Purpose
Science is something that a person does. Students will be working with and around hazardous
chemicals, materials, and equipment.
Safety is the top priority for students, teachers, and parents. The rules contained in this contract must be
followed at all times. One copy must be signed by both student and parent or
guardian before working in the laboratory.
A second copy is for the parent to keep in their files. A third copy must be put into the students
science notebook to remind them of these rules.
The signature of a student is an agreement to abide by
the rules found herein. A signature of
a parent or guardian is an agreement that their child understands the rules
found herein.
General Guidelines
1.
Students
will conduct themselves in a responsible manner at all times.
2.
Students
will follow all written and verbal instructions carefully. If a student does
not understand a direction or part of a procedure, they will ask the instructor
before going forward.
3.
Students
will never work alone in a laboratory or in doing any experiments with
potentially hazardous materials. No student will work in the laboratory without
an instructor present.
4.
When
first entering a science laboratory or room, students will not touch any
equipment, chemicals, or other materials until instructed to do so.
5.
Students
will not eat food, drink beverages, or chew gum in the laboratory. Students
will not use laboratory glassware as containers for food or beverages.
6.
Students
will only perform those experiments authorized by the instructor. Students will not do anything in the
laboratory or science classroom that is not called for in laboratory procedures
or that has been approved by the teacher.
Students will carefully follow all instructions, both written and oral.
Students will perform no unauthorized experiments. Students will not use, touch, manipulate, or smell any
chemicals, equipment, or apparatus that has not been assigned to them for the
specific laboratory exercise in which they are participating.
7.
Students
will come to school prepared for laboratory work. Students will read all
procedures thoroughly before coming to
the laboratory. Students will
not fool around in the laboratory.
Students will not participate not tolerate horseplay, practical jokes,
and pranks in the science classroom or laboratory.
8.
Students
will observe good housekeeping practices.
Work areas will be kept clean and tidy at all times. Students will bring only those items that
they have been instructed to bring to the laboratory work area.
9.
Students
will always bring their lab notebooks to the work area. Students will not participate in lab work
where hazardous materials are use unless they have outlined the hazards of all
materials and their lab instructions in
their approved laboratory notebook.
Other materials (books, purses, backpacks, etc.) should be stored in the
classroom area.
10.
Students
will keep aisles clear. Stools and
chairs will be pushed under a desk, table, or lab bench when not in use.
11.
Before
participating in any laboratory exercise or experiments, students will know the
locations and operating procedures of all safety equipment including: the first
aid kit, eyewash station, safety shower, fire extinguisher, and fire
blanket. Students will know where the
fire alarm and the exits are located.
12.
Students
will always work in a well-ventilated area.
Students will properly use fume hoods when working with volatile
substances or poisonous vapors. Students who do not understand the proper use
of a fume hood will seek guidance from the lab instructor before
proceeding. Students will never place
their heads into the fume hood.
13.
Students
will be alert and proceed with caution at all times in the laboratory. Students will notify the instructor
immediately of any unsafe conditions that they observe.
14.
Students
will dispose of all chemical waste properly.
Students will not mix chemicals in sink drains. Sinks are to be used
only for water and those solutions designated by the instructor. Solid chemicals, metals, matches, filter
paper, and all other insoluble materials are to be disposed of in the proper
waste containers, not in the sink. Students will check the label of all waste
containers twice before adding chemical waste to that container.
15.
Students
will read all labels and equipment instructions carefully before using
them. Students will set up and use only
the apparatus prescribed by the instructor and will only use as directed by the
instructor.
16.
Students
will keep their hands away from their face, eyes, mouth and body while using
chemicals. Students will wash their
hands with soap and water after performing all experiments. Students will clean
(with detergent), rinse, and wipe dry all work surfaces (including the sink)
and apparatus at the end of the experiment.
Students will return all equipment clean and in working order to the
proper storage area.
17.
Students
will never leave an experiment while it is in progress. Students will be assigned a laboratory
station at which to work. Students will
not wander around the room, talk to other students in other lab groups, or
interfere with the laboratory experiments of others.
