Lab Safety

Muhammad Zulkifal Malik

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Overview
General lab safety rules
Housekeeping
Protective clothing and equipment
Safety hazards in Biosciences labs
Handling of Biological wastes
Safety equipment in labs
Emergency response

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 General safety lab rules
1. Ensure you are fully aware of your
facility's/building's evacuation procedures.

2. Make sure you know where your lab's safety

equipment—including first aid kit(s), fire
extinguishers, eye wash stations, and safety
showers—is located and how to properly use it.

3. Know emergency phone numbers to use to call

for help in case of an emergency.

4. Be sure to read all fire alarm and safety signs

and follow the instructions in the event of an
accident or emergency. 4
 General safety lab rules
5. Open flames should never be used in the
laboratory unless you have permission from a
qualified supervisor.

6. Make sure you are aware of where your lab's

exits and fire alarms are located.

7. If there is a fire drill, be sure to turn off all

electrical equipment and close all containers.

8. Always work in properly-ventilated areas.

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 General safety lab rules
9. Do not chew gum, drink, or eat while working
in the lab.
10. Tie long hair back.
11. No dangling jewelry.
12. Do not run or play roughly in the lab.
13. Laboratory glassware should never be utilized
as food or beverage containers.
14. Each time you use glassware, be sure to
check it for chips and cracks. Notify your lab
supervisor of any damaged glassware so it
can be properly disposed of.

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 General safety lab rules
15. Never use lab equipment that you are not
approved or trained by your supervisor to
operate.
16. If an instrument or piece of equipment fails
during use, or isn't operating properly,
report the issue to a technician right away.
Never try to repair an equipment problem
on your own.
17. If you are the last person to leave the lab,
make sure to lock all the doors and turn
off all ignition sources.
18. Do not work alone in the lab.
19. Never leave an ongoing experiment
unattended. 7
 General safety lab rules
20. Never lift any glassware, solutions, or other types
of apparatus above eye level.

21. Never smell or taste chemicals.

22. Do not pipette by mouth.

23. Make sure you always follow the proper

procedures for disposing lab waste.

24. Report all injuries, accidents, and broken

equipment or glass right away, even if the
incident seems small or unimportant.
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25. pervisor know as soon as possible.
 General safety lab rules
25. In the event of a chemical splashing into
your eye(s) or on your skin, immediately
flush the affected area(s) with running
water for at least 20 minutes.
26. If you notice any unsafe conditions in the
lab, let your supervisor know as soon as
possible.
27. Do not mix chemicals for fun.
28. Carry microscopes and other pieces of
equipment with both hands, using one
hand to support the instrument from
underneath.

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 General lab rules
 Learn the meaning of every symbol used in the
lab
 Always remove gloves before leaving the lab.
 Wash well before leaving the lab, even if it’s
only for a short break. 1
 Use soap and water, not solvents (which may
enhance absorption of the chemical by the skin).
 Wash immediately whenever any chemical comes in
contact with your skin. Flush for at least 15 minutes.

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Steps Of Hand Washing (WHO)

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Housekeeping
 Ensure that reagent bottles are clearly
labeled with the full name and hazard of
the chemical (e.g. “Hydrochloric acid,
corrosive” or “Ethanol, flammable”).
 Chemicals must be put back into their
proper storage location at the end of the
experiment.
 At the end of an experiment, any chemical in
an unlabeled container should be considered
a waste and disposed of appropriately.

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Personal Protective Equipment
(PPE)

Goggles

Gloves

Lab coat

Shoes
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PPE (cont.)
 General clothing
 Wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts
while working in a lab.
 Avoid excessively loose or baggy clothing.
 Lab coats or aprons- always wear while
working with chemicals and biologicals
 Gloves
 Use gloves appropriate for the material you
are working with: heat resistant,
cryoprotective or chemical resistant
 Do not re-use disposable gloves
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PPE (cont.)
 Use safety glasses
 When there is a chance of a small splash to the
eyes, such as when opening a bottle or tube.
 While using a highly caustic chemical, or using
large volumes (1 L or more) of a chemical.
 Wear safety goggles over regular
prescription glasses.
 Wearing contact lenses in the lab can be
hazardous; safety glasses must be used.

