Laboratories are hubs of discovery, but they also harbor physical hazards that can lead to injuries if not managed properly. From slippery floors to sharp tools, understanding these risks is key to maintaining a safe workspace. This article explores eight common physical hazards in labs, offering practical examples and straightforward advice to keep you and your team safe.

Slips, trips, and falls

Slips, trips, and falls happen when lab workers lose balance due to wet floors, cluttered walkways, or uneven surfaces—a frequent issue in busy labs where spills are common. Picture a researcher spilling water from a cooling bath and rushing to finish an experiment without cleaning it up; a colleague slips, twisting an ankle. To avoid this, wipe up spills right away with absorbent materials and put out a “Wet Floor” sign until the area dries completely.

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Falls often occur when people stand on furniture that was not intended to be stood on, like standing on top of a chair instead of a ladder or step stool. As a general rule, using the right tool for the job will prevent accidents.

Questions for preventing slips and falls:

• Have I cleaned up spills or reported cluttered walkways today?
• Are walkways free of cables or equipment I could trip over?
• Have lab staff tracked in water on the floor from snow or rain
• Are aisles cluttered with equipment, open drawers, waste containers, or other tripping hazards?
• Did I mark wet areas with a sign after cleaning?

Cuts and sharps

Cuts and sharps injuries come from handling scalpels, needles, or broken glassware—a real concern in labs dealing with biological or chemical materials. Imagine a lab tech attaching a rubber tube to a piece of glassware. If too much force is applied, the glassware will shatter—and if the lab tech isn’t wearing their PPE, it may become a first aid event, with the lab tech requiring stitches.

Questions for safely handling sharps:

• Am I using sharps containers for all broken glass and needles?
• Have I checked my tools for damage before starting work?
• Am I wearing cut-resistant gloves when handling sharps?

Ergonomics

Ergonomic hazards creep up from repetitive tasks like pipetting or excessive mouse use at a computer, putting strain on muscles and joints over time. A scientist might pipette samples for hours without a break, brushing off wrist soreness that later turns into lasting pain or repetitive strain injury. To avoid this, take regular, short breaks every half hour or so and use tools designed to ease the strain, like pipettes with more ergonomically friendly grips.

Questions to ensure good ergonomics:

• Have I taken breaks from repetitive tasks like pipetting to avoid strain?
• Is my workstation adjusted to support good posture?
• Am I using ergonomic tools for tasks like pipetting or lifting?

Temperature (hot and cold)

Temperature extremes, whether from hot plates or liquid nitrogen, can burn or freeze skin in an instant. Consider a worker reaching for a scalding beaker right after heating it, ending up with a painful blister because they skipped insulated gloves. Similarly, a lab tech working with cryogens may experience frostbite if they work without gloves. The smart move is to wear insulated gloves every time you handle something hot or icy cold and double-check temperatures before touching anything that emits heat or gets very cold. Visors and face shields can also be used to protect against splashes from hot liquids.

Questions to reduce the risk of temperature hazards:

• Am I wearing proper gloves when handling hot or cold items?
• Have I checked equipment temperatures before touching them?
• Are my protective layers sufficient for extreme cold tasks?

Electrical

Electrical hazards in laboratories can cause anything from minor shocks to severe burns, fires, or even fatalities, often due to faulty, aged, or poorly designed equipment. If it’s not in the budget to purchase newer equipment with safer designs, there are still steps you can take to maximize safety with your current equipment. For instance, you can make internal electrified components inaccessible with secure panels or locks. Proper bonding and grounding will also minimize the risk of shock or electrocution.

Lab-made electrical devices are especially prone to problems, as they frequently lack the safety standards of commercial products. This can lead to dangerous malfunctions like short circuits, sparks, or overheating. For example, a researcher once built test equipment and housed it in a cardboard box, thinking it was a quick fix. This was a huge mistake—cardboard is highly flammable, and the setup could have easily sparked a fire. Luckily, lab staff and the safety director stepped in, pointing out the risk and assisting the researcher in replacing the enclosure with a non-combustible material like metal or fire-resistant plastic, drastically reducing the hazard.

