top of page

Basic Security Rules

 

Safety Equipment

Laboratories must be equipped with or in the vicinity of the following safety equipment:

  • Blanket Fire-extinguisher;

  • Portable fire extinguisher;

  • Sand (places where liquids may be spilled) or spill kits;

  • Shower (Chemical Laboratories);

  • Eyewash (Chemical Laboratories)

  • First aid kit;

  • Personal protective equipment (PPE)

Before starting any activity in the laboratories the users must make sure of their existence, location and good conditions. If any of the equipment does not exist or is not in good condition, please inform the Laboratory Manager and / or the Building Manager.

​

Prior Preparation of Experimental Work

The preparation of any experimental work is extremely important. Make sure you are aware of all potential hazards of the reagents, products, equipment and techniques to use.

To do this you must:

  • Previous information about the risks and safety of the of the handling of reagents / chemicals (initial reagents, intermediate products and end products);

  • Know in advance the risks and safety involved in the techniques to be used; 

  • Properly prepare the disposal of produced waste. Always read the operating instructions before using the equipment for the first time.

 

General Safety Rules

  • Strictly follow the instructions provided by the Professor / Advisor or Laboratory Officer;

  • Refer to the Laboratory Safety Manual;

  • Use safety goggles whenever necessary;

  • Never work alone in the laboratory, unless authorized by the Laboratory Manager or the Professor / Advisor;

  • Do not play in the laboratory;

  • No smoking in the laboratory;

  • Do not eat or drink in the laboratory;

  • Never carry out unauthorized experiments. All procedures and equipment must be explicitly authorized. New experiences must be explicitly authorized by the Laboratory Manager or the Professor / Advisor;

  • Know the evacuation routes and the location of the emergency exits, as well as the safety equipment and its use; Put all personal objects in appropriate places (backpacks, suitcases, clothes, ...);

  • Avoid using rings in the laboratory, as they may contain irritating products;

  • Do not wear necklaces or ties;

  • Always wear a coat that protects properly. Do not use the coat outside the laboratory area;

  • Avoid contact of any substance with the skin;

  • Wear suitable gloves when necessary (when handling substances that are aggressive to the skin or absorbed through the skin);

  • Gloves must be removed before touching doors, door handles, telephones, notebooks, computer keyboards,

  • Do not use contact lenses in the laboratory. Contact lenses are difficult to remove in case of splashing into the eye;

  • The body should be as protected as possible. It is forbidden to wear sandals / slippers / open shoes and / or highly flammable fabrics (suitable clothes and non-slip shoes must be worn);

  • If you have long hair, keep it tied while performing the experiments, in order to avoid contact with reagents or other material / equipment;

  • When necessary, use a protective visor;

  • If there is a risk of projection of chemicals/particles avoid working with the face exposed;

  • Keep the place clean, tidy and with clear exits. An adequate organization of the workspace avoids/minimizes the occurrence of work accidents;

  • Do not place heavy containers or containing dangerous liquids at a higher level than the head or in difficult access places;

  • The use of adjustable height support is very useful in the assembly of systems composed of several parts, so when assembling it is necessary to guarantee a stable structure. Glass material used and secured by clips, claws or tongs should not be over-tightened, as excessive tension may lead to breakage, especially if there are temperature variations;

  • Do not place solid material inside sinks or drains;

  • Do not place solvents / solvent residues on sinks or drains. Appropriate containers shall be used for this purpose and correctly identified;

  • Comply with appropriate waste disposal procedures;

  • Do not put broken glass in the trash. There should be a specific container for glass fragments;

  • Check that the laboratory stays safe whenever you leave. Check for open water and gas taps, or improperly connected equipment. If gas cylinders are used, close the main valve and discharge the gear reducer from the respective cylinders;

  • Always wash your hands and if you need, your face, when leaving the laboratory;

  • Do not leave with the individual protective equipment of the laboratory on.

​

When handling chemicals:

  • Never pipet with mouth;

  • Never ingest, inhale or touch with a chemical;

  • Never leave flasks containing volatile and flammable solvents (acetone, alcohol, ether, ...) near flames;

  • Never leave flasks containing volatile and flammable solvents exposed to the sun;

  • Avoid simultaneous opening of several vials of the same product;

  • Clearly identify all containers in accordance with the labeling rules;

  • Never use a container / container about which you have doubts about its contents;

  • Ensure that reagents stored at low temperature reach room temperature before being opened;

  • Check that the cylinders containing gases under pressure are properly fastened with chains or belts;

  • Always carry out slow addition of any reagent and never at once. Observe what happens when you add a small initial amount of reagent and wait a few seconds before adding more reagent. Some reactions take some time to start;

  • When preparing dilute aqueous solutions of an acid, place the concentrated acid on the water, never the reverse; always slowly add concentrated solutions to more dilute solutions, or on water, to avoid violent reactions;

  • Never heat a test tube and point the open end at a colleague or yourself;

  • If release of toxic gases and / or vapors can occur the experience must be carried out in an exhaust hood (hotte);

  • Reagents and equipment after use must be stored and placed in their proper place;

  • Never exceed the amount of reagent required for the experiment. If it exceeds the quantity, never put it back in the original bottle, put it in packaging with identical characteristics and properly labeled. The chemical may be contaminated;

  • Do not store oxidizing substances near volatile and flammable liquids;

  • Do not heat flammable liquids with direct flame;

  • In case of chemical spillage, the site should be washed immediately; spill absorption kits may also be used.

​

​

When handling equipment:

  • The Laboratory Manager or the Teacher / Advisor should seek to ensure that all users have access to the necessary information to use the equipment;

  • Before using the equipment for the first time always read its operating instructions;

  • Prepare the safety instructions for the equipment in question and attach it to the laboratory safety manual;

  • Always ensure that the equipment is in good working order and safety;

  • Check that the equipment has up-to-date preventive maintenance advised by the manufacturer;

  • Use recommended personal protective equipment;

  • Do not remove safety devices from the equipment as this could result in major accidents.

​

​

Safety Signs

Safety signs are intended to inform and draw attention, in an efficient and unambiguous manner, to dangerous objects and situations, as well as to recall appropriate instructions and procedures in specific situations. The main objective is to get workers' attention quickly and intelligibly, this can be achieved through different types of signals.

bottom of page