Laboratory Safety

Laboratory safety is the single most important lesson you can learn from your
experience in performing these general chemistry experiments. Good lab safety is
essential to ensure your well-being, as well as that of the people working around you.
The laboratory is a place for planned, serious work. You should always take your work
seriously, listen to your TF, and adhere to the precautions and rules listed below.

General Safety Considerations

A chemistry lab can be a dangerous place to work. There are flammable solvents,
toxic and corrosive chemicals, electrical equipment, delicate glassware, and more. The
potential for injury from these dangers can be minimized if you are aware of and follow
proper safety procedures. The most important safety precaution you can take is to
come to lab prepared and to think about what you are doing. The most dangerous
thing in a lab is an unprepared student trying to carry out a procedure he or she does not
understand. Always consult with your TF if you have questions about the lab procedure.
Many of our laboratory safety guidelines are described below. The Head TF, your
lab TF, and other lab personnel are authorized to remove you from the laboratory without
a warning if you fail to follow any of these guidelines or those specified in a particular
experiment.

Eye protection
Safety glasses or safety goggles must be worn in the lab at all times. They must be worn
from the second you walk in until the second you leave, even if you are not doing
chemistry. There are absolutely no exceptions. Repeated failure to wear your safety
glasses or safety goggles will result in permanent dismissal from the lab, necessitating a
formal petition to the course instructor and Director of Undergraduate Laboratories for
readmittance.

The American Chemical Society has determined that contact lenses, when worn in
conjunction with safety goggles, are permissible in a chemistry laboratory. We have
adopted their recommendation as our policy. Should you get something in your eyes
while wearing contacts, remove them immediately before using the eye wash, and make
sure to tell your TF or medical personnel that you were wearing contacts at the time of
exposure.

Clothing
You must wear long pants, preferably something sturdy like jeans, and shoes with socks
that cover your entire foot and your ankle. All skin from your waist down must be
completely covered at all times. You shoes, pants, and socks must completely cover all
skin even while sitting. No shorts or open-toed shoes are permitted in the laboratory.
You will be immediately sent home if you enter the lab wearing shorts, a short skirt,
leggings, tights, sandals, flip-flops, pumps, ballet flats, high-heeled shoes, high-heeled
boots, etc. The possibility of ruining your clothing exists, so do not wear clothes you
cannot live without. If you have long hair, tie it back. We will provide lab coats for you
to wear during the lab; these lab coats should be worn at all times while in the laboratory.

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Gloves
You must wear gloves whenever you are working in the lab. You will find latex-free
disposable nitrile gloves (XS, S, M, L, XL) on the table to the right as you enter the lab.
They are only designed to protect you from splashes and other incidental contact with
chemicals. Strong acids, strong bases, and organic solvents will penetrate quickly through
these gloves, so you should not continue to wear a pair of gloves if you have spilled
anything on them. Changing gloves periodically will prevent you from spreading these
chemicals onto your lab notes and everything else you touch. Never rub your eyes or
touch your face (or phone!) while you are wearing gloves. In rare instances, the nitrile
gloves may irritate your skin. Let your TF know if this happens.

There are thick rubber gloves available that will give you more chemical protection than
the nitrile ones. These gloves can resist even concentrated acids and bases for a time.
They are a bit awkward to work with and are usually only used when working with
extremely strong acids or bases, especially nasty chemicals, and any other time your TF
instructs you to do so. Even though the gloves are resistant, you should wash them off if
anything spills on them. Ask your TF where you can find these gloves if necessary. You
may wish to wear a pair of the nitrile gloves underneath the rubber gloves for greater
protection and comfort.

You should wash your hands several times while in lab, especially just before leaving.

Food and Drink

It is important to eat before coming to lab. You’ll be on your feet for up to three hours,
and without providing energy for your body, you may become tired and/or light-headed.
Food or drink in the laboratory is prohibited. Chewing gum or eating candy in the
laboratory is prohibited. If you start to feel ill during lab and think some food or drink
may be the remedy, let your TF know and you may go grab a quick snack. Smoking is
not allowed in the Science Center, especially in the laboratory.

Chemicals
If you spill anything on your skin, immediately wash the area with lots of water for at
least 15 minutes, and notify your TF. If you spill a chemical on your bench or on the
floor, tell your TF, who will help you clean it up or call for assistance (see below). If you
spill a large amount of chemical or a particularly dangerous chemical on your body
and/or your clothes, you will need to use a safety shower. Get your TF’s attention
however you can and proceed directly to a safety shower and pull the chain. Remove the
affected clothing (trust us, modesty should be the last thing on your mind if you ever
need the safety shower). The TFs will direct other students’ attention away from you and
provide a lab coat for you when the rinsing is done. We also have eyewashes for rinsing
harmful substances out of your eyes.

Wash your hands thoroughly before you leave the lab. There is soap for this at each sink.
Keep the lab clean. If everyone cleans up after themselves, the lab will be safer and
easier to work in. The TFs are always authorized to assign students to clean up certain
areas of the lab.

