Lab Safety Rules and Safety Symbols

By

Rayeha Maryam

Roll no 03

Section A

Semester 5th

Lab Report submitted to

Dr. Saadia
for the Course of

Physical Lab

(Chem-339)

BS (Hons.) Chemistry

Department of Chemistry

GC WOMEN UNIVERSITY, SIALKOT.

2017-2021

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 ♦ Lab Safety Rules ♦
There are some rules that must be followed during performing experiments in laboratories. From
chemicals to electrical equipment, laboratories reap a wide array of safety hazards, which is why
it is so vital to understand the importance of lab safety. By becoming familiar with
the laboratory you're working in and always following proper safety procedures, you can help to
prevent or eliminate hazards.
The following are rules that relate to almost every laboratory and should be included in most
safety policies. They cover what you should know in the event of an emergency, proper signage,
safety equipment, safely using laboratory equipment, and basic common-sense rules.

1. Be sure to read all fire alarm and safety signs and follow the instructions in the event of
an accident or emergency.
2. Ensure you are fully aware of your building's evacuation procedures.
3. 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.
4. Open flames should never be used in the laboratory unless you have permission from a
qualified supervisor.
5. Make sure you are aware of where your lab's exits and fire alarms are located.
6. If there is a fire drill, be sure to turn off all electrical equipment and close all containers.
7. Always work in properly-ventilated areas.
8. Do not chew gum, drink, or eat while working in the lab.
9. Laboratory glassware should never be utilized as food or beverage containers.
10. 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.
11. Never use lab equipment that you are not approved or trained by your supervisor to
operate.
12. 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.
13. If you are the last person to leave the lab, make sure to lock all the doors and turn off all
ignition sources.
14. Do not work alone in the lab.
15. Never leave an ongoing experiment unattended.
16. Never lift any glassware, solutions, or other types of apparatus above eye level.
17. Never smell or taste chemicals.
18. Do not pipette by mouth.
19. Make sure you always follow the proper procedures for disposing lab waste.
20. If you notice any unsafe conditions in the lab, let your supervisor know as soon as
possible.

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 ♦ Safety Symbols ♦
Our laboratory is full of signs. Be it the chemical bottles or the signs near the basin, they are
everywhere. But that’s a good thing and is important for our safety. These signs tell us about the
properties of the product we are about to use so that we can be cautious while we use it. We can
also use them to label bottles with specific signs after we made a new solution to keep others
informed.
Here’s an overview of the most common signs that we will find around us in the lab.

Sr Safety Actions Preventions Picture

no. symbol
1 Flammable This is probably one of those
self-explanatory signs –
chemicals labeled with this
are flammable and we should
store them accordingly.
When we use such
chemicals make sure we
keep them away from any
oxidizing substances,
flames or sparks. You
should also wear eye
protection when working
with highly flammable
substances.

2 Oxidizing These substances are One should be very careful

agents responsible for removing an
electron from another
substrate and thus are known
as one component involved
in an oxidation-reduction
reaction.
3 Corrosive They are strong chemicals
agents that can corrode into your
skin or any other substances.
Strong acid (sulfuric acid
etc.) and strong alkali
(sodium hydroxide etc.)
solutions are both corrosive.
One drop of these corrosive
substances can cause serious
eye damage.
involving them in chemical
reactions while preparing a
solution. And always store
them separately from
flammable substances.
When working with
corrosive substances one
should use precaution –
non-corrosive gloves, eye
protection and lab coats are
all musts.

4 Irritant These substances can irritate You should be careful

your eyes and skin causing while preparing solutions
itchiness, soreness, redness containing irritants and
and blistering. Don’t mistake make sure you protect

