Why Is Safety Important?

This week in Chemistry class, we have learnt how to be successful in the lab by being safe. Ms. Fogler has taught us a few rules on how to be safe in the chemistry lab. These rules are very important to our class because they will not only keep us safe, they will keep our classmates and teachers safe too. Safety in the lab is very important so our experiments are successful and we are able to develop our chemistry skills.

Some rules that Ms. Fogler has taught us are:

•   No horseplay, jokes, or pranks in the lab.

•   Food, drink, or gum are not allowed.

•   Keep science room clean and organized.

•   Notify the teacher immediately of any accidents or unsafe conditions.

•   Safety goggles must be worn at all times.

•   Contact lenses are not allowed in the lab because various fumes may accumulate under the lens and cause injuries or blindness.

•   Never taste anything or smell the source of any vapor or gas, instead waft it toward you to sample the smell. 

•   Know the chemicals you are using. Check the label on the bottles twice before taking anything from it.

•   Keep any flammable reagents away from open flames.

•   Always pour acids into water, if you pour water into acid, it will splatter all over and and cause the water to explode in steam.

•   If chemicals get into your eyes, flush in the eyewash for 15 minutes.

•   Never point a test tube to yourself or your lab partners. 

•   Beware of hot glass--it looks exactly like cold glass.