The chemistry laboratories at VSD schools can be safe and pleasant places to work. There is always a risk of accident or injury. This risk can be minimized if the safety rules below are scrupulously followed.

Treat every chemical as if it is hazardous, especially if it is one with which you are unfamiliar. A mixture should be considered at least as hazardous as its most hazardous component. Never use any unlabeled substance. Don't mix substances unless you have been explicitly instructed to do so.

Know the hazards posed by different classes of chemicals such as flammables, corrosives, or oxidizers. Read and understand the Material Safety Data Sheet before using any new chemical.

Follow all chemical safety instructions and procedures to the letter. Never engage in horseplay, pranks, or practical jokes because they may distract, startle, or confuse another student. Be cautious around all lab equipment.

In case of fire, accident, or exposure to a hazardous substance, notify the instructor at once.
Know where to go and what to do in an emergency - where to find and how to use the safety
equipment provided in the laboratory. Students must become familiar with the more detailed
safety precautions described in specific course and experimental materials. If you notice something that is unsafe, call attention to it so that it may be corrected.

Perform all reactions involving dangerous or unpleasant smelling chemicals in a fume hood.
Exercise great care in noting the odor of fumes and avoid breathing fumes of any kind. Never taste a chemical. Do not use mouth suction to pipette anything; use suction bulbs or pipetmen. Food or beverages are not allowed in any laboratory or work area.

Avoid contact between the skin and any chemical. Wash promptly if a chemical contacts the skin. Always wash well with soap and water when leaving the laboratory .Wear gloves for
protection from acids, bases, and solvents when needed. When handling hot solutions or objects
use tongs or insulating gloves or hand protectors.

Dress for protection. Chemical splash goggles with indirect venting must be worn at all times.
Bare or stocking feet, sandals, thongs, open-toed shoes, or soft moccasins are not allowed in any lab or work area. Confine long hair and loose clothing. Shorts, cut-offs, or miniskirts are discouraged because of the increased danger of chemical contact with the skin.

Protect yourself from cuts by chipped, cracked, or broken glassware. Return all chipped or
cracked glassware to the stockroom. Discard broken glass (including used melting point tubes) into
the container marked "Deposit Broken Glass", not into a wastebasket. Be sure all tubing is fire-
polished.

Keep your work area clean. Empty and rinse all glassware before returning it to the stockroom.
Put all chemical wastes into the proper containers.

Label all chemicals produced in the laboratory with, at least, the name of the compound, your
name, the class number, and the date. Include any other information specified by your course
instructor .

Smoking is not allowed in the Vancouver Schools. Open flames of any type are forbidden outside
designated areas.

Never perform unauthorized experiments. Students must never work unsupervised or outside of
regularly scheduled hours. When a student designs an experiment, the written experimental design
must be initialed by a professor.

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VSD STUDENT AND PARENT SIGNATURE FORM DECLARATION OF LAB RESPONSIBILITY

I have read the Chemistry Department general lab safety rules. I understand them, and agree
to abide by them whenever I am working in any Chemistry Department laboratory .

Name: ____________________________________ Date: _________________________

Signature: _________________________________ Class: ________________________

Parent Signature: _________________________________ Home Phone: ________________________