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Physics Laboratory Safety Precautions

These safety rules always apply in the lab

1. Always wear a lab apron and safety goggles.

Wear these safety devices whenever you are in the lab, not just when you are

working on an experiment.

2. No contact lenses in the lab.

Contact lenses should not be worn during any investigations using chemicals

(even if you are wearing goggles). In the event of an accident, chemicals can

get behind contact lenses and cause serious damage before the lenses can

be removed. If your doctor requires that you wear contact lenses instead of

glasses, you should wear eye-cup safety goggles in the lab. Ask your doctor

or your teacher how to use this important eye protection.

3. Personal apparel should be appropriate for laboratory work.

On lab days avoid wearing long necklaces, dangling bracelets, bulky jewelry,

and bulky or loose-fitting clothing. Long hair should be tied back.

Loose, dangling items may get caught in moving parts, accidentally contact

electrical connections, or interfere with the investigation in a potentially

hazardous manner. In addition, chemical fumes may react with some jewelry,

such as pearls, and ruin them. Cotton clothing is preferable to wool, nylon, or

polyester. Wear shoes that will protect your feet from chemical spills and

falling objects-open-toed shoes or sandals, and shoes with woven leather

straps are not allowed in the laboratory.

4. NEVER work alone in the laboratory.

Work in the lab only while under the supervision of your teacher. Do not leave

equipment unattended while it is in operation.

5. Only books and notebooks needed for the experiment should be in the lab.

Only the lab notebook and the textbook should be used. Keep other books,

backpacks, purses, and similar items in your desk, locker, or designated

storage area.

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6. Read the entire experiment before entering the lab.

Your teacher will review applicable safety precautions before the lab. If you

are not sure of something, ask your teacher about it.

7. Always heed safety symbols and cautions written in the experimental

investigations and handouts, posted in the room, and given verbally by your

teacher.

They are provided for your safety.

8. Know the proper fire drill procedures and the location of fire exits and

emergency equipment.

Make sure you know the procedures to follow in case of a fire or anemergency.

9. If your clothing catches on fire, do not run;

WALK to the safety shower, stand under it, and turn it on.

Call to your teacher while you do this.

10.Report all accidents to the teacher immediately, no matter how minor.

In addition, if you get a headache, feel sick to your stomach, or feel dizzy, tellyour teacher immediately.

11.Report all spills to your teacher immediately.

Call your teacher rather than trying to clean up a spill yourself. Your teacher

will tell you if it is safe for you to clean up the spill; if not, your teacher will

know how the spillshould be cleaned up safely.

12.Student-designed inquiry investigations, such as the Invention Labs in the

Laboratory Experiments manual, must be approved by the teacher before

being attempted by the student.

13.DO NOT perform unauthorized experiments or use materials and equipment

in a manner for which they were not intended.

Use only materials and equipment listed in the activity equipment list or

authorized by your teacher. Steps in a procedure should only be performed

as described in the textbook or lab manual or approved by your teacher.

14. Stay alert in the lab, and proceed with caution.

Be aware of others near you or your equipment when you are performing an

experiment. If you are not sure of how to proceed, ask.

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15.Horseplay in the lab is very dangerous.

Laboratory equipment and apparatus are not toys; never play in the lab or

use lab time or equipment for anything other than their intended purpose.

16.Food, beverages, and chewing gum are NEVER permitted in the laboratory.

17.NEVER taste chemicals. Do not touch chemicals or allow them to contact

areas of bare skin.

18.Use extreme CAUTION when working with.

Hot plates or other heating devices.

Keep your head, hands, hair, and clothing away from the flame or heating

area, and turn heating devices off when they are not in use. Remember that

metal surfaces connected to the heated area will, become hot by conduction.Gas burners should be lit only with a spark lighter. Make sure all heating

devices and gas valves are turned off before leaving the laboratory. Never

leave a hot plate or other heating device unattended when it is in use.

Remember that many metal, ceramic, and glass items do not always look hot

when they are hot. Allow all items to cool before storing.

19.Exercise caution when working with electrical equipment.

Do not use electrical equipment with frayed or twisted wires. Be sure your

hands are dry before using electrical equipment. Do not let electrical cordsdangle from work stations; dangling cords can cause electrical shocks and

other injuries.

20.Keep work areas and apparatus clean and neat.

