Chemistry wet laboratories contain certain inherent hazards and dangers. As lab assistance, you must learn how to work safely with these hazards in order to avert any injuries to yourself and other people around you. Check out Method Malaysia to find out more.
Therefore, it is your responsibility to make a constant effort to think about the potential hazards associated with what you are doing and to consider about how to work safely to minimize these hazards as much as possible.
Here are the following guidelines which are designed to help to understand and act according to the principles behind them to help everybody to stay as safe as possible.
Please make sure you are familiar with the safety precautions, hazard warnings and procedures of the experiment on the spill pallet or when you are performing before you start any work. Learn more about spill pallet here.
Bear this in mind, anyone who fails to be governed by the Safety Regulations is subject to the disciplinary action and possible removal from the laboratory and course.
Safety Rules
First and foremost, get yourself familiar with the safety information given to you about each of the experiment. This also includes the manual, safety guidelines or any other posted information provided.
You also are recommended to always wear safety glasses when handling the experiment. Contact lenses are strictly prohibited you also need to wear a face shield when requested by the lab manufacturing assistant.
Next, the footwear must completely cover the foot and heel. You also must wear a lab coat with long pants in all chemistry labs.
You also need to ensure your work area and the common work areas tidy. Please ensure the aisles, safety showers and doorways are unobstructed by any object.
Chemical Safety
The vapours of many organic solvents are flammable or combustible. Thus, keep all the flammable objects in the flammable cabinet. Do not expose electric sparks, open flames or heating elements to the organic solvent vapours.
Moreover, many chemicals are poisonous, so avoid directly smell or taste the chemical. You can do so by fanning the vapours towards your nose, if necessary.
It is wise to never inhale dust or fine powders. You can use fume hood and personal protective equipment when necessary. Click here to know more.
You are also to be cautious and extremely careful when transferring, distilling or refluxing volatile liquids and don’t return used chemicals back into the chemical cabinet.
You also need to make sure that all the test tubes that containing reactions are pointed away from the people, especially when they are being heated.
First Aid
Chemical Spilled on the Skin Over a Large Area
When there is chemical spilt, remove all the contaminated clothing while using the safety shower to flush the chemical from the skin instantly. Continuously to flush the affected area with water for at least 20 minutes and do not use chemical neutralizers.
Chemical Splashed into the Eyes
Quickly flood the eye at emergency eyewash with water to dilute and eliminate the chemical if splashed into the eyes. Hold the eyelids open to facilitate the process. Constantly flush the eyes for at least 20 minutes.
In addition, apply some clean dressings over both eyes and arrange for immediate medical aid, regardless of the severity of the injury.
Burns
On top of that, burns are the most common injury in the chemistry lab. There are generally of either the chemical or thermal type.
Hence, apply for the first aid for the burnt surface of the thermal type that involves immersing the burned part in the cool water or applying the ice pack to relieve the pain and prevent blistering or swelling.