Laboratory Accidents

I'd like to believe safety in Laboratories is improving. On the surface that is what this graph shows.

Sadly, considering the impact COVID had on laboratory operations in most of 2020 and continues to have through the first part of 2021 I suspect that is not the case. Rather it just represents the downturn in laboratory operations during the pandemic. Fewer people working in laboratories results in fewer accidents.

Worse, these figures are based on data that can be found in the public domain. The reality is that many smaller fires and even explosions go unreported outside the organization. Others may only be reported locally and are missed in my searches. So the numbers are certainly actually higher, probably much higher. Additionally these figures probably poorly cover smaller incidents, such as the fire that self extinguishes or is put out quickly with a single extinguisher. These type incidents rarely are reported outside the organization, some may even be poorly reported inside the organization. More than usual, I suspect, may have gone unreported in laboratories with skeleton staffs during these last 18 months. If something "minor" happens while no one else is around, the temptation to clean up the mess, fix the immediate problem, avoiding any extra fuss and reporting and simply proceed with your work can often prove irresistible. While apparently less serious these are harbingers of the potential for larger and more serious incidents unless properly investigated and the root causes identified and adequately mitigated or eliminated.

But despite this data, most organizations will honestly declare that they believe their laboratories are safe. They may, if pressed, mention a few areas that need some improvement but are quick to add that they are working to address these. Overall, they feel they are in good shape. I worry that too many are not anywhere as safe as they beleive, mostly because they don't recognize many of their potential hazards.

I contend that many laboratories have problems and hazards that go unrecognized for extended periods until one day they result in a fire or explosion. Academic laboratories, in particular, may well not be anywhere as safe as they believe. In academic settings, the actual laboratory work is often loosely supervised by a PI with limited safety knowledge and numerous other responsibilities. They are supported by an overall safety group that is under staffed, over worked, and often struggle to enforce existing safety rules and procedures never mind identify new issues. The result is often an accident waiting to happen. It's not that anyone does not care. It's not that anyone is willing to accept an accident. It's not that anyone wants to risk someone getting hurt. It is that too many of the people involved from safety, to the PI, to the technician or graduate student are unfamiliar with many of the hazards. Worse, where they have a theoretical understanding of the hazard, they often fail to be able to use this theoretical knowledge to identify actual hazards in their laboratory facility, equipment, or operations. Often their risk assessments are incomplete, inadequate, and simply wrong - that is where they even exist.

So if you feel safe in your laboratory, I suggest you may well be wrong.

For suggestions about identifying risks and hazards in laboratories and avoiding being a future statistic please consider the following resources.

“We Are Comfortable with Our Current Safety Procedures”: How Do You Prevent Something You Don’t Recognize?, https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/we-comfortable-our-current-safety-procedures-how-do-you-palluzi

“We Didn’t Think That Through”: Emergency Response in Research Applications, https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/we-didnt-think-through-emergency-response-research-richard-palluzi

“My Laboratory is Very Safe.”: The Dangers of Myopic Looks at Laboratory Safety, https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/my-laboratory-very-safe-dangers-myopic-looks-safety-richard-palluzi

The Ten Most Common Laboratory Ventilation Mistakes, https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/ten-most-common-laboratory-ventilation-mistakes-richard-palluzi/

“But It Is Only A Laboratory”: The Often Overlooked Hazards Inherent in Laboratory Operations, https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/only-laboratory-often-overlooked-hazards-inherent-richard-palluzi/

The 10 Most Common Laboratory Compressed Gas Cylinder Safety Issues, https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/10-most-common-laboratory-compressed-gas-cylinder-safety-palluzi/

The Ten Most Common Laboratory Safety Issues, https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/ten-most-common-laboratory-safety-issues-richard-palluzi/

“How Could This Have Happened?”: The Often Overlooked Hazards of Moving Chemicals Within A Research Facility, https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/how-could-have-happened-often-overlooked-hazards-moving-palluzi/

Preventing Fires and Explosions in Pilot Plants and Laboratory Units, https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/preventing-fires-explosions-pilot-plants-laboratory-units-palluzi/