When working in a lab, it is important to have the correct safety equipment in place.
Buying laboratory-standard safety equipment is an important task for any lab. It is possible to
find second-hand lab safety equipment for those on a budget, but it is essential that these items
be in perfect working order to ensure maximum safety.
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Five of the most critical pieces of laboratory safety equipment
1. FIVE OF THE MOST CRITICAL PIECES OF LABORATORY SAFETY EQUIPMENT
2. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
When working in a lab, it is important to have the correct safety equipment in
place.
Buying laboratory-standard safety equipment is an important task for any lab.
It is possible to find second-hand lab safety equipment for those on a budget,
but it is essential that these items be in perfect working order to ensure
maximum safety.
3. SAFETY GOGGLES
Safety goggles have large, toughened plastic lenses, and you wear them in
the same fashion as glasses.. They protect the eyes from chemicals, liquids,
vapors and particles by creating a seal around the eyes.
Quality safety goggles fit comfortably upon the face with a strap running
around the back of the head. They should be flexible in order to mold to the
shape of the face and seal against the skin. Some models can even fit over a
pair of glasses.
4. FIRE EXTINGUISHER
Fire extinguishers come in various classes, each of them designed to fight
different types of fire. Labs typically require multiple extinguishers for protection
against any form of fire. In order to differentiate between the types of
extinguishers, each cylinder is marked with colored symbols.
The different symbols are i) Green Triangle, ii) Red Square, iii) Yellow Star, iv)
Blue circle and v) Black Hexagon.
5. DISPOSABLE GLOVES
Disposable gloves are meant to protect the skin from harsh chemicals and
other irritants. They act as a barrier against bacteria and other various
pathogens. They should only be worn once and are usually made from nitrile,
latex or vinyl.
To reduce the risk of possible contamination, hands must be washed
immediately after the removal of the gloves, even if another pair of gloves are
to be worn for a different job.
6. FIRST AID KITS
A basic first aid kit should contain bandages, disposable gloves, eye wash, eye
bandages, sterilized water, tape, plasters, scissors, a sling and sterile dressings.
The contents of a first aid kit must be checked weekly to ensure all necessary
items are present, and the expiration date of every item must also be checked
weekly. Some kits may also include antiseptic spray, tweezers, masks, aprons, a
space blanket and a face shield.
7. LAB COATS
Lab Coats are knee length coats, typically they feature long sleeves. They
protect the underneath clothing, as well as any exposed skin. They are made of
naturally absorbent materials (such as cotton) to ensure that the coat absorbs
splashes instead of allowing liquids to come in contact with the skin.
Some lab coats come with buttoned sleeves to further protect the arms and
prevent loose sleeves from dragging through the materials.