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Whether you are an expert carrying out some research in the laboratory or a teacher supervising students working under you, ensuring safety and adhering to safety standards is vital. Not only does it save lives, but protects laboratory property and equipment too. It helps in the timely completion of the tasks assigned and prevents you from landing into any unfavorable situations. Ensuring laboratory safety becomes even more important if the ones working under you are young children unaware of laboratory safety standards and unable to keep themselves safe.
Keeping the same in mind, here we have brought you six exclusive and easy to implement ways using which you can make sure that everyone stays safe in the laboratory –
1. Installing Lab Safety Posters
An easy and inexpensive method to spread awareness about safety in laboratories is installing various laboratory safety posters. These visual reminders help in creating an environment of safety and can be used as quick guides for reference in case of an emergency. These safety sign boards are the best way to instill a value for safety even amongst the most careless ones. However, if you are afraid that over time your custom signs will become neglected fixtures in the lab, then you need to make them good and eye catching. Consider designing it using lively figures and animated cartoons rather than boring quotations or textual material.
2. No Edibles Allowed
Allowing eatables inside the laboratory will only create a mess inside. It is one of the most common mistakes that students and sometimes even adults commit while attending laboratories. It is absolutely normal for anyone to enjoy snacks or coffee alongside work but the risks involved are not worth it. It reduces the concentration on the experiment being performed and distracts the mind a lot. Moreover, the food wrappers can create a mess in the laboratory promoting the risk of contamination and reducing efficiency. Thus, no eatables should be allowed inside the laboratories.
3. Be Especially Careful With Flammable Chemicals
One must be exceptionally careful with flammable substances while working in a laboratory. As they are vulnerable to fire, you must store them in places where they can’t catch it quickly. Preferably, you should store them in fireproof cabinets. You should never store them in plastic or glass containers. Under normal circumstances, only the people trained to deal with them or experts should be allowed in the storage area. Keeping them out loose in the open is risky and prone to danger. Apart from that, they must be clearly labeled with signboards reading ‘Danger’ or ‘Flammable Substance’ as most of the newbies in the laboratories are unaware of the risks involved. Installation of proper ez waste disposal systems is also crucial to the functioning of the laboratory.
4. Proper Supervision
Students experimenting in the laboratory must be under the expert supervision of teachers or guardians. Flammable substances, solvents or chemicals dangerous for skin or human health, in general, must not be handed over to them. Untrained individuals are more vulnerable to laboratory accidents. The laboratory staff must be vigilant when it comes to security issues. Children must not be allowed to perform experiments in groups as it may distract them. The setup of the laboratory must be such that no student is out of the surveillance area of the teacher.
5. Stuff Must Be Properly Organized
Unorganized stuff leading to a mess is one of the lesser known reasons behind laboratory accidents. All types of equipment and chemicals must be properly organized and kept at their respective places in the laboratory. A good organizational structure not just saves accidents but also enhances productivity and allows proper functioning. It saves any time wasted in locating the pieces of equipment and leaves you with ample time to complete the task thus saving you from any haphazardness leading to accidents.
6. Be Prepared For The Worst
Prevention is always better than cure. Accidents cannot be foreseen. You must be ready with methods to deal with any mishappenings. A proper laboratory first aid kit, exclusively designed to deal with laboratory accidents, having all the necessary stuff required must be handy. Bandage, antiseptics, a pair of scissors, disposable gloves, burn dressings, waterproof plasters, safe sedate masks etc. are some of the essentials.
Understanding the importance of safety while working in the laboratories is important. From flammable substances to dangerous chemicals, a lot needs to be taken care of. In cases of accidents, it is not just your project schedule that goes awry, after all.
Following proper safety procedures, keeping chemical waste containers away from the area of the experiment, wearing proper laboratory safety wear such as a safety coat, mask, gloves etc. is important as well.
Jessica is a blogger who loves to write especially in the Education vertical. She has written many informative blogs on wine, personal development, unique gifting etc too. She loves to travel and explore unique things.