The Foundations of Laboratory Safety

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.