• Question: what is a way to keep safe while doing an experiment?

    Asked by sept520more on 24 Mar 2025.
    • Photo: Michelle Hawkins

      Michelle Hawkins answered on 24 Mar 2025:

      When I work with radioactive DNA (we make it radioactive so we can study it) I work behind plastic shields to protect myself from radiation. I also wear a lab coat whenever I’m in the lab and gloves/safety specs when needed.

    • Photo: Mimi Asogwa

      Mimi Asogwa answered on 24 Mar 2025:

      As a Microbiologist, I study microbes (germs) which can be harmful when ingested or gets into your body through a cut. It is crucial to have the appropriate protection whilst in the lab so wear a lab coat, safety googles and gloves during experiments. If I have a cut on my hand, I ensure it is covered with plaster. We make dangerous chemical solutions in a bio-safety cabinet to avoid inhaling the toxic fumes produced and always wash our hands before leaving the lab.

    • Photo: Erin Pallott

      Erin Pallott answered on 27 Mar 2025:

      Gloves, lab coat, long hair tied back and goggles are the basics! Important for protecting yourself and for keeping your experiments free of stray hairs and fingerprints.

Comments

  • Photo: Andrew M

    Andrew M commented on :

    Safety is a profession all of it’s own. Within safety there’s a tier list of safe design practices. Although I’m a chemist, not a safety professional I’m expected to know them and design my experiments with safety in mind. So –
    S-tier: Don’t do it if you don’t need to.
    A-tier: Do something safer. Swap out dangerous chemicals or processes for safer ones.
    B-tier: Separate yourself from the experiment. Use remote analysis, blast shields and fumehoods etc.
    C-tier: Put in controls. Use equipment that automatically shuts down if you open it up. Have presure relief systems and bursting disks in systems using compressed gas
    D-tier: Put up hazard signs for yourself and colleagues. Get properly trained.
    F-tier: Wear appropriate personal protective equipment. F because if it’s that dangerous you really don’t wan’t it getting that close to you that you need the protective equipment.

    If we keep these in mind when designing an experiment, it should be as safe as it can be. Accidents will happen, particularly when doing something new, but it should be possible to reduce the harm that occurs through good design.