edited by MALCOILM M. RENFREW University of
Idaho
MOSCOW, Idaho 83843
Safety in the Chemistry Laboratories: A Specific Program Walter H. Corkern and Linda L. Munchausen Southeastern Louisiana University, Hammond, LA 70402
Instructors are concerned increasinglywith the safety aspects of laboratory instruction. In this paper practices adopted by Southeastern Louisiana University. During the first laboratory period, safe lahoratory operation is discussed in detail. Each student receives a hand-out (Appendix 1)which lists some of the common hazards and explains how to perform certain routine tasks safely. At the conclusion, the students are given a safety test (Appendix 2). Afterwards, the instructor provides the correct answers and discusses questions that the students were unable to answer correctly. This test must he completed correctly, signed, and returned to the instructor before the student is allowed to enter the laboratory. When the students enter the laboratory for the first experiment, all safety equipment (fire extinguishers, fire blankets, eye wash stations, etc.) are located and their proper use is demonstrated. Also discussed are the "ten
Waler ti. Corkern received his BS from Louisiana State University (1961) and his FiQ in aganic chemim from Uw Univwsiiy of ~rkanias(1966). He woiked as a ReSearch Chemist for one year with du Pont and is now a Professor of Chemislry at Saumeastem Louisiana Uniwsity. He is ths Chairman of the College of Science and Technology Safely and bzardous Waste Committees. Linda L. Munchausen received her BS from Southeastern Louisiana University (1968)and PhD in organic chemistry from the Universitvof Arkansasi19731. She had postdoctora appointments at bolh Oar RoOge Naloonal Laooratorles am LOrlSlana State bnoverslty before returnmg to Soutneastern where she is now an Associate Professor of ChemisQ.
A296
Journal of Chemical Education
commandments" of lab safety (Appendix 3). These commandments are posted in each lab in a readily visible location. Violation of any one may result in dismissal from the lahoratory. The ten commandments have been particularly helpful at Southeastern where an "open lab" policy has always been in effect in laboratories above the freshman level, and, thus, students are allowed in the laboratories during times when an instructor is not in the room. There are generally a minimum of three faculty members available within less than 100 ft of any given "open laboratory," and they periodically check the lab. Experiments missed by students in freshman-level lahs must be made-up during a regularly scheduled period or during the weekly specified make-up lab period. At the beginning of each period, the instructor discusses the experiment to be conducted. This discussion includes flammability and toxicology information about the chemicals and specific safety precautions. In addition to the above, organic students are required to maintain a notebook which must contain a table of physical properties of reactants and products. This table includes flammability and toxicology information, as well as specific antidotes where applicable. The next section in the notebook, entitled "procedure," requires the student to reproduce in his own words the procedure for the exoeriment. ineludine safetv information that dircrtsextrarare in rerrvinparrsofthr experiment. A rtudcnr whose nowbook ia nor ron~plcrrthrough thcprucdurc wriun LF not allowed to enter the laboratory. Each laboratory has labeled waste containers into which wastes from experiments are to be discarded. Students are cautioned to read the waste labels before oourine - waste into the containerr to insure that no accident occur5 from mcurrecr mixing inf rhemirals. h the spcI%chcontaincr 1s laheled w ~ both cific contents and the experiment number, includine section or nart number. which corresp&ds directly td the section numbers on the specific parts of the procedure as
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written in the lab manual. No waste is poured down the drain in labs. All waste containers me emptied regularly by trained personnel. A comprehmsive waste disposal pngram similar tu that desrribcd by Halph 0.Allen is employed.' Since each freshman-level lab has a maximum of four fume hoods, laboratory experiments are designed to require minimum hood usage. Those experiments which require hoods are designed in such a way that no more than eight students are using the hood at any specific time, and a rotation procedure is employed. At present the organic lab is being remodeled to provide each student with an individual hood, and as funds become available all lahs will be equipped with hoods at each work station. Safety patrols are conducted once or twice a semester by two faculty members and one or two junior- or senior-level students. The safety patrol checks all safety equipment to determine whether or not it is functioning properly and every lahoratory and storage area of the department for general safety violations. All unsafe conditions are reported to the chemistry faculty in writing, and the conditions are corrected by whichever faculty member is responsible for that area of the building. Several safety seminars are conducted each fall. Chemistry majors are required toattend, and all other students takine chemistrv are strondv .. encouraged to attend. If an accident does occur, a report is filled out and is reviewed hy the safety committee (Appendix 4). It is desired that these studies will establish the cause and prevent recurrence. Both students and faculty are more safety conscious since this program has been in use, and fewer accidents are occurring.
