Lab safety equipment is an integrated part of the whole safety system equipments in every chemical plant. It is provided in order to avoid lab accidents, reduce hazard (chemical, physical and biological) exposure and etc.
Various analytical works are carried out in laboratory everyday, which involve the use many hazardous chemicals or hazmat. As the consequences, many potential hazards are possible to happen in the laboratory, such as chemical spills, worker exposure to toxic gases, explosion, fire and electric shock.
So that’s why the equipment plays an important role in accident prevention inside the laboratory. It can save workers from death and injuries, and keep your accident statistic remain zero.
Then, what types of lab safety equipment do you have to provide? Here is the list.
Fire Lab Safety Equipment
There are many fire hazard sources inside the laboratory due to the existence of flammable liquid and gases, combustible materials, and fire sources such as electric sparks, high temperature surfaces and lighter. Fire accident can also happen through chemical reaction between two chemicals or more which can also cause explosion.
Fire extinguishers may become the most important fire lab safety equipment that has to be provided in the laboratory. Place only suitable type of fire extinguishers or multi purpose extinguishers.
Other fire lab safety equipments are emergency showers, which are designed to give first aid in case workers catch fire. Lab workers should wear fire-retardant capes to protect their body from flying sparks when they handle flammable gases or liquids.
Personal Protective short run market equilibrium Equipment
Harmful chemical splash into eyes should be anticipated by installing emergency eye washer or stations. It is described in MSDS that eyes have to be washed with water at least for 15 minutes after eye contamination with harmful chemicals.
Lab safety goggles are the first defense against chemical splash. Lab safety goggles can protect lab workers from such hazards.
Eye washer should be located in near workplace; free from dust and dirt, with room temperature, easy to operate, easy to reach and kept clean. Other personal protective equipments used in the laboratory are hand gloves, gas maskers and safety shoes.
Ventilation System
The next lab safety equipment is ventilation system. This type of lab safety equipment is required to keep the quality of air inside the laboratory. Air in the laboratory can be contaminated with toxic gas, flammable gas, flammable liquid vapors, etc. And these contaminants have to be removed from the laboratory continuously.
Air ventilation system is very essential to avoid fatal inhalation of toxic chemical or gases. Always refer to safety standard like EPA and OSHA when you are buying or designing air ventilation system for the laboratory.
Lab Safety Cabinets
Biological lab safety cabinet is required for biological laboratory to avoid contamination of biological hazards. However, it is uncommon for the laboratory in chemical plants.
The most common one is chemical safety cabinet. It is used for storing hazardous chemicals, i.e. laboratory reagents, standard solution and the like in the laboratory. Chemical safety which wood is good for dining table cabinet can be fire proof, explosion proof or even leak proof. It is usually equipped with high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters installed at air intake and air exhaust.
