Lab Safety
Lab Safety - Related Videos
03:06
Proper Lab Notebook Keeping - Concepts
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2020
Organic Lab Notebook Keeping Record keeping is a vital skill in science and organic chemistry labs. Without proper notes, descriptions, quantities, or observations, an experiment conducted in the lab cannot be replicated or reproduced. Therefore, keeping an accurate and up-to-date notebook is necessary to achieve reproducibility in science. A laboratory notebook is a powerful tool in both academic and industrial settings. It becomes especially important when a discovery is patented and...
02:30
Proper Lab Notebook Keeping - Instructor Prep
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2020
Source: Lara Al Hariri at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, MA, USA Preparation of the LaboratoryExpand Here, we show the laboratory preparation for 10 students working in pairs, with some excess. Please adjust quantities as needed. Put on a lab coat, splash-proof safety glasses, and nitrile gloves. You'll work in a fume hood because these acids are toxic and corrosive. Ensure that the lab has containers for concentrated acid waste, aqueous acid waste, and glass waste.
04:53
Electrical Safety
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2023
Robert M. Rioux & Suprita Jharimune, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA Among the many hazards present in the laboratory, electrical hazards are one of the most common we must be cognizant of since most of the laboratory equipment we use requires electricity for operation. Improper handling or operation of electrical devices might lead to electric shock with the potential risk of injury or even death. Electric sparks can lead to fire or explosion (since many flammable...
04:14
Lab Techniques - Concepts
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2020
Measurement Accuracy The ability to repeat an experiment and get the same results, or reproducibility, is essential in scientific research. However, it’s impossible to repeat an experiment if you don’t know how you did it. Thus, scientists keep detailed records of their experiments in lab notebooks. These records include important information like the amount of each material used and descriptions of each step of the procedure. Equipment, like balances and volumetric or graduated glassware, is...
01:21
Lab Techniques - Instructor Prep
0 Views •
2020
Source: Smaa Koraym at Johns Hopkins University, MD, USA Preparation of LaboratoryExpand Here we show the laboratory preparation for 10 students working individually, with some excess. Please adjust quantities as needed. To set up for this lab experiment, wear the appropriate personal protective equipment, including a lab coat, chemical splash goggles, and gloves. Obtain enough small plastic bottles with caps for the number of students and label them ‘NaCl’. Use a...
FAQs
Risk assessment connects identified hazards with appropriate controls. In a biology laboratory, researchers consider biological, chemical, physical, and equipment hazards before work begins, then select measures such as personal protective equipment, containment, labeling, hand hygiene, disinfection, or waste controls. This targeted approach lowers both the chance of an incident and the potential consequences if one occurs.
Contamination control protects two outcomes at once: people and data. Hand hygiene, containment, disinfection, labeling, and appropriate waste disposal help prevent biological material from spreading between workers, work areas, or experiments. By limiting cross-contamination, these practices also preserve the integrity of biological samples and make experimental results more reliable, rather than treating safety as separate from scientific quality.
Biology laboratories may also present chemical, physical, and equipment-related hazards. Focusing only on biological material can leave important risks unrecognized, whereas a broader assessment supports appropriate controls for the full work environment. This comprehensive approach helps protect students, technicians, and researchers while supporting responsible work and regulatory compliance.
Before work, identify biological, chemical, physical, and equipment hazards through risk assessment. During the activity, use the controls selected for those risks, including PPE, hand hygiene, containment, and clear labeling. Afterward, disinfect relevant areas and dispose of waste properly. Following this sequence integrates prevention, controlled handling, and cleanup into one consistent workflow.
Personal protective equipment helps reduce individual exposure, while containment helps control biological materials within the work process. Their roles are complementary rather than interchangeable: one focuses on protecting the person, and the other limits the spread of material. Selecting these controls in response to identified hazards strengthens protection and supports cleaner experimental conditions.
It is essential whenever students, technicians, or researchers handle biological materials or work with laboratory equipment and related hazards. Applying the practices consistently creates a secure environment, supports regulatory compliance, and reduces exposure and contamination risks. The same principles also help protect experimental reliability, making them relevant to routine teaching activities as well as research workflows.