My best memories of high school came from my science lab classes. My teacher, Margaret Gray, was a wonderful teacher with a dry wit and true love of science. She was the type of teacher who handled snakes and mixed concoctions while she talked about Darwin and Marie Curie. She demanded a lot from her students and expected each student to comply with her lab rules. Besides saying, "Don’t blow up my lab," "Watch out for oxidizers and flammables," " Miss Wanda, tie back that hair if you want to keep it," and "Where are your gloves," she was known for enforcing safety rules. She could recount incident after incident involving thermal and chemical burns that occurred in labs. She definitely gave a good recounting about the severity of the burns and the resulting scar tissue. Those stories along with her rules stayed with me as I breezed through my laboratory classes in college.

Following graduate school, I worked at a Naval Aviation Depot and a Naval Hospital. Both commands utilized over a thousand different chemicals and both followed the same safety rules. By following these simple rules, labs of any size and mission can remain safe.

• Be prepared for the lab procedure. Read the instructions prior to class or work. Do not proceed unless you understand the instructions.
• Maintain a lab space free of paper, texts, and other clutter. Only lab manuals and notebooks should be in the work area.
• Be familiar with all equipment in the area. Burners, autoclaves, hoods, and other mechanical equipment have user’s instructions. Know how to operate them prior to use. Never use the equipment in any manner that does not meet the manufacturer’s intent or design. Report all mechanical problems to the supervisor or teacher.
• Read all labels carefully before using a chemical. Check the name twice. If you are not familiar with the chemical, read the material safety data sheet first.
• Use only the chemicals assigned to your area. Do not borrow chemicals from other labs or use items not listed on your lab’s inventory. Chemicals should not be transferred from the labs to classrooms, offices, and other work areas unless the area is authorized for use of the chemical.
• Be familiar with the locations and procedures of all safety equipment, including safety shower, fire blanket, fire extinguisher, spill controls, eyewash station, and fire exits.
• Follow all written and verbal instructions. Do not attempt experiments beyond those that have been approved by your instructor or supervisor. Ask for assistance if a technique or procedure is unclear or too difficult.
• Do not touch or taste chemicals.
• Wear splash goggles, face shields, gloves, and an approved apron in the laboratory. The gloves should match the chemicals being used for the procedure. Lab coats may be required in some labs.
• Wear appropriate clothing. Shoes must be closed toed. Coats (weather) are not permitted. Bulky or expensive clothing and jewelry should not be worn. Leg coverings are a must.
• Long hair should be covered or tied back.
• Do not eat, drink, or chew gum in the lab.
• Do not use flammable liquids near ignition sources such as burners or hot plates. Never leave a Bunsen burner unattended.
• Do not use chipped, broken, or cracked glassware in any procedures.
• Return unused chemicals to the designated container. Make sure all containers are labeled and that the labels are readable.
• Follow the proper instructions for the disposal of chemicals. Do not pour chemicals down the sink without checking the procedures.
• Report all chemical spills and accidents to your instructor or supervisor immediately. Refer to the spill procedures posted for the lab.
• Clean the area after you have completed your work. Use only cleaning products approved for the work area.
• Wash the personal protective equipment used and your hands before leaving the lab.
• Visitors, especially children, can be a hazard and cause worker distraction. Impose strict guidelines on visiting and enforce them. Access to labs should be limited to authorized personnel only to reduce the risk of injury and/or exposure.

Creator- Wanda Walters
Email: walterswm@mcsc.usmc.mil

Graphics:Kurt Davis
Email: kdavis@nassig.sicliy.navy.mil

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