1. DEL MAR COLLEGE
Department of Natural Sciences
LABORATORY SAFETY PROCEDURES & GUIDELINES
A Pre-Lab Course
24-Hour Emergency Number:
DMC Security Office 361 / 698-1199

2. INSTRUCTIONS
• Study the information in each module.
• Take the quiz following each module.
• You must score 100% on each quiz to stay
registered in the class. You may take the quiz
as many times as needed to achieve 100%.

3. TABLE OF CONTENTS
Topic Module
General Rules and Regulations 1
Chemical Safety 2
Biohazard Safety 3
Emergency Equipment & Procedures 4
Field Trip Safety 5

4. MODULE 4
EMERGENCY
EQUIPMENT AND
PROCEDURES

5. What you will learn in this Module
Emergency Procedures
● What actions you should take in the event of a laboratory
emergency
Emergency Equipment
● Location of the Emergency Equipment
● When to use the Emergency Equipment
● How to use the equipment
Evacuation Procedures
● When to Evacuate and what route to take
● What area to evacuate to and what you should do in the
assembly area
Reporting Requirements
● What reports you need to complete if you are involved in an
accident.

6. DMC SECURITY OFFICE
SERVICES (698-1199)
The DMC Security Office is open 24 hour per day. In the event
of an emergency it is important to notify the Security Office
because Security Officers will:
● Provide immediate on-site assistance until EMS arrives
● Ensure EMS has been notified by conducting a follow-up call to
911 dispatcher
● Direct EMS vehicles to location of emergency and assist EMS
personnel
● Ensure occupants evacuate building when needed
● Complete required reports
DMC Security Officers will also escort you to and from your car
upon request. Please call 698-1199 to schedule an escort.

7. Quick Reference Poster
• Posters listing emergency
information are located in
laboratories, classrooms and
lobbies in the Garcia Science
Building
• As you enter the lab for the
first time, review the Poster
and look for the quickest way
to get out of the lab and the
building in case of fire or
other emergency.

8. IN CASE OF AN:
EMERGENCY
● Turn off equipment and activate shut-off button
(located by the exit of each lab)
● Turn off burners and shut off gas
● Evacuate the lab if directed by your Instructor
● CALL DMC Security Office at 698-1199
● Go get help (if necessary)

9. IN CASE OF A:
MEDICAL EMERGENCY
Action should be taken in case of a life-threatening
situation such as:
● An unconscious person
● A person choking or not breathing
● Cardiac arrest or severe breathing
You should:
● Call or have someone call DMC Security at 698-1199
● Remain calm and assist Instructor in any way possible
● Do not move injured person unless there is danger of
further harm
● Fill out an Accident/Injury Report with the Instructor as
soon as possible.

10. IN CASE OF A:
CHEMICAL OR BIOHAZARD SPILL
In the case of a spill, students should:
• Remain calm
• Inform the Instructor
• Avoid breathing vapors from the spill
• Inform people in the immediate area of the spill
• Turn off all equipment (burners, centrifuges….)
At the direction of the Instructor:
• Contain the spill with spill pads
• Evacuate the lab and wait in the hall;
out of the way of emergency personnel
and equipment
• Call DMC Security Office at 698-1199

11. IN CASE OF:
CHEMICAL OR BIOHAZARD CONTACT
If your eyes or skin start burning or itching, you may
have been contaminated with chemicals or biohazards.
You should remove gloves, goggles and any clothing
from the affected area, then:
● Flush the area with water from the sink, emergency shower,
and/or eye wash station as described in the next slides.
● Inform the Instructor.
● Fill out an Accident/Injury Report with the Instructor as soon
as possible.
● If necessary seek medical attention.

12. EMERGENCY SHOWER
● Push the lever
● Stand under the water for at
least fifteen (15) minutes
● Remove contaminated
clothing
● Fill out an incident report
with the Instructor as soon
as possible.

13. EYE WASH STATION
• Pull the handle to open the
eyewash cabinet
• Place the face over the fountain
(eyes must be held wide open
with your fingers)
• Flush at least fifteen (15)
minutes
●Fill out an incident report with
the Instructor as soon as
possible.

14. FIRST AID KITS
• Each lab is equipped with a first aid kit
o Includes bandages, antiseptic,
antibacterial ointment, etc..
o Does NOT contain drugs of any kind
• Fill out an Accident/Injury
Report with the Instructor
as soon as possible.
• Seek medical care from
your physician if necessary

15. IN CASE OF: FIRE
1. REPORT
• Alert the Instructor
• Contact DMC Security at 698-1199 and
activate fire alarm
2. EXTINGUISH
• If the fire is small and;
• If you are trained
PASS Method for Using Extinguisher
PULL the retaining pin on the handle of the fire extinguisher. Stand back
8-10 feet from the fire.
AIM the nozzle of the extinguisher at the base of the fire.
SQUEEZE the handle of the extinguisher.
SWEEP the extinguishing agent at the base of the fire.

16. IN CASE OF:
FIRE (cont.)
3. EVACUATE
● Turn off equipment, gas and water you are using
● Know your evacuation route and assembly area
● Close doors to confine fire
● Activate the fire alarm (if necessary)
● Do not return to the lab until instructed to do so

17. FIRE SAFETY EQUIPMENT
Fire blankets are mainly used
to cover a person who is on
fire:
● Alert Instructor and Security
Office (698-1199) of the fire
● Remove Fire Blanket from the
container
● Carefully cover the person to
smother the fire

18. FIRE ALARMS
● Fire alarms are located by
every exit to the OUTSIDE of
the building
● Pull the handle on the fire
alarm to activate as you exit

19. EVACUATION ROUTE
• Refer to Emergency Quick Reference
Posters for evacuation route and
assembly area.
• The Instructor will identify the
evacuation route for the lab during
the first lab session – if not - ASK
them!!
• To ensure that the building is
unoccupied, you must remain in the
assembly area until released.
• Do not go back into the building or
leave the assembly area until given
permission to do so.

20. REMINDER
Please complete the quiz for
Module 4 before continuing.