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Dispose of all chemical waste in the appropriate waste containers.

Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) are available for every chemical that you will be
using in the lab. They can be accessed online at http://www.uos.harvard.edu/ehs/msds/.
MSDS give toxicity details, safe handling guidelines, and information on what to do in
case of exposure. In general, it is often difficult to ascertain how harmful chemicals
actually are. Err on the side of caution. Your exposure is well under the suggested limits
in this lab if you follow all prescribed safety procedures.

The lab was designed and the procedures were written so that your contact with
hazardous chemicals is minimized. You simply cannot do chemistry without chemicals,
but you can think about what you are doing to stay safe.

Glassware
Be aware of the dangers of handling glassware. Careless handling of glassware is a
major cause of laboratory accidents. When using glassware, always follow these safety
rules:

• Never use glassware that is broken, cracked, or chipped. Examine all your glassware
closely before using it. Glassware that is cracked should be disposed of in the
appropriate glass disposal container. Glassware that is chipped should be given to your
TF for polishing.

• Beware of hot glass. Glass cools very slowly, and hot glass looks exactly like cold
glass.

• Be especially careful when connecting pieces of glassware together and taking them
apart. Don’t force anything. If you can’t get two pieces of glassware together or apart,
ask your TF for help.

Injuries
If you are injured, no matter how small the injury, tell your TF, who can help you assess
the situation. In the case of minor injuries (small cuts, minor burns, splinters, stuck by a
needle, etc.), first aid can be given on-site with supplies found in the laboratory first-aid
kits. In the case of anything worse than a minor injury, you may be escorted to UHS by a
TF or police officer. Never leave for treatment without notifying your TF! After
treatment of any injury, you will be asked if you wish to continue that day. You will not
be penalized if you are unable to finish that day, even if it’s because you simply feel
uncomfortable returning to the bench.

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Fires and Serious Chemical Spills
The dangers from fire and spills can be minimized and effectively handled by observing
the following procedures:

Think! Safe laboratory practices should prevent most fires and spills. If a fire does occur,
immediately step away from it and notify a TF. The TFs will decide how best to
extinguish the fire and will use a fire extinguisher if necessary.

You are not responsible for using a fire extinguisher; they are there only to assist you in
evacuating the lab (in case a fire is blocking your only exit). Get out quickly and let the
fire department fight the fire.

There is a fire alarm on the wall outside the main entrance if a fire should get out of hand.

Notify your TF of all chemical spills, no matter how small or large. Small spills are
easily contained, and your TF can help you deal with them. If the spill is large or is of
something particularly nasty, notify your TF and move away from the area.

Evacuation Procedure
If the fire alarm goes off or the lab is evacuated for any other reason, immediately turn
off all electric devices, walk out of the lab, and exit the Science Center to the left and
down the stairs. The Head TF will inform you of the best evacuation route. If any TF tells
you to get out of the lab or a certain area, do it!

Violations of Safety & Laboratory Policy

The following responses will be taken to any violations of the above safety policies by
students in Chem E-1b:

•Students will receive a verbal warning for the first occurrence of a minor safety
violation, and they will lose all of their safety points for that laboratory.

•A serious or repeated violation will result in a written warning, and the student will be
made to leave the lab immediately. The student will receive a zero for that laboratory.
The written warning will include a warning of possible exclusion from the course in the
event of a subsequent violation.

•A student who commits a safety violation after a written warning will be dismissed from
Chem E-1b. The student will need to make a formal petition to the Director of
Undergraduate Laboratories in order to obtain re-admittance to the course.

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 Safety Equipment

Know where the nearest safety equipment is at all times; you never know when you or
your neighbor will need it. In case of any incident, notify a TF immediately.

First Aid Kits

There are two first aid kits: one on the wall right near the main entrance and another by
the exit to the general chemistry laboratory. In these you will find bandages, burn
ointments, pain relievers, antacids, antibiotic creams, eye drops, etc.

Eyewash Stations
There are emergency eyewash stations along both the front and back walls of the room.
If you get a chemical in your eyes, hold your head such that your eyes are in the streams
of water and blink for at least 15 minutes. If you notice your neighbor has gotten
something in their eyes, calmly escort them to the eyewash and help them rinse out their
eyes. It is not the end of the world if you need to use the eyewash station; if you feel a
burning sensation in your eyes, you may want to give them a rinse for a few minutes just
to be safe. If you are wearing contact lenses, you must remove them before using the
eyewash station to minimize further injury.

Safety Showers
Safety showers are located in three places along the back wall of the lab, directly opposite
three of the eyewashes. To operate, pull the handle down. The shower puts out a
massive deluge of cold water, so be prepared. Immediately strip off any contaminated
clothing while under the shower. Don’t be modest, be safe. The shower is not self-
locking, so you’ll have to pull the handle down every 20 seconds or so.

Fire Blankets
Fire blankets are located in three places along the front wall of the room. If someone’s
clothing is on fire, either douse them with water under a shower or wrap them in a fire
blanket and roll them around on the floor.

