what can you do to make sure you conduct an activity in a safe manner?

Answer 1

That depends on the activity. If you are doing an experiment with projectiles (or things that might become projectiles) then you should wear goggles. If you are using a flame, you should wear goggles, tie your hair back if you have long hair, and be sure not to wear loose clothing. If you are handling chemicals you should wear a lab coat to protect your clothes from an accidental spill. There are many other lab safety techniques that depend on the particular lab and the experiment you are doing. Perhaps a search on lab safety would give you more answers.