Department of Biochemistry

Faculty of Pharmacy
University of Santo Tomas

RULES AND SAFETY PRECAUTIONS IN THE ORGANIC AND BIOCHEMISTRY

LABORATORY
Please read, understand and follow these basic rules and safety precautions in the organic and
biochemistry laboratory.

A. Personal Protective Equipment

1) Wear your laboratory gown and safety goggles for the duration of the entire laboratory period.
2) Long hair and loose clothing should be properly secured.
3) Wear nitrile gloves when handling corrosive chemicals and biological samples.
4) Wear gas masks when handling chemicals and surgical masks for biologicals.

B. Proper Decorum

1) Eating, drinking, and smoking are prohibited inside the laboratory.

2) Sitting on top of the laboratory table is NOT allowed even during discussion.
3) REPORT ALL ACCIDENTS, HOWEVER MINOR, TO YOUR LABORATORY INSTRUCTOR.

C. Laboratory Management

1) COME TO THE LABORATORY PREPARED. It is essential that one understands what is to be done
for an experiment. All work must be supervised by a laboratory instructor.
2) Keep your laboratory area clean and free of unnecessary items.
3) Read reagent bottle labels carefully. Never pipet liquids directly from reagent bottles. Pour a
small quantity into a clean container and use the pipet.
4) Reagents are placed at designated areas in the laboratory. Do not bring reagent bottles to your
working area. Instead, get the required amount of reagent needed for the experiment.
5) Handle all equipment with care. In case of doubt, ask your laboratory instructor to guide you.
6) Do not leave on-going experimental set-up unattended.
7) Smell chemicals cautiously by wafting the vapors towards you.
8) Using open flame is allowed only when instructed. Walk away from a lighted burner when
handling volatile and flammable liquids.
9) When mixing or heating chemicals in a test tube, point the test tube away from people.
10) Experiments that make use of reagents that release fumes (e.g. volatile solvents, concentrated
acids) should be carried out in the fume hood.
11) ALWAYS POUR THE ACID TO THE WATER WITH CONTINUOUS STIRRING DURING DILUTIONS.
12) Contaminated clothing should be removed immediately. Be familiar with the location of first aid
stations, safety shower, medicine cabinet, and fire extinguisher.
13) All chemicals spilled on the body should be washed IMMEDIATELY with cold running water. DO
NOT WASH PHENOL SPILLS WITH WATER! Use rubbing alcohol.
 14) Clean your laboratory area after finishing the experiment. Make sure that no glassware or trash
is left in your working area. Wash your hands thoroughly and return chairs in their proper
places.

D. Waste Management

1) Solid and liquid chemical wastes (organic, inorganic or mixtures) should be disposed in the
temporary chemical waste storage area. Dispose broken glassware in the container labeled for
this purpose.
2) Cover chemical spills with the appropriate clean-up materials listed below, followed by cleaning
the area with a sponge/paper towel.
i. Acid spills: use sodium bicarbonate
ii. Base spills: use citric acid
iii. Mercury spills: use mercury pump or sulfur powder
3) Place bits of paper, matchsticks, and other solid wastes in a vessel provided for this purpose.

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AGREEMENT FORM

I have read and understood the laboratory safety rules.

I agree to abide by the rules discussed throughout the course to promote a safe
laboratory environment for myself and my classmates.

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Printed Name and Signature of Student Date

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Printed Name and Signature of Parent/Guardian Date