Elements of experiment safety in the laboratory

Laboratory safety must always be a top priority in today’s research laboratories. Laboratory hazards need to be identified and hazard controls need to be developed and implemented to ensure a safe work environment. The purpose of this article is to provide a general overview of safety in research laboratories. This article describes approaches to identify, understand, and assess hazards in experiment laboratories, including safety in experiment operations. Approaches and controls to mitigate some types of hazards are discussed. In addition, some lab safety experiences are described.