To keep your lab safe, take proactive steps with electrical equipment. Always use appropriate, non-combustible materials—think metal or specialized plastics—for enclosures, never makeshift solutions like cardboard or wood. Beyond that, have any lab-made device checked by a qualified expert, such as a licensed electrician or engineer, to ensure it’s built correctly and grounded properly. Whenever you can, choose equipment that’s NRTL-listed (Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory) or has been evaluated by a third-party field evaluation body. These certifications mean the gear has been tested to meet strict safety standards. For instance, instead of cobbling together a power supply, a researcher should opt for a pre-approved unit or get their design vetted by a pro. These habits catch problems before they turn into disasters.

Questions to reduce the risk of electrical hazards:

• Have I checked cords for damage before starting work?
• Are all outlets near water sources GFCI?
• Are electrical devices positioned away from water sources?
• Did I unplug the equipment before making adjustments?
• Did I honor interlocks until it was clear that the equipment was de-energized?

Other mechanical (pinches and contusions)

Mechanical hazards, like pinch points, pop up around equipment frequently. For instance, a lab tech hurriedly loading a centrifuge may accidentally pinch their finger when closing the lid. Staying aware of where all parts of your body are while using equipment and taking care to move deliberately (slow is smooth, smooth is fast, as the adage goes) will reduce the risk of pinches.

To prevent injuries from direct contusions, such as getting hit by the robotic arms of automated systems, the path that the arms take should be shielded. Similarly, securing heavy tools in place when not in use will prevent them from being knocked off shelves or benches and landing on someone, which could lead to serious injury.

Questions to reduce the risk of mechanical hazards:

• Am I following lockout procedures for moving equipment?
• Have I secured heavy items to prevent them from falling?
• Did I wait for the machinery to stop before handling it?
• Am I not rushing when using lids, doors, and covers that create pinch points?

Noise

Noise from whirring centrifuges, vacuum pumps, or other equipment can wear on your ears and nerves. Noise-induced hearing loss can occur if the noise is loud and prolonged enough. As the lab manager, you should remain aware of the noise output of your equipment and facilities, along with how long your staff are exposed to those noise levels, and you should ensure that your lab is kept in line with OSHA’s permissible exposure limits. Taking other steps to minimize noise wherever possible and offer hearing protection can also help.

Questions to ensure safe noise exposure:

• Is the lab noise level compliant, or do I need ear protection?
• Do we have a decibel meter to test how loud different workspaces are?
• Have I reported unusually loud equipment for maintenance?
• Am I limiting time near noisy devices like vacuum pumps?
• Have we separated loud pieces of equipment to lower the noise level for lab staff?
• Do we have ear protection readily available in the lab, and have we trained staff on its proper use?

Vibration

In many labs, vibration is minimized not only for safety, but also to ensure the accuracy and consistency of sensitive instrumentation. But while vibration is less commonly a threat than others, scientists should still try to remain aware of it. Prolonged exposure to vibration can cause Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome, which can affect the circulatory, nervous, and musculoskeletal systems. To avoid this, use anti-vibration gloves, limit how long you hold vibrating tools, and take breaks to shake out your hands.

Similarly, a lab employee may experience whole-body vibration (WBV) if the surface they’re sitting or standing on is vibrating continuously. WBV can affect the circulatory system, lungs, muscles, and bowels.

Questions to ensure safe vibration exposure:

• Am I limiting exposure to vibrating tools and using protective gear?
• Have I noticed any numbness or tingling from tool use today?
• Are my tools maintained to reduce unnecessary vibration?

Physical hazards in labs are often unseen. Scientists sometimes take them for granted because of the emphasis on chemical and biological hazards. However, they can disrupt work and harm health, and simple steps can shrink those risks. With a bit of care and the right habits, labs can stay safe spaces for innovation. Start putting these ideas into action today to protect yourself and your team.

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Note: This article was created with the help of generative AI. Learn more about Lab Manager’s AI use policy here.