What Is Wrong Lab Safety?

The laboratory is a place where safety is essential.

Safe working conditions in a laboratory are critical when dealing with harmful chemicals, specimens and equipment that can cause injury to you or others. Wrong lab safety practices can be potentially hazardous and should be corrected.

The Laboratory Environment

The laboratory must be organized and clean, with each piece of equipment in working order. If the environment is littered with equipment, chemicals are not properly stored and the area is in disorder, there is a higher chance of someone getting injured.

Storage

If you store chemicals, specimens and equipment improperly, other safety measures in the lab--such as sprinkler systems--may not work. Acids or other corrosive liquids stored in the wrong place can be dangerous. If an improperly stored chemical is spilled, exposed to direct sunlight or incorrectly ventilated, the consequences can be dire.

Protective Equipment

Certain kinds of equipment are required for lab experiments.

Not wearing safety equipment when required is another chance for injury to occur. Safety goggles, gloves, lab coats and other protective clothing are essential when working with chemicals and lab equipment. Without protection, an individual is at risk of injury.

Preparation

Being unprepared to do a lab experiment is also an unsafe work practice. Lab experiments have certain procedures that must be followed for both successful completion of the experiment and to ensure safety for everyone. If you are not knowledgeable about the steps and equipment that you will be using, then you are putting yourself in danger.

Considerations

Using unsafe practices can cause accidents for you and others. Preparation, wearing safety equipment, using proper procedures and storing items where they should stored can help prevent these kinds of incidents from occurring.

References

• Laboratory Safety