Risks/injuries involved within a LaboratoryCategory: Business
Article posted by: Jon Richards
All scientists understand that their job requires them to work in a potentially risky environment every day. Even when proper safety precautions are followed, there is a minor chance for an injury or accident to occur.
A common mistake in secondary school laboratories is forgetting to turn off the gas supply after using an appliance such as a Bunsen burner. Often, the teacher or another student will smell the gas and alert the student of their mistake. However this can cause a potentially hazardous situation which could lead to injury under more unfortunate circumstances.
These careless oversights are usually avoided by highly experienced scientists, however even seasoned scientists can make mistakes, and the result can be quite nasty. Something as simple as a scientist being distracted while he is pouring a corrosive chemical can cause spillage, which can lead to damaged work areas, or a nasty and painful burn to the skin. Spilt liquids can also lead to slipping and falling, which can cause unwanted injury in the laboratory. Any spillages must be immediately looked after to avoid further disarray.
Chemicals being knocked over can cause similar problems on a larger scale, and illustrate the importance of always screwing the caps back onto chemicals after use.
Mixing incompatible chemicals can cause harmful reactions such as explosions which can be big enough to cause large-scale damage and death, or small enough just to singe off your eyebrows and give you minor burns.
Scientists usually wish to avoid any of these scenarios, so special care is taken to ensure labels are read correctly and the quantity of the chemical is accurate. Care is also taken to ensure all equipment is washed before use, so that traces of chemicals previously used to not react with chemicals currently being used and cause undesirable effects.
Scientists are further at risk of breathing in noxious fumes or hazardous air-borne pathogens which can cause health problems. If proper precautions aren’t taken, scientists are at risk of blood and respiratory diseases associated with chemical or viral exposure. Using masks and fume hoods can minimise the risk of this happening. Scientists must also be careful of sharp instruments and needles in order to avoid cuts and jabs which can cause injury. The laboratory contains many hidden hazards; however injury can be avoided if care and diligence are exercised continuously.
Posted By: Jon Richards
Web: http://www.bristoljobs.co.uk
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