Electrical Disconnect
Do not touch or strike a person in contact with a live electrical circuit! Disconnect the
power first by pressing the closest “Emergency Electrical Disconnect” red buttons
located along the front, back, and right-hand walls. Know where they are located and
which will shut off power to your particular section.

Fire Extinguishers
Fire extinguishers are located along the front wall and are also attached to the sides of the
rows of benches that face the front/back wall. In case of fire, notify a TF immediately.
You are not expected to use a fire extinguisher; they are there only to assist you in
evacuating the lab (in case a fire is blocking your only exit). Get out quickly and let the
fire department fight the fire.

Laboratory Safety 5
Fume Hoods
Fume hoods are located above the sinks at the lab benches. They pull air out of the lab
and prevent smoke or gases given off during an experiment from accumulating in the
laboratory. Any experiments that may result in the production of hazardous gases must
be performed on the bench areas above the sinks that are directly under the fume hoods.

Spill Control Kits

Any spills should be reported to your TF immediately. They will help you clean up the
spill or obtain professional assistance if deemed necessary. Large spills of relatively non-
volatile or non-toxic chemicals can be contained using the absorbent pillows and spill
kits, which are located throughout the lab.

Fire Alarm
A fire alarm is located on the wall just outside the entrance to the lab. It is there for a
reason – if you need to pull it, you should be on your way out of the lab!

Telephones
There are two telephones in the front of the laboratory, near the main entrance. The
white phone connects directly to the Harvard Operations Center, which is a
communications, dispatch and response center providing 24-hour, 365-day standard and
emergency response services to the Harvard community. The red phone is a regular
phone that can be used to dial 911. In the event of a serious emergency requiring
emergency medical attention or immediate response by the fire department, use the red
phone to dial 911.

Disposing of Chemical Waste

Massachusetts and Federal laws require Harvard to adhere to strict regulations for
the identification, storage and disposal of hazardous wastes. Operations that do not meet
regulatory requirements can result in substantial penalties, including fines of up to
$27,500 per day, per violation. You as a student are the most important element of our
laboratory’s hazardous waste management system. Proper handling of waste will keep
you, your colleagues, and the environment safe. Adhere to the following guidelines and
always ask a TF when you have a question regarding the disposal of waste in the
laboratory.
Never pour any chemical down the sink unless the lab procedure explicitly tells
you to do so.

Regular Trash
Paper towels, paper, disposable gloves, tissues, etc. that are not heavily contaminated
with chemicals can be disposed of in the regular trash barrels at the end of each row of
benches. NEVER dispose of anything contaminated with chemicals, chemicals
themselves, or anything made of glass in the trashcans!

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Glass Disposal Boxes
All disposable glass, broken or unbroken, should be disposed of in the blue and white
cardboard Glass Disposal Boxes at the end of each row of benches. These boxes help
prevent the Science Center staff from getting cut when disposing of trash and waste.
Only glass that is clean and has been rinsed of all chemicals can be disposed of in these
boxes. Pipets, glass scintillation vials, test tubes, glass bottles, TLC plates, and any
broken laboratory glassware are the most common items disposed of in this way. Rubber
pipet bulbs are obviously not made of glass and should not be disposed of in here (and in
reality should not be thrown away at all – they are reusable). These boxes are not
trashcans and should not be treated as such!

Buckets for Chemical Waste

There are several waste hoods throughout the lab that contain 5-gallon buckets for
chemical waste. The different types of chemical waste generated in the laboratory are
segregated to facilitate proper and safe disposal, thus you should dispose of any chemical
waste you generate only in the appropriately labeled buckets. If you take excess
chemicals from the center bench, you must dispose of the excess chemicals in the
appropriate waste container. To avoid contamination of chemicals, never return unused
chemicals to their original bottles or containers. If you have any questions about proper
waste disposal, ask your TF!!

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Laboratory Safety 8
TF Name: ____________________ Student Name: ________________________

Lab Safety Assessment

Complete this lab safety assessment and hand it to your TF

as you enter the lab for Lab #1

1. Please provide one sentence on the importance of safety glasses and when they should be worn.

2. When should you eat and/or drink in the lab? Is it OK to chew gum in the lab?

3. Describe proper attire for lab, including footwear, hair, and use of lab coats.

4. What should you do if you spill something on your skin or clothes? Please include time frame and
location of device in your lab.

5. What should you do if you splash something into your eyes? Please include time frame and location of
device in your lab.

6. What should you do if you break glassware?

7. What should you do if you cut yourself? (Be able to point out where the First Aid Kit is in your lab.)

8. When should you alert your TF of a spill, breakage, fire, or any other emergency?

9. When should you perform work under the fume hood?

10. What should you do in case of a small fire? In case of a lab-wide fire? (Be able to point out the
location of fire extinguishers and fire exits in your lab.)

11. Chemicals for the day’s lab are usually placed in a central location for every one’s use. If you take too
much, what should you do with the excess?

12. Where should you put chemical waste at the end of lab?

13. What should you do immediately before leaving lab?

14. When should you wear gloves? When should you change gloves?

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Laboratory Safety 10