Always dean up any clutter made during lab work, rearrange apparatus in an

orderly manner, and report any damaged or missing items.

21.Always thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water at the conclusion of

each investigation.

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Waste Disposal

Never put broken glass or ceramics in a regular waste container. Use a

dustpan, a brush, and heavy gloves to carefully pick up broken pieces,

and dispose of them in a container specifically provided for this purpose.

Dispose of chemicals as instructed by your teacher. Never pour

hazardous chemicals into a regular waste container. Never pour

radioactive materials down the drain.

Heating Safety

When using a burner or hot plate, always wear goggles and an apron to

protect your eyes and clothing. Tie back long hair, secure loose clothing

and remove loose jewelry.

Never leave a hot plate unattended while it is turned on.

Wire coils may heat up rapidly during this experiment. If heating occurs,

open the switch immediately and handle the equipment with a hot mitt.

Allow all equipment to cool before storing it.

If your clothing catches on fire, walk to the emergency lab shower and use

the shower to put out the fire.

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HandSafety

Perform this experiment in a clear area. Attach masses securely. Falling,

dropped, or swinging objects can cause serious injury.

Use a hot mitt to handle resistors, light sources, and other equipment that

may be hot. Allow all equipment to. Cool before storing it.

Glassware Safety

If a thermometer breaks, notify the teacher immediately.

Do not heat glassware that is broken, chipped, or cracked. Use tongs or a

hot mitt to handle heated glassware and other equipment that may be hot.

Allow all equipment to cool before storing it.

If a bulb breaks, notify your teacher immediately.

Do not remove broken bulbs from sockets.

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Electrical Safety

Never dose a circuit until it has been approved by your teacher. Never

rewire or adjust any element of a closed circuit.

Never work with electricity near water. Be sure the floor and all work

surfaces are dry.

If the pointer on any kind of meter moves off scale, open the circuit

immediately by opening the switch.

Do not work with any batteries, electrical devices, or magnets other than

those provided by your teacher.

Chemistry Laboratory Safety Precautions

Some rules are NOT made to be broken. That is true of the rules used in a

chemistry lab. They are really, truly for your safety and not your humiliation.

Do Not Pipette By Mouth - Ever

You say, "But it's only water." Even if it is, how clean do you think that

glassware reallyis? Using disposable pipettes? I know lots of people whorinse them and put them back! Learn to use the pipette bulb or automated

pipetter. Don't pipette by mouth at home either. Gasoline and kerosene

should be obvious, but people get hospitalized or die every year, right? I

know someone who used his mouth to start the suction on a waterbed to

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drain it. Do you know what they put in some waterbed additives? Carbon-

14. Mmmm...radiation. He couldn't retch fast enough! The lesson is that

even seemingly harmless substances may be dangerous!

Read the Chemical Safety Information

A Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) should be available for every

chemical you use in lab. Read these and follow the recommendations for

safe use and disposal of the material.

Dress Appropriately (for chemistry lab, not fashion or the weather)

No sandals, no clothes you love more than life, no contact lenses, and

long pants are preferable to shorts or short skirts. Tie long hair back. Wear

safety goggles and a lab coat. Even if you aren't clumsy, someone else in

the lab probably is. If you take even a few chemistry courses you will

probably see people set themselves on fire, spill acid on themselves,

others, or notes, splash themselves in the eye, etc. Don't be the bad

example to others, remembered for all time for something stupid!

Identify the Safety Equipment

And know how to use it! Given that some people (possibly you) will need

them, know the locations of the fire blanket, extinguishers, eyewash, and

shower. Ask for demonstrations! If the eyewash hasn't been used in a

while the discoloration of the water is usually sufficient to inspire use of

safety glasses.

Don't Taste or Sniff Chemicals

For many chemicals, if you can smell them then you are exposing yourself

to a dose that can harm you! If the safety information says that a chemical

should only be used inside a fume hood, then don't use it anywhere else.

This isn't cooking class - don't taste your experiments!

http://chemistry.about.com/od/materialsafetydatasheets/index.htmhttp://chemistry.about.com/od/materialsafetydatasheets/index.htm

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Don't Casually Dispose of Chemicals Down the Drain

Some chemicals can be washed down the drain, while others require a

different method of disposal. If a chemical can go in the sink, be sure to

wash it away rather than risk an unexpected reaction between chemical

'leftovers' later.

