Safety and ethics

Select Lesson

Exam Board

AQA trilogy combined

OCR gateway tripleOCR gateway combinedAQA tripleAQA trilogy combinedPearson Edexcel triplePearson Edexcel combined

Explainer Video

Tutor: Lex

Summary

​Safety and ethics

In a nutshell 

When conducting experiments it is extremely important that all hazards and ethical issues are considered and measures are put in place to ensure the experiment is safe. The safety measures required will change depending on the method, equipment and reagents and products that will be handled.



Definitions  

Key Word

Definition

Hazard
A hazard is something that may cause harm to a person or damage something, either straight away or later.
Risk
The chance that the hazard may cause harm.



Safety measures

When conducting an experiment there are some general rules that should be followed: 

  • Always wear a lab coat, gloves and protective goggles.
  • Do not touch chemicals with your hands, whether you are wearing gloves or not.
  • Always mix chemicals slowly and carefully, as reactions can occur.
  • Be careful when handling glassware.
  • Be careful when using hot equipment.

Using equipment in the correct way is a good way of lowering the risk of a hazard.


Example​

Using a clamp and clamp stand to hold glassware securely, reduces the risk of any glassware dropping.


In the following table, some hazards, risks and the appropriate safety measures are displayed:


Hazard

Risk

Safety Measure

Corrosive chemicals

Corrosive chemicals can burn the skin and eyes and sometimes burn through clothing.

Avoid skin contact and ingestion, by wearing lab coats, gloves and safety goggles.

Flammable chemicals

Flammable chemicals are at risk of igniting, when near an open flame.

Keep any flammable chemicals away from ignition sources.

Nature polluting chemicals

Nature polluting chemicals can cause harm to aquatic organisms or have long lasting environmental effects.

Dispose of these chemicals, responsibly.

Acutely toxic chemicals

Acutely toxic chemicals can have life threatening effects, sometimes even after limited exposure.

Avoid skin contact and ingestion, by wearing lab coats, gloves and safety goggles.

Compressed gas

Containers with compressed gas in them may explode when heated.

Compressed containers should not be heated.

Explosive chemicals

Explosive chemicals may explode as a consequence of heat, fire, friction or shock.

Keep explosive chemicals away from ignition sources and handle with care.

Oxidising chemicals

Oxidising chemicals can burn even in the absence of oxygen and can intensify fires.

Keep oxidising chemicals away from ignition sources.

Health hazard

Chemicals may cause serious long term health effects, after short term or long term exposure.

Avoid skin contact and ingestion, by wearing lab coats, gloves and safety goggles.

Moderate hazard

Chemicals may irritate the skin or be slightly toxic. 

​Avoid skin and eye contact.


Hazard signs

When you are working with certain hazards, you will see the following signs.


Biology; Practical skills; KS4 Year 10; Safety and ethics
Biology; Practical skills; KS4 Year 10; Safety and ethics
Biology; Practical skills; KS4 Year 10; Safety and ethics
Biology; Practical skills; KS4 Year 10; Safety and ethics
Biology; Practical skills; KS4 Year 10; Safety and ethics
Corrosive
Flammable
Nature polluting
Acutely toxic
Compressed gas

      

Biology; Practical skills; KS4 Year 10; Safety and ethics
Biology; Practical skills; KS4 Year 10; Safety and ethics
Biology; Practical skills; KS4 Year 10; Safety and ethics
Biology; Practical skills; KS4 Year 10; Safety and ethics
Explosive
Oxidising
Health hazard
Moderate hazard



Ethical issues 

Some experiments might involve the use of organisms, if so, there are ethical considerations that need to be looked at:

  • Animals should be handled with care.
  • If wild animals are captured, they must be returned to their habitat once the experiment is complete.
  • Humans involved in the experiment should be happy to do so.   
Read more

Learn with Basics

Length:
Hazards, risks and precautions

Hazards, risks and precautions

Evaluating risks and hazards

Evaluating risks and hazards

Jump Ahead

Safety and ethics

Safety and ethics

Final Test

Create an account to complete the exercises

FAQs - Frequently Asked Questions

What protective clothing should always be worn in a laboratory?

What does risk mean?

What does hazard mean?