SAMPLE SCIENCE LABORATORY SAFETY STUDENT HANDOUT  
 

1.  DO NOT EAT, DRINK, SMOKE OR APPLY MAKEUP IN THE LAB.  Keep hands away from the face.  Wash hands and work area with soap and water when activity is complete.

2.  CONTAIN LONG HAIR AND LOOSE CLOTHING.  Do not wear jewelry on lab days.  Wear shoes that provide protection against spills or dropped objects.

3.  WEAR SAFETY GLASSES/GOGGLES.  Prescription glasses are not a substitute.  Contact lenses are not recommended for wear in the science laboratory.

4.  KNOW HOW TO USE THE SAFETY EQUIPMENT.  Work with a partner so that one may assist the other in the case of an emergency.

5.  DEMONSTRATE SAFE BEHAVIORS.  Stay in the assigned work area.  Keep the area as uncluttered as possible; only the lab manual, notebook, pencil, and experimental materials should be on the lab table.  Clean up all spills or broken equipment as soon as possible.  Notify the teacher of any hazards.

6.  CONDUCT ONLY THOSE EXPERIMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN AUTHORIZED BY THE TEACHER.  Untested combinations of chemicals can be very dangerous and do serious damage to students and the classroom.

7.  DO NOT POINT HEATED CONTAINERS SUCH AS TEST TUBES OR FLASKS AT ANYONE, INCLUDING ONESELF.

8.  DISPOSE OF ALL WASTE MATERIALS SAFELY.  Put all waste glass in one container, paper products in another, and chemicals as directed by the teacher.

9.  DO NOT TASTE, SMELL, OR TOUCH ANY CHEMICAL WITHOUT TEACHER PERMISSION.

10.  KEEP OUT OF MATERIAL STORAGE AREAS.

11.  DO NOT REMOVE ANY MATERIALS FROM THE CLASSROOM WITHOUT PERMISSION FROM THE TEACHER.

12.  DO NOT WORK ALONE IN THE LABORATORY.
 

Source:  Lemons, J.L.  Missouri Secondary Science Safety Manual.  Jefferson City, MO:  Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, 1997.