The Foundations of Laboratory Safety, Softcover reprint of the original 1st ed. 1990
A Guide for the Biomedical Laboratory
Brock Springer Series in Contemporary Bioscience Series

Safety is a word that has many connotations, of risk ofa possible accident that is acceptable conjuring up different meanings to different to one person· may not be acceptable to an­ people. What is safety? A scientist views safety other. This may be one reason why skydiving as a consideration in the design of an exper­ and mountain climbing are sports that are not iment. A manufacturing plant engineer looks as popular as are, say, boating or skiing. on safety as one of the necessary factors in But even activities that have high levels of developing a manufacturing process. A legis­ potential risk can be engaged in safely. How lator is likely to see safety as an important part can we minimize risks so that they decrease of an environmental law. A governmental ad­ to acceptable levels? We can do this by iden­ ministrator may consider various safety issues tifying sources of hazards and by assessing the when reviewing the environmental conse­ risks of accidents inherent to these hazards. quences of a proposed project. An attorney Most hazards that are faced in the laboratory may base a negligence suit on safety defects.

1 Basic Principles of Laboratory Safety.- 1 Safe Laboratory Techniques.- 2 Protective Clothing and Personal Equipment.- 3 Safe Personal Habits and Practices.- 4 Housekeeping Procedures.- 5 Principles of Decontamination and Sterilization.- 2 Laboratory Facilities, Operations, and Practices 67.- 6 Specialized Equipment Facilities.- 7 Waste Disposal in the Research Laboratory.- 8 Glassware Washing Operations.- 9 Design and Use of Biological Safety Cabinets.- 10 Facility Design and Physical Containment.- 3 Biomedical Laboratory Safety.- 11 Hazards of Biological Agents.- 12 Chemical Hazards.- 13 Hazards of Radioisotopes.- 4 Control of Common Hazards.- 14 Physical and Mechanical Hazards.- 15 Electrical Hazards.- 16. Fire Hazards.- 17. Handling Compressed Gases.- 5 The Components of the Effective Safety Program.- 18. Safety Regulations and Standards.- 19. Personnel Orientation and Training.- 20. Role of Medical and Health Factors.- 21. Accident Reduction and Emergency Planning.- 22. Designing a Safety Program.- Appendix 1: Cleaning Up Spills of Hazardous Agents.- Appendix 2: Hazard Characteristics of Common Toxic Chemicals.- Appendix 3: Hazard Warning Signs and Labels.- Appendix 4: Packaging and Shipping Hazardous Materials.- Appendix 5: Resources for Help and Information.- Appendix 6: Syllabus for a Safety Course.- References.- Additional Readings.