Fewer risks in the laboratory

Simple tools for more safety during laboratory work

There are numerous risks involved in laboratory work - for the health of the staff as well as the quality of work performance. However, these risks can be minimized by observing some simple rules.

Good communication is key - especially when working in the lab

An important foundation for successful and safe lab work is functioning communication processes. These processes should be carefully developed by the responsible individuals, i.e. management or head of the department or unit, and put in place so they are comprehensible for all employees. It makes sense to include the experiences and needs of the staff and not act according to a rigid top-down principle. Only if a process is understood it is supported and practised by all employees. It is therefore important to develop and promote acceptance of the process and mutual understanding. Individuals who perform lab work at their work station with risks for themselves and their environment, should always, for example, inform colleagues working next to them in advance. This is the principle that everyone is responsible for everyone else's safety in the laboratory.

Creating structures means minimizing risks

In the laboratory potential risks can be curbed beforehand when planning the external conditions. Workplaces should always be equipped so that they support the safe daily routine of the laboratory work. In many cases it may be helpful to assign work equipment to certain areas. For example, it is imperative in genetic engineering laboratories, owing to the increased risks of contamination that work materials do not wander from one area to another. Laboratory chairs can also make a valuable contribution here. If for example these chairs can be clearly assigned to a certain location, the risks of a mix-up are minimized. It can then be assumed that the chairs will always only be used where they should be in terms of safe laboratory work.

The simplest way to better safety in the laboratory: Maintain order!

Even the best of structures can only work when they are actually put into practice. A big challenge in everyday laboratory work is consistent compliance with the principles of order. This may mean preventing laboratory access for contaminating objects by exercising caution and common sense, not leaving out hazardous substances after the end of the experiment or taking down temporary test setups straight away. Laboratory chairs, laboratory standing rests and laboratory stools can be true factors in avoiding risks here because a compact design not only saves valuable space, but also facilitates rapid clean-up. So, if principles of order are to be adhered to, they need to be easy to follow, and this is particularly relevant to laboratory work.



Need chairs, stools and standing aids for a safe laboratory? Click on the link below to discover the range of laboratory chairs from Bimos.

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