To ensure safety in a chemistry lab, there are many imperative rules that must be abided by all individuals present. Perhaps the most critical of these is to shower before entering the lab as well as after your work there is complete. You are probably asking yourself why this ruling is so significant. The reason that is the answer is because there are a lot of different chemicals in the lab that can harm your skin and all. These chemicals can cling to your skin, and taking a shower will wash away potentially toxic contaminants if they were on your skin.
This is not a matter of just hopping in the shower for a quick rinse. This is why proper showering techniques are so vital to ensure you wash away every trace of the chemicals. It means you use soap to wash your entire body, not just a spot or a little. You must lather well and rinse well with water. You should give particular attention to your hands, arms and any other areas that may have gotten exposed to chemicals. A good scrub of these areas protects you from potentially harmful materials.
More benefits of using the shower in the chemistry lab First off, it protects you against harmful chemicals that can lead to skin irritation or other health issues. Second, it helps maintain a clean lab environment. It is one more way to prevent any chemicals from leaving the lab attached to your clothing or skin when you shower. This is an extremely important part of keeping the lab safe for all lab users. Keeping chemicals from spreading helps protect your classmates and teachers who use the lab for things like preparation, testing, and research.
Now that you know why showering in the chemistry lab is something you want to take seriously, let’s cover how it should properly be done. The first step is to locate the area in the lab that is set off for showers. This space should contain all of the essentials, such as soap, shampoo and an ample supply of clean towels. When it’s time for a shower, immediately strip off all your clothes and place them in a safe area outside the shower area.
Once in the shower, you will turn on the water and soak your entire body from head to toe. Once wet, apply soap to hands and rub all over the body for a good lather. Make sure you wash areas that may have gotten into contact with chemicals, such as your hands, arms and even your face if necessary. Once you have scrubbed well, rinse your body completely so that there is no soap and no chemicals left on your body. After you finish rinsing, use a clean towel to dry and change into new lab clothes before entering the lab again.
NOTE: If you are a student or researcher working in a chemistry laboratory, it is good practice for you to know the location and proper use of the shower. You should also understand why you need to take a shower before you begin work and after you finish. Knowing how important it is to shower takes care of you, reduces the risk for others. A properly bathed person is less likely to smell bad and/or spread bacteria to the rest of us while we are trying to learn cool stuff from our awesome teachers.
