What is a project?

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At school and university, a project is a research assignment given to a student which generally requires a larger amount of effort and more independent work than is involved in a normal essay assignment. It requires students to undertake their own fact-finding and analysis, either from library/internet research or from gathering data empirically. The written report that comes from the project is usually in the form of a dissertation, which will contain sections on the project's inception, methods of inquiry, analysis, findings and conclusions.

Lab Safety

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Standards of Student Conduct in the Laboratory and in the Field

1. Conduct yourself in a responsible manner at all times in the laboratory. Frivolous activities, mischievous behaviour, throwing items, and conducting pranks are prohibited.

2. Lab and safety information and procedures must be read ahead of time. All verbal and written instructions shall be followed in carrying out the activity or investigation.

3. Eating, drinking, gum chewing, applying cosmetics, manipulating contact lenses, and
other unsafe activities are not permitted in the laboratory.

4. Working in the laboratory without the instructor present is prohibited.

5. Unauthorized activities or investigations are prohibited. Unsupervised work is not
permitted.

6. Entering preparation or chemical storage areas is prohibited at all times.

7. Removing chemicals or equipment from the laboratory is prohibited unless authorized
by the instructor.

Personal Safety

8. ANSI Z87.1 approved chemical splash goggles or safety glasses, as appropriate or
directed by your instructor, shall be worn at all times in the laboratory or field, including pre-laboratory work and clean-up, unless the instructor specifically states that the activity does not require the use of chemical splash goggles or safety glasses.

9. When an activity requires the use of laboratory aprons, the apron shall be appropriate
to the size of the student and the hazard associated with the activity or investigation.
The apron shall remain tied throughout the activity or investigation.

10. All accidents, chemical spills, and injuries must be reported immediately to the
instructor, no matter how trivial they may seem at the time. Follow your instructor’s
directions for immediate treatment.

11. Dress appropriately for laboratory work by protecting your body with clothing and
shoes. This means that you should use hair ties to tie back long hair and tuck into
the collar. Do not wear loose or baggy clothing or dangling jewelry on laboratory
days. Acrylic nails are also a safety hazard near heat sources and should not be used.
Sandals or open-toed shoes are not to be worn during any lab activities. Refer to prelab
instructions. If in doubt, ask!

12. Know the location of all safety equipment in the room. This includes eye wash
stations, the deluge shower, fire extinguishers, the fume hood, and the safety blanket.
Know the location of emergency master electric and gas shut offs and exits.

13. Certain classrooms may have living organisms including plants in aquaria or
other containers. Students must not handle organisms without specific instructor
authorization. Wash your hands with soap and water after handling organisms and
plants.

14. When an activity or investigation requires the use of laboratory gloves for hand protection, the gloves shall be appropriate for the hazard and worn throughout the activity.

Specific Safety Precautions Involving Chemicals and Lab Equipment

15. Avoid inhaling in fumes that may be generated during an activity or investigation.

16. Never fill pipettes by mouth suction. Always use the suction bulbs or pumps.

17. Do not force glass tubing into rubber stoppers. Use glycerin as a lubricant and hold
the tubing with a towel as you ease the glass into the stopper.

18. Proper procedures shall be followed when using any heating or flame producing
device especially gas burners. Never leave a flame unattended.

19. Remember that hot glass looks the same as cold glass. After heating, glass remains
hot for a very long time. Determine if an object is hot by placing your hand close to
the object but do not touch it.

20. Should a fire drill or other evacuation emergency occur during an investigation or
activity, make sure you turn off all gas burners and electrical equipment and exit
the room as directed.

21. Always read the reagent bottle labels twice before you use the reagent. Be certain
the chemical you use is the correct one.

22. Replace the top on any reagent bottle as soon as you have finished using it and
return the reagent to the designated location.

23. Do not return unused chemicals to the reagent container. Follow the instructor’s
directions for the storage or disposal of these materials.

Standards For Maintaining a Safer Laboratory Environment

24. Backpacks and books are to remain in an area designated by the instructor and
shall not be brought into the laboratory area.

25. Never sit on laboratory tables.

26. Work areas should be kept clean and neat at all times. Work surfaces are to be
cleaned at the end of each laboratory or activity.

27. Solid chemicals, metals, matches, filter papers, broken glass, and other materials
designated by the instructor are to be deposited in the proper waste containers, not in the sink. Follow your instructor’s directions for disposal of waste.

28. Sinks are to be used for the disposal of water and those solutions designated by
the instructor. Other solutions must be placed in the designated waste disposal
containers.

29. Glassware is to be washed with hot, soapy water and scrubbed with the appropriate
type and sized brush, rinsed, dried, and returned to its original location.

30. Goggles are to be worn during the activity or investigation, clean up, and through
hand washing.