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Well hello there. My name is Tate B and today I am going to be playing the role of your host. We're
going to be looking at a movie called the Science and Safety where we will examine things that can
happen in a lab. From acid burns, spills, cuts, even inhalation of toxic fumes. What to do should
they arise; and most importantly how to prevent it. Here follow me; let's have a look.
Welcome back. Let's have a look at our first topic of the day. Awareness
Awareness can be defined as being conscious of your surroundings. Now this sounds simple but with
everything else going on in a lab, the possibility of distractions can occur. When you're doing
something as simple as putting on a hot plate, putting glass away. Accidents can happen. Why don't
we have a look at some of these examples?
Hmm that lab went well. What am I going to do tonight? I think I'll call Christine, well go to the
bars. Yeah that's what I'll do. I just got to finish cleaning up here and then I can go.
Ouch! I really should have been paying more attention.
Ouch. That looked like it hurt. But what about the hidden hazards of that scenario? What was in the
pipette? In lab we deal with lots of different chemicals. Carcinogens, mutagens, neurotoxins. All
these type of things you can deal with. So something as simple as putting a pipette away and
breaking it can actually be lethal. But now let's have a look at another scenario about hazards that
occur that don't necessarily physically hurt you, but that can lead to things such as broken
equipment, loss of money.
"What's that smell?"
*gasp*
Now that was a close one. Luckily he caught it before the cord caught fire. Now unlike these
scenarios where there is only one person in the lab, when you're working in a real lab there is
going to be dozens of people which just provides that many more chances for accidents to occur. This
is why awareness is the first step in preventing accidents.
Well now that we have had a look at awareness, why don't we look at the second driving factor of the
signs of safety? Organization and preparation. We're going to have a look at a more serious scenario
here, where it involves something like an acid spill, and the clean-up process.
"So did you see that show last night?"
"Which one is that?"
"The American idol or whatever."
"No I hate that show."
"Really?"
"Yeah."
"I think it's quite funny actually."
"No I don't like to listen to people who can't sing."
"What if they can sing?"
"Uh I still don't like it."
"true enough... there's this one guy, he didn't know how to sing so he -- GASP"
"oh my gosh I am so sorry are you okay?"
"Here! Get it off! Get it off!"
Well we have seen what happened when you are unprepared, and if you are not wearing the proper
protective clothing. What went wrong in that scenario? Well she didn't have her lab coat done all
the way up; let's look at some other things that also involve clothing. You must remember to wear
full legged pants, and full covered shoes as well you glasses, otherwise chemicals can get in your
eyes, or on your legs, or even go off the table and onto your feet. Just a couple other hidden
hazards that you should know about.
Now let's take a look at what would have happened if she had been prepared and organized.
"Oh my gosh are you okay?
"I think so. Oh thank gosh I was wearing a lab coat."
"yah, no kidding."
Well as we just saw, protective wear is there for a reason. Why don't we have a look at the actual
spill cleanup? So if you have read your lab manual and you know the surroundings of your lab, if
something like this occurs, you will know where to find the clean up kits. That makes the cleaning
process efficient, and makes sure that you do it properly. Also remember there are multiple garbages
located in your room, and know which ones are for broken glass.
"Now which one does it go in?"
Now we've had a look at our first two driving factors, being Awareness and Organization and
Preparation, why don't we have a look at our third one? Common sense.
Ring. Ring
"Hello? Hey what are you doing? Yeah no I'm just in lab right now. Mmhmm. So how are things going?
What are you doing tonight? Oh yeah that sounds like fun I think I could do that. Yeah. Mmmhm. Yeah
so like 8? Yeah that sounds pretty good. Mmk. Alright ill give you a call when I am done. Bye!"
"Oh my gosh what is wrong with your face?"
"I don't know but it really hurts"
"what were you doing?"
"I don't know"
"you should get to the sink and rinse that off."
"Hi I am Amanda Goose with the safety council of Ontario; I am going around interviewing people that
have been involved in lab accidents. This is Chrissie Marlow from Durham College, she has been
involved in a lab accident, would you like to explain a little bit about what happened?"
"Well I was doing just an experiment in class and I noticed that my face it started burning and I
had this giant rash all down the side of my face. I had to go the hospital. The doctors gave me some
cream and I still have a little bit of scarring from it."
"Can you tell me of what happened? Like how, what did you do to get this aggravated?"
"Well I was chewing gum in lab and I put my cell phone on the bench and then I was talking on it."
"So what could you have done to prevent this?"
"Well I should have known that I shouldn't have been chewing gum in lab, I should have been touching
equipment in lab and touching my mouth. I shouldn't have been talking on my cell phone in the lab or
putting it on the lab bench and I probably should have been paying more attention to what I was
doing."
"Okay well thank you for talking to us, I hope your face gets all healed and all better.
This just goes to show you that just because you can't see the hazard, doesn't mean it's not there."
Now, you're probably thinking that there is no way that scenario could happen. Oh believe me, it can.
Imagine trying to cover that up with makeup? It's going to be a problem that would have to
deal with for the rest of your life. Now just remember in labs that you shouldn't bring out anything
personal onto the lab bench because just because you don't see it does not mean it's not there.
Keep things such as cell phones, laptops, any personal products tucked away in your bags, in your
lockers. As well as personal things, things such as food and drinks should not come in the lab.
Remember to leave all your garbage from your drinks, sandwiches and your lunch out of the lab.
Lab garbage is for lab materials only.
Now let's have a look at a scenario where your lab analyst uses all three driving factors of safety.
Awareness, organization and preparation and common sense.
"That was close."
Now that we have seen what can happen, when we use the signs of safety, why don't we take a look at
what can happen when you don't?
Another area of lab safety is knowing the chemicals that you are using and being able to understand
the warning labels that are on them. This is taught under the workplace hazardous material
information system, also known as WHMIS.
"Can you identify these symbols?"
Well that brings our video to an end. Just remember, always be aware, be organized and prepared, and
utilize common sense. Thank you for paying attention, and see how much you actually remember.