Laboratory Hazards: The 5 Types and How to Control Them

Laboratory hazards are defined as any activity, agent or condition that can cause harm to personnel or equipment in a laboratory environment. Such hazards are usually broken down into five key categories. In this guide, we’ll explore the hazard types in more detail and advise on how to maintain safety.

What are the 5 Types of Laboratory Hazards?

These microorganisms are usually yeast, fungi or bacteria. Generally speaking, we can split the types of laboratory hazards into the following categories:

• Chemical hazards, e.g. toxic, corrosive and flammable substances.
• Biological hazards, e.g. infectious agents.
• Physical hazards, e.g. slips, sharps accidents, electrical risks.
• Fire hazards, e.g. flammable materials, ignition sources.
• Ergonomic hazards, e.g. repetitive strain from prolonged standing or repeated motion.

What Are Chemical Hazards in a Laboratory?

Chemical hazards are substances that can cause harm through contact, inhalation or reaction: toxic, corrosive, flammable and reactive materials. They are controlled through correct labelling, appropriate storage, careful handling, laboratory ventilation and personal protective equipment such as gloves, eye protection and lab coats.

Chemical hazards provide some of the most common risks in a busy laboratory, particularly in clinical, pharmaceutical, research and manufacturing labs. Unforeseen chemical exposure can cause severe injuries or illness for lab workers if not properly handled. To manage the risks of chemical hazards, the following safety measures are key:

• Clear and correct labelling
• Proper storage
• Careful handling
• Ventilation in the laboratory
• Appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) such as gloves and lab coats

What Are Biological Hazards?

Biological hazards are organisms or materials of biological origin that can harm human health, including bacteria, viruses, fungi and infectious samples. They are controlled through proper sterilisation of equipment, good hygiene practice, containment appropriate to the agent, and personal protective equipment including gloves and face protection.

Medical, microbiological and life science labs are at greater risk of examples of biological hazards. These laboratories may work with biological agents that are hazardous to humans, and which can pose severe risks to lab workers if the correct protocols are not adhered to. Biological hazards can be managed by implementing the following procedures:

• Proper sterilisation of equipment
• Good hygiene practice
• Appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE). Gloves and face masks are vital.

What Are Physical Hazards in a Laboratory?

Physical hazards are the non-chemical, non-biological risks present in any lab: wet floors, sharps, heavy or awkward equipment, and electrical faults. They are controlled through good housekeeping, wet floor signage, portable appliance testing, manual handling training, suitable footwear and regular safety inspections.

Everyday environmental hazards are one of the often forgotten risks of working within a laboratory. Such physical hazards can be anything from a slippery floor after it has been cleaned, a sharp piece of equipment, an object that is heavy and difficult to lift, or common electrical hazards. A clean and well organised workspace can help to manage most of these concerns. Our tips for ensuring as little risk as possible are:

• Wet floor signs
• Proper electrical testing and maintenance
• Training and correct handling when using and lifting machinery
• Wearing appropriate footwear in the lab
• Regular safety inspections of the laboratory space

What Are Ergonomic Hazards in a Laboratory?

Ergonomic hazards come from how laboratory work is performed rather than what is handled: prolonged standing, repetitive pipetting, awkward reaching and poor posture, which together cause musculoskeletal disorders. They are controlled through ergonomic equipment, regular breaks, task rotation, and automating the most repetitive steps.

Laboratory work can often be repetitive and time intensive, so workers in a lab may need to stand for prolonged periods of time and conduct repetitive motions. These conditions, as well as poor posture at work, can cause severe physical strain. To mitigate such risks, we recommend:

• Ergonomic equipment
• Regular breaks
• Vary tasks to reduce the risk of repetitive strain

What Are Fire Hazards in a Laboratory?

Fire hazards in a laboratory come from three sources: flammable chemicals, electrical equipment and open flames. Control depends on correct storage of flammables, maintained electrical equipment, clear ignition source management, accessible extinguishers suited to the materials present, and emergency procedures that staff have actually rehearsed.

The risk of fire in laboratories is increased by the prevalence of Bunsen burners, the volatile solvents and unavoidable electrical sparks. The following steps should be implemented to manage these risks:

Storing flammable liquids in fire cabinets

Accessible fire blankets and extinguishers

Never leaving open flames unattended

How Do You Handle Hazardous Materials Safely?

When handling hazardous material in the workplace, it’s vital to know exactly what you have. Safe hazardous material handling starts with: a current inventory, accessible safety data sheets and correct labelling. Then, suitable storage, appropriate PPE, engineering controls such as fume extraction, defined spill procedures, and trained staff. If dealing with hazardous waste in a laboratory, it’s essential that the waste is segregated and disposed of through the correct route.

How Do You Maintain Laboratory Safety?

Lab safety is maintained through six things:

• Comprehensive personal safety training
• Prepare for emergencies with response plans and first aid
• Regular risk assessment of hazards and implement control procedures
• Supply lab workers with personal protective equipment (PPE)
• Maintain a clean and organised lab
• Communicate about safety and report any incidents or near misses

Safe laboratories rely on ongoing monitoring and a proactive safety approach. Each of the above lab safety procedures needs consistent reviewing and renewing, rather than setting once. By adhering to these six safety procedures, and prioritising best practice, you can reduce the risk of accidents in your lab environment. For information on how to automate lab processes to reduce the repetitiveness of lab tasks, contact Astech.