Lab Safety Rules and PPE Requirements

Laboratory safety rules are the standard practices that protect people from chemical, fire, glass and other hazards, and personal protective equipment (PPE) is the clothing and gear, such as goggles, a lab coat and gloves, that forms a barrier between the worker and a hazard. In brief: in a chemistry lab always wear splash-proof safety goggles, a lab coat, long trousers and closed shoes, tie back long hair, never eat or drink, and know where the eyewash, shower and fire blanket are.

Most laboratory accidents are preventable. They happen when someone rushes, skips protection or does not know what to do when something goes wrong. This article describes the core rules, explains each kind of PPE and its limits, covers what to do in common emergencies, shows a summary table, works through a pre-lab risk assessment and gives some history of laboratory safety.

What are the basic laboratory safety rules?

1. Prepare. Read the whole procedure before you start. Know the hazards of every chemical you will use.
2. Dress properly. Wear goggles, a lab coat, long trousers and closed shoes that cover the feet. Tie back long hair, and remove or secure loose clothing and jewelry.
3. No food or drink. Do not eat, drink, chew gum or apply cosmetics in the laboratory. Never taste chemicals.
4. Never work alone. Make sure that somebody who can help is nearby.
5. Follow instructions. Do not perform unauthorized experiments, and do not mix chemicals without instruction.
6. Keep the workspace tidy. Keep bags and coats away from the bench, and keep walkways clear.
7. Handle chemicals carefully. Do not sniff directly. Label all containers. Return stock bottles to their place.
8. Dispose of waste correctly in the labeled containers.
9. Wash your hands before leaving the lab, even if you wore gloves.
10. Report every accident, spill or broken glass to the instructor immediately.

What PPE is required?

Eye protection. Chemical splash goggles that seal around the eyes protect against splashes better than safety glasses, which mostly protect from impacts. Eye injuries can be permanent, and contact lenses can trap chemicals against the eye, so follow the lab policy on lenses.

Body protection. A cotton or flame-resistant lab coat protects skin and clothes. Synthetic fabrics may melt on the skin in a fire, so avoid wearing them under a coat near heat. Shorts, skirts and open shoes expose the skin.

Gloves. There is no glove that protects against all chemicals. Nitrile gloves are common and resist many solvents and dilute acids, while latex can cause allergies and gives poor protection against some organic solvents. Check the glove chart for the specific chemical, and replace a glove if it is torn or contaminated. Never touch door handles, phones or your face with contaminated gloves.

Other equipment. A face shield protects against larger splashes or hazards of breakage, together with goggles. Heat-resistant gloves or tongs are for hot objects, and a fume hood (fume cupboard) protects against vapors. A respirator is used only with training.

PPE and the hazards they address

What should you do in an emergency?

• Chemical in the eye: go straight to the eyewash and rinse for at least 15 minutes, holding the eyelids open. Tell the instructor and seek medical help.
• Chemical on the skin: remove contaminated clothing and rinse the area with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes. Use the safety shower for large areas.
• Small fire: alert others and the instructor. Smother a small fire in a container with a lid or a fire blanket. Use an extinguisher only if you are trained, and evacuate if the fire is not small.
• Clothing on fire: stop, drop and roll, or use a fire blanket or safety shower.
• Spill: warn people, and let the instructor decide how to clean it up. Only small, known spills should be handled by trained staff using the proper kit.
• Broken glass: never pick it up with bare hands. Use a brush and dustpan, and put it in a glass-waste container.
• Burns: cool a thermal burn with cold running water for several minutes.

Where is safety equipment located?

On the first day in any laboratory, find the exits and the evacuation route, the fire alarm, extinguishers, the fire blanket, eyewash station, safety shower, first-aid kit, spill kit and the telephone. Eyewash stations should be reachable within about 10 seconds, which is roughly 30 meters or less, without obstacles on the way.

Worked example: a risk assessment

Before an experiment, ask: what is the hazard, how likely is harm, how serious would it be and what controls reduce the risk? Consider a student who will heat ethanol in a water bath to dissolve a dye.

With these controls in place, the experiment is judged acceptable. The key step is replacing the open flame with an electric heater, which removes the most serious hazard.

How did laboratory safety develop?

Early chemists often tasted and smelled substances to identify them, and many were harmed by chemicals such as mercury and arsenic. Formal safety practices developed slowly during the 20th century, and laws such as the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 in the United States and similar laws elsewhere made chemical safety a legal duty of employers. The culture of laboratory safety today relies on risk assessment, training, labeling and good records.

Which mistakes are common?

Mistake 1: Pushing goggles up on the forehead

Goggles protect only when they cover the eyes. Wear them for the entire time that chemicals or heat are around.

Mistake 2: Wearing gloves everywhere

Contaminated gloves spread chemicals to doors, pens and phones. Remove them before leaving the work area.

Mistake 3: Assuming that a small amount is harmless

Some chemicals are harmful in very small quantities. Follow the instructions regardless of the amount.

Mistake 4: Hiding an accident

Reporting a spill or injury quickly protects both you and other people.