10 Essential Safety Rules And Precautions For Handling Chemicals

Anyone working in a lab should already know how important it is to follow basic safety precautions when handling chemicals. It’s not just about protecting lab workers, although that’s always the top concern. Following the ten essential safety rules and precautions for handling chemicals listed below prevents contamination and potentially dangerous chemical interactions, so every lab worker should be familiar with these protocols.

1. Employ Suitable Carrying Solutions

If handling chemicals safely is a challenge, transporting them from place to place can be even worse. It’s important not to carry chemical bottles by the neck. Lab workers should also avoid carrying the bottles next to their bodies. Use suitable, specialized carrying solutions like carts, trolleys, or buckets instead.

2. Keep Containers Closed

Chemical containers should be kept closed whenever they’re not in use to prevent vapor from escaping and dust from entering. If gases or suspended materials penetrate the chemical bottle, it can cause the nature of the mixture to change.

3. Don’t Reuse Original Packaging

Chemicals should never be returned to their original packaging, as this can cause incompatible mixtures to be formed accidentally. Instead, use only clearly labeled chemical bottles.

4. Don’t Use Unmarked Reagents

If a lab worker is unsure about a compound’s nature, the best thing to do is to dispose of it properly. Don’t ever use unmarked or improperly labeled reagents.

5. Don’t Put Objects Into Containers

It may be tempting to remove a chemical bottle’s contents by using a spatula, stirrer, or another foreign object, but that’s a mistake. The only safe way to remove the contents of a chemical bottle is to pour and roll the chemicals into a glass beaker or another piece of suitable equipment. It’s okay to use spatulas with caution in lab reagent containers, but that’s the only exception.

6. Be Careful When Using Cork Stoppers

The cork stoppers used to close chemical bottles should only be placed on clean surfaces and with the tops facing down. Doing otherwise can create unnecessary exposure and contamination risks.

7. Pour Out Bottles Correctly

When pouring the contents of bottles, always ensure the label is facing upward. This helps to prevent spillage from damaging the labels and causing unnecessary chemical waste.

8. Never Use the Wrong Bottles

When pouring chemicals into used bottles, only pour in the chemicals indicated on the labels. If the label is illegible, use a new bottle.

9. Utilize Special Precautions When Handling Acids

Any worker tasked with handling concentrated acids should receive specialized training on the precautions to take. This usually includes diluting the acids by pouring them into the water and stirring them continuously.

10. Store Chemicals Correctly

Storing chemicals improperly can be just as disastrous as failing to follow safe handling precautions. Make sure incompatible chemicals are never stored together and that dangerous chemicals are kept in locked storage rooms.

Safety First

There’s a reason that lab workers across the country are expected to adhere to rigorous safe handling requirements when working with chemicals. Many chemicals are volatile and dangerous, so improper handling, transport, or storage can lead to devastating accidents, injuries, and illnesses. When in doubt about the proper handling technique for a specific type of chemical, the best thing to do is to seek assistance from someone with more seniority and experience working with that chemical.