Don't Eat or Drink in Lab

It's tempting, but oh so dangerous... just don't do it!

Don't Play Mad Scientist

Don't haphazardly mix chemicals! Pay attention to the order in which

chemicals are to be added to each other and do not deviate from the

instructions. Even chemicals that mix to produce seemingly safe products

should be handled carefully. For example, hydrochloric acid and sodium

hydroxide will give you salt water, but the reaction could break your

glassware or splash the reactants onto you if you aren't careful!

Take Data During Lab

Not after lab, on the assumption that it will be neater. Put data directly in

your lab book rather than transcribing from another source (e.g., notebook

or lab partner). There are lots of reasons for this, but the practical one is

that it is much harder for the data to get lost in your lab book. For some

experiments, it may be helpful to take data beforelab. No, I'm not tellingyou to dry-lab or cheat, but being able to project likely data will help you

catch bad lab procedure before you are three hours or so into a project.

Know what to expect. You should always read the experiment in advance.

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SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

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SHORT AND SIMPLE RULES

No unauthorized access to Laboratories and Workshops without

supervision

No unauthorized use of equipment

Wear protective gear

Wear only closed toe shoes

No jewelers or loose fitting clothing

Contain long hair and beards

Walk - dont run

If you dont understand - ASK No food or drink

Read all safety data sheets and labels

Be aware of emergency procedures, exits and emergency buttons

Read and understand any safety signs, instructions and notices.

Think before you act.

Clean up as you work to avoid dangerous clutter.

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SAFETY PRECAUTIONSIN LABORATORIES AND WORKSHOPS

Construction Laboratories and Workshops are places to experiment, be creative

and use skills and talents to construct models, furniture and other design

prototypes.

SAFETY = COMMON SENSE

However, these activities in the design and development are often unpredictable.

The use of exotic materials, unorthodox use of tools and equipment and a rapid

change in the activities as new design ideas develop and change, sometimes

make it difficult to respect safety regulations.

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Workshop Safety Precaution

THE WRONG TOOL FOR THE JOB

It is sometimes tempting to use available equipment or tools in a way not

originally foreseen or to do some work to which they have not been adapted or

designed for.

All equipment and tools can be used to undertake a variety of tasks but if you

dont know the limits or use it the right way - trouble is just around the corner!

If you have the slightest doubt about the suitability of the operation, ASK advice

from the Technical staff. They will ensure that the necessary precautions are

taken and adequate safety equipment made available or alternative equipment

can be used. Don't think of the safety organisation as being there to stop you

from doing interesting things, it is there to help you achieve success.

As well as the Laboratory or Workshop where you are working, Technical staff

have access to other resources within the University that can usually carry out

special processes that cannot be handled in Faculty Laboratories and

Workshops.

Consult, ask for advice and help from Technical staff - thats their job

and they want to see how proud you are of the finished project.

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CLEAN UP YOUR MESS!

It is the responsibility of ALL Laboratory and Workshop users to keep the

surrounding work area clean and tidy at all times and not cluttered with the

materials that you are using for your project.

Areas around machines and walkways are specially marked to prevent

accidents.

Dont block them with materials or obstacles that may restrict access or

emergency evacuation, or simply clutter up the working space and make safe

and efficient working more difficult.

At the end of the session, that magical SOMEONE is supposed to wave a magic

wand to clean up the mess! Technical staff are not employed to clean-up after

you - cleaning equipment is provided and time is usually allocated at the end to

cleandown the benches, machinery and sweep the floor around your work area.

Making a mess when using a workshop is a fact of life. You cant produce a

masterpiece without cutting, sanding, sawing or drilling that special creation.

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IS IT SAFE?

Some materials, solutions and solvents are unsafe when they mix or come into

contact with other substances. They must be used in well ventilated areas and

under fume extraction hoods.

Any materials or solutions that you bring into the Laboratory or Workshop MUST

be shown to the Technical Staff to assess if there is any risk in their use in the

area.

Technical staff provide materials safety data sheets of the common materials

used within the Laboratory or Workshop. Before you decide to try some special

type of material, ASK what safety hazards may be likely and whether special

precautions and processes need to be undertaken.

Verify that all safety equipment that you need for a particular job is present

before starting the activity.

