LABORATORY
SAFETY
LABORATORY
A workplace where relatively small quantities of hazardous
chemical, biological or radioactive substances are used for
the purposes of scientific research, experimentation or
analysis.
A workplace that may contain numerous potential hazards
which include but are not limited to corrosive, flammable,
reactive and toxic substances; biological hazards; radiological
hazards; cryogens; pressure and vacuum systems; glassware;
electrical hazards; mechanical hazards; and other physical
hazards.
GENERAL LABORATORY
SAFETY RULES
1. Be aware of safety
signs and evacuation
procedures and follow
instructions during
accident or
emergency.
2. Knowledge of lab
safety equipment
locations and proper
use. (e.g. fire
extinguishers, eye
wash, first aid kit, spill
kit)
GENERAL LABORATORY
SAFETY RULES
3. Know the emergency phone
numbers to call in case of an
accident or emergency.
GENERAL LABORATORY
SAFETY RULES
4. Know the warning signs on
hazard areas of the lab.
GENERAL LABORATORY
SAFETY RULES
5. During earthquake or fire
drill, turn off all electrical
equipment and close all
containers.
6. Laboratory should be
properly-ventilated and free
of obstacles.
GENERAL LABORATORY
SAFETY RULES
7. No eating/drinking in the lab.
8. Do not use laboratory ware as
food/beverage containers.
GENERAL LABORATORY
SAFETY RULES
9. Do not use damaged laboratory ware (e.g.
glasswares).
10. Do not use lab equipment that you are not
approved to operate.
11. Report to appropriate personnel if an
equipment has failed.
12. Secure the laboratory and its ignition
sources if you are the last person to leave
the lab.
13. Do not work alone in the lab.
14. Never leave an ongoing experiment
unattended.
15. Do not work in the lab if you’re sick.
GENERAL LABORATORY
SAFETY RULES
16. Do not lift any glassware, chemicals,
or other types of apparatus above
eye level.
GENERAL LABORATORY
SAFETY RULES
17. Never smell or taste chemicals.
[Link] pipette by mouth, use aspirator
or pipettor .
GENERAL LABORATORY
SAFETY RULES
19. Report all injuries, accidents, and
broken equipment or glass right
away.
[Link] have been injured, report or
yell out immediately.
[Link] the event of a chemical
splashing into your eye(s) or skin,
immediately flush affected area(s)
with running water for at least 15
mins.
[Link] your supervisor ASAP of any
unsafe conditions in the lab.
HOUSEKEEPING
SAFETY RULES
1. Keep work area(s) clean.
2. Eye wash stations, emergency showers, fire
extinguishers, and exits should be accessible
3. Only materials that you require for your experiment
should be kept in your work area.
4. Lightweight items should be stored on top of
cabinets; heavier items should be kept at the
bottom.
5. Solids should be kept out of the laboratory sink.
6. Any equipment that requires ventilation to prevent
overheating should always be kept clear.
CHEMICAL
SAFETY RULES
1. Be aware of the hazards of the materials you'll be using
2. Avoid skin contact with any solvent in the lab
3. Before using a chemical from a chemical bottle, read the label twice
4. Only take adequate amount of chemicals from a bottle for your work
5. Always pour chemicals from large containers to smaller ones
6. Never put unused chemicals back into their original container
7. Chemicals should never be mixed, measured, or heated in front of your face
8. Never take chemicals or other materials out of the laboratory
9. Never mix chemicals in sink drains
10. Flammable and volatile chemicals should only be used in a fume hood
11. Do not pour water into concentrated acid. Instead, pour acid slowly into
water while stirring constantly
12. If a chemical spill occurs, clean it up right away
13. Dispose all lab wastes properly
14. Purchased chemicals shall have a Safety Data Sheets (SDS) from the
manufacturer of the chemical/reagent upon delivery.
LABORATORY EQUIPMENT
SAFETY RULES
Some general precautions need to be taken when working with laboratory
equipment (e.g. oven, balance, UTM)
Consider the following:
1. Laboratory equipment should undergo routine maintenance to ensure equipment is
operating as designed and safely.
2. Laboratory personnel should routinely clean and maintain equipment according to the
manufacturer’s recommendations. (Please consult the equipment manual for
recommended cleaning and maintenance schedules)
3. Any equipment that is damaged or worn must be tagged or locked out of usage until
repairs can be made or discarded. Damage may include exposed heating element,
frayed or damaged electrical cords, damaged or missing seal on door, or cracked glass.
4. All users must be trained to operate each piece of equipment in the lab.
5. Newer equipment may be purchased with fail-safe or interlock devices that can
prevent fires, explosions, or exposure to the hazard.
DRESS CODE
SAFETY RULES
1. Tie back hair that is chin-length or longer.
2. Loose clothing or dangling jewelry should secured
3. Footwear should cover the foot completely.
4. Never wear shorts or skirts in the lab.
PERSONAL
PROTECTIVE
EQUIPMENT (PPE)
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT
(PPE)
equipment worn to minimize exposure to hazards that
cause serious workplace injuries and illnesses (from
chemical, radiological, physical, electrical, mechanical, or
other workplace hazards)
when engineering controls, and administrative
controls are not feasible or do not provide sufficient
protection, employers must provide PPE to their
employees and ensure its use
e.g. laboratory coat or gown, gloves, safety goggles,
safety shoes, respirators, ear plugs, hard hats, etc.