18.
Students
are never permitted in the science storage rooms or preparation areas unless
given specific permission by their instructor.
19.
Students
will familiarize themselves with fire drill procedures and will educate
themselves as to which containers must be closed, gas valves turned off, fume
hoods turned off, and any electrical equipment turned off.
20.
When
using knives and other sharp instruments, students will always carry with tips
and points pointing down and away.
Students will always cut away from their body. Students will not try to catch falling sharp instruments. Students will grasp sharp instruments only
by the handles.
Clothing
1.
Any
time chemicals, heat, or glassware are used, students will wear laboratory
goggles. There will be no exceptions to this rule!
2.
Students
will not wear contact lenses in the laboratory unless you have permission from
your instructor.
3.
Students
will dress properly during a laboratory activity. Long hair, dangling jewelry, and loose or baggy clothing are a
hazard in the laboratory. Long hair
must be tied back and dangling jewelry and loose or baggy clothing must be
secured. Shoes must completely cover
the foot. No sandals are allowed.
4.
Lab
aprons or coats have been provided for use and students will wear them during
laboratory activities.
Accidents and Injuries
1.
Students
will report any accident (spill, breakage, etc.) or injury (cut, burn, etc.) to
the instructor immediately, no matter how trivial it may appear. Students will not touch and will immediately
move away from any spills or broken glass.
2.
If
a student or lab partner is hurt, students will immediately yell out "Code
one, Code one" to get the instructor's attention.
3.
If
a chemical should splash in a students eye(s) or on your skin, they will
immediately flush with running water from the eyewash station or safety shower
for at least 20 minutes. Students will
notify the instructor immediately.
4.
When
mercury thermometers or any other device containing mercury is broken, mercury
must not be touched. Students will move away from the area and notify the
instructor immediately.
Handling Chemicals
1.
All
chemicals in the laboratory are to be considered dangerous. Students will not
touch, taste, or smell any chemicals unless specifically instructed to do so.
Students will only smell chemicals using the procedure demonstrated to you by
the instructor.
2.
Students
will check the label on chemical bottles twice before removing any of the
contents. Students will take only as much chemical as is needed.
3.
Students
will not return unused chemicals to their original containers.
4.
Students
will not use mouth suction to fill a pipet. Students will use a rubber bulb or
pipet pump to fill a pipet.
5.
When
transferring reagents from one container to another, students will hold the
containers away from their body.
6.
Acids
must be handled with extreme care. Students will be shown the proper method for
diluting strong acids if it is necessary and will follow that procedure. Always add acid to water, swirl or stir the
solution and be careful of the heat produced, particularly with sulfuric acid.
7.
Students
will handle flammable hazardous liquids over a pan to contain spills. Students will never dispense flammable
liquids anywhere near an open flame or source of heat.
8.
Students
will never remove chemicals or other materials from the laboratory area.
9.
Students
will take great care when transferring acids and other chemicals from one part
of the laboratory to another. Students
will hold them securely and walk carefully.
Handling Glassware and Equipment
1.
Students
will carry glass tubing, especially long pieces, in a vertical position to
minimize the likelihood of breakage and injury.
2.
Students
will never handle broken glass with your bare hands. If any glassware is broken, students will immediately call the
teacher. Students will only clean up
broken glassware if instructed to do so by the teacher. If the teacher instructs students to clean
up the broken glass, students will use a brush and dustpan to clean up broken
glass. Students will only place broken
or waste glassware in the designated glass disposal container.
3.
Inserting
and removing glass tubing from rubber stoppers can be dangerous. If it becomes necessary to insert or remove
glass tubing from a stopper, students will call the teacher. If the teacher instructs students to remove
or insert glass tubing from a stopper, students will use an inserter or will
lubricate the glassware (tubing, thistle tubes, thermometers, etc.) before
attempting to insert it in a stopper.
