1.1: Introduction
Goals
- Familiarize students with basic safety rules.
- Allow students to become familiar with the safety equipment in the laboratory.
Upon completion of this lab, students will be able to:
- Identify the location and proper use of emergency equipment.
Introduction
Laboratory safety involves all the measures taken by the laboratory worker, laboratory owner, institution, and regulatory agencies to eliminate potential harm to human health and well-being. Although steps are taken to reduce risks in the workplace, safety is a matter of personal responsibility. A biotechnology lab may have several safety hazards that must be known and understood by all students or employees working in the lab. It is the responsibility of each person in the lab to know and follow basic laboratory safety rules, understand how to safely operate equipment, understand the hazards of materials they are working with, and reduce potential risks. In the event of an accident, it is critical to know the location and use of emergency equipment. Having this knowledge should help to prevent accidents and minimize the damage that might occur in the event of an accident.