Laboratory Accidents Prevention - Your Top Priority

Laboratory accident prevention is the practice of identifying why safe procedures get overlooked, such as overconfidence, ignorance, work stress, and poor workbench planning, and addressing those causes before they result in injury, loss of life, or financial loss to the laboratory.

Poorly maintained work bench- a major cause for mishaps

Any work place is prone to accidents due to human or other circumstances beyond one’s control. However laboratory poses a greater potential for accidents due to:

• Presence of hazardous, toxic, flammable, corrosive and poisonous materials
• Exposure to hazards such as fires, electric shocks, mechanical machinery and heavy loads

Safety at work place has been a theme topic for training programs and seminars. Laboratory safety e- course  deals with the topic at length and offers suggestions for prevention of laboratory accidents.

The objective of the present article is to go into the causes of such accidents and why it becomes necessary to adopt preventive measures to avoid such unfortunate happenings.

Before proceeding further it is necessary to highlight the reasons as to why safe practices get overlooked.

Over Confidence

It is a common saying that ‘Accidents do not happen – they are caused’. This is true to a large extent as over confidence leads to defiance and a tendency to sideline and overlook the standard operating procedures on safe practices.

Ignorance

Ignorance on the other hand is also a major contributor to mishaps. It is the responsibility of laboratory managers and seniors to provide training on safety before new entrants are inducted into the laboratory

Work Stress

Work stress arising due to poor planning results in fear of slowdown of laboratory productivity. This feeling gives rise to a tendency to take shortcuts with little regard to safety norms and practices. The greater the work stress greater will be the degree of carelessness in carrying out routine activities. It is therefore essential to plan your daily activities and arrange the essential requirements in advance

Poor Work Planning

It is not possible for the chemist to change laboratory design layout but you can certainly contribute to prevention of accidents by adopting tidiness and improving order around your workbench. Ensure all reagents are returned to their designated places after use, do not leave bottles uncapped, there should be no dangling electrical wires or tubes, gas cylinders should be kept properly secured and passages kept free for unrestricted movement.

Now we shall go into reasons that call for adherence to safety norms.

Injuries and loss of life

Every laboratory worker is responsible for his safety as well as safety of others working around him. A little carelessness can prove to be costly and can even leave you or others physically impaired.

Financial Loss

Accidents can lead to financial loss to the laboratory or to your own self. In case the scale of accidents is serious they can even lead to closure of operations for some time if not permanently. Laboratory can claim damages partially through insurance claims but permanent impairment of your physical functions can be a big blow to your career objectives.

A major accident can extend the damage to neighbouring establishments and in such situations the laboratory can be held responsible for third party damages.

It is clear that under no circumstances there can be a compromise on laboratory safety. It is equally important to understand and follow safe laboratory procedures. Safety should become a habit and there should be no need for enforcement.