Lab safety Instructions

Lab Safety Manual :

Introduction:

As you know the decisions you make concerning the use of chemicals in the laboratory should be based on an objective analysis of the hazards, rather than merely the perception of the risks involved. Once this has been accomplished, a reasonable means of controlling the hazards through experimental protocol, work practices, ventilation, use of protective clothing, etc., can be determined. In order to assess the hazards of a particular chemical, both the physical and health hazards of the chemical must be considered. Before using any chemical, the material safety data sheet (MSDS) or other appropriate resource should be reviewed to determine what conditions of use might pose a hazard. Accidents with hazardous chemicals can happen quickly and may be quite severe. The key to prevention of these accidents is awareness. Once the hazards are known, the risk of an accident may be reduced significantly by using safe work practices.

Basic Toxicology:

The health effects of hazardous chemicals are often less clear than the physical hazards. Data on the health effects of chemical exposure, especially from chronic exposure, are often incomplete. When discussing the health effects of chemicals, two terms are often used interchangeably - toxicity and hazard. However, the actual meanings of these words are quite different. Toxicity is an inherent property of a material, similar to its physical constants. It is the ability of a chemical substance to cause an undesirable effect in a biological system. Hazard is the likelihood that a material will exert its toxic effects under the conditions of use. Thus, with proper handling, highly toxic chemicals can be used safely. Conversely, less toxic chemicals can be extremely hazardous if handled improperly.