Synthetic Chemistry Lab C – Level 1 – 360° Interactive Exercise

Welcome to a synthetic chemistry lab health and safety 360° “bad lab” exercise. This interactive activity allows you to progress through three levels.

This is level 1. Move through the scene and try to identify as many health and safety hazards, or examples of poor practice, as you can. Look for the key within the scene and this will allow you to progress to the next level (see right). More guidance on each level further below.

General guidance on the levels: Each level is slightly different with decreasing levels of guidance as you progress. All levels offer points for discussion between learners.

Level 1: You will see 3 or 4 images within the scene without any hints. As you progress, you will see the same images containing blue numbered dots to highlight the areas with health and safety issues. The blue numbered dots correspond to the hint button below.

Level 2: Same as level 1 except the blue dots do not contain any numbers and there is no additional hints.

Level 3: The scene presented offers no specific hints except to indicate the extent of health and safety issues.

1. Place broken glass into a glass bin.
2. Gloves should not be kept on the edge of the fume hood.
3. This flask should be clamped if in use, or stored in the correct place if not.
4. Solvents should be returned to the correct storage after use.
5. Food or drink should not be consumed within a lab.
6. Phones should not be used within the lab. Lab coats should also be fastened.
7. These tubes should be returned to the box as they are a trip hazard.
8. This container should have a lid .
9. Rotary evaporator traps should be emptied after use.
10
. General mess in the fume hood should be cleaned up.
11. Solids spilled on the stirrer hotplate should be cleaned immediately.
12. This container should have a lid and should not be behind the red working line.

 

Additional activity: Can you spot any additional synthetic chemistry lab health and safety issues that have not been highlighted?

Disclaimer: We have deliberately introduced health and safety issues into these synthetic chemistry lab scenes for educational purposes.  We do not condone bad lab practice, but allowing learners to see such scenarios can help develop hazard perception skills and a general appreciation of health and safety. We have not highlighted all hazards in these exercises. Best practice may differ in your institution so please discuss this with a local instructor.

Which key did you spot in the scene? Select the correct option below to access level 2.

 

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