Glove boxes differ from other safety enclosures in two significant respects: users can introduce articles into glove boxes and manipulate them inside through ports fitted with gloves, and glove boxes typically use a specialized atmosphere.

Here is a statistic that jumped out at me recently: improper storage of chemicals accounts for nearly 25 percent of all chemical accidents. Why is that? This is a sad statistic, given that all these accidents are entirely preventable, yet they continue to happen despite the availability of numerous and excellent resources just a few keystrokes away.

Some tips and rules of thumb for safe storage of flammables in the lab.

It's important that every lab be prepared with the correct fire extinguisher, inspection requirements and training.

The how, when and what for a meaningful lab safety audit.

Vision is one of our most precious senses. Injuries can lead to long-term problems or permanent disability. With the cost and performance of today's safety eyewear, the risk for potential injury is a price not worth paying.