Table of ContentsUnderstanding Laboratory Safety Rules and GuidelinesGeneral Laboratory Safety Rules and Guidelines1. Learn more about emergency response2. Practice before experimenting3. Schedule your work during normal working hours4. Treat all laboratory chemicals as if they were toxic5. Follow electrical safety guidelines6. Safety instructions for laser useChemical safety rules and guidelines1. Learn the universal chemical safety codes and pictograms2. Read and understand chemical safety data sheets3. Properly label reagent aliquots4. Follow chemical storage guidelinesIndividual responsibility, personal protection rules1. Laboratory dress code2. Use of PPE during experiments3. Emergency response to injury4. Laboratory code of conductCollective responsibility, maintenance rules and guidelines1. Cleaning and waste disposal2. Declutter workspaces and aisles3. Follow laboratory guidelines on storage of equipment and chemicals4. Keeping laboratory records up to dateConclusionWorks CitedUnderstanding laboratory safety rules and guidelinesPreston Brown, a graduate student at Texas Tech University was working on the high-energy nickel hydrazine perchlorate (NHP) in early January 2010 when a near-fatal accident that left him scarred for life happened. In a series of events involving failure to follow directions from his supervisor and failure to wear safety and personal protective equipment (PPE), he suffered a punctured eye, three lost fingers and severe lacerations to his arms following the explosion of the PSN. no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why violent video games should not be banned”? Get an original essay To avoid such harmful repercussions, it is important to always prioritize safety by ensuring that all members of the lab are well trained and strictly adhere to the rules and guidelines in place. This article details a number of these stipulations to enable new staff or students to navigate the laboratory environment in a manner that reduces the risk of injury and damage to the laboratory. General Lab Safety Rules and Guidelines The very first action point for new staff or students should complete a general orientation, usually provided by the lab manager or a graduate student. This encompasses standard operating procedures, safety rules and emergency response guidelines. It is imperative to take this training seriously, take notes where necessary, request copies of these guidelines for further study, and ask questions when things are unclear. No matter what type of laboratory you are in, there are general rules. about safety that you must observe as shown below:1. Learn more about emergency response You need to know what to do in the event of an accident and who to report or contact. It is imperative to know where items such as fire extinguishers, emergency showers, eyewash faucets, first aid kits and fire blankets are placed/stored and how to operate or use them. Ensure that all accidents, no matter how minor, are reported to your supervisor.2. Train before experimentingDo not use any equipment or carry out any experiments without prior training. If you are still notsure of a certain procedure, seek assistance from your supervisor or other qualified personnel. Write down protocols or make copies of 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 of time, as working alone makes you more vulnerable in the event of an accident or injury. Having other members around also ensures that you have extra pairs of eyes to point out potential risks that you might miss during your experiments.4. Treat all chemicals in the laboratory as if they were toxic. This means do not sniff, touch, or taste the chemicals or reaction mixtures directly. Oral pipetting is dangerous, so use rubber bulbs or electronic pipette pumps to draw up liquids and when using volatile or toxic chemicals, be sure to open them and use them in a smoke chamber. At the end of your experiments, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and clean water.5. Follow electrical safety instructions. Malfunction of outlets or equipment can result in injury from electrocution and damage to the laboratory in the event of a fire. Avoid using extension cords and plugs with exposed or frayed wires. In the event that a machine causes an electric shock, immediately turn off the power source and report it to the supervisor or technician in charge. Ensure that power sources are not overloaded as many equipment can cause the outlet to overheat which may result in a fire.6. Safety instructions for laser useSafety instructions depend on the classification of the laser, with higher power lasers requiring more 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 like mirrors and jewelry are removed, as they can redirect the laser's path and cause it to bounce off skin or a flammable object. Always turn on the laser light to warn other members of the laboratory not to enter the room without the appropriate PPE. Do not place the beam at eye level, even if you think the laser is off. Chemical Safety Rules and Guidelines Chemistry laboratories have an assortment of chemicals and reagents ranging from very toxic chemicals to generally harmless chemicals. Every laboratory needs a complete catalog of chemicals with guidance on its safety guidelines. This should include the chemical category, e.g. toxic, irritant, flammable, etc., as well as handling specifications. This outlines any unique requirements such as the use of vapor chambers, whether the use of face shields or masks is required, and finally, disposal guidelines. The following guidelines apply:1. Learn the universal chemical safety codes and pictograms. It 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 hazards, yellow for unstable chemicals, and red for flammable products. There are also symbols and pictograms used to designate radioactive substances, carcinogens, irritants, etc. All of these must be clear to anyone handling these chemicals.2.Read and understand the chemical material safety data sheet. Before using any chemical, make sure you have read and understood its Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS). This contains instructions on safe use, potential hazards and how to deal with spills and their disposal. All MSDSs should be filed in a central location where laboratory members can easily access them when they need clarification.3. Properly Label Reagent AliquotsAll laboratory preparations and reagent aliquots should 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, for example umber containers for light-sensitive reagents, and stored at the correct temperature.4. Follow Chemical Storage GuidelinesIt is important to follow chemical storage guidelines within the laboratory. Some substances should not be stored nearby to avoid unwanted reactions while others require special attention due to their chemical properties. Typically, 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, rules for personal protection Each member of the laboratory must learn and follow the established rules and guidelines, in order to minimize the risk of harm. that happen to them in the work environment. These include dress code, use of personal protective equipment and general behavior in the laboratory.1.Laboratory Dress CodeIt is important to consider what you wear to the laboratory, as certain clothing and accessories might increase the risk of injury or provide little protection in the event of an accident. Avoid wearing shorts and cropped clothing in the laboratory, as this makes 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 of time on your feet. Hair beyond chin length should be tied back or pinned up, as this can be a source of contamination for your experiments or injury if it accidentally swings toward an open flame. Jewelry that hangs on your hands, neck, and hair should be removed once you enter the laboratory space.2. Use of PPE during ExperimentsAlways use the PPE and safety equipment recommended for each particular experiment. Use gloves when handling chemicals. Sometimes specific types of gloves will be required, for example cryogenic gloves for handling objects at very low temperatures. Protective eyewear should be used regularly in the laboratory, especially when handling caustic chemicals, reagents under pressure, or working near UV rays. Depending on the type of chemicals you are handling, increased protection may be necessary, for example the use of a blast shield in the case of a high energy chemical, the use of earplugs when the use of..