Lab Safety Symbols

Lab safety symbols are standard figures posted in the laboratory to prevent any kind of accidents. Educating students about them along with their meanings is a practical step to encourage personal safety measures.


A laboratory is meant for conducting scientific studies and research projects. Based on the level of study and the particular scientific field, it may be loaded with hazardous chemicals, radioactive substances, specimens, sharp instrument, fragile glassware, and flammable objects. Hence, working in a lab is not free from dangers. In order to maintain a safe workplace, lab safety symbols are posted in each and every laboratory.

List of Symbols and their Meanings

Every student working in the lab are expected to follow school safety measures, laid down by the concerned teacher. Science students may be already aware about them. The signs and figures represent certain meanings, according to which everyone should take care. Basically, they are warning signs to avoid accidents. Following are some standard signs along with their meanings.

Danger: The skull and crossbone sign is known to all of us. This is a universal mark to indicate danger and follow safety tips. The poison sign is the same as the danger sign, which is used for labeling a poisonous substance in a bottle, test tube, or package.

Radioactive: It is almost similar to the radiation sign. These signs appear as if some rays are radiated from the center to the peripheral parts. Often, they are put with bright colors so that people can see from a distance.

Eye Safety: It is very easy to identify. If you notice a goggle sign outside a lab, it indicates the necessity to wear glasses before entering. Putting them on is a part of the rules.

Thermal Safety: Heating and boiling are common steps for science practicals. The thermal safety sign resembles

a hand glove. It is used to remind students to take precaution, while handing a hot object.

Fire Safety: As the name suggests, it is put in the lab so that students take care of themselves when they are around flames. The sign is a flame, without any signs attached to it.

Open Flame Alert: Students using open flame should take precaution while conducting flame involved experiments. The sign is a flame with a diagonal line over it. The objective is to avoid explosion and fire, which may be caused due to negligence in handling open flames.


Sharp Object: Using needles, scalpels, or other sharp instruments is quite common in biology experiments. The sharp object sign is a hand with a cut in the forefinger. This is to alert the students while using sharp objects.


Chemical Safety: You will find this in the list of chemistry and biology signs. The sign is a bottle with something pouring from it. This is used if the chemicals used in experiments are detrimental to the skin.

Biohazard: Biological hazard refers to dangers from living organisms. It is usually put up in biology and microbiology labs, and is a sign to make people aware about the harmful effects of bacteria and alike pathogens used in practical.

First Aid: This is as simple as a white-colored plus sign in a green background, a first aid box, a heart sign with a defibrillator or other complex figures, which are specific to a particular theme.


The above listed signs are put up in various sections of the department, as an approach to follow rules strictly. Be it a middle school science lab or an advanced genetic research laboratory, the signs are mandatory. And as you see, they are all self-explanatory. At the first glance to the signs, students should understand them and do the needful, so as to maintain a safe place.

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