Table of ContentsUnderstanding Laboratory Safety Rules and GuidelinesGeneral Laboratory Safety Rules and Guidelines1. Emergency response information2. Train before testing3. Schedule your work during normal working hours4. Treat all chemicals in the laboratory as if they were toxic5. Adhere to electrical safety guidelines6. Safety Guidelines for Laser UseChemical Safety Regulations and Guidelines1. Learn universal chemical safety codes and pictograms2. Read and understand chemical safety data sheets3. Correctly label reagent aliquots4. Follow chemical storage guidelinesIndividual responsibility, personal protection standards1. Laboratory dress code2. Use of PPE during experiments3. Emergency response in case of injury4. Code of conduct in the laboratoryCollective responsibility, management rules and guidelines1. Cleaning and waste disposal2. Tidy up work spaces and corridors3. Follow laboratory guidelines on storage of equipment and chemicals4. Keep Lab Records UpdatedConclusionWorks CitedUnderstanding Lab Safety Rules and GuidelinesPreston Brown, a graduate student at Texas Tech University was working on the highly energetic hydrazine nickel perchlorate (NHP) in early January 2010 when a near-fatal accident that marked him for life. In a series of events involving failure to follow his supervisor's guidelines and failure to use safety and personal protective equipment (PPE), he suffered a punctured eye, three lost fingers and severe lacerations on his arms following the NHP explosion.Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay To avoid such harmful repercussions, it is important to always put safety first by ensuring that all lab members are well trained and strictly adhere to the rules and guidelines put in place. This post explores some of these provisions to help new staff or students navigate the laboratory environment in a way that reduces the risk of injury and damage to the laboratory. General Lab Safety Rules and Guidelines The very first action item for new staff o Students must go through a general orientation, usually given by the lab manager or a graduate student. This includes standard operating procedures, safety regulations and emergency response guidelines. It is critical to take this training seriously, take notes if necessary, request copies of these guidelines for in-depth study, and ask questions when things are unclear. Regardless of the type of laboratory you are in, there are general safety rules that you must observe as discussed below:1. Emergency Response Information You should be familiar with what to do in the event of an incident and who to report or contact. It is essential to know where items such as fire extinguishers, emergency showers, eyewash taps, first aid kits and fire blankets are placed/stored and how to operate or use them. Ensure that all incidents, even minor ones, are reported to your supervisor.2. Train before testingDo not use any equipment or conduct experiments without prior training. If you are still unsure about a certain procedure, ask your doctor for helpsupervisor or other qualified personnel. Write down the protocols or make copies of the SOPs to refer to in case of doubt.3. Schedule your work during normal working hours This ensures that you are not alone for extended periods because working alone makes you more vulnerable in the event of accidents or injuries. Having other members around you also ensures that you have multiple pairs of eyes to point out potential risks that you might miss while running your experiments.4. Treat all chemicals in the laboratory as if they were toxic. This means that you should not directly smell, touch or taste chemicals or reaction mixtures. Pipetting with your mouth is dangerous, so use rubber bulbs or electronic blowers to suck up liquids, and when using volatile or toxic chemicals, be sure to open them and use them inside a smoke chamber. When you finish your experiments, wash your hands thoroughly with clean water and soap.5. Follow electrical safety guidelines. Malfunctioning outlets or equipment can cause injury due to electric shock and damage to the laboratory due to fire. Avoid using extension cords and plugs with exposed or frayed wires. If a machine causes an electric shock, immediately turn off the power source and report it to the supervisor or technician in charge. Make sure power sources are not overloaded because many appliances can cause the outlet to overheat which can lead to a fire.6. Safety Guidelines for Laser UseSafety guidelines depend on the classification of the laser, as high-power lasers require greater safety measures. Generally, protective eyewear is required when working with class IIIa, IIIb, and IV lasers to avoid injury to the lenses. Make sure reflective objects such as mirrors and jewelry are removed because they can redirect the laser's trajectory and bounce it off your skin or a flammable object. Always turn on the laser light to warn other lab members not to enter the room without the appropriate PPE. Do not place the beam at eye level even when you think the laser is off. Chemical Safety Rules and Guidelines Chemical laboratories have an assortment of chemicals and reagents ranging from very toxic to generally harmless substances. Each laboratory needs a complete catalog of chemicals with indications of its safety guidelines. This should include the chemical category, e.g. toxic, irritant, flammable, etc., and handling specifications. It describes any specific requirements such as the use of vapor chambers, whether the use of protective shields or masks is required, and finally disposal guidelines. The following guidelines apply:1. Learn Universal Chemical Safety Codes and PictogramsIt is essential that new laboratory members understand the use of symbols and colors to indicate chemical properties and their potential hazards. For example, the color blue for health risks, yellow for unstable chemicals, and red for flammable substances. There are also symbols and pictograms used to indicate radioactive, carcinogenic, irritant substances, etc. All these must be clear to anyone handling these chemicals.2. Read and understand chemical safety data sheets Before using any chemical product, make sure you have read and understood the relevant material safety data sheet (MSDS). Contains instructions on safe use, potential hazards, and how to handle spills and disposal. All safety data sheets must be stored ina central location where lab members can easily access it when they need clarification.3. Properly label reagent aliquotsAll laboratory preparations and reagent aliquots must be clearly labeled with the name of the reagent or chemical mixture, the date of preparation, and the identity of the person responsible for the preparation. This should be stored in the appropriate container, such as umber containers for light-sensitive reagents, and stored at the correct temperature.4. Follow Chemical Storage Guidelines It is important to follow chemical storage guidelines within the laboratory. Some substances should not be stored in close proximity to avoid unwanted reactions while others need special consideration due to their chemical properties. Generally, chemicals are stored according to their hazard labels; for example, flammable chemicals are stored away from sources of ignition or other reactive chemicals and at temperatures below 37°C. Other considerations include storing corrosive chemicals in additional secondary containers and storing volatile and toxic chemicals in well-ventilated cabinets. Individual responsibility, personal protection rules Each member of the laboratory must learn and respect the established rules and guidelines, to minimize the possibility of harm occurring to them in the working environment. These include dress code, use of personal protective equipment and general behavior in the laboratory.1.Dress code in the laboratoryIt is important to consider what you wear in the laboratory as some clothing and accessories may increase the likelihood of injury or provide little protection in the event of an accident. Avoid wearing shorts and short dresses in the laboratory as this leaves your legs vulnerable to chemical or biological spills. Closed, well-fitting flat shoes are recommended to protect your toes and for comfort when you have to spend long periods on your feet. Hair beyond chin length should be tied or pinned because it could be a source of contamination to your experiments or injury if accidentally swung towards an open flame. Jewelry hanging from the hands, neck and hair must be removed upon entering the laboratory space.2. Use of PPE during experimentsAlways use the recommended PPE and safety equipment for any particular experiment. Use gloves when handling chemicals. Sometimes specific types of gloves will be needed, for example cryogenic gloves when handling items at very low temperatures. Safety glasses should be used regularly in the laboratory and especially when handling caustic chemicals, reagents under pressure or when working near UV light. Depending on the type of chemicals you are handling, you may need more protection, such as the use of a blast shield when handling highly energetic chemicals, the use of earplugs when using ultrasound or the use of lead screens when using certain chemicals. types of radioactive isotopes.3. Emergency Injury ResponseIn the event of chemical skin contact or general exposure to infectious material such as blood, you should immediately wash your hands with soap and water. If exposed areas include the face, chest and arm, use the emergency shower to clean the contaminants. If your eyes are affected, use eye drops. We recommend..