'Allen. R. 0.. J. Chem. Educ.. 60, A61 (1963). (Continued on page A3011
Circle No. 6 on Readers' Inpuiv Card-
Appendix 1: Students
Safety Policy for
Conditions of Your Work Areo-You should maintain a work area that is free of hooks, coats, purses, chemical spills, excess chemicals, unnecessary equipment, and trash. All chemical spills should he cleared up immediately. Disposal of Waste Materials-Broken glassware and boiling stones should he disposed of in the crocks located on top o; the desk. Waste paper, towels, and other trash should be discarded in the waste baskets; waste chemicals, in the labeled waste containers. Eye Protection-Safety glasses furnished by the University or appropriate glasses must he worn a t all times when you are in the laboratory. Contact lenses are not recommended in lab. If you do not have a pair of regular glasses and must wear contact lenses, you must wear a pair of non-vented safety goggles. (Chemicals splashed into the eve mav,..set behind the lens and damagr the eye hefore the lens rat) Irr rrmowd and appruprintr first aid administered. Alsu chemical fumes can huild up behind contact lensen and damage theeye without one being aware of the problem.) If a chemical is splashed into your eye, use an eve wash and irrieate the eve comnletelv fGr 15 min. Call &ur instrbetor ahd teil hun or her what happenrd Do not dirert a high pressure r t r r a m of water from one of t h e faucets onto t h e eye, since damage to the eye might result. After washing eye for 15 min, report t o the infirmary. Chemical Spills on Your Body-Safety showers (painted red) are located in each laboratory and should be used to wash chemicals from your body if washing in one of the sinks is not sufficient. All contaminated clothing should be removed as soon as wssible while vou are under the shower. ~ e k n b e r - s p k d in washing is most important in reducing t h e extent of injury. r\fter washiw rrpurt to the infirmary. Fire in the Laboratory-Sound the fire alarm and evacuate the lahoratory. Small Fire-With the help of a volunteer, extineuish the fire with afire extineuisher. I h n r m l ~ r rthat thcrr arr only 8 12 s of CO? c ~ t a i n r din thr rxt~ngui%hrr. LWAF F m - K \ . a c u a t r the bullding folloaing asqiyned rvacuation routed. iK.:\,acuatiun route is pustcd hy thr dour of the lnlr,r.rton..~f i l l the Fire Lk~artmentnfcer you are out of the building.. Fire on Your Person-Do not run. Get under the safety shower. It is you responsibility to help someone who is on fire to get under the safety shower or t o extinguish the fire with a fire extinguisher. Fire blankets are also available in all labs in case of fire on a person. Pipeting Liquids-Always use a rubber suction bulb to oinet liouids. Never use your mouth. ~>
Eating or Drinking-Since there is a possibility of food substances becoming contaminated with toxic chemicals, no eating or drinkine will be allowed in the lahorair~lly tory l ' n l ~ i s y o u a r r ~ p r ~ ~ i l in.~ruct~d Ib) ytrur inrtru~tnr. ne\cr tddrilll) rhrniieals in the laboratory. Smoking-No smoking is allowed in the laboratory. Unauthorized Erperiments-Under no circumstances should you conduct any exoeriment other than those that have hrrn n.;;~gned, unlesi y w haw d~.miised it with your msrruvtor and haw o l r t ~ ~ n c d his or her consent. Gloss Tubing into Stopper-When inserting a piece of glass tubing into a stopper, the following steps should be followed: (1) fire polish each end of glass tubing, (2) moisten end of elass with ,. elveerine. . (3). cover hand , wirh cloth, warp :I&F war rnd 10 Iw put into itupper, ixnd nhilr k
