Laboratory Safety
The following are rules and guidelines for a safe, injury free experience in the laboratory.
1. Notify your instructor if you have any medical condition i.e pregnancy, allergies, immunological defects, that may require special precautionary measures in the lab.
2. Do not eat, drink, or apply cosmetics in the lab. Keep food and drinks inside the refrigerator in the classroom or put away in your backpack and not on the floor hidden from site.
3. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water before leaving the lab.
4. Do not remove any cultures or chemicals from the lab.
5. Treat every culture as if it were a human pathogen and wash your skin if it is exposed to a spill containing microorganisms.
6. Inform your instructor immediately of any spill or accident.
7. Never pipette by mouth.
8. Dispose of cultures and contaminated equipment in the proper container to be autoclaved.
9. Dispose of glass, needles, and razor blades in the proper "Sharps" container.
10. Tie back long hair and confine or remove loose outer clothing when using the Bunsen burner. This also applies to long sleeve garments.
11. Wear shoes at all times in the lab.
12. Cover any scrape or cut with a bandage before coming to lab.
13. Always assume that hot plates are hot.
14. Turn off the Bunsen burner when unattended or not in use.
15. Keep flammables away from open flames. Especially decolorizing alcohols used when decolorizing stains.
16. Wear disposable gloves when advised to by your instructor.
17. Wipe down benches with disinfectant before and after class.
18. Leave the lab clean and organized for the next class. Put away all supplies that were used in the proper place.
19. Be familiar with the location of the fire extinguisher, eye wash basin, and first aid kit.
20. Ask the instructor if in doubt about the procedures and/or safety precautions for any exercise.
Student Signature Date