Your question in principle relates to "Chemical, electrical, mechanical and lifting".
Your university should have such rules and ask you to read them before letting you to touch anything. There must be an induction course for you to show you around the lab , fire fighting, escape routes, crane operation, chemicals and mechanical handling, etc...
If they don't have any ( sad even to think about it), you must write one and ask your professor to enforce it. Make this your priority. The life you save may be yours.