The low temperature warning sign

The low temperature warning sign warns staff of low temperature. Such temperatures
are usually much lower than freezing point and can be found in cold storage areas of the
lab or where chemicals such as liquid nitrogen are stored. PPE for working with
cryogenic or low temperature hazards may include: gloves designed for this purpose
(thick and made from rubber and cloth, covering the skin up to the elbow), long pants,
closed-toe shoes or boots, a rubber apron, and face shield.

The hot surface warning sign

As one would anticipate, the hot surface safety sign warns laboratory uses of burn
hazards from hot surfaces. Such hazards can come from lab equipment such as lab
furnaces and the building itself—if there are steam pipes, etc. Lab users should avoid
touching such surfaces, but if they could come into contact with hot surfaces during their
daily work or must handle hot equipment, they should first be trained on how to properly
use such equipment and always wear the correct PPE (ex. heat-resistant gloves, the lab
coats, eye protection, and closed-toed shoes).

The laser beam hazard sign

The laser beam hazard sign in the laboratory lets staff know that hazards from laser
beams are present. Both the eyes and skin can be damaged from direct exposure to
laser beams so proper eye protection and non-flammable clothing should always be
worn at all times in these areas of the lab, whether the laser is being operated or not.

1. Even if you are certain that a laser beam is "eye" safe or low power, you should
never look into it.

2. Always wear the appropriate goggles in areas of the lab where lasers are
present. The most common laser injuries are those caused by scattered laser light
reflecting either off the shiny surface of optical tables, the sides of mirrors, or off of
mountings. Goggles will help you avoid damage from such scattered light.

3. You should never keep your head at the same level as the laser beam.

4. Always keep the laser beam at or below chest level.

5. Laser beams should never be allowed to spread into the lab. Beam stops should
always be used to intercept laser beams.

6. Do not walk through laser beams.

The high voltage warning sign
The high voltage warning sign, which includes a lightning bolt arrow in a yellow triangle,
warns of voltage high enough to cause serious injury or death. In general, you should
stay away from equipment or areas of the lab marked with this symbol, though if you do
need to work close to such hazards, protective clothing and rubber gloves should be
worn.

1. Before using any high voltage equipment (voltages above 50Vrms ac and 50V
dc), make sure you get permission from your lab supervisor.

2. High voltage equipment should never be changed or modified in any way.

3. Always turn off a high voltage power supply when you are attaching it.

4. Use only one hand if you need to adjust any high voltage equipment. It's safest
to place your other hand either behind your back or in a pocket.

5. Make sure all electrical panels are unobstructed and easily accessible.

6. Whenever you can, avoid using extension cords.

the gloves safety sign

Look for the gloves safety symbol to identify when hand protection should be worn for
handling hazardous materials, even in small quantities. It is important to choose the
appropriate type of glove for the hazard present, such as chemical resistant gloves, heat
resistant gloves, etc. Be aware that no chemical resistant glove protects against all
chemical hazards.. Be aware that some materials may cause reactions in some workers
such as allergies to latex. Make sure the gloves fit properly.

The laboratory boots sign

The laboratory boots required safety symbol indicates when street shoes are not
adequate for certain lab-related tasks. Chemical resistant overshoes or boots should be
used to avoid possible exposure to corrosive chemicals or large quantities of solvents or
water that might penetrate normal footwear. Specialized laboratory footwear is designed
for specific applications and settings.

The protective clothing sign

The protective clothing safety symbol indicates that a lab coat or other protective
clothing needs to be worn. There are several types of lab coats for different types of
protection. Cotton protects against flying objects, sharp or rough edges, and is usually
treated with a fire retardant. Since many synthetic fabrics can adhere to skin when
burning, cotton is the most preferred laboratory clothing fabric. Wool protects against
splashes of molten materials, small quantities of acid, and small flames. Synthetic fibers
protect against sparks and infrared or ultraviolet radiation. Aluminized and reflective
clothing protect against radiant heat.

1. Always tie back hair that is chin-length or longer.

2. Make sure that loose clothing or dangling jewelry is secured, or avoid wearing it
in the first place.

3. Never wear sandals or other open-toed shoes in the lab. Footwear should always
cover the foot completely.

4. Never wear shorts or skirts in the lab.

5. When working with Bunsen burners, lighted splints, matches, etc., acrylic nails
are not allowed.

The eye protection safety sign

The eye protection safety sign indicates there is the possibility of chemical,
environmental, radiological, or mechanical irritants and hazards in the laboratory. Eye
shields, also called safety glasses, goggles, or spectacles, not only provide protection
against flying debris and chemical splashes in the lab, but may also protect against
visible and near visible light or radiation from UV rays, depending on the lens material.
The most popular lens material for lab safety eyewear is polycarbonate. This material
has less than half the weight of glass, making the eyewear more comfortable to wear.
Modern eye shield designs offer anti-slip nose bridges, anti-fog lenses, and coatings,
which make them resistant to acids, caustics, and hydrocarbons.

