GENERAL SAFETY RULES AND REGULATION

Pre-Ambles:-The Laboratory is one of the most delicate and dangerous rooms or halls (Auditoriums), to remain in for a lengthy time only the relevant personnel and the students can best remain in the laboratory, with very low incidents of accidents. Novice or laymen are strictly not encouraged to stay in the laboratory for any appreciable length of time. The presence of bottled specimen in poisonous or harmful solutions; placed on benches / rack and of acids, alkalis and gases makes the laboratory a room for specialist. Hence, a student is advise to use the laboratory “professionally” by following the general safety rules and regulations.


 GENERAL LABORATORY DOS
I. APPEARANCE: Always put on your clean white clothes flamboyant loose. Musty apparel are forbidden in the laboratory.
II. EMERGENCY EXIT: Note the location of the emergency exit of the laboratory, in case of emergency.
III. CLEANLINESS &TIDINESS: Always keep the laboratory clean. Clean the tables or benches regularly while working.
IV. SPILLAGE: Avoid spillage of materials oil, acid alkali water etc on the bench or on the bench or floor. But when this occur quickly clean off.
V. SAFETY GLASSES:- Glasses with side panel or goggles must be worn at all times in the laboratory
VI. CONTAMINATION:- Do not insert your own pipette or medicine droppers into the reagent bottles to avoid contamination
VII. RECORDINGS : always record all results immediately

GENERAL LABORATORY DON’TS
I. INTRODUCTION: Ii.
NOISE: Do not make noise in the laboratory. No radio or cassette player should be used in the laboratory
III.SMOKING:- No smoking of any kind in the laboratory, otherwise call the attention of the demonstrators technologist or the instructor.
IV.HEAVY OBJECT: Do not lift any heavy object, call the attention of the demonstration, technologist or the instructor. V.HOT OBJECTS:- Do not place hot object, directly in the laboratory table or bench VI.DRINKING / EATING: Both habits are strictly prohibited in the laboratory. Do not drink the water from the laboratory tap.
VIII. UNAUTHORIZED EXPERIMENT:- Unauthorized experiment are not to be performed
IX. SMELLING:- Never smell any gas or vapor directly from source instead use hand to waft toward nose and smell.
X. STORAGE:- Never return unused chemicals to stock bottle
XI. IDENTIFICATION:- Read the label before taking anything from a bottle.
XII. FOOT WARES:- Bare feets are not allowed in the chemistry laboratory
XIII. OVERCROWDING:- Avoid overcrowding of the working bench and do not litter the floor

OTHER RULES IN SCIENCE LABORATORY
I. Waste Disposal:- Liquid waste, waste solvent and solutions should be disposed off into the sink and washed off immediately with plenty of water never pour liquid waste in to the waste bin.
II. Solid Wastes:- Dispose off solid waste into the waste bin provided. Do not drop waste into the sink.
III. Use of Fume cupboard:- This is not a common use in biological investigation. However, when necessary use the cupboard for harmful gases.
IV. Centrifuging:-Counterprise tubes with dosed lids must be used to centrifuge
V. Heating:- Heating in the biological laboratory is usually done in the water bath with regulated temperature.
N.B. a. Where direct heating of container on the burner is done, continuous heating for too long must be avoided. b. Do not look down the flask or tubes when heating or shaking the content

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PRACTICE QUESTIONS
1. Highlight five importance of the following
(i) laboratory coat (ii) safety google (iii) laboratory manual
2. State SEVEN(7) laboratory DOS
3. Highlight TEN(10) Laboratory DONTS
4. State TWO(2)precautions to be taken when
(i)smelling a gas (ii) heating substance
5. State FIVE(5) advantages of laboratory work
6. State FIVE(5) disadvantages of laboratory work