working safely in the lab
30 DEC 2024, 5 MIN READ
Working in a lab presents numerous hazards to researchers from chemicals, glassware, or equipment. It is essential to always exercise caution in the lab with everything you are doing and constantly analyze the areas around you to ensure your and everyone else’s safety. Here, we cover some essential reminders for researchers with regards to
2) Safety when working with Equipment (Small Devices Included)
4) Handling heat & pressurized equipment
6) Using rocking or rotating devices
1) Chemical safety
Lab researchers routinely handle chemicals, most of which are hazardous one way or another. Do not get complacent when working with chemicals to ensure your safety and the safety of others around you. Keep the following reminders in mind, ALWAYS!
1. Handle chemicals safely: Refer to the SDS of the chemicals you are working with and follow the safe handling, storage, and disposal procedures. The SDS also details first aid and fire-fighting measures in case of an emergency.
2. Chemical containers must be labeled clearly (including GHS symbols) and completely to ensure proper handling and storage according to chemical compatibility. The repercussions of such lapses could be devastating!
3. Do not smell or taste any chemicals or lab samples.
4. Open tubes facing them away from yourself and others.
5. Always use a rubberized safety bottle carrier when transporting large chemical bottles. (Insert picture if possible)
6. Always ensure secondary containment of hazardous chemicals, i.e. during storage, transportation, and disposal.
7. Use the appropriate storage container for chemicals e.g. acids should be stored in glass containers, not plastics to prevent leaching/corrosion.
8. Dispose of waste properly, DO NOT pour it down the drain. For all laboratory waste, follow established waste disposal procedures and use designated waste containers for the different types of waste.
9. Waste containers MUST NOT be filled to the brim. There must be 10% headspace to allow for expansion.
10. NEVER accompany hazardous chemical waste, cryogenics (e.g. liquid nitrogen), or gas cylinders in a lift or elevator! These items must travel alone and access to the lift must be restricted to all individuals.
11. Always double-check the labels of reagents (e.g. liquids, chemicals, etc.) before using.
Note: These reminders are not a substitute for your institutional safety procedures or your lab-specific procedures but to provide general safety guidance that might not be available to all researchers worldwide.
Note: These reminders are not a substitute for your institutional safety procedures or your lab-specific procedures but to provide general safety guidance that might not be available to all researchers worldwide.
2) Safety when working with Equipment (Small Devices Included)
1. Ensure you are trained to operate each laboratory equipment according to the manufacturer's instructions and guidelines established by your laboratory. This ensures safe equipment operation, and you can leverage this knowledge to solve many research problems.
2. Always inspect equipment before use for any defects, or abnormalities to ensure there are no issues that could result in experimental errors or damage to the equipment. Report any issues promptly so that they can be addressed.
3. Inspect electrical cords of all equipment for damage before use. Never use equipment with damaged electrical cords! Report any electrical issues promptly, sign the equipment out of order, and communicate the issue to your lab members so everyone is aware.
4. Report damaged equipment, breakages, accidents, and spills to your supervisor/person in charge immediately.
5. Do not overload electrical outlets, which also means….
6. …NEVER daisy chain power strips!
7. Never remove or tamper with equipment safety controls, e.g., safety guards of confocal/fluorescence microscopes, safety shields of UV transilluminators, etc.
These reminders are not a substitute for your institutional safety procedures or your lab-specific procedures but to provide general safety guidance that might not be available to all researchers worldwide.
3) Handling Glass & Sharps
Glassware and sharps are utilized in the lab on a daily basis. Hence, noting these hazard every time these are handling should become second nature to the researchers.
Take the following precautions every time you handle any glass or sharps.
1. Always inspect glassware for chips or cracks before use. Handle glassware carefully and use a sharps disposal bin or glass disposal boxes to dispose of damaged items.
2. Never handle broken glass with your bare hands! Use a pair of tweezers or tongs.
3. Handle sharps and tools e.g. box cutters, scalpels, scissors, tweezers, screwdrivers, etc. with special care as a minor lapse could lead to an injury, especially if the tools are contaminated.
4. Never recap a needle unless absolutely necessary. If required, use the one-hand scoop technique.
5. Do not attempt to separate a used needle-syringe assembly before disposal. Dispose of the needle and syringe (still connected), directly into a sharps bin.
Note: These reminders are not a substitute for your institutional safety procedures or your lab-specific procedures but to provide general safety guidance that might not be available to all researchers worldwide.
4) Handling Heat & Pressurized Equipment
1. When heating, use a heat-resistant glass container (e.g. borosilicate glass) that can be heated safely.
2. Heat items slowly to ensure even heating, and avoid thermal shock and hotspots that could cause boiling or compromise the container.
3. Exercise caution when using the microwave and autoclave (remember to loosen the cap!).
4. Keep hot plates and stirrers clear of clutter, combustibles, and flammables.
5. Never balance bottles on a device beyond its recommended capacity.
6. Wait for an equipment/device to reach the desired temperature or speed before leaving it for an extended period of time. If possible, check that it is running without issue on a regular basis.
7. Use the appropriate stirring bar size for safe and effective mixing. Turn off and unplug the device when not in use.
8. When loading an autoclave, allow sufficient space between items for proper steam penetration and after the run, allow the items to cool before handling with heat-resistant gloves.
9. Never overfill reagent containers, especially glass bottles that go in the autoclave!
10. Always loosen the caps of bottles (empty or full) when heating or autoclaving!
11. Bleach or anything contaminated with bleach does not belong in the autoclave!
Note: These reminders are not a substitute for your institutional safety procedures or your lab-specific procedures but to provide general safety guidance that might not be available to all researchers worldwide.
5) Using Centrifugal Devices
E.g. bench top centrifuge, high-speed centrifuge, mini centrifuge, automated homogenizer
1. Always balance a centrifuge by mass (not volume), especially high-speed centrifuges.
2. Ensure the centrifuge is properly closed before starting and wait for the centrifuge to attain maximum speed before walking away.
3. When centrifuging hazardous materials, use a bucket cover.
4. To minimize aerosol generation, wait for 10 minutes after the centrifuge has come to a stop before opening it. In case of a spill, clean up immediately with the appropriate reagents.
Note: These reminders are not a substitute for your institutional safety procedures or your lab-specific procedures but to provide general safety guidance that might not be available to all researchers worldwide.
6) Using Rocking or Rotating Devices
E.g. orbital shaker, shaking incubator, rocker.
1. Do not overfill flasks or containers, or overload the incubator.
2. Ensure tubes/bottles/flasks/containers are secured to the base of the platform using a sticky mat or appropriate holders and have stabilized at maximum speed before walking away.
3. Do not use an inappropriate-sized holder to secure a bottle e.g. using tissue to hold a 250ml flask in place in a 1L holder of a shaking incubator. You risk a failed experiment and could jeopardize your incubator should the flask fall out of the holder and the culture spill inside the incubator.
Note: These reminders are not a substitute for your institutional safety procedures or your lab-specific procedures but to provide general safety guidance that might not be available to all researchers worldwide.