Safety tips
The power supply in electrophoresis equipment runs at a sufficient enough voltage and amperage to deliver an electric shock that could be fatal. The electric shock can also cause burns, damage to the skin, muscles, and nerves.
A researcher was scalded by near boiling water when she began to remove someone else's load from the top of a tower-style autoclave while standing on a step-stool. The load consisted of a nalgene tub containing bottles of media with water surrounding it. Here's how to avoid such accidents in your lab.
At home, there are few risks involved with using refrigerators and freezers. If the power goes out, probably the worst consequence is food going bad. But in the lab, loss of power could lead to flammable or toxic vapors escaping
A seemingly minimal exposure can lead to severe medical consequences including death
Fume hoods are installed in laboratories to protect workers from hazardous vapors generated by laboratory experiments. However, simply conducting these experiments in the fume hood does not guarantee adequate protection.
It's important that every lab be prepared with the correct fire extinguisher, inspection requirements and training.
