Tips for Keeping Safe in the Lab

You cannot underestimate the importance of laboratory safety. Chemical, biological, physical and radioactive agents could all potentially pose a threat to laboratory workers. When working in this environment daily it is easy to become complacent and overlook these hazards, thereby letting safety slip. Here are some best practices that researchers should follow to protect themselves and their colleagues whilst at work:

Wear the correct Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

This means wearing a full sleeve lab coat, eye protection (safety goggles or face shield) and closed toe shoes. Tie back long hair and anything that may catch in equipment. Remove watches, rings and other jewellery. Your specific work may also require you to wear other protective apparel. The benefits of PPE are twofold, it protects your skin and eyes as well as minimising contamination.

Food and drink have no place in the lab

Don’t be distracted by food and drink when at work in the lab. Both could contaminate your work; a sandwich, a cup of tea or can of drink could all leave chemical traces on your benches or hands. Don’t store food or beverages in a refrigerator that contains chemicals or cultures. And be sure to remember to wash your hands when leaving the lab as traces of bacteria, harmful chemicals, biological tissue etc could contaminate your dining area or work area leading to illness.

Dispose of lab waste appropriately

When working with biological products use the correct products to clean up. It might simply be a case of using soap and water, but in some cases a specific disinfectant or detergent may be required to destroy harmful microorganisms which may be present in your cultures, or autoclaving may even be necessary.

If you are disposing of a chemical use the correct bins or containers, don’t pour them down the sink. Don't pour unused chemicals back into the bottle but dispose of them safely.

Check your procedure for disposing of sharp products like needles, glass containers, blades, etc. If you are unsure check your laboratory manuals or talk to colleagues and tutors.

Take extreme care when handling chemicals

Upmost care is required when handling chemicals in the lab. In 2009 a young scientist working on a chemical synthesis in a lab at the University of California lost her life as a result of an accident with t-BuLi; a chemical that spontaneously ignites in contact with air. She was using a syringe to transfer the chemical but the syringe failed, the plunger came out and the chemical was exposed to the atmosphere. It ignited immediately. She was wearing gloves but no lab coat and her clothing caught fire leading to extensive burns and, sadly to her untimely death at 23 years of age.

This story shows the importance of wearing the correct PPE as well as following the correct procedures. Never sniff or taste any chemical, check carefully that the chemical names on bottles matches the chemicals you wish to use. Always hold flasks and bottles away from you when mixing and take care to do this gently. If you are working with chemicals or potentially hazardous substances, advise others so they can keep a safe distance away. Label all containers used with the correct chemical name and mark any potentially dangerous substance. Assume that any chemicals of unknown toxicity are highly toxic. Remember if you can smell the chemical, you could potentially have already exposed yourself to a harmful dose.

Always stopper your reagent bottles after use to avoid spillage and accidents. Read any precautions in lab manuals as well as those indicated on chemical containers and data sheets. The correct PPE such as gloves, coveralls and RPE required will be listed on the MSDS.

Handle lab equipment carefully

When using any lab equipment take appropriate care, switch off hot plates and bunsen burners, use scalpel blades and razor blades carefully. Use a dustpan and brush to clear up any broken glass, never your fingers. Practice good housekeeping at all times, returning equipment to its correct storage place after use and report any damage to the relevant person.

Know the safety procedure in the event of an emergency

Always use bunsen burners and other heating appliances with care. Use a fireproof cabinet to store all flammable material and remember to return all such products to the cabinet after use. Leaving them on the bench is very dangerous. Benchtop protectors can be used to protect from heat or chemical spills and staining.

Whenever you begin working in a new lab, make sure you know where fire extinguishers, fire blankets, laboratory safety showers and eyewash stations are located. It is essential that you know the risks associated with the products and equipment you are using and the appropriate fire extinguisher to use.

If you are unable to control any fire with an extinguisher, call the emergency fire service immediately. Note your evacuation procedure in the event of fire.

Keep your experiments in the lab

Your home is not designed for lab work so don't take any lab equipment home or to any other environment that is not designed for the purpose of this work. This could potentially contaminate your work as well as the environment. Consider also washing your clothes after wearing them in the lab.

Work with a colleague

If possible, work with a lab colleague. Having two people working together reduces the risk of mistakes happening. Should an accident happen, there will be someone on hand to help, whether it's a minor injury like a cut finger, or something more serious. It’s good to have someone close by to grab the first aid kit or help clear up broken glass. Experience shows that response is quicker in the unfortunate case of an accident if there are two people present. It is also important to keep your supervisor informed about your experiments and follow any instructions carefully.

Act responsibly

Always act responsibly in the lab, horseplay has no place there. Plan your experiments, researching them in advance and focus on your work. Don’t be distracted as this could lead to an accident that causes damage or even loss of life.

In the case of an accident

Despite all the precautions, accidents can sometimes happen. But if they do, it is important to keep calm. Don’t run, you should know where all the safety equipment is located so if you have splashed your eyes or skin with a hazardous chemical, wash it off immediately. Immediately report any accident when it occurs. And remember that emergency safety drills are there to prepare us for an actual event, so it is important to take them seriously.