Safety

  Go To Electrical Shock Hazards :

Go To Optical Eye Safety :

Go To Example Safety Quiz :

Emergency and Information Telephone Numbers:
 An ambulance should be called in the event of any accident requiring medical assistance

  • Emergency Ambulance or Fire (from Missouri S&T telephone): 9-91
  • Missouri S&T Police: 341-4300 or (from Missouri S&T telephone) 4300
  • Missouri S&T Safety: 341-4305 or (from Missouri S&T telephone) 4305

Safety Rules and Suggestions:

  1. Smoking, eating, drinking, or "horseplay" are strictly forbidden in the laboratory.

  2. Haste and inattention cause many accidents. Work deliberately and carefully. Plan your activities prior to the laboratory, familiarize yourself with equipment prior to actual operation, and verify your work as you progress.

  3. Report potential hazards and suspected faulty equipment to the instructor immediately. In particular, do not attempt to perform any diagnosis, maintenance, or repairs yourself. Removing or opening the case from any apparatus may expose parts at line voltage.

  4. Minimize exposure to live circuits. Connect to the source of power as the last step when wiring a circuit. Disconnect from the power source as the first step when disassembling a circuit.

  5. Exercise caution when adjusting energized circuits. All powered circuits are dangerous.
  • Use only one hand as far as practical, keeping the other hand disengaged from circuitry. Do not permit any part of your body to complete a circuit.
  • Understand handling dangers. Keep watches, rings, and other metallic objects out of contact with live parts. Wet, sweaty, or bleeding hands increase shock hazard
  • Note exposed wires and other potential shock hazards.
  1. Close switches quickly and positively. Do not grope for switch handles with your head turned away!

  2. Do not use damaged or misapplied parts. Wires with poor insulation, setscrews that are loose, and insecure connections that may come apart are hazards. Safety devices, coverings, interlocks, etc. must be operational at all times.

  3. Do not use tools or instruments for other than their original purpose.

  4. Do not touch or place materials next to surfaces that heat up during normal operation.

  5. Do not look directly into a laser beam or an optical fiber. Use a beam stop and avoid specular (mirror-like) reflections. The beam paths must be kept below eye level at all times. Radiation sources can cause permanent damage to your eyes.