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WHEN THINGS GO WRONG

Even when all the safety precautions are in place, sometimes things go wrong

and emergency procedures must be implemented.

Get to know the work environment, in particular where to find:

fire extinguisher

fire aid kit

emergency stop buttons

telephone and emergency number

emergency exits

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A PLACE FOR EVERYTHING - EVERYTHING IN ITS PLACE

Laboratories and Workshops are operated by well organized Technical staffs

who provides multiple sets of tools and equipment for your use.

Leaving a heap of tools lying around on the workbench is inviting a accident to

happen. When you have finished using it - put it back in the rack or cupboard for

others to use and keep your work area uncluttered.

If a tool is broken, blunt, or you break it - tell the Technical staff - they usually

wont "bite you head off", because these things happen all the time as students

are learning and experimenting with new skills.

If a tool it is damaged or unsafe to use, then it isYOUR responsib-ility to inform

them.

Dont just return it to the cupboard, as the next user could be seriously hurt or

injured.

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SAFETY SIGNS

Signs surround us in everyday life to inform us to Go Left, Slow Down, Stop and

a multitude of other instructions.

In Laboratories and Workshops, picture safety signs use universal symbols to:

prevent accidents

signal health hazards

indicate the location of safety, first aid and fire protection equipment

give clear guidance and instruction in emergency procedures

form part of the total safety information system of the area.

Picture safety signs warn of hazards or risks that are present in the workplace

and inform users in the workplace how to avoid that hazard or risks, or its effects.

In addition to the picture signs, many individual machines and processes have

detailed signs explaining "step by step" instructions to use them safely.

Some Laboratories and Workshops provide mandatory signage for students from

non-English speaking backgrounds.

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TYPES OF SAFETY SIGNS AND THEIR MEANING

There are four categories of picture safety signs, distinguished by the color and

shape of the symbol:

1. Circle: white background with red borders and cross bar; black symbol

Meaning: Stop and Prohibition signs

2. Triangle: yellow background with black border; black symbol

Meaning: Caution (warning) signs

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3. Rectangle: green background; white symbol

Meaning: Emergency-related information signs

4. Circle: blue background; white symbol

Meaning: Mandatory (must obey) signs

Engineering Laboratory Equipment Borrowing Procedures

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Introduction

We pride ourselves for having the best and current up to date equipment

available to our students to use in our labs. To keep our equipment in good

working order and available this Engineering Laboratory Equipment Procedure

must be followed by Students, Faculty & Staff of the Westmead International

School of Engineering.

I. Equipment and Supplies

A. Anyone (Student/Staff/Faculty) borrowing Tools\Equipment from any

electronics lab or Laboratory Support room must check in/out with a Laboratory

Support Attendant (KEN234) or record his/her Name, Student ID Number (10

digit phone number) the date & time loaned, the Item ID (Bar Code) and the

item/s borrowed on a YELLOW CARD Form (See Form 1) located in the

Laboratory Support Storeroom.

B. Tools or instruments must be returned on the same day in order to best

assure availability of the limited resources. If the item is needed for a longer time,

approval from the Laboratory Supervisor is required.

C. All tools must be returned to the original storage site after use.

D. Anyone using any components or parts from the lab must return the

components or parts to it original storage bin or drawer. If the items are already

in short supply (only one or two remaining), they are not to be used without firstobtaining approval of the Laboratory Supervisor or Faculty Member. This assures

Stock replenishment.

E. For the safety our Equipment, all doors to the Electronics Laboratory

must be locked at all times and will not be propped open at any time. Access

cards can be obtained with your Instructors permission.

FORM 1, with required fields filled in.

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WESTMEAD INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLSCHOOL OF ENGINEERING

INDIVIDUAL ASSIGNMENT OF EQUIPMENTName :____________________ Home Phone :_____________________Student ID no.:_______________ Work Phone:_____________________

Date and Time: ______________________________________________Name of Equipment/s: ________________________________________Item ID:______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________DATE/TIME RETURNED TO LAB SUPERVISOR ___________________

Westmead International School

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College of Engineering

Mechanical Engineering

Safety Precautions for:

Physics Laboratory, Chemistry Laboratory, Workshop

And also the

Procedure for borrowing tools / Chemicals

Richard V. Mayo

BSME 421

February 2011