1. Head Protection
safety helmets, hairnets and bump caps can protect employees from hair
becoming caught in machinery, falling objects, head bumping and climate.
2. Eye Protection
safety glasses, goggles, visors and face screens can protect employees from
dust, chemical splashes, projectiles and gases.
3. Respiratory Protection
can protect employees from dust, gases, atmospheres low on oxygen, and
vapours.
4. Ear Protection
ear muffs and ear plugs can protect employees from hazards such as extreme
noise levels, and a variety of sound levels in combination with being exposed
to them for a prolonged amount of time.
5. Hand Protection
safety gloves, cuffed gloves and sleeves to cover all of the arm can help to
protect employees from chemicals, biological hazards, cuts, bruises,
abrasions, electric shocks, and extreme temperatures.
6. Foot Protection
safety boots and shoes which are penetration-resistant and feature protective
toecaps can protect employees from falling objects, vehicles and other heavy
loads, as well as different weather conditions.
7. Body Protection
chemical suits, overalls, aprons and overalls can protect employees in certain
environments from hazards such as chemicals, heat, penetration, spray and
polluted dust.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:
A. Chemical Laboratory
PROTECTION MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
1. Head Protection None required
2. Eye Protection Goggles or spectacles, Occupational Safety
and Health Center Certified, anti-scratch,
anti-fog
3. Respiratory Protection Dual cartridge half facepiece respirator with
multi gas cartridge (Ammonia, Hydrogen
Chloride, Hydrogen Fluoride, and Organic
Vapors) and P100 filter, NIOSH approved
4. Ear Protection None required
5. Hand Protection Nitrile gloves
6. Foot Protection Chemical Resistant Shoes, anti-slip, anti-
static
7. Body Protection Laboratory Coat or Gown
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:
B. Mechanical Laboratory
PROTECTION MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
1. Head Protection None required
2. Eye Protection Goggles or spectacles, Occupational Safety
and Health Center Certified, anti-scratch,
anti-fog
3. Respiratory Protection N95 mask
4. Ear Protection Ear plugs or earmuffs (to be used when noise
is 85 db or higher)
5. Hand Protection Cotton knitted gloves with palm lined with
latex
6. Foot Protection Safety Footwear, anti-slip, steel toe, anti-
puncture midsole, anti-static/electric
insulation, Occupational Safety and Health
Center Certified
7. Body Protection Laboratory Coat or Gown
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:
C. Laboratories with Suspended Particulate Matter or Dust
(Mixing Rooms, Sampling Rooms, etc.)
PROTECTION MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
1. Head Protection None required
2. Eye Protection Goggles or spectacles, Occupational Safety
and Health Center Certified, anti-scratch,
anti-fog
3. Respiratory Protection N95 mask
4. Ear Protection None required
5. Hand Protection Cotton knitted gloves with palm lined with
latex
6. Foot Protection Safety Footwear, anti-slip, steel toe, anti-
puncture midsole, anti-static/electric
insulation, Occupational Safety and Health
Center Certified
7. Body Protection Laboratory Coat or Gown
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:
D. Hot Room (Laboratory)
PROTECTION MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
1. Head Protection None required
2. Eye Protection Goggles or spectacles, Occupational Safety
and Health Center Certified, anti-scratch,
anti-fog
3. Respiratory Protection N95 mask
4. Ear Protection None required
5. Hand Protection High temperature resistant gloves (metal
mesh or thick leather)
6. Foot Protection Safety Footwear, anti-slip, steel toe, anti-
puncture midsole, anti-static/electric
insulation, Occupational Safety and Health
Center Certified
7. Body Protection Laboratory Coat or Gown
WHAT TO DO IN CASE
OF EMERGENCY?
TYPE OF EMERGENCY PRIMARY PROTOCOL
1. Fire If fire is uncontrollable, pull the FIRE ALARM and notify or call
Safety/Emergency Officers
2. Evacuation Familiarize the evacuation routes and fully cooperate with the
Safety/Emergency Officers
3. Medical Emergency Stay calm, call Safety/Emergency Officers and explain the type of
emergency. Render first aid if you are trained to do so.
4. Utility Failure Notify Supervisor or Safety/Emergency Officers. These may include electrical
outages, plumbing failure, gas leaks, steam line breaks, ventilation problems,
equipment failures.
5. Floods If you can safely to do so, secure vital equipment, records and other
important matters. Move to higher and safer ground. And wait for further
instructions from Safety/Emergency Officers.
6. Earthquakes DURING: Stay away from large windows, shelving systems, or tall room
partitions. Get under a desk, table, door arch, or stairwell. Remain under
cover until the movement subsides.
7. Spills of Chemical and/or If the spill is uncontainable, alert area occupants, evacuate the area, if
Hazardous Materials necessary. Contact Safety/Emergency Officers immediately.
WHY DO WE
HAVE OUR EYES
IN FRONT OF
OUR FACE?
“OUR EYES ARE
IN FRONT OF
OUR FACE
BECAUSE IT IS
BETTER TO LOOK
AHEAD THAN TO
LOOK BACK.”
36
AVILSON G. ONG