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PPE (cont.)
 Shoes
 NEVER wear sandals or
open-toed shoes in the lab.
 Non-permeable shoes
 (no open mesh) are preferable.
 Wear low-heeled shoes with non-slip soles.
 If handling large volumes of hazardous
chemicals (corrosives, solvents), wear rubber
boots.
 Always inspect your PPE prior to use-
for cracks, holes, weak spots, or obvious signs
of degradation.
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 Safety hazards in
Pharmaceutical/Biosciences
labs

•Chemical hazards
•Physical hazards
•Fire hazards
•Biological hazards

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Chemical hazards
 For the chemicals you are working with, you
should be familiar with:
 the hazards associated with that chemical (MSDS)
 the personal protective equipment (PPE) required
for using that chemical
 storage requirements
 waste disposal procedures
 the procedures to be followed in the event of an
emergency

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Chemical hazards
Classificaion

 Chemical hazards fall into 4 main categories

 Flammables

 Corrosives

 Reactive chemicals

 Health hazards

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Chemical hazards

Non-hazardous under normal conditions

 These include chemicals like sodium chloride,

potassium phosphate, sucrose, Tris buffer, glycerol,
etc.
 These chemicals are color-coded green, orange, or
gray.

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 Chemical hazards: flammables
Chemicals which catch fire and continue to burn
if expose to a source of ignition

 Ethyl ether, pentane, acetone, ethanol, methanol,

isopropanol, gasoline flash point <73 °F
 Butanol, xylene, turpentine flash point 73-100 °F
 Formaldehyde, kerosene flash point 100-140 °F

Storage
 Must be stored with other flammables in a
flammable cabinet, away from sources of heat
and/or ignition (sparks)

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Chemical hazards: flammables
(cont.)
 Handling
 Never use an open flame to heat flammable
materials.
 Use hot water bath, oil bath, heating
mantle, etc.
 Transfer from gallon containers to smaller
containers in a fume hood or approved
flammable liquid storage room.
 Handle only in areas free of ignition sources.

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Chemical hazards: Corrosives
 Definition:
 Chemicals that can cause chemical burns
upon contact with living tissue (skin, eyes,
lungs and stomach)
 Corrosive chemicals may also cause rapid
erosion and destruction of building
materials or metals

Include acids and bases

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 Chemical hazards: corrosives
 Labeling, and storage:
 Corrosives are color-coded
 Store corrosive chemicals separate from combustible and
flammable chemicals
 Store acids (liquids and solids) in corrosive cabinet, separate
from bases
 Store solid bases on shelf in lab, away from other chemicals
 Liquid bases may be stored in a cabinet, away from acids

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Chemical hazards: corrosives
 Handling
 Never pour water into acid. Always add the
acid to the water
 Open bottles of acid slowly and carefully.
 Wear PPE (gloves, goggles/shield, apron) to
protect against splashes.
 Conduct all work with concentrated acids and
bases in a chemical fume hood.
 Check location of eyewash and shower prior to
beginning work.
 Never use combustible organic materials (such
as paper, sawdust, or rags) to clean up spills.

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Chemical hazards: corrosives
 Wastes
 Never mix acid wastes with solvents or metal-
containing solutions.
 Never dispose of acids or bases down the drain
unless they have been neutralized.
 Non-contaminated (e.g. free of other hazardous
chemicals) acid wastes may neutralized and then
disposed of down the drain (pH must be between 5
and 10).
 Some exceptions apply. Corrosives that have
other hazardous properties should not be
disposed of down the drain even after
neutralization (ex. hydrofluoric acid, fuming nitric
acid, phenol, perchloric acid, etc.). 29
Chemical hazards:
Reactives
 Definition:
 Chemicals which will vigorously/violently
react with water, air or other chemicals
 Reactions can result in generation of
excessive heat, spontaneous ignition,
explosion or toxic gases.

