UNO CHEMISTRY LABORATORY SAFETY RULES, PRACTICES, AND POLICIES Rev 2009-04

A chemistry laboratory is a potentially dangerous place. The practices and policies below are designed 
and enforced to promote safe conditions; your lab preparation and behavior must be consistent with 
them. You will be warned of minor infractions. Lack of awareness of these rules, serious or repeated 
infractions will lower your lab grade, and may result in expulsion from the lab with loss of credit.

LABORATORY WORK

1. FAMILIARITY. Know what work you are to do. Use Material Safety Data Sheets to acquaint yourself 
with properties and hazards of chemicals to be used. Operate no equipment until instructed in its use.

2. BACK-UP. To do chemistry, have at least one other person in the laboratory with you.

3. AUTHORIZED WORK. Perform only designated or authorized experiments, using materials, amounts, 
and concentrations called for. Carefully read labels on stock bottles. With back-up and their instructor's 
specific, written permission, students in upper-level labs may work outside their scheduled period.

4. PREEXISTING CONDITIONS. Inform your instructor if you have a health condition or disability which 
may adversely impact or be impacted by your work in the lab. You may wish to seek accommodation.


PERSONAL PROTECTION 

5. EYES. Wear chemical splash, high impact protective goggles while anyone is working with chemical 
reagents. Prescription glasses (unless deeply tinted) or contact lens may be
worn under goggles.	Initial only if you plan to wear contacts:	

6. SHOES. Wear closed, comfortable shoes offering spill protection. Sandals are not allowed in lab!

7. CLOTHING. Wear sufficient clothing to protect your skin against splashes. You may wear a lab coat to 
protect skin and good clothing. Avoid flammable and dangling clothing. Wear a protective apron and 
face shield when exposure could be severe.

8. HAIR. Confine loose hair sufficiently for safe work, especially near flames and centrifuges.

9. WASHING. Wash your hands with soap and water directly upon leaving the lab.


EQUIPMENT

10. FUME HOOD. Confine all sources of irritating mists or vapors to a fume hood in the lab room.

11. SAFETY EQUIPMENT. Locate and use appropriately: eyewash (splash, irritation), shower (broad 
splash or burn, burning clothes), bicarbonate (acid spill), dust pan and brush (broken glass), campus 
telephone (medical emergency), extinguisher (localized fire), sand (metal fire), fire alarm (big fire).


PREVENTIVE PRACTICES 

12. COATROOM. Leave coats and other personal belongings (e.g. book bags) in the coatroom.

13. WORK AREAS. Keep your work areas clean. Clean up a spill or breakage before continuing work.

14. TASTING. Leave any food, beverage or snack outside the lab. Drink no water and eat no ice in or from 
the laboratory. Never taste a laboratory chemical.

15. SMELLING. To note an odor, start with the container well away from the face, waft air towards your 
face with one hand, and move the container closer only if you note no odor.

16. GLASSWARE. Use glassware only if free of cracks, breaks, and sharp edges. Avoid strain assembling 
glassware. Lubricate thermometers and tubing for insertion through a stopper; use an insertion tool.

17. CHEMICALS. Leave chemical solutions, materials, and equipment in the lab. Dispose only as directed.
ACCIDENTS	* * * * In all cases notify the instructor immediately. * * * *

18. BROKEN GLASS. Dispose of glass at the designated box in the lab or stockroom, not in paper trash.

19. EYES. Go immediately to an eyewash to flush chemicals from eyes with water. Continue at least 15 min.

20. FIRE. If reasonable, use a wet towel or other means to smother or otherwise contain a fire.

21. BURNS. After contact with chemicals or hot equipment, flush skin with a COPIOUS quantity of cold 
water. In case of persistent fire or use of the safety shower, students not being treated or assisting in 
treatment are to evacuate the room.

22. MINOR INJURY. First aid is available at Health Services (HS). HS will check injuries to identify 
severity and attend to students brought to HS due to feeling faint or ill from the lab.

23. SERIOUS INJURY. Major injuries are immediately referred to Campus Security by calling 4-2911.

Payment for medical transportation and treatment are the sole responsibility of the student. By signing
below, the student accepts this responsibility. Health Services provides insurance information.



I AGREE TO OBSERVE THESE POLICIES IN MY CHEMISTRY COURSE, and to hold the University of 
Nebraska at Omaha harmless in any accident that is the result of my own negligence. I understand that 
employees of the university may, for my own well being, instruct me to follow certain procedures, and I 
accept sole responsibility for any debts thereby incurred. (Give signed copy to instructor.)

Signature	 Date	 Student Number	
Printed Name	 Course/Section	 Drawer Number