LAB SAFETY RULES, HAZARDOUS AND SAFETY

SYMBOLS WITH PRECAUTIONS

By
Hira Shafi (89)

Lab report submitted to

Miss Aqsa
For the course
Chem-339
Physical lab
BS (Hons.)
CHEMISTRY

Department of Chemistry
GC WOMEN UNIVERSITY
SIALKOT.

2017-2021

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 Contents

Sr.No Topics Pg. No

1 Lab safety rules 3-3.5

2 Safety symbols with precautions 3.5-5.5

3 Hazardous symbols with precautions 5.5-8

4 References 9

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 LAB SAFETY RULES
“In order to maintain a safe workplace and avoid accidents, lab safety symbols and signs need
to be posted throughout the workplace”

1. Report immediately about accidents:

Report all accidents, injuries, and breakage of glass or equipment to instructor
immediately.
2. Hygienic environment:
Keep pathways clear by placing extra items (books, bags, etc.) on the shelves or under
the work tables. If under the tables, make sure that these items cannot be stepped on.
3. Cover your head:
Long hair (chin-length or longer) must be tied back to avoid catching fire, or wear cap
on your head.
4. Sensible clothing:
Wear sensible clothing including footwear. Loose clothing should be secured so they do
not get caught in a flame or chemicals.
5. Don’t make a noise:
Work quietly — know what you are doing by reading the assigned
experiment before you start to work. Pay close attention to any cautions described in the
laboratory exercises.
6. Avoid direct contact with chemicals:
Do not taste or smell chemicals, and avoid to touch directly chemicals because they can
harm your skin.
7. Safety goggles:
Wear safety goggles to protect your eyes when heating substances, dissecting, etc.
8. Keep heated test tubes away:
Never point a test tube being heated at another student or yourself. Never look into a test
tube while you are heating it.
9. Don’t try forbid experiments:
Unauthorized experiments or procedures must not be attempted.
10. Don’t misplace chemicals:
Keep solids out of the sink.
11. Cleaning after work:
Leave your work station clean and in good order before leaving the laboratory.
12. Don’t be ill mannered:
Do not lean, hang over or sit on the laboratory tables.
13. Permission of instructor to leave lab:
Do not leave your assigned laboratory station without permission of the teacher.
14. Have Information about safety care station:
Learn the location of the fire extinguisher, eye wash station, first aid kit and safety
shower.
15. Don’t be fool in lab:
Fooling around or "horse play" in the laboratory is absolutely forbidden.
16. Avoid jewellery or accessories:
Anyone wearing acrylic nails will not be allowed to work with matches, lighted splints,
Bunsen burners, etc.
17. See analyte up to eye level
Do not lift any solutions, glassware or other types of apparatus above eye level.

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 18. Handle apparatus carefully:
Learn how to transport all materials and equipment safely.
19. Eating not allowed:
No eating or drinking in the lab at any time!
20. Follow your instructor: Instructions and rules assigned to you must be followed.

Safety symbols with precautions

1. Gloves Required
Description:
It is important to choose the appropriate type of glove for
the hazard present, such as chemical resistant gloves, heat
resistant gloves, etc.
Precaution:
Chemicals are usually hazardous and may harm your skin
so it’s important to wear safety gloves, keep gloves away
from flame.

2. Boots Required
Description:
The laboratory boots required safety symbol indicates when
street shoes are not adequate for certain lab-related tasks.
Precaution:
Chemical resistant overshoes or boots should be used to
avoid possible exposure to corrosive chemicals or large quantities of solvents or water that
might penetrate normal footwear.

3. Protective Clothing
Description:
The protective clothing safety symbol indicates that a lab
coat or other protective clothing needs to be worn.
Precaution:
Wool lab coats protects against splashes of molten materials,
small quantities of acid, and small flames.

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4. Safety Glasses
Description:
The eye protection safety sign indicates there is the
possibility of chemical, environmental, radiological, or
mechanical irritants and hazards in the laboratory.
Precaution:
Safety glasses not only provide protection against flying debris and chemical splashes in the
lab, but may also protect against visible and near visible light or radiation.

5. Breathing Masks
Description:
The breathing mask safety sign lets you know that you’re
working in an area with potentially contaminated air.
Precaution:
Respirators are designed to prevent contaminated air from
entering the body.

