“Snap for Safety” Challenge

Win Big during Lab Safety Awareness Week! To celebrate, we are launching the “Snap for Safety” Photo Competition. This is your chance to show off your lab’s safety culture, brush up on chemical management, and win amazing prizes for your team!

How It Works

1. Review the Daily Theme: See the schedule below.
2. Snap a Photo: Find the item in your lab and take a picture. Creativity is encouraged!
3. Caption It: Write a caption that explains the safety feature, adds a teaching tip, or makes us laugh.
4. Submit: Upload your photo via (CHECK BACK February 9th for LINK).

DAILY THEMES: “No chemicals? No problem! We know research protocols vary across campus. If today’s chemical challenge doesn’t apply to your workspace, check out our Alternate Daily Challenge. Whether you are in a wet lab or a dry lab, there is a way for you to snap, share, and win!” (NOTE: any submission is welcome- if you can’t meet either daily challenge – create and caption your own – we love seeing how all our Eagles Soar Safely)

Day 1: The “V.I.P.” (Very Important Poison) Hunt

• The Task: We are providing the list of Particularly Hazardous Substances (PHS). Find one in your lab and snap a photo of it being stored properly (e.g., in a designated area, signed properly, or secondary containment).
• The Teaching Point: > PHSs (Select Carcinogens, Reproductive Toxins, and Acute Toxins) require Designated Areas. If you have them, you need to know where they are and ensure they are contained! (link to list provided here – https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1910/1910.119AppA

Alternate Day 1: The “Spill Drill” Audit

• The Teaching Point: You can’t buy insurance after the accident. A fully stocked spill kit ensures you can handle minor incidents immediately before they become major emergencies.
• The Task: Locate the lab’s chemical spill kit. Open it (or pose with it) to show it is fully stocked (pads, neutralizers, bags) and accessible—not buried behind boxes.

Day 2: Name Tag Tuesday

• The Task: Find a secondary container (squirt bottle, beaker, flask) that is labeled perfectly. Snap a photo of the label showing the Full Chemical Name (no abbreviations!) and the Hazard Warning.
• The Teaching Point: > “Alc” or “H2O” isn’t enough! In an emergency, first responders need to know exactly what is in that bottle. Always write out the full English name and the primary hazard (e.g., “Flammable”).

Alternate Day 2: “Chain of Command” (Cylinder Security)

• The Task: Snap a photo of a compressed gas cylinder that is properly secured with a chain or strap (at the upper 1/3 of the cylinder) and has the valve cap screwed on if it is not in use.
• The Teaching Point: A falling cylinder can shear off the valve and become a missile. Chains and valve caps are the only things standing between safety and catastrophic structural damage.

Day 3: The “Great Divide” (Segregation)

• The Task: Take a photo of your chemical storage on a shelf or in a cabinet that demonstrates proper segregation. Show us Acids separated from Bases, or Oxidizers away from Flammables.
• The Teaching Point: > Alphabetical order is for libraries, not chemical cabinets! Storing incompatible chemicals together creates a risk of violent reaction. Segregate by hazard class first. Link to NIH Chemical Segregation Table chemical-segregation-table.pdf

Alternate Day 3: The “10-Second Dash” (Emergency Equipment)

• The Task: Take a photo of the safety shower or eyewash station. The area around it must be completely clear of equipment, trash cans, or boxes (demonstrating the “10-second rule”).
• The Teaching Point: In an emergency, you may be blinded or in panic. The path to the shower must be unobstructed so you can reach it in under 10 seconds without tripping.

Day 4: “Cap it Off” (Waste Management)

• The Task: Find a chemical waste container in your lab that is 100% compliant. Take a photo showing: The lid is closed/latched, the tag is filled out, and it is in secondary containment.
• The Teaching Point: > An open waste container is a spill waiting to happen. Keep caps tight when not actively adding waste to prevent evaporation and spills.

Alternate Day 4: “Mise en Place” (Housekeeping)

• The Task: A photo of a freshly organized lab bench or chemical shelf that is free of clutter.
• The Teaching Point: A cluttered bench leads to spills and cross-contamination. “Mise en place” (everything in its place) applies to chemistry just as much as cooking.

Day 5: The “Time Traveler” (Expiration Dates)

• The Task: Find a chemical bottle with a visible received/opened date or an expiration date (Bonus points if it’s a Peroxide Former like Ether or THF). Show us you are tracking the lifespan of your chemicals!
• The Teaching Point: > Chemicals degrade! Peroxide formers become explosive over time. Tracking “Received” and “Opened” dates is critical for a safe inventory and reducing disposal costs.

Alternate Day 5: “Suited & Booted” (Proper Attire)

• The Task: A photo showing proper lab attire: Lab coat buttoned up, long pants covering the ankles, and closed-toe shoes.
• The Teaching Point: Your clothes are your last line of defense. Shorts, sandals, or open lab coats leave your skin vulnerable to splashes, spills, and shattered glass.

The Rubric & Rules

Your submissions will be graded on a 15-point scale per day based on:

1. Technical Compliance: Does the photo show correct safety procedures? 1-5 pts
2. Creativity: Did you put effort into the staging and composition? 1-5 pts
3. The Caption: Did you include a teaching point or a clever description? 1-5 pts
4. Participate all 5 days – 10 bonus points
5. Grand Prize – highest score out of 85 total points

The Prizes

We are awarding One Grand Prize to the lab with the highest cumulative score over the week, plus three curated category prizes:

1. The Grand Champion: Awarded to the lab with the most points across all 5 days.
2. The “Gold Standard” Award: For the photo that demonstrates the most pristine, textbook-perfect compliance.
3. The “Reaction Artist” Award: For the most creative staging, use of props, or team involvement.
4. The “Safety Wit” Award: For the cleverest, funniest, or most insightful caption.

Last updated: 1/26/2026