Labs are places that are inherently full of risk.
They are hazardous environments stocked with combustible materials. Innovative (or mad) experiments are always being performed that may have surprising or even dangerous reactions.
Plus, as a scientist, you’re well aware that specialist knowledge and equipment is a fundamental requirement for lab working. So, despite thorough safety procedures and policies, accidents are bound to happen. Every day is a dangerous pursuit!
Some of the most common safety issues that occur in labs include:
- Improper storage of combustible, corrosive, or toxic materials
- Incomplete/improper labelling of materials
- Degraded containers and or equipment
- Improper personal protective equipment
- Covid-19 restrictions
- Improperly followed procedures or policies
- Breakages, spillages, and poor clean up
But out of all the issues, the biggest risk factor is humans. This statement may conjure images of irresponsible lab workers or inexperienced scientists, but this isn’t what we mean.
One of the things that makes the issue of safety so essential is because of the people it has the potential to harm.
Without people present, a case of combustion poses much less of a health and safety risk. But, of course would still be less than ideal for surrounding areas, infrastructure, and wildlife.
Automation reduces the amount of time any individual spends in the lab which then minimises the potential for risk in most situations.
Here are 5 of the primary ways lab automation helps mitigate safety issues, or even overcome them altogether.
5 ways lab automation systems help overcome common safety issues
Contamination
The problem
Processing clinical specimens or conducting experiments in labs always comes with a risk of contamination, especially if these spaces are being used for multiple purposes. This may cause reactions to go awry in dangerous ways or for people themselves to come into contact with hazardous materials.
The solution
By having eyes on activity at all times through computer vision, or more precise pipetting through the use of a robot arm, the little (but easy to fall prey to) blunders can be avoided.
Automated technologies programmed for precision movement can minimise the occurrence of breakages and spillages. Or constant monitoring could mitigate the improper use and storage of high-risk materials.
This not only reduces the risk of contamination, but it should keep people’s exposure to contamination or its potentially dangerous outcomes to a minimum.
Equipment failure
The problem
Technology, unfortunately, isn’t always on our side. Equipment can fail in such a way that can cause accidents or dangerous situations. Poor handling or a lack of training around best practice can create the same result.
The solution
Taking people away from potentially dangerous equipment is a clear step towards reducing risk with equipment failure. If automation is used within the lab, any risk associated with the failure of safety equipment, such as PPE, fume hoods, or storage containers, or other lab equipment, will have a less severe impact. Humans will either be less likely to be present, or won’t be using the affected equipment.
Injury
The problem
One study showed that 25-38% of lab personnel surveyed have been involved in an accident or injury in the lab that was not reported to the supervisor or principal investigator.
From a slip and fall to burns to repetitive strain, there are a number of injuries (ranging in severity) that may happen in a lab. This can occur through human error caused by carelessness, inadequate training, or poor concentration after hours of performing tedious tasks. Or it could be a random accident which, of course, are completely unexpected.
The solution
Automation can not only remove the repetitive tasks that could cause strain, it can remove scientists from more dangerous situations altogether. For example, with Lumi’s computer vision as your in-lab assistant, you are free to leave the lab to focus your attention elsewhere while it captures important operational data.
Read about how lab automation can improve efficiency.
Repeat incidents
The problem
In one profile of safety incidents at research labs, virtually identical incidents occurred at the same institutions within 10–15 years, resulting in the destruction or temporary closure of the buildings.
This may be because stakeholders don’t implement effective procedures after an incident occurs or because they aren’t aware of what caused the incident.
The solution
Monitoring, data capture and Machine Learning automation can support laboratories to properly analyse incidents when they occur.
Using tools like Lumi, people can better review what happened, through the LabEye module, and identify the cause of an equipment specific incident. Lumi records one piece of equipment as experiments are run.
If something were to happen with this equipment, starting a fire for example, this is useful for getting further insight into the incident. It can help teams to implement the appropriate mitigation protocols – and hopefully avoid any future incidents!
Fire, explosion or material release
The problem
Combustion or toxic releases may not be the most common incident, but they are maybe one of the most life-threatening. Vapour can travel long distances and not be detected, which can easily ignite or impact human health.
There are many practical steps which are implemented in the lab to avoid or manage these issues, such as PPE, labelling, fire extinguishers and training. However, the inevitability of human error and people’s presence mean fires will always remain a threat.
The solution
Lab automation tools will minimise lab personnel’s exposure to toxic materials but keeping them further from danger. They may also increase people’s situational awareness of experiment conditions through computer vision monitoring.
Using operational monitoring tools additionally saves valuable productive time. People can shift away from the mundane tasks that inevitably result in mindlessness, and instead dedicate it to improving safety and attentiveness.
To learn more about how Lumi uses computer vision, voice and Machine Learning to capture and analyse operational data, read our customer stories.