Overview

• Post By : Editorial, Microbioz India


• Source: Microbioz India


• Date: 03 Mar,2023

The safe usage of a lab and its related equipment are referred to as lab safety. Chemical maintenance, hazard control, risk evaluation, and occupational injury prevention are all important parts of lab safety. The golden rule for lab safety is to be ready to handle a crisis before it occurs as prevention is always better than cure.

When it comes to the pharmaceutical sector, health and safety are critical components of employee sustainability and increased productivity. Pharmacists are constantly exposed to chemical and biological risks that are hazardous to their health. The scientific lab, with its fire threats, chemicals, and risky approaches, can be a potentially lethal setting at times. To avoid mishappenings, pharmaceutical safety rules, ranging from fundamental safeguards to highly specialized pharmaceutical precautions, must not be neglected.

Here are some lab safety rules that must be followed to maintain lab safety as well as the well-being of the employee and environment:

Basic safety rules

These lab safety standards apply to almost every laboratory and should be a part of all safety programs. These rules are beneficial not just in preventing an emergency but also in dealing with one effectively.

1. Know where laboratory safety facilities, eyewash facilities, and firefighting equipment are.
2. Never take snacks inside a laboratory.
3. Do not taste or smell the chemicals.
4. Proper disposal of trash is essential.
5. One should not mix chemicals randomly.
6. Lab experiments should not be moved from the lab,
7. Clean up any spills as soon as possible.
8. Keep a clean working environment.
9. Hands should be washed frequently.
10. Put on a lab coat.
11. No smoking in the laboratory.
12. Label containers properly.
13. Usage of safety glasses and other personal protective equipment (PPE)
14. Wear no apparel that exposes the flesh.
15. Check that glassware is not damaged and that all equipment is safe to use.
16. Never operate lab equipment that you have not been taught to use by your supervisor.
17. If an instrument or piece of equipment malfunctions during usage or isn’t working properly, notify a technician immediately. Never attempt to repair a piece of equipment on your own.
18. If you are the last person to leave the lab, ensure that all doors are locked and all ignition sources are off.
19. Do not work in the lab when you are alone.
20. Never leave an unattended experiment running.
21. Report all accidents immediately, even if the occurrence appears minor or insignificant.
22. If you have been injured, call for aid as soon as possible and as loudly as you can.
23. If your body part gets exposed to a chemical, wash the afflicted area(s) with water for at least 20 minuts.

Clothing Safety Rules:

Clothing safety: Representative image

Clothing safety rules for the lab are essential and should be taken care of while working in a laboratory. A proper dress code that helps to prevent the exposure of skin to chemicals should be there in a lab. Some important clothing rules are listed below.

1. Long hair should never be left open and should be tied back.
2. Any dangling jewelry or loose clothes should always be secured or avoided in the first place.
3. Shoes should fully cover the foot. One should never wear sandals or open footwear during lab activities.
4. Avoid wearing short clothes like skirts and shorts to prevent skin exposure to chemicals.
5. Acrylic nails are not permitted when working in the lab.

Personal safety rules:

Personal safety: Representative image

These rules cater to maintaining personal safety and protect employees from any hazards and accidents. It is advisable to follow these rules so that personal protection is taken care of. Below discussed are some safety rules for personal protection when working in a lab setting.

1. Always wear face shields or safety glasses when dealing with dangerous materials and chemicals.
2. Always wear protective gloves when working with any toxic agent.
3. When conducting laboratory experiments, always wear a lab coat.
4. Always wash your hands before leaving the lab or consuming food.
5. After experimenting, always wash your hands with soap and water.
6. Always keep your hands away from your body, mouth, eyes, and face when using lab equipment and chemicals.

Chemical Safety Rules:

Chemical safety: Representative image

Chemical safety rules are required because practically every lab uses chemicals of some kind. Obeying these rules helps workers avoid disasters like spillage and prevents environmental damage outside the lab. These rules also establish a thorough method for workers to follow in the case of a spill, ensuring that it is dealt with correctly and that injuries are minimum.

1. Every chemical substance should be dealt with as though it were hazardous.
2. No solvent should come into touch with your skin.
3. All chemical substances must be clearly labeled with the name of the material property.
4. Check the label twice before emptying any of the contents of a chemical containers.
5. Take no more chemicals from a container than you require for your work.
6. Do not restore leftover chemicals to their original container.
7. Never take chemicals or other items out of the lab.
8. In no case can chemicals be combined in sink drains.
9. Only utilize flammable and volatile compounds in a fume hood.

Conclusion:

It is impossible to ignore the need for lab safety. In addition to the risk of accidents and injuries, labs offer a hazard to the general public because harmful materials and solid wastes might get discharged into the environment if sufficient safety precautions are not taken. Operating in a lab is risky, and lab workers and specialists must receive training on the process to stay updated on the essential safety rules they must take regularly.