Students will always protect their hands with towels or cotton gloves
when inserting glass tubing into, or removing it from, a rubber stopper. If a piece of glassware becomes
"frozen" in a stopper, students will take it to their lab teacher for
removal.
4.
Students
will fill wash bottles with distilled water ONLY and use only as intended,
e.g., rinsing glassware and equipment, or adding water to a container.
5.
When
removing an electrical plug from its socket, students will grasp the plug, not
the electrical cord. Students must completely dry their hands before touching
an electrical switch, plug, or outlet.
6.
Students
will examine glassware before each use.
Students will not use chipped or cracked glassware. Students will report any chipped or cracked
glassware to the teacher. Students will
not use dirty glassware. Students will
thoroughly clean all dirty glassware regardless of whether they were responsible
for soiling it.
7.
Students
will report damaged electrical equipment immediately. Students should look for things such as frayed cords, exposed
wires, and loose connections and report any that they find to their
teacher. Students will not use damaged
electrical equipment.
8.
If
students do not understand how to use a piece of equipment, they will ask the
lab teacher for help.
9.
Students
will not immerse hot glassware in cold water (it may shatter).
Heating Substances
1.
Students
will exercise extreme caution when using gas burners. Students will take care that hair, clothing, and hands are a safe
distance from the flame at all times.
Students will not put any substance into the flame unless specifically
instructed to do so by the teacher.
Students will not reach over an exposed flame. Students will light gas (or alcohol) burners only as instructed
by the teacher.
2.
Students
will not leave a lit burner unattended.
Students will not leave anything that is being heated or is visibly
reacting unattended. Students will
always turn the burner or hot plate off when not in use.
3.
Students
will follow the proper procedure for heating and boiling liquids. Students will
not point the open end of a heated test tube at anyone.
4.
Heated
metals and glass remain very hot for a long time. Students will set aside heated objects to cool and will only pick
them up with caution. Students will use
tongs or heat-protective gloves if necessary.
5.
Students
will not look into a container that is being heated.
6.
Students
will not place hot equipment directly on a laboratory table. Students will always place a hot apparatus
on an insulating pad. Students will
allow plenty of time for hot equipment to cool before touching it.
7.
Students
will bend glass only when instructed to do so by their teacher. When bending glass, students will allow time
for the glass to cool before further handling.
Hot and cold glass have the same visual appearance. Students will determine if an object is hot
by bringing the back of their hand close to it prior to grasping it.
Questions
Circle your answer to questions 1 3 below.
1.
Do
you wear contact lenses?
YES
NO
2.
Are
you color blind?
YES
NO
3.
Do
you have allergies?
YES
NO
4.
If
you have allergies, list specific allergies here:
Agreement
I, ______________________, (students name) have read and agree to
follow all of the safety rules in this contract. I realize that I must obey these rules to insure my own safety,
and that of my fellow students and teachers.
I will cooperate to the fullest extent with my teachers and fellow
students to maintain a safe lab environment.
I will handle all equipment in a safe manner and follow all written and
oral directions so as not to endanger the health and safety of my fellow
students or myself. I am aware that any
violation of this safety contract that results in unsafe conduct in the
laboratory or misbehavior on my part, may result in being removed from the
laboratory, notification of parents, detention, receiving a failing grade,
and/or dismissal from the course. I
also understand that a written record of all laboratory accidents and safety
violations will be kept on file.
____________________________________
Student Signature
_____________ _____________
Students ID Number Date
Dear Parent or Guardian:
Your
signature on this contract indicates that you have read this Student Safety
Contract; are aware of the measures taken to insure the safety of your
son/daughter in science classrooms, laboratories, and experiments; and will
instruct your son/daughter to uphold his/her agreement to follow these rules
and procedures in the laboratory. Your
signature also indicates that you are aware that your child will be working
with and around potentially dangerous chemicals that can produce harmful fumes,
are flammable, and may have other hazards.
Your signature also indicates that you are aware that your child will be
working with glassware that can break and cause serious injury if not handled
properly.
____________________________________
Parent/Guardian Signature
_____________
Date