Explosive Oxidizer 30
Chemical hazards: reactives
 Examples:
 Sulfuric acid
 Alkali metals (Na, K etc), their hydrides
and nitrides.
 perchloric, chromic and fuming nitric acid
 ammonium persulfate
 Metal and organic cyanides and sulfides

Sodium in water
 Storage and handling:
 Store separate from combustible and
flammable reagents.
 Store away from incompatible materials.
 Protect from exposure to conditions that
would make the chemical unstable (air,
water, heat, shock, etc.). 31
 Chemical hazards: health
 Definition:
 Chemical that causes adverse health effects,
whether short-term (acute) or long-term (chronic)
 Includes toxins, carcinogens, teratogens,
mutagens, poisons

 Examples:
 Mercury and other metal compounds, ethidium
bromide, formaldehyde
 Storage:
 Health hazards should be segregated from other
chemicals

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Chemical hazards: health
(cont.)
 Health Hazard Pictograms

Acute Toxicity (fatal or toxic)

Irritant (skin and eye)

Carcinogen Skin Sensitizer
Mutagenicity Acute Toxicity (harmful)
Reproductive Toxicity Narcotic Effects
Target Organ Toxicity Respiratory Tract Irritant
Aspiration Toxicity Hazardous to Ozone Layer

Biohazard (infectious agents)

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Chemical hazards: health
(cont.)
 Handling:
 Always wear appropriate gloves and other suitable PPE when
handling health hazards.
 To reduce the chance of breakage (and a contaminated oven),
never use a mercury thermometer in an oven or incubator.
 Never dispose mercury down the drain.
 Know the hazards presented by the chemical you are working with.
 Possible routes of exposure (vary with chemical and procedure)
include: skin absorption, inhalation, ingestion, injection.
 Symptoms of exposure may be acute and/or delayed (including
chronic effects). Read the SDS!
 Be aware of possible adverse reactions with other chemicals or
conditions (e.g. heat).

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Storage of Hazardous
Chemicals
NFPA
Labeling of
Chemicals

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Health Hazzard: 1(Slight)
Fire Hazzrd: 4 (extremely flammable)
Stability Hazzrd: 0 (Stable)
Specific Hazzard: None 36
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Biohazards

Biological substances that pose a threat to

the health of living organisms, primarily that
of humans
Can be caused in laboratories by
Human specimens (blood, urine, stool,
sputum, etc.)
microbial cultures
Contaminated syringes, needles and
Lancets
Biohazards
Human specimens and cultures
 Wear appropriate PPE while handing
specimens, drawing blood, microbial cultures,
etc.
 Appropriately discard the specimen: in
biohazard specific bags and then incinerate

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 Biohazards
Needle Stick Injury
 Do Not break, bend, re-sheath or
reuse lancets, syringes or needles
 Drop used sharps in special
container labelled as “sharps
disposal
 Keep sharps disposal container
close to the working area
 Do Not shake sharps containers
to create space
Biohazards
Needle Stick Injury

 Never place used syringes, needles and

lancets in regular waste containers.
 Seal the sharp disposal container when 3/4 th
filled.
Physical hazards
 Includes (but not limited to):
 Sharps and glassware
 Compressed gases
 Electrical equipment
 Thermal hazards
 Radiation

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Physical hazards
Glassware
 Never use broken or chipped glassware.


 Broken glassware, microscope slides,

Pasteur pipets, etc. must be collected in a
puncture resistant container and labeled
with the words “Broken glass disposal”.

 Dispose off used lancets and syringes in

containers labeled with the word “Sharps
disposal”.

