Lab Safety 2

Summary

This video script emphasizes lab safety, focusing on the dangers of cleaning up after experiments. It advises caution when washing glassware to prevent chemical splashes and stresses the importance of inspecting equipment for damage. Broken glassware should be disposed of in designated containers to protect against injury and contamination. The script also warns against eating, drinking, or playing in the lab, and highlights the proper disposal of waste, including metal and chemical waste, to ensure a safe and enjoyable lab experience.

Takeaways

• 🧪 The cleanup phase of an experiment is a critical time for safety due to potential distraction and the risk of chemical exposure.
• 💡 Be cautious when washing glassware as the chemicals inside can splash out, possibly onto your skin or face.
• 🚰 Always start the water flow before placing glassware under the tap to control the water stream and prevent splashing.
• 🧼 If you find glassware not in its designated storage place, treat it as dirty and either wash it or set it aside for cleaning.
• 🚨 In case of a spill, clean up small ones with paper towels and gloves, and inform the instructor for larger spills.
• 🔍 Inspect glassware for cracks or chips before use, as damaged items can break and cause chemical spills or injury.
• 🗑️ Dispose of broken glass in designated containers to prevent injury to those handling waste and to avoid contamination.
• 🚮 Regular trash should be placed in appropriate bins, and never dispose of metal in regular trash bins due to fire risks.
• 🍽️ Eating and drinking are prohibited in the lab to prevent contamination and ensure a safe working environment.
• 🏺 Do not use ice from lab coolers for personal consumption as it's meant for lab use and not for food or drink.

Q & A

Why is the cleanup period in a lab considered dangerous?

The cleanup period is considered dangerous because it's a time when one's mind might wander, leading to rushing and increased risk of accidents. Additionally, washing lab equipment can be messy, and there's a risk of splashing chemicals on one's skin or face.

What precaution should be taken before washing glassware under running water?

Before washing glassware under running water, one should turn on the water first and adjust the stream to the desired degree before placing the glassware under it to prevent sudden splashing.

What should you do if you find glassware not in its normal storage position in the lab?

If glassware is found not in its normal storage position, it should be assumed to be dirty. One should either wash it or put it aside but not use it without proper cleaning.

How should small spills in the lab be handled?

Small spills should be cleaned up by the individual using paper towels, and gloves should be worn while doing so. For larger spills, the instructor should be called for assistance.

Why is it important to inspect glassware for cracks or chips before use?

Inspecting glassware for cracks or chips is important because damaged glassware can break during heating, leading to chemical spills and potential injuries from splattering.

What should be done with broken glassware in a lab?

Broken glassware should not be thrown in regular trash to avoid injury and contamination. Instead, it should be disposed of in specially labeled glass containers.

Why should metal not be placed in regular trash bins in a lab?

Metal should not be placed in regular trash bins because damp metal can potentially catch fire. There are special, often more expensive, trash bins designed to extinguish fires if they occur.

What is the policy on eating and drinking in the lab as mentioned in the script?

Eating and drinking are not allowed in the lab. This includes not consuming any ice found in lab coolers or bringing food or drinks out during the lab session.

How should one avoid contact with chemicals in the lab?

To avoid contact with chemicals, one should not take big sniffs, taste them, or rub them with fingers. It's crucial to avoid any form of contact or ingestion of chemicals at all times.

What should you do if you break glassware on the floor?

If glassware breaks on the floor, it should be cleaned up using a brush and a broom and pan, and disposed of in the glass waste container, not with bare hands.

Outlines

00:00

🧪 Lab Clean-Up Safety

This paragraph emphasizes the importance of safety during the clean-up phase of a lab experiment. It points out that this period can be particularly hazardous due to distractions and the messiness of washing equipment. The speaker advises caution when washing beakers and other glassware, as chemicals can splash onto the skin. A recommendation is made to turn on the water first before placing glassware under the stream to control the flow and minimize splashing. The audience is reminded to treat any misplaced glassware as potentially contaminated and to handle it accordingly. The speaker also covers the proper procedures for dealing with spills, inspecting glassware for damage, and disposing of broken glass safely. The importance of not using damaged glassware and the correct disposal methods to prevent injury and contamination are highlighted.

