Why didnt you just clean the spill with water

  • School Jarvis Christian College
  • Course Title SCIENCE 1302
  • Pages 2
  • Ratings 100% (5) 5 out of 5 people found this document helpful

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NAME __Ty’Bre Williams_______DATELAB SAFETY1.Which symbol depicts an oxidizing reagent?a)Option Ab)Option Bc)Option Cd)Option D

2.What does the following symbol mean?

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3.Here is an image of the hazard symbol on the box. What does it mean?

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4.What does the hazard symbol on the beaker mean?

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5.Why didn't you just clean the spill with water?a)It would pollute the waterb)The acid freezes the waterc)It could ignited)The acid reacts with water

6.Why is it dangerous to wear contact lenses in the lab?

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c)Liquid can be trapped under themd)The plastic reacts with acids

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  • January 24, 2018

Are you ready to work in a real lab? Read on to find out and try our Lab Safety simulation to test your skills!
To stay safe in a lab, you have to remember a number of important lab safety rules to ensure that you come out in one, healthy piece. Review the 5 points below in order to get a handle on the basics, and then try out our free Lab Safety simulation to test your knowledge in a virtual lab!

1. Dress appropriately

  • Before entering the lab, make sure to put on a lab coat. The coat should always be worn with the sleeves rolled down.
  • Wear closed shoes. Open shoes, such as sandals, are a no-go as a falling item could injure your feet and a potential acid spill could damage your skin.
  • Long pants are a must, as skirts and shorts expose the skin to dangerous chemicals.
  • Avoid loose sleeves, as they are impractical when working.
  • Tie back long hair. Loose hair could catch fire when working with a Bunsen burner.
  • Only bring the things you need into the lab. That means you should leave all your personal items, such as bags and jackets outside. Also take off your watch and jewelry before entering the lab.
  • Remember safety goggles, even if you wear glasses. Normal glasses aren’t sufficient in protecting your eyes.
  • If you wear contact lenses, makes sure to follow the safety instruction in a lab. In some labs it’s forbidden to wear contact lenses all together because if you get chemicals in your eyes, the liquids can get trapped under the lenses.
  • Wear gloves when handling corrosive chemicals. There are different types of gloves for different types of chemicals, so make sure to use the correct ones.
Why didnt you just clean the spill with water
Can you see what’s wrong with Lucy’s clothes?

2. Keep a tidy lab

  • The fume hood is a ventilated workbench that protects you from hazardous fumes. It only works if air is flowing, which you can check by sticking a small piece of paper into the hood. You should work with the sash down, and usually there will be a mark that shows how far you can move the sash up, without compromizing airflow.
  • Chemicals need to be stored in designated cabinets and never just left on the floor.
  • Make sure the glassware you use is always clean and dry. This should be the responsibility of the person who used them last, but never just assume that glassware left in a sink is clean enough to use. If it happens to be contaminated with chemicals, it could alter the results of your experiments.
  • Make sure all emergency exits are clear. There should be two in the lab.
Why didnt you just clean the spill with water
How many safety hazards can you spot in the lab?
  • Keep your lab bench tidy and make sure that there are no hazardous chemicals in the way when you start a new experiment.
  • Food and drinks are strictly prohibited in the lab, and with good reason – imagine if someone accidentally grabbed a bottle of chemicals instead of their soda and took a sip!
  • Clean up broken glass. Did you know that broken glass is the most common cause of injury in labs? Unfortunately, it happens far too often that glass isn’t cleaned up properly after breaking. There are designated containers in the lab where you can throw it away safely, so be sure to use them.
  • Remember to put labels on your work. On samples, make sure to write what it contains as well as your initials so everyone sharing the lab knows they belong to you.
Why didnt you just clean the spill with water
How many safety hazards can you spot in the lab?

3. Know your lab safety symbols

In the lab, there are two commonly used types of hazard symbols: The GHS hazard symbols and the Fire Diamond.

