SAFETY PAGES

LABORATORY HYGIENE

Hygienic Practices to Keep in Mind

1.  Keep clothing clean and change the clothing after the lab, especially if it has been soiled by chemicals.

2.  Keep your hands clean during the lab.  If you get something on them, wash them with soap and water.

3.  Always wash your hands before and after you eat.

4.  Wear gloves for the appropriate experiments and make sure these are kept clean for others.  Do not put dirty or we hands in gloves and wash gloves after you use them.

5.  Cover any cuts, infected wounds or boils you may have with clean, suitable materials.

6.  Keep any jewelry covered or protected.  Earrings for example should not be long and dangling as they may get caught on a piece of equipment.  Bracelets should also be avoided for the same reason.

7.  Wear a hair restraint for long hair.  This stops hair getting stuck in moving parts and falling into chemicals.

8.  Do not chew tobacco or smoke in the lab.  Although this is prohibited in the laboratory, it is also not a hygienic habit as you may ingest chemicals by accident and contaminate the atmosphere.

9.  Do not spit in the laboratory as this can spread germs.

10. Put your hand over your mouth if you sneeze or cough as this can cause germs to spread and infect your whole group, as well.  You do not want your entire group falling ill because of one person's carelessness.