Lab Safety Rules for Middle School

When students get bored with the grinding hours of theory classes, the practical sessions bring respite to them. Laboratory is the place where students actually gain a hands-on experience about the lessons they have learned.

Middle school students are allowed to perform the basic experiments of different branches of science, mainly physics, chemistry, and biology. Lab safety rules are mainly concerned with personal safety and proper handling of instruments to avoid accidents inside the lab. They offer complete guidance to students before starting an experiment.

The school safety rules for labs are usually structured by the management, and students must carry them out stringently. In most of the schools, there's a separate lab assistant who gives safety tips in details, and this is necessary because students will be having a new experience inside the lab.

Since you are handling the instruments or the chemicals for the first time, you might be curious to try something new. Such activities often lead to lab hazards. So, avoid any form of horseplay.

Carefully read the instructions mentioned in the protocols before you start performing. Listen to the instructions given by your teachers in order to start the experiment in the correct process and get exact results.

There are different types of instruments inside a science lab. Physics labs are equipped with various electrical gadgets to perform experiments with electricity, current, gas, magnetism, etc. These instruments are extremely sophisticated and need a safe operation. Perform the experiments under the supervision of your guide.

Maintain adequate hygiene inside a biology lab to avoid contamination. Always wear gloves and handle the samples. Avoid touching the samples with bare hands. Heated vessels should always be handled with tongs. Glass vessels, test tubes, slides etc. must be handled carefully to avoid breakage. Do not apply too much pressure while cleaning.

Dispose off the used materials, broken utensils and other scraps into the dustbins. You should not scatter things on the floor.

You should know the correct operation technique of expensive instruments like centrifuge, microscope and the UV chamber.

Fire-safety is vital to avoid burns and explosions. Turn off the gas chambers once your experiments are over. You should be aware of the location of the fire extinguisher and should know the working of fire safety instruments.

Make yourself thorough with the lab safety rules before entering the lab.

All students are enthusiastic to perform an experiment for the first time. It's a chance to explore your intelligence and know your capabilities. Follow the guidelines for your safety and also to maintain hygiene inside the lab. Perform the experiments carefully and fetch accurate results. All the best.