Science Safety Contract
Purpose
Science is a hands-on laboratory class. You will be doing laboratory activities which will require the use of chemicals and the Bunsen burner. Safety in the science classroom is #1 priority for students, teachers, and parents. To ensure a safe science classroom, a list of rules has been developed and provided to you in this student safety contract.
General Guidelines
1. Conduct yourself in a responsible manner at all times
2. Follow all written and verbal instructions carefully. If you don’t understand a direction, ask the instructor.
3. No student may work at the lab stations without an instructor present
4. When first entering a science room, do not touch any equipment, chemicals, or other material until you are instructed to do so.
5. Do not eat food, drink beverages, or chew gum in the classroom. Do not use lab glassware as containers for food or beverages.
6. Perform only those experiments authorized by the instructor.
7. Horseplay, practical jokes and pranks are dangerous and prohibited.
8. Observe good housekeeping practices. Work areas should be kept clean and tidy at all times. Bring lab sheets, worksheets, and/or reports to work area. Other materials should be left at your desks.
9. Know the locations and operating procedures of all safety equipment including the fire extinguisher.
10. Always work in a well-ventilated area.
11. Be alert and proceed with caution at all times at lab stations.
12.Dispose of all chemical waste properly. Never dump chemicals into the sinks.
13. Keep hands away from face, eyes, mouth, and body while using chemicals or preserved specimens. Wash your hands with soap and water after performing all experiments. Clean and rinse equipment at the end of the experiments.
14. Experiments must be personally monitored at all times. You will be assigned laboratory stations at which to work. Do not wander around the room, distract other students or interfere with other workstations.
15. Students are never permitted in the science storage room or preparation areas unless given specific permission by the instructor.
16. Know what to do if there is a fire drill during a lab period; containers must be closed, gas valves turned off, and any electrical equipment turned off.
17. When using dissection tools or other sharp instruments, always carry tips and points pointing down and away from you.
Failure to comply with the above contract could result in removal from the class, disciplinary actions, and possible suspension.
Clothing
18. Any time chemicals or heat are used, students will wear laboratory goggles. There will be no exceptions to this rule.
19. Contact lenses should not be worn in the laboratory unless you have permission from your instructor.
20. Dress properly during a lab activity. Long hair, dangling jewelry, and loose or baggy clothing are a hazard in the lab. Long hair must be tied back and dangling jewelry and loose or baggy clothing must be secured. Shoes must completely cover the feet.
Accidents and Injuries
21. Report any accident (spill, breakage, etc.) or injury (cut, burn, etc.) no matter how trivial it may appear.
22. If a chemical should splash in your eye(s) or on your skin, immediately flush with running water from the eye wash station for at least 20 minutes. Notify the instructor at once.
Handling Chemicals
23. All chemicals in the lab are to be considered dangerous. Do not touch, taste, or smell any chemicals unless specifically instructed to do so. The proper technique for smelling chemical fumes will be demonstrated to you.
24. Check the label on chemicals before using.
25. Never return unused chemicals to their original containers.
26. Acids must be handled with extreme care
27. Never remove chemicals or other materials from the lab.
28. Take great care when transferring acids.
Handling Glassware and Equipment
29. Never handle broken glass with your bare hands. Use a brush and dustpan to clean up broken glass. Place broken or waste glassware in the designated glass container.
30. Inserting and removing glass tubing from robber stoppers can be dangerous. Always protect your hands with towels or cotton gloves when inserting glass tubing into or removing it from, a rubber stopper.
31. Examine glassware before each use. Never use chipped or cracked glassware. Never use dirty glassware.
32. If you do not understand how to use a piece of equipment, ask the instructor for help.
33. Do not immerse hot glassware in cold water- it may shatter.
Heating Substances
34. Exercise extreme caution when using a gas burner. Take care that hair, clothing, and hands are a safe distance from the flame at all times. Do not put any substance into the flame unless specifically instructed to do so. Never reach over an exposed flame. Light gas burners only as instructed by the teacher.
35. Never leave a lit burner unattended. Never leave anything that is being heated or is visibly reacting unattended. Always turn the burner or hot plate off when not in use.
36. Heated metals and glass remain very hot for a long time. They should be set aside to cool and picked up with caution. Use tongs or heat-protective gloves if necessary.
37. Never look into a container that is being heated.
38. Do not place hot apparatus directly on the laboratory desk. Allow plenty of time for hot apparatus to cool before touching it.
