{"id":858461,"date":"2021-09-09T07:00:15","date_gmt":"2021-09-09T11:00:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thecompliancecenter.com\/ca\/?p=858461"},"modified":"2025-09-08T01:22:28","modified_gmt":"2025-09-08T05:22:28","slug":"get-ready-for-safety-in-chemistry-class","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thecompliancecenter.com\/ca\/help-center\/articles\/get-ready-for-safety-in-chemistry-class\/","title":{"rendered":"Get Ready for Safety in Chemistry Class"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/p>\n

Summer is still sizzling, but fall is around the corner, and what comes with autumn? That\u2019s right, school. Many students will be starting up their science classes, whether they\u2019re high school or college level. And that means that they will be exposed to potential hazards while doing their work and (we hope) earning their \u201cA\u201ds. Do they know how to protect themselves?<\/span><\/p>\n

Certainly, when I was in school, we didn\u2019t learn much about safety in the lab. Spills, fires, and the occasional chemical injury were not uncommon. For example, I was plagued once by a nasty, blistery rash that doctors couldn\u2019t explain \u2013 until they realized I was handling a chemical in the lab that was closely related to the active ingredient of poison ivy<\/a><\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Today, though, there are many resources to help students stay safe. Of course, the first should be the school itself. Students should always be briefed on how to conduct their experiments safely. But with a little extra instruction, they can take their own steps to find out about safety in the lab. And remember, this will possibly create good habits if they end up working with chemicals after graduation.<\/span><\/p>\n

First \u2013 Identify the Hazards<\/b><\/h2>\n

All people who work with chemicals (in workplace, educational, or home settings) should know how to read a product label. In the lab, most products will have WHMIS<\/a><\/span> (Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System) labels if in Canada or OSHA<\/a><\/span> (Occupational Health and Safety Act) labels if in the United States. (Note that there may be slight differences between the label requirements for laboratory chemicals versus industrial ones).\u00a0 The requirements are based on the Globally Harmonized System for Classification and Labelling of Chemicals<\/a><\/span> (GHS) developed by the United Nations.<\/span><\/p>\n

There are eight major symbols that can be found in the WHMIS\/OSHA system, and they can be quickly learned by students. Look for the pattern of a red diamond with a black symbol inside.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

However, other products in the lab may not be primarily intended for workplace sale. Many are intended as consumer products<\/a><\/span>. These will have different symbols, but the symbols should still be recognizable by the general public (for example, skull and crossbones for toxic products and flame symbols for flammable material.) Perhaps you can practice by having a scavenger hunt around the house to find products with consumer labels on them, such as bleach or aerosol sprays.<\/span><\/p>\n

Whether the product has a workplace label or a consumer one, the label on each container of hazardous product should include the name (\u201cidentifier\u201d) of the product, a summary of its hazards, and instructions for safe use. Make it a habit to read the label on each product you use in the lab as well as at home.<\/span><\/p>\n

In addition to the label, more detailed information should be available on the Safety Data Sheet<\/a><\/span>\u00a0(SDS). These are required for hazardous workplace products and are usually provided (although they are optional) on consumer products. If the teacher or professor doesn\u2019t start by telling you where to find the SDSs in the lab, make sure to ask. These will have a summary of the hazards, a detailed breakdown of the ingredients, more detailed information on hazards, and information on how to handle the product safely and respond to emergencies. A vital piece of information should be in the first section \u2013 the 24-hour emergency telephone number. If you need guidance from a live person, you can call this number for more assistance.<\/span><\/p>\n

Next \u2013 Protect Your Body<\/b><\/h2>\n

In Section 8 of the SDS, you\u2019ll see the manufacturer\u2019s suggestions for \u201cindividual protective measures,\u201d which include Personal Protective Equipment<\/a><\/span>, or PPE. This information should be reviewed taking into consideration things like the quantity of product you\u2019ll be using and how well ventilated the lab is. But don\u2019t assume that you can\u2019t get hurt using things the school requires you to use!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Typically, the SDS may recommend PPE such as:<\/span><\/p>\n