Lab safety is the overriding priority of lab managers because, in addition to the ethical need to protect workers, a proven safety record has significant benefits including:
- A more attractive proposition for funding and investment.
- Less resources (time and money) spent compensating for, investigating and rectifying incidents.
- Greater protection for the integrity of scientific processes.
- Compliance with relevant regulations e.g. COSHH.
- Enhances the lab’s professional reputation.
- Supports the lab operator’s ability to recruit and retain workers.
- Positive impact on the availability of cover and cost of property and liability insurances.
So, the greater the control a manager has over lab safety the more successful and sustainable the lab will be and the conventional approach of ‘learning from our mistakes’ is no longer enough to achieve this.
Proactive lab management
A proactive approach to lab management aims to continuously improve safety standards, preventing incidents happening if at all possible, and minimising the impact of any risks that can’t be completely eliminated. It’s an ongoing process that encourages awareness, the sharing of ideas and the reporting of hazards and concerns.
At TEL we think about it in terms of:
- People
Proactive lab management is rooted in a culture of openness where all employees are genuinely engaged in – and feel a sense of individual and collective responsibility for – safety. Employees should be encouraged to voice (not hide) any concerns or ideas they have that might help keep themselves and others safe.
- Processes and Procedures
These provide a detailed framework on to which a strong and proactive safety culture can be grafted. They outline how people should work, how materials and equipment should be used and stored, and how to identifying risks that are not immediately obvious, or haven’t been considered before.
- Equipment
Investing in safe, high quality, reliable lab equipment and PPE can save considerable costs and provide valuable peace of mind. The front line defence against the gases and other noxious substances released into the air during lab work is the fume cupboard. Ventilating them effectively, using TEL’s products and solutions, helps lab managers anticipate and prevent incidents occurring.
And we’re always looking to improve what we do too.
For example, we know that when carbon filters get saturated, they stop protecting against harmful chemicals, putting lab users at risk. So, we recently upgraded our AFA4000/E VAV airflow controller with a remote organic vapor gas sensor (AFA4000/E/GS). This enables lab managers to continuously monitor carbon filter saturation levels in real time, and its dynamic graph shows them precisely when a filter needs replacing. If saturation is detected, an alarm is triggered so lab managers can act quickly and decisively.
Need a proactive partner in lab safety? Give the team a call on +44 (0) 1457 865 635.
