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Articles for tag: Lab Safety
Incidentally … Reporting Lab Incidents
Exploding refrigerator? Chemical splash on the face? These incidents -- and near-misses! -- can be personally devastating and expensive.
Walk This Way: Shoes To Wear In the Lab
“Closed-toe shoes are mandated by the CDC through the Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories (BMBL) publication and should be worn by people within the labs,” stated David Brammer, D.V.M.; DACLAM, executive director and chief veterinarian for Animal Care Operations at the University of Houston.
Hey, Don’t Eat That! Food in the Research Lab
Other than being unhygienic and just messy – leading to unsanitary conditions such as sticky keyboards in a computer lab where shared equipment resides (yuck!) – it is extremely dangerous to swallow any number of things found in a lab.
Light Safety, Heavy Consequences
Don’t go into the light (without proper safety precautions!) We all remember the mom from the famous movie, Poltergeist, relentlessly instructing little Carol Anne to run towards the light in order to save herself from ghosts. In that situation, the light saved Carol Anne’s life, but we all know Poltergeist is just a movie. In ...
The Human Touch: Camaraderie Promotes Safety in the Lab
For the most part, we all know how important it is to adhere to universal lab safety rules such as wearing closed-toe shoes or properly labeling all chemicals. Oftentimes, we forget about the human relations side of the safety equation. Cultivating positive working relationships with colleagues is as important (maybe even more so) as learning ...
Just-in-Case-Mentality in Inventory Management
Minimalism in Inventory Management The concept of minimalism has recently exploded in popular culture. YouTube gurus and Marie Kondo, star of the Netflix original series “Tidying Up with Marie Kondo,” alike, have urged us all to adopt minimalist habits. There are some things you can learn from the concept when it comes to inventory management. ...
Are You Down With PPE?
Fashion does exist in a science lab. Although the attire may not be the latest trendy jacket or shoes, all the cool science kids wear PPE (personal protective equipment) while making discoveries and solving the world’s biggest mysteries. Furthermore, consistently wearing PPE is extremely important and a critical part of the scientific process. “Appropriate personal ...
When Buying Off eBay Goes Bad!
Penny-Pinching PIs Life is expensive and all of us try to save money when we can. On a good day, we’re able to save a lot of money on the things we need by using online platforms such as Amazon or eBay. Saving a dollar or two on milk or Kleenex is like hitting a ...
What’s Your Sign? Creating Effective Lab Signage
When safety in the lab depends on instructions, thoughtful (and colorful) signage makes a huge difference in creating standard, impactful communication. I recruited David Brammer, executive director of Animal Care Operations and Chief Veterinarian at UH, to help me better understand the components of effective science lab signage and communication. Not only is Dr. Brammer ...
Ditch One Size Fits All Safety Protocols
Safety protocols are only as good as the Principal Investigators who enforce them and the students who adopt them. Operating a lab is no easy feat. It takes patience, consistency and teamwork. In an attempt to learn more about how PIs create a culture of safety, I reached to a few across our university campus ...
Café O’ Fume Hood is NOT served here: Creating a Culture of Safety in the Lab
Meet Joe Tremont…he’s the University of Houston’s director of environmental health and life safety. His job is to keep our researchers safe and prevent things from blowing up in the meantime.
