SoE LABORATORY SAFETY RULES

GENERAL
1. Do NOT work with hazardous substances without a second person being present
2. Do NOT eat, drink or smoke in the laboratory under any circumstances
3. ALWAYS Keep your working area clean and tidy and free of clutter
4. ALWAYS Keep benches tidy and gangways clear
5. ALWAYS support gas cylinders, and ALWAYS close cylinder valves after use
6. ALWAYS label containers in plain English with the common known name of the substance
and the appropriate hazard warning sign
7. ALWAYS secure the tops of reagent bottles immediately after use
8. ALWAYS work with fume cupboard sashes as low as possible and ALWAYS work towards
the back of the cupboard
9. ALWAYS use double containment techniques where possible and drip trays to limit the
consequences of a spillage
10. ALWAYS clear up spillages immediately
11. Do NOT leave equipment using water, gas or electricity on overnight without completing a
“Silent Running” form, and ALWAYS ensure all water hoses are secured with jubilee clips

PERSONAL PROTECTION
1. ALWAYS wear a lab coat and appropriate eye protection, e.g. safety spectacles, goggles
or face shield.
2. Lab coats should ALWAYS be buttoned up and NOT worn in amenity areas of the
University.
3. ALWAYS use the appropriate gloves whenever handling chemicals or hazardous
substances, and ALWAYS check their integrity before use, ensuring they will give you
protection against the substance being used
4. ALWAYS wear proper footwear, do NOT wear open toed footwear

HYGIENE
1. Do NOT pipette by mouth
2. ALWAYS wash hands after using any substances hazardous to health, on leaving the
laboratory and before visiting the toilet
3. Do NOT touch surfaces with your contaminated gloves if they may be touched by others
(phones, door handles etc)

EMERGENCIES
1. ALWAYS know where your nearest fire extinguisher and first aid kit are
2. ALWAYS know your emergency escape route and assembly point

STORAGE AND DISPOSAL

1. ALWAYS keep broken glassware and sharps separate from other waste and ALWAYS
dispose of in the appropriate containers
2. ALWAYS return stock bottles/jars/dewar’s etc of highly flammable liquids or acids to their
correct store cupboard after work has finished
3. Do NOT have more than 500 ml of a flammable solvent in use at any one time on the
bench
4. Do NOT use or store more cryogenic substances in the lab than an Oxygen Depletion
calculator recommends

UniS/SoE/SO/SafetyNotice/006