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Lab Safety Contract
Stem Observation

 

Student Safety Contract                       

An important part of your science work will take place in the laboratory.  The laboratory is a safe environment in which to work if some general rules are observed and if the people who work in the lab are informed and careful.

As a first step toward becoming an informed laboratory worker, read the following safety rules.  Make sure that you understand each rule.  When you are sure that you understand all of the safety rules that are on the list, sign and date the contract in the space provided.  Signing this contract indicates that you are aware of the rules of the laboratory and the consequences of breaking them.

ATTIRE

  • To protect your eyes from possible injury, you will be required to wear safety glasses during certain laboratory activities. 

  • Tie back long hair and loose clothing (ties and scarves) and remove jewelry when you work at the lab station. Roll up loose sleeves that might fall into chemicals or become caught on equipment. 

  • Do not wear open-toed shoes, flip-flops or sandals in the laboratory.  Never go barefoot.

PRE-LAB

  • Prepare for the experiment by reading all of the directions before the class begins.  Before beginning the experiment, ask your teacher about directions that you do not understand.  Discuss the procedure with your lab partner or team.  Assign specific tasks to individuals.

  • Before you begin work, make sure that you know how to operate the equipment that will be used in the experiment.

PERFORMING AN EXPERIMENT

  • Keep your laboratory work area clear of any materials that are not needed for performing the experiment.  Knapsacks, sweaters or jackets and other materials should be stored away from the work area.

  • Work only at your assigned lab area with your lab partner; avoid walking around the room.

  • Handle all equipment as directed.  Note safety precautions in the instructions for your experiments.

  • Handle all sharp instruments with care.  Never walk around the lab area with sharp instruments in your hand.

  • Take extreme care not to spill materials in the laboratory.  Report all spills immediately and follow your teacher's directions for cleaning them up.

  • Keep flammable materials away from open flames and hot plates.  Place burners sufficiently far from the edge of the work area.  Never reach across a flame.

  • Use tongs or a clamp to pick up hot containers.  Test the temperature of equipment and containers that have been heated by placing the back of your hand near any object before picking it up.  If you can feel the heat, it might be too hot to handle.

  • Dispose of materials only as directed.  After you have completed your work, turn off all equipment and materials to their appropriate storage places.

  • Wash your hands before and after each experiment.

  • Never eat or drink in the lab.  Never eat or drink from lab equipment.

  • Perform only those experiments authorized by your teacher.  Do not work in the laboratory unsupervised.

 FIRST AID or EMERGENCIES

  • Report any accident or injury to your teacher immediately, no matter how minor the accident might seem.  Follow your teacher's recommendations for further treatment. 

  • Know the locations of the fire extinguisher, safety shower, blanket, eyewash, first aid kit, and other safety equipment. 

 

HANDLING CHEMICALS

  • Read the labels on chemical containers and reagent bottles twice.  Bottles of darked glass look very much alike; make sure that you are using the materials called for in the experiment.  Label all containers into which you put materials.

  • Do not touch, taste, or smell chemicals that are in the laboratory unless directed to do so by your teacher.  Do not sniff chemicals directly from containers.  Waft fumes towards your nose by waving your hand over the mouth of the container.

  • Open chemical bottles and specimen containers only when you are ready to use the materials within them and close the bottles quickly when you are done.  Moisture from the air might react with and spoil the chemicals.  To avoid the contamination of chemical, do not return the unused chemicals to the bottle.  Dispose of chemicals only as directed by your teacher.

  • Do not use your mouth to draw materials through a pipette; use a pipette bulb.

  • Never point the open end of a heated test tube toward yourself or anyone else.

HANDLING GLASSWARE

  • Do not use cracked, chipped or badly scratched glassware.

  • Never handle broken glass with your bare hands.

  • Do not place hot glassware directly onto lab table.  Always use an insulating pad of some sort.

 HANDLING LIVING ORGANISMS and PRESERVED SPECIMENS

  • Treat all microorganisms as if they were harmful.  Use antiseptic procedures as directed by your teacher.  Dispose of microbes as your teacher directs.

  • Treat living organisms carefully.  Do not cause pain, discomfort or injury to an organism.  Follow you teacher's directions when handling animals.  Wash your hands thoroughly after handling animals or their cages.

Failure to follow these lab safety rules and act appropriately in the lab may result in a no credit for the lab and/or a possible class removal.

When you have read this safety contract and are sure that you understand all of the rules, sign and date the contract and return it to your teacher.  Your signature on this contract indicates that you are aware of the safety rules for the science laboratory.

 

Student Signature:

 

_______________________________________________Date________

Parent Signature:

 

_______________________________________________Date________