Five pieces of safety gear cover a home biology bench. Each one only works if it is on, in reach and used the right way.
Wear goggles whenever liquid, glass or a flame is on the bench. Look for Z87.1 molded into the frame, which marks eye protection tested to the ANSI standard.
Everyday glasses leave gaps at the sides and top. Goggles that seal around the eyes stop splashes from those directions, and many fit over prescription glasses.
Anti-fog lenses stay clear through a long session. Rinse the goggles with soap and water afterward and store them in a bag away from dust.
Nitrile resists punctures and many chemicals, and it avoids latex allergies. Change gloves when they tear, when they get contaminated, and before you touch your phone or a doorknob.
The outside of a used glove is the dirty side, so take gloves off without touching it with bare skin. These are the steps the CDC teaches.
A lab coat keeps stains, agar and chemicals off your clothes and skin. Wear it buttoned, with the sleeves down.
Take it off before you leave the bench area and wash it separately from other laundry.
A chemical in the eye needs flushing at once. The ANSI Z358.1 standard that workplaces follow calls for a hands-free station delivering flushing fluid for 15 minutes, within about 10 seconds of the hazard.
A home bench rarely has a plumbed station, so keep sealed eyewash bottles on the wall beside the bench. Use them on the way to a sink or shower, where you keep flushing with running water for the full 15 minutes.
An alcohol lamp, a hot plate and bottles of ethanol share the same bench. Keep a home extinguisher rated for flammable liquids and electrical fires mounted near the exit, where you can grab it on the way out.
Check the pressure gauge now and then. If a fire is bigger than a wastebasket or growing, leave and call 911.
No food or drinks on the bench. Label every bottle and tube with what it holds and the date. Tie back long hair near a flame. Wash your hands when you finish, even if you wore gloves.
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Box of 100 powder-free nitrile exam gloves with textured fingertips. Choose the size on the listing.
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