Introduction
Participation in a biology laboratory is a required part of most biology courses. When working in a lab, it is important for your own safety and for the safety of others that you understand the basic rules and guidelines that are standard for biology laboratory work. Collectively the general rules for work in a laboratory are known as safe laboratory practices. These rules are designed to keep you, your classmates, and your instructors safe when in the lab.
Students in the laboratory
Safety Categories
Work in any laboratory can expose you to dangers. The major types of dangers you would encounter in a biology laboratory are physical hazards, chemical hazards and biological hazards.
Physical hazards are dangers caused by objects or materials present in the lab, such as obstacles that may cause a person to trip or fall, glassware that may break and cause injury, or loose hair and clothing that may become entangled or catch fire during experimental procedures.
Chemical hazards are dangers posed by chemicals such as acids, bases, flammable liquids, and so forth.
Biological hazards are dangers posed by exposure to human or animal tissue, bodily fluids, and disease-causing organisms such as bacteria, protists, and viruses.
How can I reduce my risks?
All of these types of hazards can cause accidents or injury during the laboratory. However, following proper safe laboratory practices can reduce or eliminate the risks posed by physical, chemical and biological dangers.
To ensure that you, your classmates and your instructors remain safe when working in the laboratory, you must adhere to three basic guidelines: Proper behavior, proper clothing, and proper precautions.
https://www.msu.edu/~nixonjos/teaching/bio/safety/safety02.html
