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Lab safety guidelines

General rules of conduct in the use of labs in a school environment:
Please note that all school and laboratory rules
supersede these guidelines:

• Work in the lab only when the teacher or lab instructor/supervisor
  is present or when you have permission to do so;
• Ask for and familiarize yourself with all manuals, resources and guidelines for working in your school's laboratories.
  These include safe work procedures, chemical safety information, laboratory equipment safety information and links to other resources. If you have any questions in preparation, do not hesitate to ask for updated or missing information;
• Learn the location and proper usage of the
  eyewash fountain, fire extinguisher, safety shower, fire alarm box, office intercom button, evacuation routes, cleanup brush and dust pan, glass/chemical disposal can and any additional safety equipment including evacuation procedures;
• Report all accidents regardless of how minor to your teacher or lab instructor/supervisor including contact with chemicals and minor burns, spills, etc.
• Keep a focus on your projects and experiments;
  do not play, joke, distract others,
  or engage in behavior that could lead to injury of yourself or others.
• Before beginning work in lab, prepare yourself with a thorough understanding of the instructions, objectives of the experiment, and understanding of the materials
• Begin with a clean work surface with your instructions clearly posted and available; have a clear, clean work space and eliminate unnecessary books, book bags, equipment, etc.
• Use goggles and lab aprons as instructed;
  wear appropriate clothing and avoid loose fitting garments that can cause spills as well as open-toed footwear or sandals
• Use care when accessing or transporting stock chemicals and only under supervision
• Use equipment only as directed;
• View the contents of experiments from the side;
  never directly into an experiment as in a test tube.
• Carefully smell experiments using your hand to "fan" the odor or fumes towards you and only when instructed to do so.  Never directly above or in the container.
• Never taste or ingest chemicals or materials in the lab;
  do not bring food, drink and gum etc. into the lab area;
• Return all lab materials and equipment to their proper places after use as instructed; clean your lab space as instructed by your teacher or lab instructor/supervisor