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 them for harmless either,
they can also cause toxicity
if you inhale or swallow
them.
5 Health These chemicals can cause
hazard serious health damage
including reproductive
toxicity, problems with your
respiratory system, germ cell
mutagenicity,
carcinogenicity etc. Many of
the chemicals that we are
using carry such serious
health hazards.
6 Environmen These chemicals
tal hazards are potentially hazardous to
the environment, if not
properly disposed of, they
can contaminate soil and
water, and can be lethal for
aquatic animals and trees.
7 Explosives Explosives are not generally
and Gas seen in your normal labs,
cylinders compressed gas on the other
hand is a fairly common
sight e.g. CO2 cylinders in
tissue culture. Gas cylinders
and aerosol cans are
compressed gases that should
be treated with caution.
8 Bio-hazards This sign can be found on
doors or trash cans of your
lab, so that you are aware
that you are entering an area
in which biological material,
such as cell lines, bacterial or
human samples, are used,
and also indicates where to
discard waste associated with
your organisms.
9 These signs generally appear
Laser and only in areas that you should
ionizing get a fairly intensive safety
radiation introduction
on before beginning work.
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yourself properly.
So make sure you use
appropriate eye protection,
nitrile gloves, a lab coat
and a face mask are all
essential when you work
with such substances.
Before you start working
with these chemicals in the
lab, make sure you learn
the rules for disposing of
them when you are
finished using them.
Stocks of compressed gas
cylinders are normally
stored separately from the
main lab in special safety
cabinets.
Protect yourself properly
when working with such
organisms, avoid any direct
contact and make sure you
know what bins you should
be using for them.
If you have to work with
radiolabeled isotopes you
generally have to check
with your doctor first to
check you’re in a fit
 Lasers can harm your eyes
causing severe injury; you
should be well protected
before entering labs that
utilize lasers.
10 Extreme temperatures are
Hot and also a potential lab hazard
cold that should not be ignored.
warning Most labs have one electric
plate or induction cooker for
sterilizing small quantities of
solutions, or for creating a
supersaturated solution if
anyone is struggling to
dissolve something; some of
these hot plates can reach
temperatures of 450°C
♦ Hazardous Symbols ♦
There are some hazardous symbols used in lab one must be aware of them and know how to
protect himself if any emergency occurs.
Sr Hazardous Action
no. Symbols
1 Health The health hazard sign
Hazard denotes chemicals in the lab
that can cause serious, often
long-term health problems.
Hazards include
carcinogens, respiratory
sensitizers, reproductive
toxins, aspiration toxins,
target organ toxins, and
mutagens.
2 The biohazard lab safety
Biohazard
sign warns of lab equipment
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condition to allow you to
work in such a lab. Make
sure you are fully informed
about all the safety rules
and the type of PPE you’re
required to use in order to
protect yourself and those
you work with before your
enter these labs.
make sure you’re well
informed before you make
use of extreme cold
temperatures.
Precaution Picture
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.
Workers should always
wear the proper PPE and
 such as fridges or freezers follow proper procedures
that either contains when working with such
biohazardous materials or agents. Managers should
could be contaminated with also have an effective
biohazardous material such exposure control plan in
as blood samples. place in case of an
emergency.
3 Substances labelled with the Laboratory workers
Harmful
irritant symbol are not should handle irritants
Irritant
corrosive, but they can cause carefully. Working with
discomfort and reddening, irritants in the fume hood
irritation, or blistering of the can help individuals avoid
skin. inhalation.
4 The toxic material symbol To avoid the dangers
Toxic
indicates the presence of toxic material can cause
Material
substances that may harm an they must be handled
individual if they enter the wisely and their route of
body. exposure should be
checked
5 The corrosive material Such materials should
Corrosive
hazard laboratory safety sign always be stored at the
Material
indicates corrosive proper humidity and
Hazard:
substances in the lab that temperature conditions in
can eat away the skin if you the proper cabinets.
come into direct contact
with them.
6 Carcinogen signs in a When handling
Carcinogen laboratory indicate the use carcinogens, appropriate
Hazard: of known human personal protective
carcinogens. Carcinogenic equipment must be used.
substances commonly used Unnecessary exposure,
in the lab include devices such as fume
formaldehyde, methylene hoods, glove boxes, and
chloride, and benzene. HEPA filters are often
used.
7 The laser beam hazard sign Proper eye protection and
Laser Beam
in the laboratory lets staff non-flammable clothing
Hazard know that hazards from laser should always be worn at
beams are present. Both the all times in these areas of
eyes and skin can be the lab, whether the laser
damaged from direct
is being operated or not.
exposure to laser beams.
8 The UV light hazard symbol If you have to work with
UV Light
Hazard : will appear near ultraviolet UV light radiations you
(UV) light areas to warn generally have to check
with your doctor first to

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 personnel of the potential
dangers. Health effects due
to acute exposure to UV
light include redness or
ulcerations on the skin,
while chronic exposure can
lead to skin cancer.
9 The broken glassware
Glassware symbol may be placed on a
Hazard: container designated for the
disposal of broken glass in
the lab. Broken glass is a
physical hazard and has the
potential to be a health
hazard if it is contaminated
with toxic chemicals or
infectious substances
10 The electrical hazard safety
Electrical
symbol, which typically
Hazard:
includes a frayed wire and a
hand with a lightning bolt
across it, indicates any
electrical hazards in the lab.
Such hazards can cause
anything from a mild
tingling to death.
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check you’re in a fit
condition to allow you to
work in such a lab. Make
sure you are fully
informed about all the
safety rules and the type
of PPE you’re required to
use in order to protect
yourself and those you
work with before your
enter these labs.
Wherever possible,
laboratories should use
plasticware instead of
glassware to avoid
hazards. Laboratory
workers should use
appropriate gloves to
handle broken glass, or
use forceps, tongs, or a
dustpan and brush to
clean up pieces of broken
glass.
If an electrical hazard is
suspected, the device in
question should be
disconnected immediately
and the cause determined
by a qualified technician.
Equipment should always
be turned off and
unplugged when any
work is being done on it.
References:
➢ https://www.labmanager.com › lab-health-and-safety

➢ https://www.labmanager.com › lab-health-and-safety › 2017/09 › science-l..

➢ https://www.thoughtco.com › important-lab-safety-rules-608156

➢ https://www.thoughtco.com › Science, Tech, Math › Science › Chemistry

➢ https://ehs.okstate.edu › general-laboratory-safety-rules