Even though operating your lab business is a profitable and rewarding career, it’s important to keep in mind that labs are dangerous environments. It’s essential to protect your employees and create a safe, secure workplace for all. Additionally, because one of the most common challenges facing laboratories today is staffing issues, you want to keep your employees and create a safe workspace. To keep yourself and your employees safe at work, learn about common lab safety accidents and how to avoid them.
Chemical Burns
Your employees work with dangerous chemicals daily, so it’s no surprise that chemical burns are at the top of this list. Even the smallest splash of a chemical can seriously injure or disfigure an employee. The best way to prevent these issues is to ensure that your employees wear all their safety and protective gear when handling dangerous substances.
Heat Burns
When discussing lab safety accidents and how to avoid them, you can’t forget about heat burns. Scientists use high heat and flames on a regular basis. Carelessness when handling dangerous flames can result in severe burns or worse. Keep your employees safe by making sure they follow safety procedures and wear the appropriate attire to prevent mishaps.
Contamination
Contamination is one of the most serious accidents that can happen in a lab. Leaving with contaminated hands, clothing, and attire can harm your employees and anyone they interact with throughout the day. This is why it’s important for your lab to have decontamination processes and procedures in place.
Inhalation
And lastly, inhalation is probably one of the scariest lab accidents because employees don’t always know what they inhale. Certain gases are virtually undetectable with no scent, which is why it’s important to use working fume hoods and multi-gas detectors to keep your employees safe at all times. Also, it’s a great idea to schedule routine inspections to ensure that this equipment functions properly.
