Wearing safety goggles in the laboratory and whenever you work with burners and chemicals will protect you from injury and keep harmful substances from getting into your eyes. Wear coats and aprons when working in the laboratory, especially when dealing with heated substances and carrying out experiments. Tie back long hair and remove ties and other loose hanging clothes that may come into contact with flames and chemicals. Take off any jewelry and roll up the sleeves of your shirt or dress when working in the laboratory.
Wearing close-toed shoes instead of sandals will protect your feet from chemical splashes.
Smoking, eating, applying cosmetics and drinking are prohibited in a laboratory setting, since cross contamination is a likely hazard. Do not use laboratory ice in any beverages. All experiments in a classroom laboratory should be performed in the presence of an instructor. You should not taste anything or directly smell vapor or gas. Instead, when smelling a vapor or gas, waft a small portion with your cupped hands and do not inhale the fumes deeply. Wash your hands thorugly with soap before leaving the lab.
Read the material safety data sheets provided in the lab, to learn the hazards and precautions associated with the chemicals you are using. Label all the reagents and research the chemicals you are handling by reading the labels on the bottle before use. Do not use reagents marked flammable near open flames as this might accidentally start a fire. Dispose of chemicals in a waste container and not in the sinks. Clean up the work bench and equipment after all lab work.
In the lab, you are often surrounded by chemical and physical hazards, thus the threat of injuries and accidents is constantly present. Equip the lab with sufficient safety equipment and ensure they are all working properly. You should know where first aid equipment, eyewash fountains, safety showers and fire extinguishers are located in case of an emergency. Wash your eyes or any part of the body with water in case of an accidental splash or spillage of chemicals and seek immediate medical attention.