the

and colorless mercury vapors will be released into the air site of the spill. Ventilate the room with the spill to the
faster with increase in temperature. Turn off air outdoors by opening windows and any exterior doors.

conditioning or ventilating systems. Continue ventilating the room with outside air for a
minimum of two days.
Procedure for cleaning spilled mercury: a zip-lock bag. Label the bag as containing items

5. Remove all jewelry from hands and wrists so the mercury contaminated with mercury. If there are any mercury

does not bond to the metals (Put on rubber gloves, beads which could not be collected, pick them up with

goggles, and appropriate clothes before cleaning). duct tape and be sure to carefully inspect the entire room.

6. Locate all mercury beads, then carefully use the 7. Sprinkle elemental sulfur in powder form or fine powder

cardboard to gather them together. Use slow sweeping zinc, if available, on the spill site, if feasible, to bind any

motions to prevent accidentally spreading the mercury. remaining mercury.

Slowly and carefully transfer the mercury into an 8. Wash contact area that came into contact with mercury
unbreakable plastic container with an airtight lid (such as using alkaline soap and a paste of water and “flowers of

a plastic film canister). Place the plastic containers or bags sulfur,” if available. Sulfur combines with mercury sulfide
inside a second plastic container or bag to provide becomes insoluble. Never pour washing water into the

additional containment protection. Place the container in sink and never contact with this water.
3. Perchloric acid (concentrated, 70%): Perchloric acid can be dangerously reactive. Aqueous
perchloric acid, 70% or weaker, is a strong acid at room temperature. At elevated temperatures
and concentrations (above 70%) it is a strong and active oxidizing agent. Anhydrous perchloric
acid is unstable and may cause explosion. Contact with oxidizing agent may cause fire or
explosion.
4. Peroxides: Ethers, liq. paraffin, olefines etc. particular chemicals formed peroxides in the
presence of light and air. You must be careful by using ether (acyclic or cyclic). Ethers having
peroxides can be explode by heat. Unsealed or partially empty bottle can accelerate the
forming of peroxides when it exposed to light and air.
5. Aqua reactants (pyrophobic compounds): Some chemical can react with water. Therefore,
these chemicals must be stored at dry places. They must not be stored under a sink to prevent
unwanted accidents. Corresponded chemicals Na, Li, K, etc. must not be contact with water.
• First Aid:
• Consciousness must be examined; if the person is not conscious the
following steps must be checked immediately then appropriate first
aid must be applied.
• ABC of First Aid:
• A: Airway Space
• B: Breathing
• C: Circulation
• Chemicals may cause burns when they

contact with human skin. In such cases,

chemicals should be removed immediately

by washing with water to minimize the risk.

• Emergency showers and eye wash stations

have been developed for this purpose.

• In case of contact with chemicals:
Acids:
• In the contact of skin or clothes with acid, the area should be washed with flowing water.
If the chemical was swallowed, vomit is not advised, magnesium oxide suspension should
be drinking. In the case of breath of acid mist, gas poisoning precautions should be
applied, mouth and nose should be washed with water.
Bases:
• In the case of contact with bases, the area should be washed with water. Washing should
be finished with 1% acetic acid solution. The diluted acid and base solutions shouldn’t be
irritant.
Eye contact with acids or bases

• Rinse immediately with water and apply salve to eye.

Gas Poisoning

• In all accidents, you must be calm and assist the injured person to be calm too. Patients should be
removed to fresh air to refresh their lungs with deep breathing. Do not induce vomiting them besides
that don’t attempt to give water or another foods. In severe cases, turn patient’s head sideways and
help he or she to lie on stomach then call the doctor. Drying and bitterness in the mouth, dizziness,
nausea and burning throat are symptoms of poisoning.

Ethyl Alcohol Poisoning

• Gastric lavage, artificial respiration should be done, drink dark coffee, hot bath and then cold shower
are advised.
Chemical Spill-Clean Up Procedures

Small Quantities

Liquids should be absorbed with paper towels while using appropriate gloves. Wastes should
put in a plastic container or a plastic bag and immediately delivered to the laboratory
supervisor. Solids should gently swept using brush and scoop. Use mask if it is necessary.

Large Quantities

Large quantity spills should be reported to laboratory supervisor immediately without

interfering.
Fire Types
For an effective intervention in the early
stages of fire in the laboratory, fire
extinguisher should be selected according to
the type.

Therefore, first, what type of fire extinguisher

is suitable for which type of fire should be
known.
Fire Types

To use a fire extinquisher, follow PASS

During an earthquake

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