Keywords

💡Safety

Safety refers to the condition of being protected from or unlikely to cause danger, risk, or injury. In the context of the video, safety is paramount during laboratory work. The script emphasizes the importance of being cautious when cleaning up after experiments to avoid contact with chemicals. For instance, the speaker advises turning on the water before placing glassware under the stream to prevent splashes, which could lead to chemical exposure.

💡Chemicals

Chemicals are substances, often with complex molecular structures, used in various applications including scientific experiments. The video script mentions the need for careful handling of chemicals during cleanup to prevent accidental contact or spills. An example is the caution against splashing when washing beakers that previously contained chemicals.

💡Cleanup

Cleanup refers to the process of clearing away mess or waste and making an area tidy, especially after a specific activity. In the video, cleanup is highlighted as a critical phase where accidents are more likely to happen due to potential distractions or haste. The speaker stresses the importance of careful handling of glassware and the proper disposal of broken glass to ensure a safe environment.

💡Glassware

Glassware encompasses a range of laboratory equipment made of glass, such as beakers, flasks, and test tubes. The script discusses the importance of inspecting glassware for cracks or chips before use to prevent breakage and chemical spills. It also addresses the proper disposal of broken glass to avoid injury to those handling the waste.

💡Spills

Spills refer to the accidental spilling of liquids or substances. The video script provides guidance on how to handle spills in the lab, suggesting that small spills can be cleaned up by the individual with proper precautions like wearing gloves, while larger spills require instructor assistance.

💡Inspection

Inspection is the act of examining something carefully to detect any flaws or issues. In the context of the video, inspection is crucial for ensuring that glassware is free from cracks or chips before use, as undetected damage can lead to breakage and chemical contamination during experiments.

💡Disposal

Disposal refers to the process of getting rid of waste or unwanted materials. The script emphasizes the proper disposal of broken glass in designated containers to prevent injury and contamination. It also mentions the importance of not disposing of metal in regular trash bins due to the risk of fire.

💡Contamination

Contamination is the presence of impurities or unwanted substances that can affect the quality or safety of an item. In the video, contamination is a risk when handling chemicals or broken glass, and proper safety measures are discussed to prevent it, such as using gloves and special disposal containers for broken glass.

💡Waste Management

Waste management involves the collection, transport, disposal, and monitoring of waste materials. The script touches on waste management practices in the lab, such as the separation of regular trash from metal waste and the prohibition of metal in regular trash bins to prevent potential fires.

💡Proper Storage

Proper storage refers to the correct and safe way of keeping items, especially in a laboratory setting where materials need to be organized and easily accessible. The video script mentions that if glassware is found not in its normal storage positions, it should be considered dirty and either washed or set aside, highlighting the importance of maintaining a clean and organized lab environment.

💡No Eating or Drinking

This concept refers to the rule against consuming food or beverages in the laboratory to prevent contamination of samples or equipment, and to protect the health of individuals working in the lab. The script specifically mentions not to eat or drink anything in the lab, including ice from lab coolers, to maintain a sterile and safe environment.

Highlights

The period after experiments is the most dangerous for accidental chemical contact.

Mind wandering and rushing can lead to accidents during cleanup.

Washing glassware can be messy and cause chemical splashes.

Turn on water before placing glassware under the stream to control splashing.

Assume any misplaced glassware in the lab is dirty and handle accordingly.

Inspect glassware for cracks or chips before use to prevent breakage and chemical spills.

Dispose of damaged glassware in special containers to prevent injury and contamination.

Never use hands to pick up broken glass; use a brush and pan for disposal.

Do not put metal in regular trash bins to prevent fire hazards.

Metal waste should be disposed of in designated solid waste bins.

Lab should be an enjoyable experience focused on science, not play.

