C O N T E N T S Science Labs 2-3 1. General Rules 2 2. Clothing 2 3. Accidents and Injuries 2 4. Handling Chemicals 3 5. Handling Glassware and Equipment 3 6. Heating Substances 3 Field Work 4 1. Preparation 4 2. Supervision 4 3. Field Experience 4 IBDP Student Declaration Form and the Safety Policy (Natural Sciences)... 5 1
SCIENCE LABS General Rules 1. Conduct yourself in a responsible manner at all times in the laboratory. Misbehavior in a lab is dangerous and will not be tolerated. 2. There will be no eating or drinking of any kind in the science laboratories. 3. Before working in the laboratory, you must know where the fire blanket and fire extinguisher are located. 4. If the fire alarm sounds you must follow the instructions of the teacher. 5. Notify your teacher if you have any medical problems that might relate to lab work, such as allergies or asthma. 6. When first entering a science room, do not touch any equipment, chemicals, or other materials in the laboratory area until you are instructed to do so. 7. You may work in the laboratory only under the supervision of a member of the science department faculty and/or staff. Perform only those experiments authorized by the supervisor/ instructor. Never do anything in the laboratory that is not called for in the laboratory procedures or by your supervisor/instructor. 8. Labels and equipment instructions must be read carefully before use. 9. Handle all chemicals carefully. Keep them away from your eyes, ears, nose, mouth, clothing and skin. Wash your hands at the end of each laboratory period. 10. Always consider the mains outlets on the benches to be live. Never insert anything in them, not even equipment plugs, without supervision. 11. Never leave unattended anything that is being heated, is visibly reacting or any operating electrical devices. Turn off burners and all electrical devices when not in use. 12. Experiments must be personally monitored at all times. You will be assigned a laboratory station at which to work. Do not wander around the room, distract other students, or interfere with the laboratory experiments of others. 13. Dispose of all chemical waste as instructed. Never mix chemicals in sink drains. Check the label of all waste containers twice before adding your chemical waste to the container. 14. When using knives and other sharp instruments, always carry with tips and points pointing down and away. Always cut away from your body. Never try to catch falling sharp instruments. Grasp sharp instruments only by the handles. 15. Leave laboratory benches clean and neat. Clean all pieces of equipment after use and return them to the supply area. Clothing 1. WEAR LAB COATS DURING ALL LABORATORY SESSIONS. Students without lab coats will not be allowed to the Chemistry/Biology/ESS lab. 2. Safety glasses must be worn at all times during laboratory periods when chemicals and equipment are being used. Always protect your eyes from splashes, shattering glass or any other possible danger in the lab. 3. Keep long hair and loose clothing tied back at all times. Dangling jewelry must be secured. Shoes must completely cover the foot. No sandals allowed. 4. Contact lenses should not be worn in the laboratory unless you have permission from your instructor. 5. Any time chemicals, heat, or glassware are used, students will wear laboratory goggles. 6. Use the appropriate gloves provided to handle chemicals and hot surfaces or liquids. Accidents & Injuries 1. Report any accident (spill, breakage, etc.) or injury (cut, burn, electric shock etc.) to the instructor immediately, no matter how trivial it may appear. 2. If a thermometer is broken immediately get your teacher to help clean it up. 3. Never handle broken glass with your hands - use a brush and dustpan. 4. If a chemical splash in your eye(s) or on your skin, immediately flush with running water from the eyewash station or safety shower for at least 20 minutes. Notify the instructor immediately. 2
Handling Chemicals 1. All chemicals in the laboratory are to be considered dangerous. Do not touch, taste, or smell any chemicals unless specifically instructed to do so. 2. Check the label on chemical bottles twice before removing any of the contents. Take only as much chemical as you need. 3. Only mix chemicals according to instructions. 4. Always replace caps, covers and stoppers on chemical containers. 5. Equipment and chemicals should be used only in the classroom unless your teacher gives you permission to use them elsewhere. 6. When heating chemicals in a test tube, keep the open end of the tube pointed away from yourself and others. 7. Glowing pieces of wood or paper must not be placed in the waste containers. 8. Never return chemicals to a container unless instructed to do so by the teacher. 