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.