1. When working with equipment, hazardous materials, glassware, heat, and/or

chemicals, always wear face shields or safety glasses.

2. When handling any toxic or hazardous agent, always wear the appropriate
gloves.

3. When performing laboratory experiments, you should always wear a smock or lab
coat.

4. Before leaving the lab or eating, always wash your hands.

5. After performing an experiment, you should always wash your hands with soap
and water.

6. When using lab equipment and chemicals, be sure to keep your hands away from
your body, mouth, eyes, and face.

Hand washing sign

Hand washing is a primary safeguard against inadvertent exposure to toxic chemicals or
biological agents. The wash hands safety sign lets lab personnel know to wash their
hands after removing soiled protective clothing, before leaving the laboratory, and before
eating, drinking, smoking, or using a rest room. Workers should also wash their hands
periodically during the day at intervals dictated by the nature of their work. Wash with
soap and running water, with hands held downward to flush the contamination off the
hands. Turn the tap off with a clean paper towel to prevent recontamination, and dry
hands with clean towels.

Laboratory housekeeping rules also apply to most facilities and deal with the basic
upkeep, tidiness, and maintenance of a safe laboratory.

1. Always keep your work area(s) tidy and clean.

2. Make sure that all eye wash stations, emergency showers, fire extinguishers, and
exits are always unobstructed and accessible.

3. Only materials you require for your work should be kept in your work area.
Everything else should be stored safely out of the way.

4. Only lightweight items should be stored on top of cabinets; heavier items should
always be kept at the bottom.

5. Solids should always be kept out of the laboratory sink.

6. Any equipment that requires air flow or ventilation to prevent overheating should
always be kept clear.

A no food and drink safety sign

A no food and drink safety sign lets lab personnel know that eating and/or drinking where
hazardous materials are used, handled, or stored is not permitted, as such activity can
result in the accidental ingestion of hazardous materials (chemical, biological, and/or
radiological). Food or beverage containers may not be stored in the laboratory and
washed drinking cups, food containers, or eating utensils may not be dried on laboratory
drying racks. Refrigerators used for storage of research materials must not be used for
storage of food or beverages.

A fire extinguisher safety sign

Fires can happen anywhere, but lab fires can be even more dangerous due to Bunsen
burners, flammable liquids, research documents, laptops, and lab equipment that might
be present at any given time. Due to these unique circumstances, it’s important that
every lab be prepared with the correct fire extinguisher, inspection requirements, and
training. It is essential that the occupants of a laboratory are fully aware of the risks and
the appropriate extinguishing media. A fire extinguisher safety sign indicates the exact
location of a lab’s fire extinguisher.

A fire hose connection safety sign

A fire hose connection safety sign informs individuals of the location of hose connections
in their lab. Those locations should be clearly and accurately marked so they can easily
be found. The best safety practice is to post a fire hose location sign above the actual
equipment and then install directional versions of the fire hose location sign (which point
towards the direction to the equipment) wherever people cannot actually see a fire
hose’s location or its “above-the-equipment” sign.

The first aid station safety sign

The first aid station safety symbol indicates the availability of a first aid kit. The kit should
be easily accessible to other lab locations that belong to a particular group. The first aid
kit should contain the items recommended in the First Aid Kit Policy and Guidelines for
Laboratories. It should be inspected monthly to ensure that no items are missing and
that none of the remedies (e.g., saline solution, ointment) in the kit have expired.

The emergency assembly point sign

The emergency meeting point sign marks a safe place, either inside or outside the
building, where laboratory employees should meet in the event of an actual emergency
(chemical spill, fire, etc.) or emergency drill. In their safety training, employees should be
made aware of the location of the emergency point, or the meeting point closest to their
location if there are multiple meeting points. Such locations should be large enough to
accommodate all employees in the event of an evacuation. It’s always a good idea to
have a backup meeting point in case the primary one has been destroyed or is
inaccessible due to the emergency taking place.
The general warning lab safety sign
The general warning lab safety symbol consists of a black exclamation point in a yellow
triangle. As you’d expect, it is a general warning to laboratory staff that a hazard exists.
This symbol can be found on equipment, doorways, cupboards or other areas of the lab.
It provides a good reminder to work safely and check if you are not sure of the safety
procedures for certain equipment or areas in the lab.

Having a strong set of overall laboratory safety rules is essential to avoiding disasters in
the lab. Lab Manager recently scoured the safety policies of several laboratories to
determine some of the most common lab safety rules out there, to help you whether
you’re developing or updating a set of policies for your own lab. Of course, safety rules
are only effective when they are enforced, which is why strong lab management is so
important to a safe laboratory as well. Knowing the proper laboratory safety signs and
symbols is also important.

