• Question: What is the most important rule when being in a lab?

    Asked by anon-288219 on 17 Mar 2021.
    • Photo: Jess Buddle

      Jess Buddle answered on 17 Mar 2021:

      Staying safe! Wearing propper protective clothes etc – the amount od times ive been working with very dangerous things and have spills and been so glad i was being safe!

    • Photo: Felicity Hunter

      Felicity Hunter answered on 17 Mar 2021:

      Great question! I think the answer is always safety first! We must always wear our lab coats when in the lab or we will get in trouble with our boss! It’s also important to wear goggles to protect your eyes and gloves to protect your skin. This also helps you from spreading any germs from the lab to other people outside.

    • Photo: Alba Park de la Torriente

      Alba Park de la Torriente answered on 17 Mar 2021:

      I agree with Jess and Felicity. Most of the rules in the lab are there to keep us all safe. Things could go really bad if we don’t follow the safety rules, especially in labs where we work with disease-causing bacteria or viruses.

    • Photo: Chris Waller

      Chris Waller answered on 17 Mar 2021:

      I agree that safety is always the number one priority. The rules might seem silly but depending on what kind of science you do, some of the things you might work with can be really dangerous – some of them could even kill you if not handled correctly! That’s why you should always listen to your teachers and wear all your safety equipment (lab coats, goggles, etc).

    • Photo: Karen Burstow

      Karen Burstow answered on 18 Mar 2021:

      I agree with the other answers, that safety is the most important thing. You need to be trained on any instruments or methods you’re going to be using. And to wear suitable PPE (personal protective equipment, like safety goggles gloves, lab coat etc). It’s important to feel comfortable and confident that you can do your experiment safely 🙂

    • Photo: Jo Brodie

      Jo Brodie answered on 18 Mar 2021:

      Hi Jessica
      ~
      I agree with everyone else – it’s staying safe. That can mean different things depending on what type of lab it is and what type of activity you’re doing. If you’re doing something new you might do a Risk Assessment which pretty much involves thinking through what you’ll be doing, spotting any problems that could appear (and making sure you have a plan on how to deal with them).
      ~
      Most labs have other rules like no eating or drinking, some insist that you have someone working with you (very sensibly, as they can get help if there’s a problem), as well as making sure you keep everything tidy, and keep a record of what you’ve done. Also, never use someone else’s equipment without asking 🙂
      ~
      Jo

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