Measures to protect against laboratory accidents include safety training and enforcement of laboratory safety policies, safety review of experimental designs, the use of personal protective equipment, and the use of the buddy system for particularly risky operations.

• chemical
• biological
• physical (and others)
• safety hazards - autoclaves and sterilizers, centrifuges, compressed gases, crygens and dry ice, electrical, fire

Labolatory chemicals include cancer-causing agents (carcinogens), toxins (e.g., those affecting the liver, kidney, and nervous system), irritants, corrosives, sensitizers, as well as agents that act on the blood system or damage the lungs, skin, eyes, or mucous membranes.

Many laboratory workers encounter daily exposure to biological hazards. These hazards are present in various sources throughout the laboratory such as blood and body fluids, culture specimens, body tissue and cadavers, and laboratory animals, as well as other workers.

Besides exposure to chemicals and biological agents, laboratory workers can also be exposed to a number of physical hazards. Some of the common physical hazards that they may encounter include the following: ergonomic, ionizing radiation, non-ionizing radiation and noise hazards.

• Ergonimic - especialy for repetitive motion injuries during routine laboratory procedures such as pipetting, working at microscopes, operating microtomes, using cell counters and keyboarding at computer workstations.
• Ionizing radiation - processing radioactive izotopes could pose a considerable health risk to affected workers if not properly controlled

• Autoclaves and sterilizers - workers should be trained to recognize the potential for exposure to burns or cuts that can occur from handling or sorting hot sterilized items or sharp instruments when removing them from autoclaves/sterilizers or from steam lines that service the autoclaves.
• Centrifuges - due to the high speed at which they operate, have great potential for injuring users if not operated properly. Unbalanced centrifuge rotors can result in injury, even death. Sample container breakage can generate aerosols that may be harmful if inhaled. The majority of all centrifuge accidents are the result of user error.
• Compressed gases - within laboratories, compressed gases are usually supplied either through fixed piped gas systems or individual cylinders of gases. Compressed gases can be toxic, flammable, oxidizing, corrosive, or inert. Leakage of any of these gases can be hazardous.
• Crygens and dry ice - are used to produce very low temperatures [below -153 °C (-243 °F)], such as liquid nitrogen (LN2) dry ice which converts directly to carbon dioxide gas at -78 °C (-109 °F). Hand protection is required as well as eye protection.
• Electrical - there is the potential for workers to be exposed to electrical hazards including electric shock, electrocutions, fires and explosions. Damaged electrical cords can lead to possible shocks or electrocutions.
• Fire - is the most common serious hazard that one faces in a typical laboratory. In dealing with a laboratory fire, all containers of infectious materials should be placed into autoclaves, incubators, refrigerators, or freezers for containment.

Personal protective equipment or PPE are equipments worn to prevent against exposure of hazardous substances. Although, PPE does not eliminate the risks of hazards but it helps protect the user from the exposure. To make a workplace safer, it should provide instructions and training of how to use and choose proper PPE in different situations.

PPE includes:

• Long-sleeved shirts, lab coats, aprons.
• goggles
• Safety gloves; (latex or nitrile)
• Face shield or safety

• Report all accidents, injuries, and breakage of glass or equipment to instructor immediately.
• Keep pathways clear by placing extra items (books, bags, etc.) on the shelves or under the work tables. If under the tables, make sure that these items can not be stepped on.
• Long hair (chin-length or longer) must be tied back to avoid catching fire.
• Wear sensible clothing including footwear. Loose clothing should be secured so they do not get caught in a flame or chemicals.
• Work quietly — know what you are doing by reading the assigned experiment before you start to work. Pay close attention to any cautions described in the laboratory exercises
• Do not taste or smell chemicals.
• Wear safety goggles to protect your eyes when heating substances, dissecting, etc.
• Do not attempt to change the position of glass tubing in a stopper.
• Never point a test tube being heated at another student or yourself. Never look into a test tube while you are heating it.
• Unauthorized experiments or procedures must not be attempted.
• Keep solids out of the sink.
• Leave your work station clean and in good order before leaving the laboratory.
• Do not lean, hang over or sit on the laboratory tables.
• Do not leave your assigned laboratory station without permission of the teacher.
• Learn the location of the fire extinguisher, eye wash station, first aid kit and safety shower.
• Fooling around or "horse play" in the laboratory is absolutely forbidden. Students found in violation of this safety rule will be barred from particpating in future labs and could result in suspension.
• Anyone wearing acrylic nails will not be allowed to work with matches, lighted splints, bunsen burners, etc.
• Do not lift any solutions, glassware or other types of apparatus above eye level.
• Follow all instructions given by your teacher.
• Learn how to transport all materials and equipment safely.
• No eating or drinking in the lab at any time!