  • The GHS hazard symbols and their meanings are listed in the figure on the labpad below.
Why didnt you just clean the spill with water
Do you know the GHS hazard symbols?
  • The Fire Diamond shows the dangers associated with hazardous chemicals. There are 4 squares in different colors, and in each square (except the white one), there is a number ranging from 0-4, where 4 is the most hazardous. Red indicates flammability, blue indicates health and yellow indicates reactivity. The white square indicates a special hazard.  
Why didnt you just clean the spill with water
Can you read this Fire Diamond?

4. Handle chemical spills properly

  • If you accidentally spill a chemical, try to remain calm and figure out what it is. You should immediately warn everyone that something has been spilled.
  • Never touch, smell or in any other way interact with the chemical before you know what you are dealing with.
  • If you spill a large amount, make sure you evacuate the lab, and call the emergency personnel.
  • If you spill a small amount, and you know what has been spilled, you can go ahead and clean it up. In the case of acids or bases, the spill needs to be neutralized. Do not use water to clean these up. To neutralize an acid spill, use baking soda (a weak base) and to neutralize a base spill, use acetic acid (a weak acid). Pour these on the chemical before you discard the spill in the correct waste container. Remember to remove your gloves once you’ve been in contact with chemicals, as they may be contaminated.
  • If you spill on your clothes, take off that piece of clothing and rinse your skin with water.
  • If you spill chemicals on yourself or someone else, make sure to get them to the safety station as fast as possible, and flush the affected area thoroughly.
  • In case you forget your goggles and get chemicals in your eyes, hurry to the safety shower and rinse your open eyes for at least 20 minutes. Then, immediately consult a doctor.

5. Know your safety equipment

  • Fire blanket: This is made of non-flammable fibers. Use it for small fires, or for covering yourself in case you are fighting a larger fire. Never wrap a person whose clothes are on fire in a fire blanket, as it can create a chimney effect and cause burns on the person’s body and face. Instead they should roll on the floor to try to put out the fire, or step under a safety shower, if there is one in close proximity.
  • First aid kit: This contains disinfectants, bandages and other things that can be used to treat minor injuries, such as cuts.
  • Fire extinguisher: There are different types of fire extinguishers: CO2 and foam. The foam extinguisher, also called an ABC extinguisher, can be used for most fires. Never use a CO2 fire extinguisher on a person, as it is extremely cold.
  • Safety shower: Use this to wash yourself in case you come into contact with dangerous chemicals. If your clothes catch fire, the safety shower should also be used.
Why didnt you just clean the spill with water
Which types of safety equipment can you spot?

Before leaving the lab, you’ll need to make sure it’s thoroughly cleaned so it’s ready and safe to work in again.
Make sure to clean all used glassware, return reagents to the storage area, dispose waste in the right containers and clean your workbench.
Always wash your hands to make sure you don’t carry any traces of chemicals with you. This is particularly important if you plan to eat afterwards – imagine if you transferred a toxic chemical to your food!

Test your skills in our Lab Safety simulation

Are you ready to test your lab safety skills in an actual lab? Try our Lab Safety simulation for free!

Why didnt you just clean the spill with water

  • lab prep, lab safety, lab safety rules, simulations, virtual labs

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Why do you not just clean the acid spill with water?

The reaction of the two together can release a lot of heat and cause damage. Always dilute acids or bases by adding them to water. If you add water to a concentrated acid the heat released can cause an explosion, spreading acid throughout a room.

What is the first thing you have to if there is a fire in the lab?

Activate nearest fire alarm or call Security number. Close doors to confine fire. Evacuate to safe area or exit building through stairwell; do not use lift. Have person knowledgeable of incident and laboratory assist emergency personnel.

What should you not do if a person clothes suddenly catch fire?

Never wrap a person whose clothes are on fire in a fire blanket, as it can create a chimney effect and cause burns on the person's body and face. Instead they should roll on the floor to try to put out the fire, or step under a safety shower, if there is one in close proximity.

What are the five rules of lab safety?

Zombie College: The 5 Rules of Lab Safety.
Explain the importance of proper attire..
Identify common personal protective equipment (PPE).
Describe the importance of chemical safety..
Discuss how to create a safe lab environment..
Recognize the appropriate safety equipment for specific emergencies..