Chemical and biological hazards in laboratories

Laboratories are places where a large amount of research, experiments and other scientific or technical work is carried out, a place where workers are exposed to different hazards depending on the substances they are working with.

A professional in this field can face different chemical and biological risks, which requires them to have at all times work clothes appropriate, making use of coats, manufacture from materials of any heading, except that of the product, and so on.

When working with biological or chemical material, it is very important to take extreme precautions and to ensure that professionals are properly dressed, not only because of possible hazards arising from handling substances, but also as a hygiene measure to prevent contamination of the samples being used.

In chemical laboratories, the most frequent causes of accidents are the handling of flammable liquids, which can cause fires, while in biological laboratories the greatest risk is contamination with microorganisms that can cause worker disease.

Leaving aside the need for Personal protective equipment in order to protect the worker, which is compulsory, it must be borne in mind that these laboratories must be equipped with collective protection equipment and assistive devices such as showers and the eye wash, an element that does not replace PPE and is responsible for providing an emergency solution to workers when necessary.

In chemical or other laboratories where hazardous products and substances are handled, there is a possibility that the worker may experience splashes or projections of particles which may irritate his eyes eye wash or showers to quickly decontaminate the worker.

These systems pump two large jets of water into both eyes simultaneously, thus helping in an emergency.

The emergency showers, they must also be present if a fire breaks out in a laboratory and the worker is injured.

They also help to decontaminate if a substance used in the laboratory has been splashed on the worker's body.