Here are the safety rules that most commonly came up in our look at several
laboratories’ policies:

The following are rules that relate to almost every laboratory and should be included in
most safety policies. They cover what you should know in the event of an emergency,
proper signage, safety equipment, safely using laboratory equipment, and basic
common-sense rules.

1. Be sure to read all fire alarm and safety signs and follow the instructions in the
event of an accident or emergency.

2. Ensure you are fully aware of your facility's/building's evacuation procedures.

3. Make sure you know where your lab's safety equipment—including first aid kit(s),
fire extinguishers, eye wash stations, and safety showers—is located and how to
properly use it.

4. Know emergency phone numbers to use to call for help in case of an emergency.

5. Lab areas containing carcinogens, radioisotopes, biohazards, and lasers should

be properly marked with the appropriate warning signs.

6. Open flames should never be used in the laboratory unless you have permission
from a qualified supervisor.

7. Make sure you are aware of where your lab's exits and fire alarms are located.
8. An area of 36" diameter must be kept clear at all times around all fire sprinkler
heads.

9. If there is a fire drill, be sure to turn off all electrical equipment and close all
containers.

10. Always work in properly-ventilated areas.

11. Do not chew gum, drink, or eat while working in the lab.

12. Laboratory glassware should never be utilized as food or beverage containers.

13. Each time you use glassware, be sure to check it for chips and cracks. Notify
your lab supervisor of any damaged glassware so it can be properly disposed of.

14. Never use lab equipment that you are not approved or trained by your supervisor
to operate.

15. If an instrument or piece of equipment fails during use, or isn't operating properly,
report the issue to a technician right away. Never try to repair an equipment problem
on your own.

16. If you are the last person to leave the lab, make sure to lock all the doors and
turn off all ignition sources.

17. Do not work alone in the lab.

18. Never leave an ongoing experiment unattended.

19. Never lift any glassware, solutions, or other types of apparatus above eye level.

20. Never smell or taste chemicals.

21. Do not pipette by mouth.

22. Make sure you always follow the proper procedures for disposing lab waste.

23. Report all injuries, accidents, and broken equipment or glass right away, even if
the incident seems small or unimportant.

24. If you have been injured, yell out immediately and as loud as you can to ensure
you get help.

25. In the event of a chemical splashing into your eye(s) or on your skin, immediately
flush the affected area(s) with running water for at least 20 minutes.
26. If you notice any unsafe conditions in the lab, let your supervisor know as soon
as possible.

The toxic material symbol

The toxic material symbol indicates the presence of substances that may harm an
individual if they enter the body. Possible routes of exposure to toxic materials are
through inhalation, skin contact, and ingestion. The hazards and health effects
associated with toxic materials depend on the specific material in question, the route of
exposure, and the concentration of the material.

1. Before you start an experiment, make sure you are fully aware of the hazards of
the materials you'll be using.

2. When refluxing, distilling, or transferring volatile liquids, always exercise extreme

caution.

3. Always pour chemicals from large containers to smaller ones.

4. Never pour chemicals that have been used back into the stock container.

5. Never tap flasks that are under vacuum.

6. Chemicals should never be mixed, measured, or heated in front of your face.

7. Water should not be poured into concentrated acid. Instead, pour acid slowly into
water while stirring constantly. In many cases, mixing acid with water is exothermic.

1. Every chemical should be treated as though it were dangerous.

2. Do not allow any solvent to come into contact with your skin.

3. All chemicals should always be clearly labeled with the name of the substance,
its concentration, the date it was received, and the name of the person responsible
for it.

4. Before removing any of the contents from a chemical bottle, read the label twice.

5. Never take more chemicals from a bottle than you need for your work.

6. Do not put unused chemicals back into their original container.

7. Chemicals or other materials should never be taken out of the laboratory.

8. Chemicals should never be mixed in sink drains.

9. Flammable and volatile chemicals should only be used in a fume hood.

10. If a chemical spill occurs, clean it up right away.

11. Ensure that all chemical waste is disposed of properly.

The high voltage warning symbol

The high voltage warning symbol, which includes a lightning bolt arrow in a yellow
triangle, warns of voltage high enough to cause serious injury or death. In general, you
should stay away from equipment or areas of the lab marked with this symbol, though if
you do need to work close to such hazards, protective clothing and rubber gloves should
be worn.

The electrical hazard safety symbol

The electrical hazard safety symbol, which typically includes a frayed wire and a hand
with a lightning bolt across it, indicates any electrical hazards in the lab. Such hazards
can cause anything from a mild tingling to death. With direct current, a person can detect
a "tingling" feeling at 1 mA and the median "let-go" threshold (the current at which one
cannot release the conductor) is 76 mA. For 60 Hertz alternating current, the values are
0.4 mA and 16 mA, respectively. If an electrical hazard is suspected, the device in
question should be disconnected immediately and the cause determined by a qualified
technician. Equipment should always be turned off and unplugged when any work is
being done on it.