Working with Glassware

Broken glass is one of the most common causes of laboratory injuries. Cuts from forcing glass tubing into stoppers or plastic tubing are the most frequent types of laboratory accident.

To reduce the chance of cuts or punctures, inspect integrity glassware prior to each use.  Look for chips, cracks, scratches, or star cracks.

Some procedures to reduce the risk of injury are:

  • Never use laboratory glassware to serve food or drinks.
  • Use care in handling and storing glassware to avoid damaging it.
  • Discard or repair any chipped or cracked items.
  • Leave at least 10% air space in containers with positive closures.
  • When possible, substitute plastic or metal connectors for glass connectors.
  • Thoroughly clean and decontaminate glassware after each use.
  • When inserting glass tubing into rubber stoppers, corks, or tubing:
    • Use adequate hand protection (e.g., gloves or a towel)
    • Lubricate the tubing
    • Hold hands close together to minimize movement if the glass breaks.
  • Use thick-walled, round-bottomed glassware for vacuum operations. Flat-bottomed glassware is not as strong as round-bottomed glassware. Carefully handle vacuum-jacketed glassware to prevent implosions. Dewar flasks, vacuum desiccators, and other evacuated equipment should be taped or shielded and for vacuum work, use only glassware designed for that purpose.
  • Large glass containers are highly susceptible to thermal shock. Heat/cool large glass containers slowly. Use Pyrex or heat-treated glass for heating operations.
  • Do not use chromic acid to clean glassware, use a standard laboratory detergent. Chromic acid is extremely corrosive.

With proper precautions, work with glassware can be conducted safely.

  • When handling cool flasks, grasp the neck with one hand and support the bottom with the other hand.
  • Lift cool beakers by grasping the sides just below the rim. For large beakers, use two hands, one on the side and one supporting the bottom.
  • Never carry bottles by their necks.
  • Use a cart to transport large bottles of dense liquid.

Regardless of the precautions you take, glass may still break. Broken glass poses a hazard for puncture wounds and injection of hazardous chemicals.

  • When handling cool flasks, grasp the neck with one hand and support the bottom with the other hand.
  • Lift cool beakers by grasping the sides just below the rim. For large beakers, use two hands, one on the side and one supporting the bottom.
  • Never carry bottles by their necks.
  • Use a cart to transport large bottles of dense liquid.
  • Do not pick up broken glass with bare or unprotected hands. Put on a pair of protective gloves and use a brush and dustpan to clean up broken glass. Remove broken glass in sinks by using tongs for large pieces and cotton held by tongs for small pieces and slivers.
  • Glass contaminated with biological, chemical or radioactive material must be decontaminated before disposal.

Published on  and maintained in Cascade CMS.