A chemistry laboratory is an exciting place of discovering and learning. It is also a potentially hazardous place where toxic and corrosive materials are used routinely. While every effort has been made to eliminate the use of explosive, highly toxic and carcinogenic substances from the experiments which you will perform, there is a certain unavoidable hazard associated with the use of a variety of chemicals and glassware. When you respect the materials you are handling; use the correct, safe techniques demonstrated and discussed by the instructors; and are concerned for the safety of yourself and others, you work safely and without incident.
In the chemistry laboratory: WEAR SAFETY CHEMICAL SPLASH GOGGLES, LAB APRON or LAB COAT and FOLLOW THE SAFETY GUIDELINES.
Your instructors will do all they can to prevent accidents, but they cannot carry out this duty without your cooperation.
Before any work in the lab you must:
- Review our safety guidelines and also the ACS Safety for Introductory Chemistry Students handout.
- Obtain a perfect score on the online safety exam.
- Read, complete, sign and bring to your TA the safety health acknowledgment, the pink form found in your lab manual. You may include any personal health information that may be of use to you in an emergency situation. This may include any Med-alert tags, allergies, asthma, fainting, etc. This information is kept confidential.
- Be on time for the laboratory section. Your TA will announce prior to experiments where a potential danger exists. Students who fail to follow all safety rules may be asked to leave the lab and/or suffer grading penalties.
