Laboratory Safety

Laboratory safety should be an important part of every researcher’s daily custom. Tasks become familiar to the point of being routine and sometimes people become complacent with the hazards that are part of a research lab. In most any lab there are risks associated with physical agents (noise, hot or cold materials/ surfaces), chemical agents (flammables, toxins), biological agents (viruses, bacteria, fungi, parasites) and radioactive material. The link below describes real-life instances where accidents have occurred in laboratory settings. An evaluation of the events that took place is provided along with any solutions or ideas that may have prevented the accident. This is a good learning tool to raise awareness of your surroundings and may help you identify safety hazards in your lab.

http://www2.umdnj.edu/eohssweb/aiha/accidents/index.htm