Lab Safety Precautions and Rules for Students: A Practical Guide

Lab safety starts with understanding the hazards in your procedure, wearing appropriate protective equipment, and knowing how to respond to an emergency. Read the instructions before you begin, follow your instructor’s directions and your lab’s safety rules, and stop to ask if a hazard or step is unclear.

Before you begin

Read the procedure and safety information for the materials and equipment you will use. OSHA’s laboratory standard requires covered laboratories to provide information and training about workplace hazards and protective measures (OSHA Laboratory Safety Guidance). Your instructor or supervisor can explain which rules apply to your work.

Locate the eyewash, safety shower, fire alarm, exits, and spill supplies. Keep access to emergency equipment clear. Remove unnecessary items from your bench, label containers as directed, and never use a container with unknown contents.

Wear appropriate protective equipment

Use the eye protection, gloves, and clothing required for the task. The right equipment depends on the hazards; ask your instructor if you are unsure.

• Eye protection: Wear the type specified for the activity. Safety glasses and splash goggles provide different coverage. Contact lenses do not replace eye protection.
• Gloves: Use gloves suited to the materials you will handle. No glove material protects against every chemical. Check your lab’s guidance or the manufacturer’s compatibility information, and replace gloves that are damaged or contaminated.
• Lab coat and clothing: Wear and fasten a lab coat when required, and keep it in the lab as instructed. Tie back long hair and secure loose sleeves, jewelry, or other items that could catch on equipment or contact materials.
• Footwear: Follow your lab’s footwear requirements. Wear shoes that cover your feet when required for the work area.

Personal protective equipment does not make every task safe. Use a fume hood or other safety equipment when the procedure requires it, and follow instructions for handling and storing materials.

Follow basic conduct rules

Do not eat, drink, smoke, or apply cosmetics in the lab. Never mouth-pipette. Keep food and personal items away from work surfaces. Wash your hands before leaving, even if you wore gloves. Remove gloves before touching shared items such as door handles, phones, or notebooks, and dispose of them according to local instructions.

Do not work alone on hazardous tasks unless your institution has approved arrangements. Stay attentive, and do not leave an active experiment unattended unless the procedure and your supervisor permit it. If a step is unclear, pause and ask before proceeding.

Keep your work area orderly

Store chemicals and equipment as your lab directs. Keep containers closed when not in use, and do not return unused material to a stock bottle unless instructed. Store incompatible materials separately according to your lab’s rules.

Clean up a substance only if you know what it is and have been told how to handle it. Report spills, damaged equipment, and unsafe conditions promptly. Do not pour chemicals down the drain unless your lab specifically permits it.

Example: an unlabeled beaker

If you find a beaker of clear liquid on your bench before a titration, do not smell, taste, transfer, or use it. Keep others away and notify your instructor or supervisor. They can determine what to do under the lab’s chemical hygiene plan—the written safety program required for laboratories covered by OSHA’s laboratory standard (OSHA Laboratory Safety Guidance). Treating the liquid as unknown helps prevent it from being used in a reaction or disposed of incorrectly.

Respond to an emergency

Learn your lab’s emergency procedures before an incident occurs. If a chemical contacts your skin or eyes, use the safety shower or eyewash immediately and follow the lab’s instructions. Remove contaminated clothing while flushing if it is safe to do so. Seek medical attention as directed by your institution.

If there is a spill, warn people nearby and notify your instructor or supervisor. Do not attempt cleanup if the material is unknown, the spill exceeds your training, or the lab’s procedure calls for evacuation. Leave the area if instructed.

For a fire or uncontrolled reaction, raise the alarm and evacuate as directed. Use a fire extinguisher only if you are trained, the fire is small, and you have a clear escape route. Do not risk your safety to protect equipment or finish an experiment.

Report injuries, exposures, spills, and near-misses, even if no one appears to be hurt. Prompt reporting helps the lab respond and address conditions that could cause another incident.

FAQs

What should I wear in a lab?

Follow the PPE and clothing requirements for your procedure and lab. These may include eye protection, gloves, a lab coat, and footwear that covers your feet. Tie back long hair and secure loose items when needed.

Do I need gloves in the lab?

Wear gloves when the procedure or lab guidance requires them. Choose a type suited to the material, and follow local instructions for changing and disposing of contaminated gloves.

Can I work alone in a lab?

Do not work alone on hazardous tasks unless your institution has approved arrangements. Follow your lab’s rules and your supervisor’s directions.

What should I do before leaving the lab?

Follow your lab’s instructions for cleaning your work area, handling waste, returning equipment and materials, and removing PPE. Wash your hands before leaving, and handle contaminated PPE as directed to avoid spreading contamination.

Key Takeaways

• Read the procedure and hazard information before starting; ask if anything is unclear.
• Wear the protective equipment specified for the task and suited to its hazards.
• Keep work areas and emergency routes clear. Never use an unlabeled container.
• Do not eat or drink in the lab, mouth-pipette, or leave hazardous work unattended without approval.
• Follow emergency procedures, report incidents, and do not handle spills beyond your training.