Safety Management

"Safety doesn’t happen by accident"

Some people think that when something is bound to happen, it will happen. It doesn’t matter how cautious a person is to avoid it from happening, no one can escape from it. But should we think that way? Knowing something is already written in our story line, would we continue to make an effort? I guess no. So let me change your view. Our actions and choices make our own fate. What you do now fruits later. So if you want to be safe, do something. As the statement says above, safety doesn’t happen by accident.

In the laboratory, multiple hazards are inevitable. It may be chemical, biological, physical and electrical. So to scare you, which I think can aid you to be more cautious, let me enumerate the hazards in the laboratory. Possible hazards include compressed gases, electric shock, toxic vapors and irritants, flammable liquids, radioactive materials, corrosive substances, mechanical trauma, poisons, biologic material, cryogenic materials, toxic and highly toxic agent, reproductive toxic, carcinogen, irritant, tissue corrosive, sensitizer, liver, kidney, and nervous system toxins and agents that act on or damage other body systems: hematopoietic, lungs, skin, eyes, mucous membranes. It’s a lot right? Now, what can we do in order to avoid such? Let me state the basics.

We have the personal protective equipment, which I guess is the most important. It is composed of gloves, goggles, gown and facemask in order to protect us. Then we have the material safety data sheet, which gives information to the employees about hazardous substance that will be used. Also, we should be aware of where to find emergency materials (eye showers, fire extinguisher, kits) to avoid any worse instances. Lastly, let’s not forget the universal precaution, which focuses on treating all human body fluids as infectious.

Being knowledgeable about this topic would make the goal of Occupational Safety and Health Act possible. Its goal is to provide all employees with a safe working environment. But should we depend on better equipment and facilities in the laboratory in order to keep us safe? Nope. We should start with ourselves. As a common phrase goes, better to be safe than sorry.