Safety with glass

Many minor accidents in the laboratory are due to lack of care with glassware. You should follow these general precautions:

1. Wear eye protection at all times.
2. Don't use chipped or cracked glassware and examine the equipment for 'star' cracks - it may break under very slight strains and should be disposed of in the broken glassware bin. All laboratories will have a waste bin dedicated to broken glass. Never put broken glass into other bins.
3. If heating glassware, use a 'soft' Bunsen flame (half-open air vent) or 'wave' the flame around the heating point - this avoids creating a hot spot where cracks may start. Always use special heat-resistant gloves or rubber 'fingers' when handling hot glassware.
4. When clamping glassware ensure that the clamp has a cork, rubber or plastic 'cushion' in the jaws to prevent breakages. There must be no metal-glass contact and you must not over-tighten the clamp.
5. Take care when attaching rubber or plastic tubing to glass tubes, condensers, etc., and inserting thermometers and glass tubes into screwcap adapters. Always hold the tube and the 'hole' close together (Fig. 3.5) and wear thick gloves where appropriate.
6. Don't force bungs too firmly into bottles they can be difficult to remove. If you need a tight seal, use a screwtop bottle, with a rubber or plastic seal, Parafilm^® or ground-glass jointware, such as Quickfit^®.
7. Never carry large bottles (> 1L) by their necks - carry them in a bottle basket.
8. Dispose of broken glass thoroughly and with great care - use disposable paper towels, tongs or dust-pan and brush and thick gloves. Always put pieces of broken glass in the correct bin.