Potential Laboratory accidents

• Physical hazards: noise, vibration, radiation,

• Chemical hazards: fire, explosion

• Biological hazards: infection, poisoning, allergy

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Electricity hazard (cont.)

• Common electricity hazards in laboratories

Electric arc
Electricity-induced fire
 Noise hazards
• Source: mechanical operation...
 permanent hearing loss. Loud noise can create Physiological and
psychological effect: increased blood pressure and increased heart rate
reduce productivity with communication and concentration, and
contribute to workplace accidents and injuries by making it difficult to
hear warning signals

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 Radiation hazards in laboratories
• Source: Use of radioactive elements, operation of instruments
using radioactive elements, or operation of equipment which
may produce ionizing radiation
• Health hazard:
• Cancer, genetic effect
• skin injury, infertility

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 Common non-ionizing radiation hazards
in laboratories
• Source: ultraviolet ray, infrared, microwave, laser, etc.
• Health hazard: thermal hazard (skin, eyes, etc.)

ultraviolet lamp
Laser equipment Used in
Used operations industrial
processes and in
medical .dental
practice such us
killing bacteria 6
 Abnormal temperature
• Sources:
• Contact with utensils being heated
• Use of liquid nitrogen (boiling point at -196℃, brief contact
with skin or eyes could cause blindness)
• Use of freezer, etc.
• Health hazard: blindness and injury to body tissues(nose. Fingers)
• Preventive methods: In line with status of hazard, wear proper-
grade heat-resistant gloves or cold-resistant gloves and protective
goggles

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 Chemical hazards
• Hazardous: Poisoning caused by contact
with chemicals via inhalation, ingestion,
injection or spray on skin, or other
channels.
• Dangerous: Disasters, such as fire and
explosion, caused by energy released
from chemical reaction during use of
chemicals

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 Chemical hazards:
• Chemical hazards fall into 4 main categories
• Flammables
• Corrosives
• Reactive chemicals
• Health hazards/Toxins

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Chemical hazards
• Some chemicals are not generally regarded as hazardous
under normal conditions of use
• These include chemicals like sodium chloride, potassium
phosphate, sucrose, Tris buffer, glycerol, etc.
• These chemicals are color-coded green, orange, or gray

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Chemical hazards: flammables
• Storage and labeling
• Flammables are color-coded red
• Must be stored in a flammable cabinet, away from sources of
heat
• Handling
• Never use an open flame to heat flammable materials.
• Use hot water bath, oil bath, heating mantle, etc.
• approved flammable liquid storage room.
• Handle only in areas free of ignition sources.

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Chemical hazards: corrosives
• Definition:
• Cause rapid erosion and destruction of building materials
or metals
• Burn, irritation, or cause destruction to organic tissues
such as skin, eyes, lungs, and stomach

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Chemical hazards: corrosives
• Classification, labeling, and storage:
• Acids
• Are color-coded
• Store liquids and solids in corrosive cabinet, separate from bases
• Keep below eye level

• Bases
• Are color-coded
• Solids may be stored on shelf in lab, away from other chemicals
and below eye level
• Liquids may be stored in a cabinet, away from acid

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Chemical hazards: corrosives
• Handling
• Never pour water into acid. Always add the acid to the
water. Add acid slowly
• Open bottles of acid slowly and carefully.
• Wear PPE (gloves, goggles/shield, apron) to protect against
splashes.
• Conduct all work with concentrated acids and bases in a
chemical fume hood.
• Check location of eyewash and shower prior to beginning
work. ac
id
• Some acids require special handling:
• Example: hydrofluoric acid

water
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 Chemical hazards: health
• Definition:
• Chemical that causes adverse health effects, whether short-
term (acute) or long-term (chronic)
• Includes toxins, carcinogens, poisons, biohazards (infectious
agent
• Examples:
• Mercury and other metal compounds, formaldehyde
• Storage:
• Health hazards are color coded blue
• Health hazards should be segregated from other chemicals

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 Chemical hazards: health (cont.)
• Handling:
• Always wear appropriate gloves and other suitable PPE when
handling health hazards.
• Know the hazards presented by the chemical you are working
with.
• Possible routes of exposure (vary with chemical and procedure)
include: skin absorption, inhalation, ingestion, injection.
• Symptoms of exposure may be acute and/or delayed (including
chronic effects). Read the
• Be aware of possible adverse reactions with other chemicals or
conditions (e.g. heat).

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 Biological hazards
• Plants, animals, microorganisms
• Sources: Needlestick injury, inhalation of aerosol containing
pathogens deriving from mistake in handling biological
specimens, or biting or scratching by pathogen-carrying
experimental animals.
• Types of biological hazards:
• Infection
• Allergy
• Poisoning

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 Ventilation
• Types of ventilation found in labs:
• Laminar flow hood
• Protects samples/operation
• Useful for working with bacterial or cell
cultures (helps prevent contamination)
• Does NOT protect the user!

• Biosafety cabinet
• Useful for working with infectious agents
• Depending on type of cabinet, may protect
only the samples

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