About this video

• Video Title: Lab Techniques & Safety: Crash Course Chemistry #21
• Channel: CrashCourse
• Speakers: Hank Green
• Duration: 00:09:03

Overview

This video from Crash Course Chemistry, hosted by Hank Green, provides essential guidance on laboratory safety and proper techniques. It covers personal protective equipment, handling hazardous materials, waste disposal, and best practices to avoid common injuries and accidents in a chemistry lab.

Key takeaways

• Personal Safety: Always tie up long hair, wear appropriate clothing (long sleeves, long pants), closed-toed shoes, and socks. Never wear sandals or revealing clothing.
• Eye Protection: Always wear safety goggles; regular glasses are not sufficient. Use the eyewash station immediately if anything irritates or enters your eyes.
• Hazardous Materials: Understand the HazMat diamond symbols (blue for health, red for flammability, yellow for reactivity, rated 0-4) and consult Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) for chemical information and first aid. Assume most lab liquids are flammable.
• Fume Hoods: Use fume hoods for experiments that produce noxious fumes, ensuring they are turned on and the sash is at the correct height for proper ventilation.
• Safe Handling: Never eat or drink in the lab. Avoid working alone with hazardous materials or machinery. Use proper tools for pipetting and pouring; commit to pouring to avoid dribbling.
• Injury Prevention: Clean up broken glass with a broom and dustpan, not hands, and dispose of it in a designated bin. Be extremely careful when inserting glass rods or tubing into stoppers, using lubricant and holding the item close to the stopper.
• Waste Disposal: Do not dump chemicals into the sink unless explicitly approved. Understand how to dispose of chemicals properly in designated waste containers to avoid dangerous reactions.
• Emergency Preparedness: Know the location of safety equipment like eyewash stations and safety showers. Report any spills or exposures to your instructor immediately.

Lab Techniques & Safety: Crash Course Chemistry #21

I. Introduction & Personal Anecdote

• Labs can be great, but also dangerous.
• Lessons Learned:
  • Don't wash out vials you don't know.
  • Don't punch dispensers out of frustration (you might get hurt!).

II. Basic Safety Gear & Attire

• Hair: MUST be tied up if long. Catches fire, blocks vision, droops into experiments.
• Clothing:
  • Cover your body; long sleeves recommended.
  • NO SANDALS. Ever.
  • Long pants, closed-toed shoes, socks.
  • No exposed midriffs or revealing clothing.
• Eyes:
  • ALWAYS wear eye protection (goggles, not just glasses).
  • If eyes tingle or hurt, use the eyewash station. (It stings but is better than blindness!)

III. Hazardous Materials & Identification

• General Rules:
  • DO NOT eat or drink in the lab. (Accidents happen, leading to embarrassing obituaries.)
  • Avoid working alone, especially with dangerous materials/machinery.
• HazMat Diamond:
  • Purpose: Provides quick info about a chemical's risks.
  • Colors & Ratings (0-4):
    • Blue (Health): 0 = No big deal, 4 = Deadly exposure.
    • Red (Flammability): 0 = No big deal, 4 = Very flammable/gaseous.
    • Yellow (Reactivity): 0 = No big deal, 4 = Explodes at room temp.
  • Bottom Section: Extra info (e.g., radioactive, reacts with water).
• MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet):
  • Detailed info on chemical hazards and treatment.
  • Can be found online by Googling "MSDS [chemical name]".
  • ALWAYS READ THE MSDS BEFORE USE.
• General Assumption: Most non-water liquids in a lab are flammable.

IV. Using Lab Equipment Safely

• Fume Hood:
  • Function: Sucks out fumes so you don't breathe them.
  • How to Use:
    1. Turn it ON (vent & blower).
    2. Keep the sash (window) at the correct level (marked indicator). Too high = poor ventilation.
• Smelling Chemicals: Don't stick your face in it. WAFT the scent towards you.
• Pipetting:
  • NEVER pipette by mouth. Use a pipette bulb or mechanical pipettor.
  • (Dr. Heiko Langner has had accidents doing this!)
• Pouring Liquids:
  • COMMIT to the pour. Don't go slow and nervous.
  • Pouring slowly breaks surface tension and causes dribbling. Pour quickly to break surface tension.

V. Common Injuries & Prevention

• Cuts & Punctures:
  • Most common from cleaning broken glass.
  • Clean-up: Use a BROOM and DUSTPAN, not your hands. Dispose in a SHARPS bin.
  • Inserting Glass: VERY DANGEROUS.
    • When forcing glass rod/tubing through a stopper:
      • Use lubricant (water, Vaseline).
      • Hold glass CLOSE to the stopper.
      • Ensure hand is NOT on the other side of the stopper.
      • DO NOT do this: [visual demonstration of incorrect way]
      • DO THIS: [visual demonstration of correct way]
• Chemical Spills on Body:
  • If a significant amount of hazardous material spills on pants, REMOVE THEM IMMEDIATELY (modesty is secondary to safety).
  • Go to the Safety Shower (dumps a lot of water quickly).

VI. Chemical Disposal

• General Rule: Do NOT dump chemicals down the sink unless explicitly approved by chemical safety officer.
• Dilution: "Dilution is the solution to pollution" for some common acids/bases (they become neutralized ions). Can be flushed with lots of water.
• Environmental Impact: Some chemicals can harm the environment if flushed.
• Waste Containers:
  • Use the CORRECT waste container for specific solvents/reagents.
  • Mixing incompatible waste can cause dangerous reactions.
• Before You Start: ALWAYS know the proper disposal method for a chemical BEFORE you use it.

VII. Final Safety Reminder

• If you spill something or have an accident, even if unsure of severity, TELL YOUR INSTRUCTOR. (Long-term effects can be serious).
• Aprons: Provide extra protection for clothes/skin, easy to remove.

Episode Credits: Written by Hank Green; Edited by Blake de Pastino; Consultant: Dr. Heiko Langner; Filmed at the University of Montana.