Lab safety

Lab Safety

NUI, Galway and staff and students have a legal requirement to promote safe working conditions for staff and students, and to eliminate or reduce risks where they exist [Safety, Health & Welfare at Work Act, 2005].

Laboratory and project work are an essential part of Engineering programmes. All group laboratory sessions are planned, experiments are supervised and the risks are minimized. However, some potential hazards exist.

Students are required to make themselves aware of the Safety Rules for each laboratory they are using. Students must attend safety lectures prior to the laboratory and arrive on time for the laboratory where any potential hazards will be discussed.

When working in the laboratory the following rules should be followed:

• Please obey the instructions of staff and demonstrators.
• Students are required to wear personal protective equipment for certain experiments (e.g. safety glasses).
• Footwear should be enclosed (no open-toed sandals).
• Food and drinks are not allowed in the laboratory.
• Gangways and working areas must not be obstructed.
• When the fire alarm sounds, evacuate the building immediately.
• Any personal injury should be reported to the demonstrator immediately
• Individual laboratories and specific experiments may have additional safety rules which must be followed.
• Failure to abide by these safety rules may result in exclusion from the laboratory.

Safety is everyone’s responsibility.