Health & Safety (Edexcel International A Level Physics)

Health & Safety

• All experiments must be carried out safely to protect the scientists from injury and the equipment from damage

• There are some common health and safety precautions in practicals

• When working with masses, wires or springs:

  • Wear safety goggles when required (e.g., when using wires, in case it snaps)

  •  A support stand should be weighted or clamped to prevent it falling over (commonly with a G clamp)

  • Do not overload springs with masses so they stretch past their elastic limit or break when oscillating

  • Provide a soft surface, such as a cushion, underneath anything falling (such as a ball bearing when calculating g), to protect surfaces

• When using electrical circuits:

  • Don't have liquids kept around the apparatus, as these could spill and cause a fire

  • Turn off the power supply in between readings so the components, especially thin wires, don't become too hot. This could cause a burn or affect the results of the experiment from the change in temperature affecting resistance

  • Do not exceed the voltage rating for all the appliances in the circuit

• General lab health and safety practice includes:

  • Always keeping bags and chairs tucked away under desks to avoid someone tripping over in the classroom

  • Stand up for the duration of the experiment, in case something goes wrong with a piece of apparatus and need to react quickly

  • Don't eat and drink when conducting experiments

  • Wear comfortable clothing and a lab coat when necessary

  • Long hair to be tied back 

  • Spills can cause slips, mop this up

  • Do not leave an experiment, or piece of apparatus, unsupervised (especially Bunsen burners)

  • Let hot glass cool down, or wear gloves when handling (e.g., for investigating specific heat capacity)

  • Let a supervisor know about any spills or problems with equipment as soon as possible