GLT 101: Hazards & Safety in the Laboratory/Laboratory Maintenance & Fittings (2 Units C:

LH 15; PH 45)
Learning Outcomes Students who successfully complete this course should:
1. have the enabling knowledge to bring laboratory accidents to the barest minimum;
2. be able to install, care, and maintain common laboratory equipment and fittings;
3. be able to administer first aid treatment for common laboratory accidents.
Course Contents Accidents and control measures.
Common laboratory accidents/injuries and their control measures.
Hazards and caution in the use of electricity supplies.
Causes of fire in the laboratory. Precautions against fire and explosion.
Action in an emergency involving fire, explosion and implosion. Burns and scalds.
Types and operation of firefighting equipment.
First aid treatment: first aid treatment of common injuries encountered in laboratories.
Treatment of shock. Dealing with various bleedings. Wounds, burns and poison, eye injuries.
First aid box: description, construction, location and contents of first aid box.
Maintenance of laboratory equipment: installation of common laboratory equipment.
Care and maintenance of laboratory equipment.
(a) Trouble shooting and fault finding
(b) Servicing and repairs of common laboratory equipment.
What is a hazard in the laboratory?
This is anything that predisposes a person to having an accident or injury in the laboratory.
Accident on the other hand is an unexpected event with grave consequences occurring
without the intention of the one suffering the consequences.
It is a popular opinion that accidents don’t occur but they are caused. Thus, accidents occur
when hazards are ignored.
Types of Hazards
1. Biological
2. Chemical
3. Mechanical
4. Electrical
5. Heat
6. Electromagnetic Radiation
7. Ionizing Radiation
8. Noise
Mechanical Hazard
This type of hazard includes a falling object, object rolling / moving at a high speed and
protruded objects. It can also occur due to failure of equipment, incorrect or careless use of
hand tools, faulty or damaged tools
A falling object possesses a potential energy
………………...1
where m is the mass of the object, g is the acceleration due to gravity and h is the height of
the object to a reference floor.
While the energy possessed by an object of mass m, moving with a velocity v is given by
……………………..2
This energy may be tangentially or fully delivered to the object in contact with the body.
Hence the injury could be severe.
A protruded object could depending on its height could make a person slip or fall or injured
any part of the body especially the eye or the head.
To mitigate mechanical hazards in the laboratory:
 Heavy objects are placed either on the floor or on the lower shelves.
 Stools are placed in the spaces between cupboards on laboratory benches.
 The pathways in the laboratory should be free of any object.
 Apparatus not in immediate use should be put away either in the cupboard or the
laboratory store.
 All machines, whether hand- or power-operated should be fitted with appropriate
guards or other safety devises
 Wear correct protective clothing and other apparel appropriate to the work you are
doing in the laboratory.
 Never tried to stop a moving machine, for example centrifuge, with your hand. The
periphery of a 0.1 m radius rotor cycling at 5000 rpm is travelling at over 50 m.s-1.
 Always balance the load on the centrifuge accurately before switching on to avoid
putting undue stress on the bearings.
Electrical Hazard
Electrical hazards occur in the laboratory due careless / unskilled workmanship as well as
faulty / worn-out equipment.
The most common hazards associated with the use of electrical equipment are electric shock,
burning, radiation damage and fire.
Wiring the Plug of an Electrical Equipment
The plug of an electrical equipment used to come with two or three pins. These pins come in
specific colors to represent live, neutral and Earth terminals. The live terminal can be either
red, brown or white. Neutral is usually colored either blue or black while the earth terminal is
green and yellow stripes.
  Trim the wires and insulation to the correct length.
 Twist the bare ends of the wire into a clockwise loop.
 Wrap the trimmed wires round the appropriate terminals and screw down firmly.
Check that the wires are firmly gripped.
 Fix the flex firmly by the strap so that no strain can be placed on the terminals in the
plug.
 Ensure that there are no loose strands of wire to cause short circuits within the plug.
 Replace the plug top and screw tightly.
 Static electricity can cause fires and explosions, especially when pouring non-
conducting flammable materials.
Handling Direct Current Sources in the Laboratory
Direct current sources in the laboratory include:
 Chemical batteries such as lead acid, Leclanché cell (Zinc-carbon battery), Solar
energy and rectified dc from mains supply.
