Ch 3: Safety Procedures and Hazards in Scientific Research
About This Chapter
Safety Procedures and Hazards in Scientific Research - Chapter Summary
Conducting scientific research, particularly in lab settings, requires strict adherence to safety standards and procedures. This chapter's video and text lessons will refresh your memory about the potential hazards of working in this field and the regulatory processes in place to prevent them. Our knowledgeable instructors discuss lab safety equipment, chemical storage and handling biological specimens. You will also take a look at health and safety regulations and the controversy over hazardous materials disposal. By the time you finish the chapter, you should be able to:
- Identify lab safety techniques
- List types of lab safety equipment
- Describe personal safety methods in labs
- Explain how to properly handle chemicals
- Understand how to safely work with biological specimens
- Discuss safety regulations set by OSHA
- Interpret Safety Data Sheets
- Recognize public safety concerns over hazardous waste disposal
To make studying safety procedures and hazards an engaging process, we offer short video and text lessons packed with key facts, terms, examples and graphics. The videos contain tags so that you can easily re-watch portions as necessary; our lessons also include transcripts. The self-assessment quizzes that follow the lessons are in multiple-choice format and allow you to test your comprehension of these topics.

1. Laboratory Safety Techniques: Protecting People and Equipment
Laboratory safety is not fun, but following the rules ensures that lab activities can be enjoyed by everyone. In this lesson, we cover some basic lab safety rules to follow that will help lab time be both safe and fun.

2. Standard Laboratory Safety Equipment
Even with proper precautions, lab accidents do happen. When they do, knowing what safety equipment is in your lab, where it is located, and how to use it can prevent further harm to both the lab and the people working in it.

3. Personal Safety Equipment for the Science Lab
Science labs are great places to explore and learn. But they're only as safe as the people who use them, so in this lesson, we'll discuss some of the ways that you can protect yourself and prevent personal harm in the event of a lab accident.

4. Safe Chemical Storage, Use & Disposal
An important part of lab safety involves the correct usage, storage, and disposal of chemicals. Lab safety is everyone's responsibility, so it's important that you know the proper procedures and protocols for using chemicals in the lab.

5. Working with Biological Specimens Safely in the Lab
Working with biological specimens can be interesting and rewarding. But we need to be careful when handling and disposing of these types of specimens because they do have the potential to do harm both in and out of the lab.

6. Health and Safety Regulations: OSHA
The workplace can be a dangerous place, and workers are injured and even killed on the job. In this lesson, you'll learn how the Occupational Safety and Health Administration works to minimize dangerous workplace conditions.

7. Understanding SDS/OSHA Labels on Chemicals & Supplies
Safety Data Sheets are an important component of safe lab work. In this lesson, we'll dissect an SDS to better understand its various components and see how they help keep you and everyone else safe in any lab setting.

8. Disposing of Hazardous Materials: Public Safety & Controversy
Hazardous materials come in all types and from many sources. Because they may be harmful to human health, it's important to dispose of them properly and safely. It's also due to this potential harm that both their use and disposal are controversial.
Earning College Credit
Did you know… We have over 160 college courses that prepare you to earn credit by exam that is accepted by over 1,500 colleges and universities. You can test out of the first two years of college and save thousands off your degree. Anyone can earn credit-by-exam regardless of age or education level.
To learn more, visit our Earning Credit Page
Transferring credit to the school of your choice
Not sure what college you want to attend yet? Study.com has thousands of articles about every imaginable degree, area of study and career path that can help you find the school that's right for you.
Other Chapters
Other chapters within the AEPA Biology (NT305): Practice & Study Guide course
- The History and Nature of Science
- Principles and Procedures of Scientific Inquiry
- Interdisciplinary Relationships in Science
- Basics of Chemistry
- Overview of Chemical Bonds and Reactions
- Structure and Function of Macromolecules
- How Enzymes Work
- Cell Biology
- Basics of Metabolic Biochemistry
- Overview of Cell Division
- Process of DNA Replication
- The Transcription and Translation Process
- Biology of Genetics
- Basics of Gene Mutations
- The Origin and History of Life On Earth
- Mechanisms of Biological Evolution
- Organism Classification & Phylogenesis
- Plant Biology
- Plant Reproduction and Growth
- Requirements of Biological Systems
- Animal Reproduction and Development
- Male Reproductive System
- Female Reproductive System
- Physiology I: The Circulatory, Respiratory, Digestive, Excretory, and Musculoskeletal Systems
- Physiology II: The Nervous, Immune, and Endocrine Systems
- Biology: Diseases & Prevention
- Cardiovascular Disorders
- Neurological Disorders
- Common Human Disorders
- Populations and Biological Communities
- Overview of Animal Behavior
- Ecosystems and Biomes
- Biochemical Cycles
- Human Activity and the Biosphere
- Population and the Environment
- AEPA Biology Flashcards