Safety

Introduction

The usual laboratory is equipped with numerous electrical equipments and apparatus that include heavy and small motors, thermocouples, PLC boards, ovens, soldering machine, and many more equipments. Some equipment work on high voltage and involves more risk. Many devices such as laser lamps have inbuilt large capacitor and can store a huge amount of charge and pose a serious danger even though the main power socket is disconnected. The primary precautions are for shock and fire as the person can easily get a shock through these devices on even a little act of negligence. This clearly depicts that all equipments in the lab present the hazard of shock and equipment like motor and heaters can cause severe injuries if misused. Poorly installed systems with loose connection might get on fires due to sparks helping as an ignition source for inflammable materials. (Princeton University. 2012)

Major Hazards

Electrical Shock

Electrical shock commonly occurs when the body physically becomes part of electric circuit, it could be when person come in contact with exposed wire of an electric circuit or by touching or coming in contact with the metal conductor that has become energized by coming in touch with an electrical source. There are many factors on which severity of electrical shock depends. Some of these factors are interval of time of contact with current, the quantity of current, and whether the skin was moist or dry. As all know water is great conductor of heat and can allow current to flow too easily by wet skin. The impact of shock varies from minor sting to severe burns to thorough cardiac attack. Exposure to current for an extended interval may produce exhaustion followed by straight death.

Fire and Accidental Injury

Fires is second major safety hazard in clean rooms. Sparks from any loose electrical connection or from any ...