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General Laboratory Safety: Summary of The Main Factors

General Laboratory Safety guidelines are in place to protect workers, visitors, and the work being conducted. The law requires performing risk assessments and implementing control measures to minimize risks. It also mandates safe work practices, proper training, and use of personal protective equipment. Key safety areas covered include fire prevention, glassware handling, chemical spill response, gas cylinder storage, electrical equipment checks, waste disposal procedures, and first aid. Laboratory workers must follow established safety protocols and ask for guidance when uncertain.

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nurfarainnorpitri
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26 views

General Laboratory Safety: Summary of The Main Factors

General Laboratory Safety guidelines are in place to protect workers, visitors, and the work being conducted. The law requires performing risk assessments and implementing control measures to minimize risks. It also mandates safe work practices, proper training, and use of personal protective equipment. Key safety areas covered include fire prevention, glassware handling, chemical spill response, gas cylinder storage, electrical equipment checks, waste disposal procedures, and first aid. Laboratory workers must follow established safety protocols and ask for guidance when uncertain.

Uploaded by

nurfarainnorpitri
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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General Laboratory

Safety
Summary of the Main Factors

Why does it matter?

Safe working
protects:
You
Other

lab workers
Cleaners
Visitors
Your work

What does the law say? (1)

Health Safety at Work

You must work safely


You must not endanger others
You must not misuse safety
equipment

Penalty in prison &/or an


unlimited fine

What does the law say? (2)

You must perform


RISK
ASSESSMENTS

How to do a Risk Assessment?

Determine hazards and evaluate


risks
Use all relevant available data
Determine controls needed to
minimise those risks
Document the assessment
Agree it with your instructor
Use those control measures

Control Measures (in order of preference)


1.
2.

Use a less risky


substance
Use a safer form of
that substance (eg
solution instead of
powder)

Control Measures (in order of preference)


3.

4.

5.

Totally enclose the


process (eg a glovebox)
Partially enclose the
process (eg with a
fume cupboard)
Ensure good general
ventilation

Control Measures (in order of preference)


6.
7.

8.

Safe systems of work


Reduce exposure
times, increase
distance, reduce
volumes
Personal protective
equipment (as a last
resort for primary protection)

Protecting yourself

Wear the clothing and


protective wear identified
in your risk assessment
Laboratory coats must be
kept fastened
Dont wear sandals or
open shoes
Long hair must be tied
back

Protecting yourself - gloves

There are many different types


of protective glove
Use the correct ones for the
job you will be doing
Remember that you need to
select chemical protection
gloves according to the
materials and/or substances
with which you will be working
Remove your gloves before
using instruments, telephone,
and leaving the laboratory

Laboratory hygiene

Never eat, drink or smoke


in a laboratory
Never apply cosmetics
Never touch your face,
mouth or eyes
Never suck pens or chew
pencils
Always wash your hands
before you leave and
especially before eating

What are the general hazards in a


laboratory?

Fire
Breakage of glassware
Sharps
Spillages
Pressure equipment & gas
cylinders
Extremes of heat & cold
Chemical hazards
Biological hazards
Radiation

And many more!

Avoiding Fires

Flammable substances
Use

minimum quantity
Store in special storage
cabinet
Use temperaturecontrolled heating
sources
(eg water-bath rather than
hot-plate or Bunsen
burner)

Minimise fire damage

Make sure corridor


fire doors and
laboratory doors are
kept shut at all times

Fire Safety

Make sure that you know


what to do:

If you have a fire


If you hear a fire alarm

If you are a member of


staff you must attend fire
training annually. Post
graduates should also
seriously consider doing
so.

Glassware

Use correct techniques for the


insertion of tubing onto glassware
Never use glassware under
pressure or vacuum unless it is
designed for the job and suitably
shielded
Dispose of chipped or broken
glassware it is a risk to you and
others
Always dispose of broken glass in
a glass bin or sharps bin and not in
a general waste bin

Spillages
Clear up spillage promptly
You will already have
determined how to do this
as part of your risk
assessment
Dispose of any hazardous
material as toxic waste
Messy workers are usually
poor workers!!

Gas cylinders

Never use without formal training


Minimise the number in a laboratory

Cylinders are heavy and can do serious


damage to you if they fall

Store externally whenever possible

Ensure that they are chained when in use


Move only with a cylinder trolley

Use regulators & control equipment


suitable for the gas concerned
Consider the consequences if your
cylinder leaks

Cryogenics

Liquid gasses are extremely


cold and can cause burns
Liquid gases evaporate and
many can cause asphyxiation
If you need to take cryogens
in a lift, there are special
procedures to follow speak
to your supervisor or a senior
member of technical staff
You must have special
training to use them

Electrical Equipment

Always do a visual check


on electrical equipment
before use, looking for
obvious wear or defects
All portable electrical
equipment must have a
current test sticker
NEVER use defective
equipment

General Tidiness

Keep your workplace tidy


Clear up waste, deal with
washing up and put
things away as you finish
with them
Make sure everything is
safe before you leave
things unattended
A tidy laboratory avoids
accidents to everyone

Laboratory Equipment

Never use any


laboratory equipment
unless you are trained
& have been
authorised to do so
As well as injuring
yourself you may
cause very costly
damage

First Aid

All laboratory workers


should undergo simple first
aid training

For ALL chemical splashes,


wash with plenty of water for
10 minutes
Control bleeding with direct
pressure, avoiding any foreign
bodies such as glass

Report all accidents to your


supervisor or departmental
safety officer

Protecting your health

If you have an allergy


to lab materials or
suffer from a medical
condition which may
affect you in the
laboratory (eg
diabetes or epilepsy),
ensure that your
instructor knows

Waste Materials

Part of your risk assessment


will be to determine how to
dispose of waste lab materials
safely

Solvents and oils must be


segregated into the correct
waste bottle or drum
Lab assistants will help you
determine what to do with
chemical or biological materials

Do not put materials down the


drain or in with normal waste
unless authorised to do so

Working outside normal hours and


at weekends

Most experimental work


is not permitted

When in doubt ASK!!!

Do not carry out a


new or unfamiliar
procedure until you
have been fully
trained & understand
the precautions
necessary for safe
working
DO NOT GUESS!!!!

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