Lab Cleanliness

• You are accountable for keeping the lab clean.

• Always leave the benchtop clean.

• Put all chemicals and lab materials away when you are finished.

• Throw away paper towels and Kimwipes that you have used.

• Double-check your lab station before you leave to ensure that you are leaving the station in a clean and organized fashion for the next group.

Labels

You must always label any tube, beaker, petri dish, or vial with your initials, the date, and contents before use—even if it’s water. Failure to label containers leads to unknown chemicals, which in turn creates many problems for chemical disposal crews.

Lab Security

• Your assistance in keeping the lab secure is essential. Immediately report anything suspicious to your laboratory instructor, or the campus police.

• When the lab is unoccupied, the door must remain closed and locked at all times.

• No lab equipment may leave the lab at any time.

Good Laboratory Practices

• Avoid loose clothing such as dresses, neckties, and dangling jewelry which can get caught in equipment. Long hair is also a risk around some equipment and should be secured as a precaution.

• Know where to find and how to operate fire extinguishers, safety showers, eye fountains or any other safety equipment.

• You should always familiarize yourself with the MSDS before using any chemicals.

• Ventilation hoods should be used when transferring volatile or toxic chemicals.

• Flammable liquids should be stored in the Flammable Liquid Storage Cabinet when not in use.

• Minimize the amount of such materials brought into the lab.

• When working with flammable liquids keep the liquid in a hood and return the liquid to the Flammable Liquid Storage Cabinet at the end of a lab session.

• Electrical hazards should be eliminated.

• Frayed or otherwise hazardous electrical cords should be reported and replaced or repaired.

• Flammable solvents should be kept away from electrical equipment.

• Electrical equipment should be grounded.

• Spills must be cleaned up immediately. This includes water, solvents, mercury (broken thermometer), or any other laboratory chemicals.

• Hazardous waste must be properly labeled and presented to the laboratory manager for disposal. This includes organic liquids, flammable materials, toxic chemicals, and solutions of extreme acidity or alkalinity. Never pour these solutions down the drain.