LABORATORY AND SAFETY

LABORATORY AND SAFETY

Nowdays loaboratories are a necessary part of chemistry because they help us to familiarize with this science. Althought there are a lot of potential hazards in a lab. But what actually are those hazards and what precautions should be taken?

To begin with, at the 13th National Campus Safety Association Conference on June 24, 1996 the Laboratory Safety Commitee of the Campus Safety Association determine a "form" of a laboratory design and equipment. This set of considerations do not cover all of the facets of many design problems but it is necessary for a lab a protective equipment, as an automatic systems for fire and explosion protection.

But in a lab there are a lot of potential hazards and the worker have to know how to avoid them. It is notable that the majority of the accidents happens because of the ignorance of the worker.

Firstly a potential hazard in a lab is cuts. For instance a broken glassware can injure the worker. Some instructions of how to prevent cuts are:

1)Distance immediately all the broken glassware by placing it in containers provided for that purpose.

2)Protect your hand when handling glass with sharp edjes.

3)Do not attemp to force frozen glass joints, stoppers or stopcocks. Take them to your instructor for removal.

Moreover in a lab there is the danger o f poisoning, due to the chemical reactants which are used. For exaple hydrogen chloride has an awful smell and it is better not to smell it. The prevention of poisoning is handling chemicals in such a way that they do not come in contact with your skin. It is better to use the utilize tools of the laboratory as spatula, funnel and so on. Also regard all chemicals in the laboratory as poisonous and never eat, drink, or taste anything while you are in the chemistry laboratory. Note before perfomig the experiments whether any of the chemicals are especially poisonoius. And never smell concetrated fumes.

Furthermore there is a great possibility o fires and explosions in a lab, because of the flammable materials. Some ways to prevent fires and explosions are the followings:

1)Keep flammable materials away from flames.

2)Use an electric heater for heating flammable liquids and never heat them over a direct flame.

3)Some chemicals react vigorously and can cause violent explosions. For this reason the worker should mix small quantities of chemicals.

But also some accidents which happens in a lab, are results of the ignorance or the carelessness that the worker has. Some reasons for those accidents are manual handling, posture, falling object, hitting an object or falling. The only way to prevent those accidents is the cautiousness at the experiments and in the instructions of the instructor.

A way to be ensured the laboratory safety is to follow some general laboratory rules. First of all,the worker have to read all the directions for each experiments before starting to work. Also he/she should note about chemicals. For example, they should note if the reactants are flammable, as sodium and carbon disulfide, or poisoning as carbon tetrachloride. Moreover the worker has to wear a laboratory coat, shoes and tie back long hair. Wearing goggles during all laboratory work protect your eyes. the worker must follow the directions of the instructor and the laboratory manual. Furthermore, it is very important to keep your work space clear of nonessential items. So clean up any litter or spilled chemicals. Also the worker should set up all experiments that may release any toxic or flammable gas under the hood. Another important rule is that all chemicals in the laboratory must be clearly labeled. Serious injury can be caused by the use the wrong chemical.

It is very important to know how to give Laboratory First Aid. It has to be emphasized the importance of first aid and stop the respiration and circulation. Following there are some emergency treatments:

1)Chemical Eye Injuries

If the worker has a chemical eye injury the medically recommended method is to wash the injured eye thoroughly with plain water for 15 minutes without delay before the chemical has any more chance to damage.

2) Burns from fire and chemicals

A person who working in a lab should know how to use fire extinguishers and emergency showers.Persons with burning clothing must be prevented from running.

To conclude labolatory safety is a very important issue and we have to know as better as we can about safety rules.This is the only way to prevent the potential hazards in a lab.

Refference:

• CRC handbook of laboratory safety
• Chemical principles in the laboratory
• medlab.cs.uoi.gr
• www.sciencekit.com