39. If you catch on fire, stop, drop and roll. Never run.
Purpose
Science is a hands-on laboratory class. You will be doing laboratory activities which will require the use of chemicals and the Bunsen burner. Safety in the science classroom is #1 priority for students, teachers, and parents. To ensure a safe science classroom, a list of rules has been developed and provided to you in this student safety contract.
General Guidelines
1. Conduct yourself in a responsible manner at all times
2. Follow all written and verbal instructions carefully. If you don’t understand a direction, ask the instructor.
3. No student may work at the lab stations without an instructor present
4. When first entering a science room, do not touch any equipment, chemicals, or other material until you are instructed to do so.
5. Do not eat food, drink beverages, or chew gum in the classroom. Do not use lab glassware as containers for food or beverages.
6. Perform only those experiments authorized by the instructor.
7. Horseplay, practical jokes and pranks are dangerous and prohibited.
8. Observe good housekeeping practices. Work areas should be kept clean and tidy at all times. Bring lab sheets, worksheets, and/or reports to work area. Other materials should be left at your desks.
9. Know the locations and operating procedures of all safety equipment including the fire extinguisher.
10. Always work in a well-ventilated area.
11. Be alert and proceed with caution at all times at lab stations.
12.Dispose of all chemical waste properly. Never dump chemicals into the sinks.
13. Keep hands away from face, eyes, mouth, and body while using chemicals or preserved specimens. Wash your hands with soap and water after performing all experiments. Clean and rinse equipment at the end of the experiments.
14. Experiments must be personally monitored at all times. You will be assigned laboratory stations at which to work. Do not wander around the room, distract other students or interfere with other workstations.
15. Students are never permitted in the science storage room or preparation areas unless given specific permission by the instructor.
16. Know what to do if there is a fire drill during a lab period; containers must be closed, gas valves turned off, and any electrical equipment turned off.
17. When using dissection tools or other sharp instruments, always carry tips and points pointing down and away from you.
Failure to comply with the above contract could result in removal from the class, disciplinary actions, and possible suspension.
Clothing
18. Any time chemicals or heat are used, students will wear laboratory goggles. There will be no exceptions to this rule.
19. Contact lenses should not be worn in the laboratory unless you have permission from your instructor.
20. Dress properly during a lab activity. Long hair, dangling jewelry, and loose or baggy clothing are a hazard in the lab. Long hair must be tied back and dangling jewelry and loose or baggy clothing must be secured. Shoes must completely cover the feet.
Accidents and Injuries
21. Report any accident (spill, breakage, etc.) or injury (cut, burn, etc.) no matter how trivial it may appear.
22. If a chemical should splash in your eye(s) or on your skin, immediately flush with running water from the eye wash station for at least 20 minutes. Notify the instructor at once.
Handling Chemicals
23. All chemicals in the lab are to be considered dangerous. Do not touch, taste, or smell any chemicals unless specifically instructed to do so. The proper technique for smelling chemical fumes will be demonstrated to you.
24. Check the label on chemicals before using.
25. Never return unused chemicals to their original containers.
26. Acids must be handled with extreme care
27. Never remove chemicals or other materials from the lab.
28. Take great care when transferring acids.
Handling Glassware and Equipment
29. Never handle broken glass with your bare hands. Use a brush and dustpan to clean up broken glass. Place broken or waste glassware in the designated glass container.
30. Inserting and removing glass tubing from robber stoppers can be dangerous. Always protect your hands with towels or cotton gloves when inserting glass tubing into or removing it from, a rubber stopper.
31. Examine glassware before each use. Never use chipped or cracked glassware. Never use dirty glassware.
32. If you do not understand how to use a piece of equipment, ask the instructor for help.
33. Do not immerse hot glassware in cold water- it may shatter.
Heating Substances
34. Exercise extreme caution when using a gas burner. Take care that hair, clothing, and hands are a safe distance from the flame at all times. Do not put any substance into the flame unless specifically instructed to do so. Never reach over an exposed flame. Light gas burners only as instructed by the teacher.
35. Never leave a lit burner unattended. Never leave anything that is being heated or is visibly reacting unattended. Always turn the burner or hot plate off when not in use.
36. Heated metals and glass remain very hot for a long time. They should be set aside to cool and picked up with caution. Use tongs or heat-protective gloves if necessary.
37. Never look into a container that is being heated.
38. Do not place hot apparatus directly on the laboratory desk. Allow plenty of time for hot apparatus to cool before touching it.
39. If you catch on fire, stop, drop and roll. Never run.