9. Always add acid to water and not water to acid. 10. Never use mouth suction to fill a pipet. Use a rubber bulb or pipet pump. 11. Take great care when transporting acids and other chemicals from one part of the laboratory to another. Hold them securely and walk carefully. Handling Glassware & Equipment 1. Inserting and removing glass tubing from rubber stoppers can be dangerous. Always lubricate glassware (tubing, thistle tubes, thermometers, etc.) before attempting to insert it in a stopper. Always protect your hands with towels or cotton gloves when inserting glass tubing into, or removing it from, a rubber stopper. If a piece of glassware becomes frozen in a stopper, take it to your instructor for removal. 2. Examine glassware before each use. Never use chipped or cracked glassware. 3. Exercise extreme caution when handling liquids in the vicinity of electrical equipment. 4. When removing an electrical plug from its socket, grasp the plug, not the electrical cord. Hands must be completely dry before touching an electrical switch, plug or outlet. 5. Report damaged electrical equipment immediately. Look for things such as frayed cords, exposed wires, and loose connections. Do not use damaged electrical equipment. 6. If you do not understand how to use a piece of equipment, ask the supervisor/instructor for help. Heating Substances 1. Exercise extreme caution when using a gas burner. Take care that hair, clothing and hands are at safe distance from the flame at all times. Do not put any substance into the flame unless specifically instructed to do so. Never reach over an exposed flame. 2. Heated metals and glass remain very hot for a long time. They should be set aside to cool and picked up with caution. Use tongs or heat-protective gloves if necessary. 3. Never look into a container that is being heated. 3
FIELD WORK Preparation 1. In order to guarantee maximum student awareness, teachers must discuss the overall plan of the field work with the students prior to the field work. This should include a detailed discussion of methodology, topography, possible plant and animal contact in the ecosystem being visited. 2. A detailed discussion of equipment usage and safety measures required for each is required with the students prior to the field work. 3. Parents should be informed of the purpose of the field work; the student work and ecosystem being visited. Parents or guardians will need to give written permission. 4. Parents and / or students need to inform school staff of any possible allergies or other health related issues. 5. Students need to bring their own food, water and hygienic material. 6. Students need to check weather forecasts the night before and dress appropriately. Supervision 1. There should be 1 teacher assigned for each 10 students taking part in the field work. 2. Students are not to be left unsupervised at any time. 3. Any student behaving in an unsafe fashion is to be warned. If the behavior continues the student is to be prevented from continuing the work in the team. 4. A first aid kit is to be on hand with the laboratory technician. Field Experience 1. There should be 1 teacher at the head of the overall group and one at the tail when entering an ecosystem. 2. The staff should have mobile phones on hand to communicate with one another and with the bus driver. 3. Students should stay within their work team at all times. 4. A meeting time and place for all groups to reassemble together is to be determined ahead of time. 5. Students should take the utmost care in avoiding damage to the ecosystem. This includes removing organisms, and trampling. 6. The students are required to handle the equipment with utmost care in order to guarantee maximum usage and to avoid accidents. 7. Unnecessary discussions, jokes, horse playing are to be avoided in order to maximize concentrated work and to avoid accidents due to distraction. 4
IBDP Student Declaration Form and the Safety Policy (Natural Sciences) I have read and I understand the information included in the Safety Policy (Natural Sciences). I understand that these principles are a guideline and cannot cover all situations in a science lab and/or field work. I will behave in a responsible and reasonable manner while working in a science lab and/or during field work. ΔΗΛΩΣΗ ΜΑΘΗΤΗ ΙΒ Διάβασα και κατανόησα τις υποχρεώσεις των μαθητών του IBDP, όπως αυτές καθορίζονται στο έντυπο Safety Policy (Natural Sciences). Κατανοώ ότι αυτές οι αρχές αποτελούν κατευθυντήρια γραμμή και δεν μπορούν να καλύψουν όλες τις καταστάσεις σε ένα εργαστήριο επιστήμης ή/και στην εργασία πεδίου. Θα συμπεριφέρομαι με υπεύθυνο και λογικό τρόπο, ενώ εργάζομαι στο εργαστήριο και κατά τη διάρκεια της εργασίας πεδίου. Candidate s Name / Όνομα μαθητή: Candidate s Signature / Υπογραφή μαθητή: Parents Name / Όνομα κηδεμόνα: Parents Signature / Υπογραφή κηδεμόνα: Date / Ημερομηνία: 5