Precautionary Measures For Lab Safety
All biological and pharmaceutical labs, large medical establishments, hospitals, blood banks, etc have to follow all the rules and regulations set by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration). A large number of biological compounds retain their potency, viability and stability only if they are stored in a very controlled environment. In the lab, this controlled environment must always be maintained.
Biological materials are stored for scientific and medical investigation, research and development studies, bioinformatics and biological modeling, etc. Vaccines, enzymes, antibiotics and blood samples are extremely sensitive so as much as possible, their storage temperature should be kept constant. They are also very susceptible to contamination. Preserving the consistency of the biological products stored in the lab is one of the most difficult tasks for the lab personnel. The FDA has made it much easier by establishing standard guidelines and clear-cut protocol that all labs have to remain compliant with.
Lab refrigerators, blood bank refrigerators, temperature stability chambers, temperature test chambers, lab freezers, lab incubators and chromatography refrigerators are examples of a stable environment. All labs should restrict the storage of food, beverages and aerated drinks in a refrigerator that stores enzymes, vaccines and cell media. Food products should always be stored in a separate refrigerator and must be labeled ‘FOOD-ONLY’.
Combustible and corrosive chemicals that are used in many scientific studies must be stored in flammable storage freezers and flammable storage refrigerators. These refrigerators have been specially designed to handle corrosive substances. They are essential in ensuring the safety of lab personnel and lab property while handling volatile gases and vapors. These units have to be certified as flammable-safe and explosion-proof. Other laboratory refrigerators that do not have this certification must bear a statement of caution to prohibit the storage of these types of highly flammable substances.
Crucial parts of the laboratory refrigerator like the compressor and thermostat are easy targets for electrical sparking. So, it is advisable to store volatile substances in flammable storage cabinets where they are far away from any possible sources of ignition. Highly flammable gases and vapors can get ignited and will most likely cause accident. Lab personnel may even get killed in such a situation. Therefore, it is extremely important for labs to follow certain specified safety norms.
A few other points that lab personnel must be aware of include keeping the fire escape free of any obstructions to safety in case of a fire accident, easy and unrestricted access to eyewashes and showers for for accidental contact of chemicals to skin and leaving a lot of space around the electronic equipment to avoid blockage of electric panels. Additionally, flexible electric extension cords should never be used; compressed gas cylinders must always be in an upright position and strapped and chained in place to keep their stability.
