** Faculty, Teaching Assistants, and Stockroom Workers**
Online Safety Training Courses

 

General Guidelines for Safety in the Laboratory and When Working with Chemicals

No Food or Drink in the Laboratory or Near Chemicals
Food and drink in the lab or near chemicals can become contaminated easily and become confused with hazardous materials. As a result, all products for human consumption should remain outside the lab and away from chemicals. Furthermore, employees and students working in the lab should wash their hands before eating, drinking or smoking.

Wear Your Safety Glasses/Goggles!
Hazardous chemicals, such as strong acids, can easily splash in any laboratory. Wearing eye protection is the only way to protect your eyes from possible permanent damage. Every person in a laboratory should be wearing eye protection because splashes are not always confined to the person creating the splash.

Wear Proper Shoes!
No open-toed shoes are allowed in the laboratory or in areas around chemicals. Splashing of hazardous chemicals, such as strong acids, may occur and there is little protection afforded by open-toed shoes such as sandles.

Know Where Your Exits and Safety Equipment is Located
Knowing where your exits are and where safety equipment such as fire extinguishers, eyewash stations, and safety showers are located can save precious seconds in an emergency.

Think SAFETY!
You can NEVER be too careful around hazardous chemicals. Never think that accidents can't happen to you, because they can and they will.