Safety in Science

Experimental science is a surprisingly safe activity: "Safe" in that the safety record of experimental laboratories is better than most other industries; "surprisingly", in that the traditional image of lab scientists is that they're constantly blowing things up and otherwise endangering themselves, their fellow-scientists, and their unsuspecting neighbors. But there are hazards associated with experimental science, and there is usually room for improving the safety record of an experimental facility. We'll explore what laboratory safety means and how it affects the way we conduct science.

• What are the hazards?

  • Chemicals
  • Chemical toxicants: acute, chronic;
    carcinogens, mutagens, teratogens, allergens
  • corrosives, oxidizing agents, acids, explosives
  • radioactive substances (α &beta, γ emitters)
  • physical hazards
    • trip hazards
    • electrical shock
    • equipment hazards: cuts, punctures
    • inhaled or ingested physical carcinogens: asbestos
    • electromagnetic radiation:
      infrared, visible, ultraviolet, soft X-ray, hard X-ray, gammas
  • biohazards
    • infectious agents
    • immunotoxins
    • biological carcinogens, teratogens, mutagens
  • fire
    • class A, B, C
    • different fire-fighting techniques for each
    • See summary of portable fire-extinguisher categories

• Where do we encounter them?

  • inherently dangerous activities (rare!)
  • poorly planned experiments
  • accidents
  • deliberate sabotage

• How do we render hazards unlikely?

  • planning, judgement
  • working with others
  • physical protection:
    eyewear, sturdy shoes, appropriate clothing, grounding
  • properly maintained safety equipment:
    eyewash, safety shower, fire extinguishers, blankets
  • correcting small problems before they become large

• How do we deal with damage?

  • first aid
  • documenting the problem and the solution
  • correcting the problem
  • shutdown?

• How hard should we work to avoid hazards?

  • ALARA (as low as reasonably achievable) exposure
  • unreasonably heroic efforts are bad for efficiency and morale
  • paperwork is part of the avoidance process

• The Materials Safety Data Sheet

  • a short description of all the hazards associated with a substance
  • available for most commercially available chemical substances
    and even some wacky experimental samples
  • see example MSDS's

• Health Effects of Ionizing Radiation

  • first X-ray accident occurred within weeks of Roentgen's discovery
  • public's concern is great--based on Hiroshima
  • number of documented cases is small

• Smoking

  • causes vastly more health effects (even among laboratory workers)
    than their jobs
  • potentiates the effects of other hazards:
    the uranium miner data