Lab ice is not for consumption; eating and drinking are prohibited in the lab.

Avoid contact with chemicals at all times; do not sniff, taste, or touch them.

Handle small spills with paper towels and gloves; larger spills require instructor assistance.

Always wear gloves when cleaning up spills to protect your hands.

Never use lab materials, including ice, for personal consumption.

Transcripts

the period of time when you're done with

your experiments and you're cleaning up

and ready to go

is among the most dangerous and the most

apt to

lead to you getting um contact with

with chemicals that you don't want to be

in contact with and so it's that's for

two reasons

one is your mind starts wandering onto

other things you might rush a bit

but also just washing things is a bit

messy

remember that your remember that your

beakers and the like that you're using

have chemicals in them and when you go

to put water

in them sometimes they'll just splash

and that can splash

on your hands or on uh or splash up in

your face and on your skin so be really

careful

about how you do that and one thing is

before you put the

glassware underneath the stream of water

turn the stream water on first do that

slowly

and get the water going to the degree

you want and then go ahead

and use uh the sink to the water running

from the sink to clean your glassware

[Applause]

if you find glassware in the lab not in

its normal storage positions

assume that it is dirty go either go

ahead and wash it or put it aside but do

not use it

and assume that you shouldn't be

touching any chemical surfaces with it

[Applause]

let's talk about spills sometimes stuff

spills

if you have a relatively small something

like that

go ahead and clean it up yourself get a

paper towel and clean it up

ask your instructor should be wearing

gloves when you do so if you have a

larger spill call your instructor

and they will help you clean it up

before you start working you should

inspect your glassware to make sure it

doesn't have any cracks or chips

so this is a beaker and it has a crack

in it and if you were to put this on a

hot plate

and heated it up it could very well

likely would break and fall apart and

spill chemicals

on the hot plate and maybe splatter on

you so

safety is more important than the cost

of glassware so whenever we have

anything wrong with our glassware we

dispose of it and we don't want to take

a

cracked or chipped piece of glass and

throw it in the regular trash because

then people who are handling the trash

will be in danger of cutting themselves

and

of getting cutting themselves bad enough

but also getting contaminated with

whatever is on the on the broken glass

so what we do is we have special

containers for our broken glass

and they are cleverly labeled glass and

so all broken glass does not go on the

regular waste containers

they go in these special glass

containers so put your glass in there

when you're uh when you when you have

anything that needs to be thrown out

if you break a piece of glassware and it

breaks into pieces on the floor

clean it up but be sure to use a brush

and

a broom and pan to do that to distort to

to dispose of it in the glass waste

don't use your hands don't touch the

broken glass with your fingers

use the pan and the brush instead

regular trash goes in these trash bins

and one important rule is to never put

any metal

in the trash bins and the reason is that

metal particularly when it gets damp

can actually catch on fire and so we've

got these metal uh

pretty expensive fancy trash bins to

help

extinguish fire if it happens but we

just don't want to go there so

no metal in the trash bins if you do

have metal that needs to be thrown out

your instructor will show you where the

solid waste bin is

being in lab can really be an enjoyable

experience it can be fun

and so what i'm going to do is i'm going

to take this paper and try to make a

basket

so was that good no it was not good

inside lab we do not play around we do

enjoy ourselves because we're doing

science but no playing around

sometimes you'll see these uh red and

white

little coolers they're coleman coolers

like as if you're going camping but

you're not

you've been doing a lab and in here

you'll find ice

and so that's regularized it's made in

an ice machine we have down the hall

here

but should you use this ice in a nice

cold frosty drink

the answer my friends is no because that

would constitute eating in lab and you

should never

eat or drink anything in labs so when

you come to lab

you should if you have a water bottle or

something like that put it inside your

pack and don't have it out at all during

the lab

and of course no eating in in lab and no

certainly no eating anything

um that you find in lab and so when you

have chemicals you don't take big sniffs

of them you don't taste them

you don't rub them with your fingers you

basically avoid contact

at all times and ingesting anything

including ice

is not allowed