Addressing Safety in Chemistry Laboratory Through Case Studies

Abstract

Though the importance of laboratory safety has been recognized for many years, educational institutions have been slower in adopting safety protocols. Chemistry experiments, when performed in a laboratory, are associated with certain potential dangers. Still, with careful planning and safety regulations, most of the hazards can be avoided. Enforcement of safety practices in the laboratory is mandatory for every individual working in the laboratory. Safety and health should be an integral part of the planning, preparation, and implementation of any experiment. In an educational establishment where a student learns and experiences new activities, the chances of incidents, injury, and damage are higher compared to industries. Therefore, the students must be made aware of what can go wrong, how to prevent such accidents from occurring, and how to respond in case of an emergency through first-aid measures. Though many safety guides and protocols exist on paper, case studies are effective ways to get a better understanding of documented facts in real-world situations. These help in active engagement as they serve as strong pieces of evidence for the documented facts. This write-up explains how to deal with some of the common accidents in chemistry laboratories with past cases of laboratory incidents.