Safety Guidelines for Introductory Physics Labs
As a student you are responsible to comply with all safety warnings posted in the room, mentioned in the lab manual or given verbally by your TA/Instructor.
The following are the lab safety guidelines for all undergraduate physics labs:
- Note the location of general safety equipment such as:
- Fire Extinguisher ‐ to operate pull safety pin out, point hose at the base of fire, squeeze handle;
- First Aid Kit ‐ minor injuries such as small cuts can be treated effectively in the lab
- REPORT ANY INJURIES TO YOUR INSTRUCTOR;
- Emergency Telephone – follow instructions given in ASU Emergency Response Guide;
- ASU Emergency Response Guide – located by the emergency telephone set;
- Emergency Exit Routes – there are signs posted on each door explaining your location and showing the exit route during an emergency.
- Do not enter a lab room if your instructor is not there.
- Do not consume food or drink in the laboratory. Any food or beverage brought to the lab must remain in the student’s carrying bag until he leaves.
- Under no circumstances will you be allowed to attend a lab session while “under the influence” of alcohol or prohibited drugs.
- Wear appropriate clothing to laboratory. Confine long hair, loose clothing, and dangling jewelry. Keep the hat off.
- Do not perform unauthorized experiments or use materials and equipment in a manner for which they are not intended.
- Do not sit on the lab tables at any time.
- Exercise caution when working with electrical equipment – do not use electrical equipment with frayed, broken or exposed wiring; do not allow any liquid to come into contact with electrical cords. Handle electrical equipment with dry hands; when unplugging any electrical equipment always pull the plug itself; do not attempt to disconnect electrical equipment that crackles, smokes or snaps.
- Use extreme caution when working with hot plates or other heating devices. Always assume that hot plates are hot – never leave any heat sources unattended; handle hot equipment with tongs, safety gloves and other appropriate aids; turn heating devices off when not in use, make sure they are off before leaving the laboratory.
- Avoid spills – place liquids away from the edges of the lab table; clean up any spills as soon as they occur.
- Report all accidents with broken glassware to the instructor. Do not attempt to clean up by yourself.
- Always thoroughly wash your hands at the end of lab involving toxic or radioactive materials.
- Do not shine a laser light at anyone nor point a laser beam at mirror‐like surfaces.
- Keep your lab station neat and organized at all times – only books and notepads needed for the Experiment should be on the lab table, any other items must be stored on the designated shelving units; always clean up any clutter made during lab work, rearrange apparatus in an orderly fashion, and report any damaged or missing items to your TA.
- Any bodily fluid is to be treated as a hazardous material. Do not attempt to clean it up by yourself.