Before starting a lab: Read the directions and listen to your teacher Goggles: Wear them to protect your eyes whenever told to Long hair: Tie it back so it stays away from flames and chemicals Loose sleeves and jewelry: Roll up or remove them so they don't catch Shoes in lab: Wear closed-toe shoes, never sandals Lab apron or coat: Wear it to protect skin and clothes Gloves: Wear them when handling chemicals your teacher says need them Eating and drinking in the lab: Never do it Tasting chemicals: Never taste anything in the lab Smelling a chemical: Waft the fumes toward your nose with your hand; don't sniff directly Running in the lab: Don't; walk calmly Spill: Tell your teacher right away Broken glass: Tell your teacher; don't pick it up with bare hands Hot object: Use tongs or heat-proof gloves and treat it as hot Heating a test tube: Point the opening away from yourself and others Bunsen burner: Keep flammable things away and never leave it unattended Lighting a burner: Light the match first, then turn on the gas, with teacher watching Adding acid to water: Always add acid slowly to water, never water to acid Mixing unknown chemicals: Never do it Labels: Read the label twice before using a chemical Unused chemicals: Never pour them back in the original bottle Waste: Dispose of it the way your teacher says After the lab: Wash your hands with soap and water Eyewash station: Use it right away to flush chemicals from the eyes Safety shower: Used to rinse chemicals off the body in an emergency Fire extinguisher: Used to put out small fires, after telling the teacher Fire blanket: Wraps around a person to smother flames Clothes on fire: Stop, drop and roll Fume hood: A ventilated cabinet that pulls harmful fumes away Hazard symbol with a flame: Flammable: can catch fire Hazard symbol with a skull and crossbones: Toxic: can poison Hazard symbol with an exclamation mark: Irritant or other less severe health hazard Hazard symbol with a corroded hand: Corrosive: can damage skin and metal Hazard symbol with an exploding bomb: Explosive or reactive Hazard symbol with a dead tree and fish: Harmful to the environment SDS: Safety Data Sheet: tells how to handle a chemical safely Using electrical equipment: Keep cords and hands dry and away from water Working alone in the lab: Don't; always have an adult present Horseplay: Never; it causes accidents Pouring from a bottle: Hold the label side up against your palm Cleaning up: Leave your work area clean and tidy Cuts or burns: Tell the teacher at once Glassware that is cracked: Do not use it; give it to the teacher Carrying a microscope: Use two hands, one on the arm and one under the base Testing something that might be hot: Hold your hand near, not on it Free flashcards from Peabody at peabody.kids/flashcards/chem-lab-safety