Lab Safety 101: Gear, Guidelines, and Best Practices
A practical guide to working safely, protecting your research, and building better lab habits from day one
A laboratory is a place of discovery, but it is also a place where small mistakes can have outsized consequences. A misplaced label, a rushed procedure, or a missing piece of protective gear can turn a routine experiment into a costly setback or a serious safety incident.
For new researchers, technicians, and even experienced scientists, lab safety is not just a checklist. It is a way of working. It shapes how experiments are planned, how equipment is used, how data is protected, and how people look after one another in shared spaces.
This guide covers the essential gear, guidelines, and best practices that every laboratory should take seriously, and how building strong safety habits supports both credible science and efficient daily work.
Why Lab Safety Is Everyone’s Responsibility
In theory, safety rules are simple. In practice, most incidents happen during ordinary tasks carried out by people who are familiar with their environment.
Poor safety practices can:
● Cause injuries or long-term health risks
● Contaminate samples and invalidate results
● Damage expensive equipment
● Delay projects and increase costs
● Create compliance and legal risks for institutions
Relatable example:
A researcher skips eye protection while preparing a solution they have handled many times before. One unexpected splash later, the experiment is forgotten and the focus shifts to medical treatment and incident reports.
A good safety culture does not slow work down. It prevents avoidable interruptions and protects both people and data.
1. Safety Gear: The First Layer of Protection
Before any work begins, researchers should be properly equipped.
Essential Safety Gear
● Laboratory coats suitable for the type of work being done
● Nitrile or latex gloves in the correct sizes
● Safety goggles or face shields
● Closed-toe laboratory shoes
● Masks or respirators where required
● Heat-resistant or chemical-resistant gloves for specialised tasks
Why This Matters
Safety gear is not reserved for emergencies. It is designed for the small, everyday risks that appear without warning.
Relatable example:
A microcentrifuge tube cracks during handling. With gloves and eye protection, it is a minor inconvenience. Without them, it becomes an injury and a reportable incident.
Ensuring consistent access to quality PPE is one of the simplest and most effective ways to reduce risk in any lab environment.
2. Core Safety Guidelines That Should Never Be Optional
Rules only work when they are clear, visible, and consistently applied.
Non-Negotiable Guidelines
● No eating or drinking in the laboratory
● Always label chemicals and samples clearly
● Never pipette by mouth
● Know the location of emergency exits, eyewash stations, and fire extinguishers
● Dispose of waste in the correct containers
● Report spills, breakages, and near-misses immediately
Why This Matters
Most serious incidents are not caused by lack of knowledge, but by routine shortcuts that slowly become normalised.
Relatable example:
A bottle is left unlabelled “just for later”. A colleague assumes it is water and uses it in an experiment. The result is compromised data at best, and a safety risk at worst.
Clear rules protect everyone, including the person who thinks they are only bending them slightly.
3. Risk Assessment: Thinking Before Acting
Every experiment carries some level of risk, even familiar ones.
Good Practice Includes
● Reading and understanding SOPs before starting
● Identifying chemical, biological, and physical hazards
● Considering what could go wrong and how to prevent it
● Preparing safety measures in advance
● Knowing emergency procedures for the specific task
Why This Matters
Risk assessment is not paperwork for compliance. It is a practical way to prevent predictable problems.
Relatable example:
A solvent is heated without checking its flash point. A quick review of the risks would have changed the setup. Instead, the lab gains a scare and an avoidable safety review.
4. Safe Handling of Chemicals and Reagents
No experiment is better than the materials used to perform it.
Best Practices
● Use the correct grade and concentration of reagents
● Check expiry dates and storage conditions
● Read Safety Data Sheets (SDS/MSDS)
● Store incompatible chemicals separately
● Use fume hoods where required
● Clearly label all prepared solutions with content, date, and owner
Why This Matters
Using degraded, contaminated, or incorrectly stored chemicals can quietly undermine results long before anyone notices.
Relatable example:
An enzyme stored incorrectly after a power interruption slowly loses activity. Results become inconsistent over weeks, and confidence in the data starts to erode before the real cause is identified.
Chemical integrity is inseparable from data integrity.
5. Equipment Safety: Respect the Tools You Rely On
Laboratory instruments are precise, powerful, and often unforgiving.
Good Habits
● Get proper training before using new equipment
● Check calibration and maintenance labels
● Never bypass safety features
● Report faults or unusual behaviour immediately
● Keep work areas and cables uncluttered
● Follow cleaning and shutdown procedures
Why This Matters
Many equipment-related incidents happen when people assume they already know enough.
Relatable example:
A centrifuge lid is not secured properly. The run starts anyway. The vibration tells the story before the machine does.
6. Housekeeping: Clean Labs Are Safer Labs
Order in the lab is not cosmetic. It is functional and protective.
Essentials
● Clean spills immediately
● Disinfect work surfaces regularly
● Store tools and chemicals in designated places
● Do not allow waste or clutter to build up
● End each day with a clean and organised workspace
Why This Matters
Clutter hides hazards. Clean spaces make risks visible and manageable.
Relatable example:
A small spill left overnight corrodes a benchtop. The next day, someone leans on a weakened surface and turns a minor oversight into a safety issue.
7. Waste Management: Where Many Labs Slip Up
Waste is often treated as an afterthought, but it is one of the highest-risk areas in any lab.
Must-Haves
● Sharps containers
● Chemical waste containers
● Biohazard bags
● Autoclave bags
● Clear disposal procedures
Why This Matters
Incorrect disposal can harm people who were never involved in the experiment itself.
Relatable example:
A broken glass pipette placed in general waste injures a cleaner later that day. Safety responsibility does not end at the bench.
8. Training and Visual Safety Aids
Under pressure, people rely on what is visible and accessible.
Useful Tools
● Safety manuals and SOPs
● Quick-reference guides near equipment
● Emergency procedure posters
● Spill response guides
● Visual systems such as 5S or Lean boards
Why This Matters
Memory fades. Clear visual guidance does not.
Relatable example:
During a spill, a clearly displayed response guide prevents panic and helps the team act quickly and correctly.
9. Building a Safety-First Culture
Safety is not a document. It is behaviour repeated every day.
Strong labs encourage people to:
● Speak up about risks and near-misses
● Ask before assuming
● Train before acting
● Treat safety as part of professionalism, not an obstacle to productivity
When safety becomes part of how a lab works, incidents decrease and confidence in both people and processes increases.
Conclusion and Call to Action
Lab safety is not about avoiding work. It is about protecting people, preserving data, and keeping research moving forward without unnecessary setbacks.
A safe lab is:
● More productive
● More reliable
● More credible
● Better prepared for audits, growth, and new projects
Whether you are a new researcher, a lab manager, or part of a technical team, building a safe and well-equipped laboratory starts with having the right gear, the right consumables, and the right support.
For trusted laboratory supplies, technical support, and expert guidance, visit B&M Scientific.
For convenient online ordering of lab consumables and equipment, visit their online store, Lab Buddy.
If you work in a laboratory, do not wait for a shortage, a delay, or a safety incident to reveal gaps in your setup. Visit the sites, equip your lab properly, and make safety part of how you do science every day.
A well-equipped lab is not a luxury. It is the foundation of good science.