Working in a laboratory is an exciting career choice that allows people to impact the world positively. However, this doesn’t mean that it doesn’t come with its share of hazards. While rewarding, lab work means that lab professionals face dangerous conditions often, so understanding operational guidelines is a must. Here are some safety rules all lab technicians need to know.
Safety Equipment Locations
Accidents happen even to the most qualified professionals. It’s always a good idea to know where your lab stores safety equipment in the event of an emergency. Do you know where the fire extinguisher is? Is the safety shower working? Quickly locating essential safety equipment could be the difference between a minor slip-up and a significant injury, so be sure to know where everything is.
Dress Appropriately
In a laboratory setting, clothing can be a major form of protection. However, it can also cause problems if professionals aren’t dressing appropriately. Lab-appropriate attire includes wearing closed-toed shoes, long pants, and tying up hair and cloth that may dangle. Lab technicians should also consistently wear safety gear like goggles, aprons, and sanitized uniforms to avoid challenging the integrity of an experiment.
Handle With Care
One of the most crucial safety rules all lab technicians need to know is about dealing with substances and specimens. Depending on the type of experiment, professionals might have exposure to harmful chemicals or infected samples that could jeopardize their health. Make sure that you’re handling everything with extreme care by reading labels, using sterilized equipment, and following observational protocols such as wafting fumes instead of directly sniffing.
Proper Waste Disposal
Experiments don’t end once professionals collect all of the data. Technicians must still go through a proper waste disposal process to eliminate potentially harmful biohazards. Lab techs should know how to safely handle lab packs, including handling, storing, and discarding. Some might even consider working with a third-party waste removal service to carry out the process correctly.
The work of laboratory technicians is vital to the success of so many fields, including medicine and research. As such, it’s important that current and potential lab professionals know the risks and how to protect themselves. Ultimately, working in a safe laboratory environment will ensure that technicians do everything they can to avoid mishaps that could endanger themselves or others.