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 Physical hazards:
Compressed gases
 Compressed gas cylinders must be restrained in
an upright position in the lab.
 Caps must be in place when cylinder is not in
use.
 Make sure regulator and supply lines are in
good condition.
 Never use rigid plastic tubing, which can shatter if the
pressure limits are exceeded.
 When turning on the gas
 Ensure that the flow valve is open (so there will be
no pressure in the supply line). Adjust flow valve
only after you have opened the regulator.
 Turn your head away from the tank.
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Physical hazards:
Electrical equipment
 Always inspect electrical cords prior to use.
Do not use if they are cracked or have
exposed wiring.
 Never use electrical appliances near water.
 Make sure hands are dry when unplugging
a cord.
 Do not overload outlets.

Cracked and exposed wiring Overloaded electrical outlet 45

Physical hazards:
Electrical equipment
 Avoid excessive use or “daisy chaining”
(several cords strung together) of
extension cords.
 Never override the safety features on
electrical equipment

Overloaded extension cord Daisy chaining of extension cords

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Physical hazards:
UV rays
 UV rays are damaging to eyes, skin
and cause cancer.
 While using UV-lamps, wear face
shields, gloves and full sleeves.
 Do not enter the room when UV-
lamp is on in Laminar flow hood.

Laminar flow hood

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Face Shield UV-lamp

 Physical hazards:
Thermal hazards
 Thermal hazards include both hot and cold objects.

 Hot items:
 Use holders, tongs or heat-resistant gloves when
handling hot items.
 Use caution when heating liquids on hot plates.
 Use a stir bar or Boil-Eezers to ensure even
heating of the liquids (to prevent superheating and
boil-overs)
 Never leave hot plates unattended.

 Bunsen burners
 Inspect tubing prior to using the burner. It should
not have cracks, and should fit tightly to the burner
and to the gas spigot.
 Stand back from the burner when lighting the gas.

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Ventilation
 Chemical fume hood
 Conduct all work at least 6” inside
fume hood.
 This reduces the chance that vapors will
backwash out of the hood due to air
movement.
 Do NOT store chemicals in a fume
hood.
 If a large object must be placed
inside the hood (e.g. a water bath),
elevate it slightly so that air can flow
under the object
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Safety Equipment in labs
 MSDS
 Spill kit
 First Aid box
 Safety Showers
 Eye Washer
 Fire Safety apparatus

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Spill kit components
spill containment devices, absorbents and
protective wear.
PPE: Safety Goggles, Gloves and masks

Waste Bags

Broom & Pan

Neutralizing agents

Absorbents

 

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Emergency Response
 Fire
 If your clothing catches on fire, drop and
roll to put out the flames. Immediately
notify your supervisor of the incident.
 Chemical spill on clothing
 Get to the safety shower immediately
and remain there for at least 15
minutes.
 Remove contaminated clothing while in
the shower.
 Notify your supervisor of the incident. 52
Emergency Response
 Chemical splashes to the eye
 Immediately go to the sink and flush eyes with
water for at least 15 minutes.
 Seek medical attention and notify your teacher of
the incident immediately.
 Burns
 Immerse burned area under cold, running water
as soon as possible.
 Seek medical attention and notify your supervisor
of the incident immediately.

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Emergency Response
 Chemical spills involving hazardous materials
 Follow the instructions of emergency personnel
 Alert others to stay clear of the area
 Notify emergency personnel if you have been
exposed or have information regarding the release

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Emergency Response:
 Broken Mercury Thermometer:
 Isolate the area and do not let people walk through the
contaminated zone.
 Avoid exposure and injury by wearing nitrile gloves
(mercury is absorbed through the skin), a lab coat, and
safety glasses. 
 Use tongs or other tools to pick up broken glass. 
 Mercury droplets can be gently swept into a container.

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Emergency Response:
 Broken Thermometer: (cont.)
 Carefully inspect the bench top and floors where the thermometer
was broken to ensure that all the mercury is cleaned up. A bright
light such as a flashlight will help.
 Place the spilled mercury and broken thermometer and any items
used to clean up the spill in a sealable plastic container.  Clearly
label container as Mercury Waste.

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References
i. University of Alaska Fairbanks
Environmental, Health, Safety, and Risk
Management
ii. NFPA guideline
iii. OSHA guideline

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