Wash and dry the tongs before use, if necessary. Wet tongs may crack hot glassware or cause an item to slip and break.
Hold the lab tongs in the same way you would hold a pair of scissors. Open and close the tongs a few times to get used to the amount of force required to control them.
Close the lab tongs around the hot laboratory glassware. Typical heated glassware that can be carried with lab tongs includes crucibles, evaporating dishes, beakers and flasks. Gently raise the glassware about an inch from the hot surface to check that the grip of the tongs is secure. If the glassware moves under the surface of the tongs, lower the glassware and reset the grip of the tongs.
Move the hot glassware to a dry, heat-resistant surface using the lab tongs. The parts of the tongs that are in contact with the hot glassware may also be hot. Place the lab tongs on the heat resistant surface and allow the tips of the tongs to air cool until safe to handle.