College of Science

Security and Safety Manual in the Faculty of Science

. 1The purpose of the guide

The safety guide for the laboratories and workshops of the Faculty of Science serves as an essential reference aimed at providing a safe educational and practical environment for all students, faculty members, technicians, and staff, as well as protecting lives and property from potential hazards. The guide emphasizes that safety is a shared responsibility, and achieving it requires the cooperation of all personnel, adherence to instructions and preventive procedures, and the promotion of a culture of security and safety within all facilities of the faculty. It also seeks to familiarize faculty members with emergency plans and train them on the proper use of safety equipment and the effective handling of risks.

. 2Training and Awareness

 The importance of continuous training, which includes:

• Safety and fire prevention.
• Knowing how to report incidents and hazards.
• Use of firefighting equipment.
• Knowing emergency exits and evacuation routes.
• Prevention of chemical, electrical, and physical hazards
• As the guide also emphasizes the importance of immediately reporting incidents or emergencies, so that security and safety teams can respond quickly and take appropriate action to control the hazard or request necessary assistance.

. 3Emergency and Fire Procedures

In the event of a fire, you must:

• Evacuation of vulnerable persons.
• Activate the alarm and report the fire.
• Use the extinguisher only if the fire is small and it is safe to do so.
• Do not use elevators.
• Knowing the emergency exits in advance.
• Always prioritize people's safety.
• Identifying assembly points and warning methods.

 The primary objective in the event of a fire or serious accident is to protect lives first, and then to minimize material losses as much as possible. Successful handling of emergencies requires calmness, avoiding putting oneself in danger, quickly reporting the incident, and following established instructions. Additionally, corridors or emergency exits should not be blocked, and easy access to firefighting equipment and first aid must be maintained. Prior evacuation training and familiarity with responsibilities during emergencies are among the most important ways to reduce confusion and losses when a real accident occurs.

. 4General safety rules

One of the most important rules:

• Immediate reporting of hazards, incidents, and injuries.
• Follow approved official procedures.
• Use the appropriate equipment for the job.
• Safe disposal of waste and chemical materials.
• Observe the warning signs.
• Do not overload electrical circuits.
• Keep the hallways free of obstacles and wires.
• And cleaning the workplace and tools and returning them to their places after finishing.
•  Hands must also be washed thoroughly with soap and water after conducting experiments and before leaving the laboratory.
• Eating or drinking is prohibited while handling chemicals.
•  It is also forbidden to smell or taste chemicals, or to use mouth pipettes.
•  Substances must not be mixed or added to one another without knowing the expected reaction characteristics, as some reactions may cause an explosion, fire, or the release of toxic fumes and gases.
•  Also, ignition sources should be kept away from flammable materials, and care must be taken to provide adequate ventilation when using chemicals or cleaning tools.

. 5Laboratory safety

Must:

• Read the warning labels on chemicals.
• Inability to smell or taste chemicals.
• Wash hands after finishing work.
• Use a fume hood when handling hazardous gases and vapors.
• Wear a coat, gloves, goggles, and masks when necessary.
• Do not use mouth pipetting.
• Do not eat or drink inside the laboratory.
• No smoking.
• Maintain order and do not block emergency exits.
• And cleaning the workplace and tools and returning them to their places after finishing.
• Eating or drinking is prohibited while handling chemicals.
•  Substances must not be mixed or added to one another without knowing the expected reaction characteristics, as some reactions may cause an explosion, fire, or the release of toxic fumes and gases.
•  Also, ignition sources should be kept away from flammable materials, and care must be taken to provide adequate ventilation when using chemicals or cleaning tools.

. 6Personal protective equipment

They include protective eyewear, face shields, masks, gloves, helmets, and coats. They do not completely prevent accidents, but they reduce the severity of injuries. Therefore, they must be chosen according to the nature of the hazard and the work, along with means of facial and respiratory protection when needed, and appropriate protective footwear.

Gloves are used to protect the hands from chemicals and certain electrical hazards, and their type must be chosen in accordance with the nature of the material or work. Special types of gloves are also used when handling hot materials.

 Feet must also be protected with appropriate footwear, especially in areas where there is a potential for chemical spills or falling objects. Protective equipment does not mean dispensing with other safety procedures, but rather represents the last line of defense to reduce the likelihood and severity of injury.

7. Safety when handling chemicals

The laboratory user must read chemical labels and recognize their hazards before use. They should also refer to the material safety data sheets, which include information on the identity of the substance, its components, potential health hazards, the effects of inhalation, ingestion, or skin and eye contact, first aid, firefighting methods, spill handling procedures, storage conditions, personal protective equipment, and proper ventilation.

Chemicals must be stored properly, and substances with unknown properties must not be used or mixed. Toxic, volatile, or flammable materials should also be handled with caution, providing adequate ventilation and wearing appropriate protective equipment. The manual recommends using the safest heating methods and avoiding flame sources near flammable materials.

8. Waste disposal

Emphasis must be placed on disposing of waste in an organized and safe manner, and avoiding the random mixing of different types of waste. Metals, glass, and plastic materials should each be collected in separate containers, and the nature of chemical solutions and their acidity levels must be taken into account before disposal. Proper waste segregation helps prevent dangerous reactions, pollution, and injuries, and preserves the safety of workers and the environment.

9. Biosafety in Biological Laboratories and Sample Handling

When handling biological samples, strict preventive procedures must be followed to prevent the transmission of contamination or infection. Hands must be washed before collecting samples, gloves must be worn when drawing or handling blood samples, procedures to prevent contamination must be followed, and the exterior of the containers must be kept clean and closed tightly..

. 10Electrical safety

Electrical outlets and circuits should not be overloaded, wires should not be run across the floor, grounded sockets should be used, and any overheating or malfunction in wiring or electrical appliances should be reported.

11.Safety in computer laboratories

The guide also focuses on occupational health and safety in computer labs, recommending the use of comfortable chairs and proper sitting posture to avoid back pain, and positioning the hand, wrist, and forearm comfortably while typing. It is also necessary to provide adequate lighting and control computer screen brightness to reduce eye strain, and to take regular breaks to look at distant objects. In addition, the safety of devices and electrical connections must be maintained and organized in a safe manner.

.12The evacuation

The evacuation plan aims to transfer people from danger zones to safe places and protect lives and property. Emergency exits and assembly points must be identified, and periodic evacuation training should be conducted, while avoiding the use of elevators during emergencies.