Biological Sciences Safety Exam

P.A.S.S represents the steps needed for the proper use of a fire extinguisher. Identify the correct answer that clearly represents P.A.S.S.

1. Pull the pin. Place the fire extinguisher on the floor and do not squeeze the handle. 2. Aim the extinguisher at the base of the fire. 3. Squeeze the lever slowly and evenly. 4. Sweep the nozzle from side to side as you put out the fire.

Why is it important to conduct a safety briefing in each lab?

All of the above are reasons to conduct a safety briefing in each lab.

Chemicals or biological agents can be ingested into your body by:

All of the above.

When disposing of biological waste, one should:

All of the above.

When disposing of chemical waste, one should:

All of the above.

An MSDS can be obtained:

All of the locations are correct.

In the even of a small laboratory fire, one should:

Be familiar with the operation of the fire extinguisher, if possible, suffocate the fire with a watch glass or beaker by covering it, and let it burn out if is contained and possesses no danger to persons or property.

Why might eating drinking or gum chewing in the laboratory be dangerous?

Because it is bad laboratory practice and one might accidently ingest toxic chemicals or harmful biological agents.

The symbol below means the following:

Biohazard

The safety shower is used for:

Both large chemical spills on the body and clothing, and if you catch yourself on fire and are closer to it than the fire blanket.

Appropriate laboratory attire:

Casual dress, long pants, shirts with some sleeve, and comfortable closed-toe shoes to provide maximum skin protection, with optional laboratory coat.

In the event of a fire on personnel:

Do nut run: use the fire blanket, or roll on the floor, or use the safety shower, or douse with water. Remove smoldering clothing, cover to prevent shock, and call for immediate help.

What are the hazards associated with a substance with the following NFPA label: (4 blue, 0 red, 0 yellow)

Extremely toxic.

All chemical waste needs to be collected and professionally disposed of.

False.

Biological waste can be disposed of into the regular trash.

False.

While conducting an experiment, the next step involves pipetting water into a beaker however there are no pipette aids available. In this instance mouth pipetting water is safe and should be done.

False.

There is a container on the lab bench containing some unknown chemical. You should:

Find your lab supervisor and ask what to do. If you happen to be the lab supervisor, remove the container (noting its location), hunt down the offender, and try to get some idea what could be in the beaker so you know how to dispose of it properly.

Safety features of each lab include:

Fume hoods, eye wash station, shower, fire extinguisher, fire blanket, broken glass receptacle, three (3) exits, and a telephone.

What are the three ways that chemicals or biological hazards get inside your body?

Ingestion, inhalation, or by absorption through the skin.

MSDS is the acronym for:

Material Safety Data Sheet.

NFPA stands for:

National Fire Protection Association.

When is it safe to sit on the countertops?

Never.

You see someone in your lab engaged in an unsafe lab practice. You should:

Politely (at first, anyway) point out the possible danger and how to avoid it. If necessary, inform the lab instructor or lab manager.

Information found in an MSDS would be:

Product identification, hazard identification, health effects, first aid, firefighting measures, release measures, handling and storage, exposure controls, and regulatory information.

In the event of a large laboratory fire, one should:

Quickly assess the situation, immediately inform the instructor, evacuate the lab, meet in a designated area outside to be accounted for: do not leave the designated area until told to do so by either the police or the fire marshal; also, pull the fire alarm on the way out if somebody has not done so.

Ethanol is frequently used in the lav and has the following NFPA label. What are its chief hazards? (1 blue, 3 red, 0 yellow).

Quite flammable, not reactive, mild health hazard as laboratory chemicals go.

If you feel dizzy or sick while working near the fume hood you should:

Report your symptoms to whoever is responsible for that fume hood. It might be nothing, but on the other hand, maybe the hood wasn't functioning properly and you were exposed to something. Look up the MSDS for whatever was in the hood, too. Leave the lab, after contacting the proper person.

In the even of a chemical splash to the eye it is best to:

Rinse using the eye wash station for 15 minutes and seek medical attention.

Used gloves should be:

Single use only and thrown in the trash.

Long hair in the laboratory must be:

Tied back or kept out of the way with a hair band, hairpins, etc.

90% of safety is common sense.

True.

As of Spring 2011, Students must purchase safety glasses.

True.

Certain chemicals can be, and are, harmful to a developing fetus.

True.

Chemical vapors can travel through plastics and into food, drinks, medication, or chewing gum.

True.

Pregnant women must inform the instructor and be aware of the chemical hazards in the lab.

True.

Safety glasses must be worn at all times while in the laboratory.

True.

Students should wear gloves when working with microorganisms and biological samples such as blood or other body fluids as well as caustic or toxic chemicals.

True.

We need to control hazardous chemical waste in a manner that protects both human and environmental health.

True.

When you are finished using a bunsen burner you should:

Turn off the gas. Duh! (Make sure the handles are not bumping into each other.)

When you are finished working in the laboratory, you should:

Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water, and wipe the bench tops with 70% alcohol.

Good personal laboratory hygiene is:

Washing hands often; not eating, drinking, smoking or chewing gum; keeping foods outside in a designated area.

If you catch on fire you should:

You weren't working alone in the lab though, right?

You are really curious about chemistry and chemical reactions. You wonder what would happen if you mixed chemicals in a different way or introduced something new into a procedure. You should:

Your instructor should applaud you for your curiosity, imagination, and quest for innovation, but check with the instructor before altering a procedure.