로버트 M. 리우 & 지펑 첸, 펜실베이니아 주립 대학교, 유니버시티 파크, 펜실베이니아
가장 일반적인 실험실 비상 사태는 화학 물질 유출, 화재 또는 폭발, 감전 및 인력 상해를 포함합니다. 대부분의 실험실 사고는 계획이 좋지 않거나 주의부족으로 인해 발생합니다. 따라서 비상 시 (활성 상태)에 어떤 조치를 취해야하는 것보다 사고를 방지하는 것이 좋습니다 (활성 상태). 예를 들어, 항상 실험실에서 적절한 개인 보호 장비(PPE)를 착용하십시오. 정기적인 실험실 검사 및 장비 유지 보수는 실험실 사고를 방지하는 데 도움이 됩니다. 그러나 일단 비상 사태가 발생하면 무엇을 해야 할지 아는 것도 중요합니다. 먼저 개인 안전을 보장한 다음 필요한 경우 현지 응급 구조대에 전화하십시오. 응답의 범위는 사고의 심각성과 이러한 사건을 처리하기위한 문서화 된 실험실 프로토콜에 따라 달라집니다. 침착하고 비상 사태의 유형과 수준에 따라 적절한 조치를 취하십시오.
실험실에서 일하기 전에 실험실 사고에 대해 사전에 인식하고 안전 규정에 따라 사고가 발생하지 않도록 하십시오. 유해 화학물질 및/또는 심각한 작업 조건을 처리할 때 주의해야 합니다. 모든 종류의 사고에서 무엇을해야하는지 미리 계획하십시오. 비상 사태가 발생했을 때, 침착함을 유지하고 먼저 자신의 안전에 참석하십시오. 다음으로, 지역 응급 구조대에 전화하여 비상 사태 와 그 잠재적 영향에 대해 사람들에게 경고하고 있습니다. 손상이나 부상을 줄이기 위해 적절한 조치를 취하십시오.
Emergencies may happen in the laboratory no matter how detailed the safety regulations are. If an emergency arises, don’t panic and ensure your safety first before attempting additional actions. Assess the situation and call local emergency agencies for assistance. For severe injuries, wait until emergency responders come, and don’t take any actions without appropriate knowledge. For minor injuries, use the first aid kit to help, when necessary.
Even when safety regulations are followed, emergencies can happen in the laboratory. Therefore, it is important to know what to do in the case of an accident.
The three most common types of laboratory accidents are chemical spills, fires and explosions, and personnel injuries. In any case, you should always remain calm, contact local emergency responders once you’ve moved to safety, and inform nearby people of what happened.
Spills are the most common accidents, which we cover in detail in another video in this collection. Fires and explosions typically occur from overheating, spillage of flammable chemicals, or gases exposed to heat, flames, or electric sparks. It’s important to operate electric equipment and heat sources safely to prevent fire and explosions.
Personal injuries include a wide range of categories in the lab, such as electric shock, burns, wounds, or chemical exposure. These can be caused by not following correct guidelines, as well as equipment malfunction. Each case requires specific actions, but there are general principles to follow to ensure the safety of the injured party.
Now that you understand some of the typical emergencies causes, let’s see how to deal with fires or personal injuries.
In case of a fire involving an individual’s clothing, never run as it might accelerate the fire. Stop, drop on to the ground with hands covering the face, and roll to extinguish the fire. If possible, use a safety shower to extinguish the fire. For more information, see our video on safety shower.
In case of lab fire or explosion, ensure your safety first and call emergency responders immediately for help.
If possible, shut down the electric power before evacuating the area. Use a wet towel to cover mouth and nose as protection against heavy smoke.
Pull fire alarms and evacuate the building safely. Use stairs, as elevators could be damaged during operation.
Small fires can be contained with an extinguisher, but it’s important to use the correct one, depending on the type of fire. Class A fires involve ordinary combustible solids, such as paper or clothes. Class B fires include flammable liquids and gases, like gasoline or butane.
C type fires are caused by electrical equipment, while Class D fires are combustible metals, like sodium. Finally, class K fires, are grease fires.
Matching the correct type of extinguisher, such as foam, carbon dioxide, or chemical, to the fire on hand is important to avoid spreading and aggravation of flames.
Personal injuries cover a wide range of situations. Always access the situation before taking actions. If the person is conscious, ask them what happened. If the person is unconscious or unresponsive, look for possible signs of injury.
If the person seems to be in danger, call local emergency immediately. Don’t move the injured person unless they need to be removed from a serious threat.
If an individual has received an electrical shock, first shut down the power if possible. Use non-conductive material such as wood, glass, or rubber to pull the person away from the electric contact.
If the person is bleeding from minor cuts or abrasions, flush with water to avoid contamination and treat with first aid supplies. For serious cuts, call for medical assistance.
While waiting for assistance, keep the person warm and calm. If you have knowledge and are willing to help, initiate first aid to help.
You’ve just watched JoVE’s introduction to emergency guidelines in case of laboratory accidents. You should now understand what to do in the case of fires, explosions, or personal injuries. Thanks for watching!