6. Face Shields
Description:
The face protection safety symbol lets lab personnel know
that a large face shield, must be worn when executing
experiments that carry the potential of causing an explosion
inside of the hood.
Precaution:
Full face (and possibly throat) protection from splash and/or impact is commonly required for
work on or in the presence of human pathogens, some laboratory chemicals, explosion hazards.

7. Hearing Protection
Description:
The ear protection safety symbol indicates that lab workers
are in a dangerously high decibel noise range.
Precaution:
Noise in laboratories has become a growing concern. While
the noise levels in most laboratories are below the threshold level that damages hearing, so it
is necessary to wear them.

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8. Eye Wash Station
Description:
The eye wash safety sign indicates the location of an eyewash
station.
Precaution:
The eyewash station should be easily accessible from any part
of the laboratory.

9. Wash Hands
Description:
The wash hands safety sign lets lab personnel know
to wash their hands before leaving the laboratory.
Precaution:
Hand washing is a primary safeguard against inadvertent
exposure to toxic chemicals or biological agents.

10. Food & Drink Prohibited

Description:
A no food and drink safety sign lets lab personnel know
that eating and/or drinking where hazardous materials are
used, handled, or stored is not permitted.
Precaution:
Refrigerators used for storage of research materials must
not be used for storage of food or beverages.

Hazardous symbols with precautions

1. General Warning
Description:
The general warning lab safety symbol consists of a black
exclamation point in a yellow triangle.
Precaution:
This symbol can be found on equipment, doorways,
cupboards or other areas of the lab. It provides a good
reminder to work safely.

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2. Health Hazard
Description:
The health hazard sign denotes chemicals in the lab that can
cause serious, often long-term health problems.
Precaution:
An important step in protecting worker health is recognizing the various health hazards in the
lab, as ignorance of the harmful effects of laboratory materials can have serious and even fatal
consequences.

3. Harmful Irritant
Description:
Substances labelled with the irritant symbol are not
corrosive, but they can cause discomfort and reddening,
irritation, or blistering of the skin.
Precaution:
Laboratory workers should handle irritants carefully.

4. Poison/Toxic Material
Description:
The toxic material symbol indicates the presence of
substances that may harm an individual if they enter the
body.
Precaution:
Possible routes of exposure to toxic materials are through inhalation, skin contact, and
ingestion.so avoid to make direct contact with chemicals.

5. Corrosive Material Hazard

Description:
The corrosive material hazard laboratory safety sign
indicates corrosive substances in the lab that can eat away
the skin if you come into direct contact with them.
Precaution:
Such materials should always be stored at the proper humidity and temperature conditions in
the proper cabinets.

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6. Carcinogen Hazard
Description:
Carcinogen signs in a laboratory indicate the use of known
human carcinogens. Carcinogenic substances commonly
used in the lab include formaldehyde, methylene chloride,
and benzene.
Precaution:
When handling carcinogens, appropriate personal protective equipment must be worn.

7. Explosive Hazard
Description:
The exploding bomb symbol will appear on chemicals in
the lab that have explosive properties; these include
unstable explosives.
Precaution:
Self-reactive substances and mixtures (substances and mixtures that may cause fire or
explosion in the absence of air), and organic peroxides should be handled carefully.

8. High Voltage
Description:
The high voltage warning symbol, which includes a
lightning bolt arrow in a yellow triangle, warns of voltage
high enough to cause serious injury or death.
Precaution:
In general, you should stay away from equipment or areas of the lab marked with this symbol
9. Laser Beam Hazard

Description:
The laser beam hazard sign in the laboratory lets staff
know that hazards from laser beams are present.
Precaution:
Both the eyes and skin can be damaged from direct
exposure to laser beams so proper eye protection and non-
flammable clothing should always be worn.

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10. Glassware Hazard
Description:
The broken glassware symbol may be placed on a container
designated for the disposal of broken glass in the lab.
Precaution:
Wherever possible, laboratories should use plastic ware
instead of glassware to avoid hazards.

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References
 By Lab Manager | September 07, 2017. Science laboratory safety symbols and hazard
signs.
 Created and Maintained By: Hayley Wan| Aug 14, 2019. Laboratory rules and safety.

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