Fire Extinguishers

Most of the fire extinguishers located throughout the laboratory are carbon dioxide fire extinguishers, since often, water should not be used on a fire in a chemistry laboratory.

From the options below, select the types of fires where water should not be used.

Emergency Protocols

In the case of an emergency, we may be evacuated from the laboratory. In the case of an evacuation, the following protocols must be observed:

• Upon hearing the warning siren (a beeping sound), we must prepare to evacuate. This means make the laboratory safe (e.g. switch off hotplates, replace caps on reagents) and prepare to leave the laboratory (e.g. remove gloves, retrieve phones).
• When we hear the evacuation siren (a whooping sound), head towards the nearest emergency exit, and gather at the evacuation assembly area (at 14 Rainforest Walk, in front of the Faculty of Science Student Lounge).
• We must remain at the assembly area until the All Clear is given to return to the laboratory.

Referring to the emergency evacuation plan in your laboratory manual, in which direction/s are the emergency exit/s for the First Year Laboratories?

Unsafe Laboratory Practices

Which of the following should you not do in the laboratory? Select all that apply. 

Waste Disposal

For each of the following types of waste, determine the appropriate method for disposal:

• Broken glassware:
  General rubbish bin

  Broken glass bin

  Recycling bin

  Down the sink with lots of water

  In an acidic liquid waste carboy

  In an aqueous hydrocarbon waste carboy

  In a heavy metal corrosives liquid waste carboy

  In a hazardous/contaminated solid waste bucket
• Ethanol solution (50%):
  General rubbish bin

  Broken glass bin

  Recycling bin

  Down the sink with lots of water

  In an acidic liquid waste carboy

  In an aqueous hydrocarbon waste carboy

  In a heavy metal corrosives liquid waste carboy

  In a hazardous/contaminated solid waste bucket
• Used gloves:
  General rubbish bin

  Broken glass bin

  Recycling bin

  Down the sink with lots of water

  In an acidic liquid waste carboy

  In an aqueous hydrocarbon waste carboy

  In a heavy metal corrosives liquid waste carboy

  In a hazardous/contaminated solid waste bucket
• Cobalt(III) chloride solution (0.10 M):
  General rubbish bin

  Broken glass bin

  Recycling bin

  Down the sink with lots of water

  In an acidic liquid waste carboy

  In an aqueous hydrocarbon waste carboy

  In a heavy metal corrosives liquid waste carboy

  In a hazardous/contaminated solid waste bucket
• Used Pasteur pipettes:
  General rubbish bin

  Broken glass bin

  Recycling bin

  Down the sink with lots of water

  In an acidic liquid waste carboy

  In an aqueous hydrocarbon waste carboy

  In a heavy metal corrosives liquid waste carboy

  In a hazardous/contaminated solid waste bucket
• Iron(III) oxalate (solid):
  General rubbish bin

  Broken glass bin

  Recycling bin

  Down the sink with lots of water

  In an acidic liquid waste carboy

  In an aqueous hydrocarbon waste carboy

  In a heavy metal corrosives liquid waste carboy

  In a hazardous/contaminated solid waste bucket
• Hydrochloric acid solution (1.0 M):
  General rubbish bin

  Broken glass bin

  Recycling bin

  Down the sink with lots of water

  In an acidic liquid waste carboy

  In an aqueous hydrocarbon waste carboy

  In a heavy metal corrosives liquid waste carboy

  In a hazardous/contaminated solid waste bucket
• Paper towel used for wiping benches: 
  General rubbish bin

  Broken glass bin

  Recycling bin

  Down the sink with lots of water

  In an acidic liquid waste carboy

  In an aqueous hydrocarbon waste carboy

  In a heavy metal corrosives liquid waste carboy

  In a hazardous/contaminated solid waste bucket

In the event of glassware breakages:

• Whom should you inform?
• How should you collect broken glassware?
  With your hands

  With your lab notebook

  Leave it for someone else to clean up

  Using paper towel

  Using a dustpan and brush

  Using a vacuum cleaner
• Where should you dispose of clean broken glassware:
  General rubbish bin

  Broken glass bin

  Recycling bin

  In the sink

  In a waste carboy

  Put it back in the cupboard

Chemical contact with eyes

In the case of acidic, basic or toxic chemicals making contact with the eyes, select the most appropriate courses of action.

In the event of a burn or chemical spill on your skin, what procedure should be followed?

• What should you do first?
  Clean up the spill, then wash your skin with water

  Immediately wash your skin with a sodium bicarbonate solution

  Immediately wash skin under cold running water

  Immediately wash skin under hot running water

  Wipe off the chemical with paper towel and continue working

  Go to the servery and ask for a bandaid
• How long should you wash your skin for?
  30 seconds

  1 minute

  5 - 6 minutes

  10 - 20 minutes

  1 hour

  Don't wash your skin
• Whom should you inform?

Chemical spills

It is not uncommon for chemicals to get spilled in the laboratory environment. In the case of water, this may be simply mopped up, but acidic and basic solutions, or other mixtures may require more care.

What should you do if an unknown solution is spilled on the floor?

Fume hoods

Many chemicals used in the laboratory are volatile. We typically use these in 'fume hoods'.

From the actions listed below, select those which reflect the appropriate use of a fume hood.

Eye Wash and Safety Shower Stations

How many eye wash/safety shower stations are there?