• http://www.uvm.edu/safety/lab
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laboratory_safety

			handling	- obsługa
hazard	- niebezpieczeństwo		steam lines	- sterylizator parowy
contain	- zawierać		centrifuge	- wirówka
risk	- ryzyko		speed	- prędkość
prevention	- zapobieganie		unbalanced	- niezrównoważone
accident	- wypadek		majority	- większość
request	- żądanie		cylinders	- siłowniki/butla
constant	- stały		flammable	- łatwopalne
vigilance	- czujność		oxidizing	- utleniające
examples	- przykłady		corrosive	- żrące
factors	- czynniki		inert	- obojętne
voltages	- napięcie		dry ice	- suchy lód
pressure	- nacisk		cryogens	- ciecze kriogeniczne
corrosive	- substancje żrące		liquid	- płynny
toxic	- tokstyczny		carbon dioxide	- dwutlenek węgla
biohazard	- biohazard		electrical cords	- przewody elektryczne
infective	- infekcyjny		shocks	- wstrząsy
measure	- zmierzyć		electrocutions	- porażenia
protect	- ochraniać		refrigerator	- lodówka
against	- przeciwko		freezers	- zamrażarka
review	- recenzja		lab coat	- fartuch (labolatoryjny)
equipment	- sprzęt		aprons	- fartuch
autoclave	- autoklaw		assure	- gwarantować
sterilizers	- sterylizatory		emergency	- nagły wypadek
centrifuges	- wirówki		involving	- angażować
cryogens	- ciecze kriogeniczne		waste	- odpady
dry ice	- suchy lód		clutter	- nieład
carcinogens	- rakotwórcze		contamination	- zanieczyszczenie
liver	- wątroba		swiftly	- szybko
kidney	- nerka		appropriately	- odpowiednio/właściwie
irritants	- drażniące		beverages	- napój
blood	- krew		well-ventilated	- dobrze wentylowany
encounter	- spotkanie/starcie		alert	- alarm
exposure	- ekspozycja		notify	- zgłaszać
various	- różnorodny		dispoze	- pozbyć się
source	- źródło		sink	- zlew
cadavers	- zwłoki		mucous membranes	- błony śluzowe
repetitive	- powtarzający		beaker	- zlewka
injuries	- szkody		flask	- kolba
counters	- liczniki		tongs	- szczypce
autoclaves	- autoklawy		ruler	- linijka
sterilizers	- sterylizatory		funnel	- lejek
recognize	- rozpoznawać		Dropper	- zakraplacz
exposure	- ekspozycja		Stopwatch	- stoper
burns	- oparzenia		minor	- drobny
occur	- wystąpić		chipped	- wyszczerbione

1. List 3 most unsafe activities to do in the lab and justify why.

2. True or False?

1. The lab is a good setting for practical jokes.
2. Spilled chemicals should be wiped up immediately.
3. Eating and drinking in the lab is forbidden.
4. Its is unnecessary to report minor lab accidents.
5. Chemicals should never be tasted.

3. Match the items on the left with the correct items on the right.

4. Fill the gaps with words: accident alone before chemicals chipped Clean glass glassware Goggles gum hands heat Horseplay instructor location minor safety Shoes taste touch

1. Report any ................... or injury to your instructor immediately, no matter how ................... it may appear.
2. Never work ................... . No student may work in the laboratory without an ................... present.
3. Do not ................... any equipment, chemicals, or other materials in the laboratory are until you are instructed to do so.
4. No food, drink, or ................... is allowed in the laboratory. Keep ................... away from face. Do not touch, ..................., or smell any chemicals unless specifically instructed to do so.
5. Never fool around in the laboratory. ..................., practical jokes, and pranks are dangerous and prohibited.
6. Know the ...................and correct use of all ................... equipment.
7. Work areas should be kept clean and tidy at all times. ................... all work surfaces and equipment ................... leaving the lab. Return all equipment clean and in working order to the proper storage area. Dispose of ................... as instructed.
8. Long hair must be tied back and dangling jewelry and loose or baggy clothing must be secured. ................... must completely cover the foot.
9. Never handle broken ................... with your bare hands. Use a brush and dustpan to clean up broken glass. Place broken or waste glassware in the designated glass disposal container.
10. Examine ................... before each use. Never use ................... or cracked glassware. Never use dirty glassware. ...................must be worn when working with chemicals, ..................., or glassware.

(online: http://sciencewithsandy.com/safety/rules001.htm)

5. Match the items on the left with the correct items on the right.