 Do not allow the solvents in the battery spill on lab benches or body.
 When preparing the solvent, add acid to water but not water to acid.
 If acid spill on body rinse copiously with water.
Electric Shock
You might have come across a dictum that ‘Voltage does not kill, current does’, how correct
is this saying?
The truth is that current cannot flow except there is a potential difference between two
electric points. The electrical resistance of the skin depends on the moisture content of the
skin. Hence a wet skin conducts more than a dry skin. With a skin resistance of 10 kΩ a 240
V mains supply could result in a current of more than 20 mA.
A stage of severe muscular contraction, that makes it difficult for the casualty to release his
hold is reached, when the current increases. This stage is called the ‘threshold of muscular
decontrol’ and it occurs at 15 mA at 50 Hz a.c and 70 mA d.c. This effect increases with
frequency at lower frequency ranges. For instance, it is 7 mA at 60 Hz. Very high currents do
not produce this effect. Increase in current to 20 mA 50 Hz a.c. or 80 mA d.c. results in
danger to life. The next stage is irregular is irregular contractions to heart, leading to
cessation of the pumping action, which occurs 100 mA for both a.c. and d.c. and is almost
certainly fatal. If the current rises as high as 1 A, severe burning results.
Capacitors stored very high charges which may be released through the body parts of the
body short-circuited its terminals.
This consideration is valid when electric current passes through the body. However, in
practice a part of the body, such as a finger or hand may be short circuited by two conductors
at different electric potential. This may produce a less severe electric shock but may lead to
severe, localized electrical burns.
Factors to Mitigate Electrical Hazards
 Wear gloves and shoes when operating a/or repairing electrical equipment.
 Ensure proper wiring of terminal plugs.
  Avoid loose wires that can cause short circuit.
 If possible, use one hand and insert the other hand in your pocket when working an
electrical equipment.
 Discharge a capacitor fully with a discharge rod before handling it.
 Switches must be adequately designed and serviced.
 Appropriate fuse or circuit breaker must be used at the central distribution system.
 All equipment should be systematically checked for caked or open cable wires for
immediate repairs.
 The mains supply should be provided with adequate earth terminal.
 Remember that capacitors can deliver a powerful shock even when the power supply
is isolated. Hence, always short the terminals on a capacitor before attempting to
service an item of equipment.
 Protect cables and leads with suitably covered materials especially in atmospheres
where corrosive chemicals or solvents are used.
 Use adequate fuse and earth. Don’t rely on simple soldered joints for an earth
connection but rather use a screw as well because the joint may be dry.
 Do not allow cables to trail loosely across the floor or hang loosely overhead but
strapped into neat bundles and be secured.
Radiation
There are two types of radiations that may be encountered in the laboratory. They are ionizing
and non-ionizing radiations.
Materials that may predispose a laboratory user to ionizing radiation include uranium,
thorium, rubidium, potassium and their compounds as well as X-rays and gamma rays. Their
use in the laboratory are highly regulated.
The non-ionizing radiation sources are more common. They include High voltage/frequency
electrical equipment, pulsating signal generators, Humming motors, ovens, television /
computer monitors, ultraviolet, infrared, laser and radio equipment.
Mitigating Factors
 Adhere strictly to the normal laboratory rules of no to smoking, eating or drinking in
the laboratory.
 Laboratory clothing and other protective devices should be worn. Materials worn for
working ionizing radiation should be kept withing the laboratory.
 Hands must be thoroughly washed and monitored after each practical class.
Disposable towels should be used.
 Radioactive sources must be prevented from coming in contact with the skin.
 Only very small amount of radioactive sources required for a specific purpose should
be ordered from the manufacturer and unused sources should be kept in in a shielded
container.
 Mouth operations such as pipetting and licking labels should be avoided.
 Disposable protective gloves should be used.
 If possible, a working area should be dedicated for exclusive working with
radioactive sources.
 Glassware for use with radioactive sources should be kept solely for such use and
 stored separately.
 Radioactive wastes must be professionally disposed.
 Appropriate labels should be placed on materials and areas used for radioactive
sources.
 Ultraviolet and infrared bulbs should be properly shielded and eye protection source
should be worn when exposed. Sources must not be viewed directly.