Common risks of lone working in a laboratory and how to mitigate them.

Here we find out the most common risks associated with lone working in a lab and how to mitigate them.

Laboratories are dedicated rooms used for scientific experiments, analysis, research, teaching or the manufacture of drugs & chemicals. They can be found in places such as universities, hospitals and manufacturers. The health & safety of workers in labs is therefore high priority. If the risks are not handled in a safe and compliant manner, there are wide range of side effects and serious health issues that can arise.

It is also common to find lone workers in laboratories. This can be because a particular job role is so high risk, because of working patterns or because of the number of staff employed or available. Below we discuss the risks of working alone in a lab, ways to mitigate these and how a lone worker solution can help with safety, reassurance & compliance.

Risks when working alone in a lab

Here's a round-up of the main risks associated with working in a laboratory:

Chemical hazards - being exposed to hazardous chemicals can lead to acute conditions such as burns, skin or eye irritation, dizziness or even more chronic issues like organic damage and serious illness.
Biological hazards - for lab workers working with anything infectious such as bacteria, viruses, microbes or biological fluids & tissues there is always a risk of contamination or disease transmission.
Fire hazards - when working in a lab there is often a risk of fire due to using equipment such as Bunsen burners , as well as any flammable and combustible materials used. This can lead to fires breaking out, explosions and serious burns.
Allergic reactions - lab workers may suffer from allergic reactions should certain chemicals come into contact with their skin, or through inhalation or ingestion.
Air contaminants - fumes from machinery or chemicals can lead to breathing issues or allergies when inhaled.
Noise - whilst it might not seem a huge risk, lab workers exposed to constant high noise levels from equipment such as washers, centrifuges or machinery can suffer from hearing, or other health, issues.
Failing equipment - equipment which is not working correctly or is being used improperly can cause physical injury such as cuts, bruises, electric shocks and burns.
Slips, trips or falls - when moving around a lab or moving between labs there is always the risk of a slip, trip or fall occurring, especially when there are slippery surfaces or obstructed areas.
Intruders - whilst most labs will have good security systems in place, there may still be a small risk of intruders. This is particularly serious for those who work alone or may be working outside of usual hours or at night.

The risks to those working alone in a lab are the same as the risks for anyone working in a lab due to the environment, equipment used and the agents they may be exposed to. The key difference for those working alone is that there is no one there to assist them should they be faced with one (or more) of these hazards. This makes getting help (and help quickly) much more difficult. Lone working should, therefore, be included in your risk assessment as the risks to those working alone are greater.

How to mitigate the risks of working alone in a lab

As you already know, it's vital to be proactive about safety in this environment. And you likely know the steps needed to mitigate all of the usual risks of working in a laboratory too; use of PPE, clear signage & labelling, correct storage of materials, ensuring good ventilation and keeping lab areas tidy - to name just a few!

You might think that one of the best ways to mitigate the risks of working alone in a lab is to ensure there is more than one person in a lab at any one time. However this;

may not be practical or reliable due to the number of lab workers, their working patterns, their work locations, holidays or illness.
may be an inefficient use of resources or another workers' time.
may actually increase the severity of the risks (for example in the event of a chemical spillage, inhalation of toxic vapours or fire you are putting two people, rather than one person, at risk of injury or worse).

So, what can you do instead?

It's imperative that you create a comprehensive lone worker policy. This should include;

the findings of your risk assessments
your communication strategy for keeping in regular contact with your lone workers
details of the training & education you will provide to ensure your lone workers understand the risks involved with their job and the steps both they, and you, need to take to mitigate these
your agreed emergency response procedure should an incident occur

Download our lone worker policy guide to help you write yours. This outlines everything you need to include and a template for you to use so you don't miss anything out.

Download your lone worker policy guide now

Implementing a lone worker solution is another thing you can do to mitigate the risks of those working alone in a lab. This is something you may identify as part of your lone worker policy. Having a lone worker solution that you and your lab workers use provides reassurance and added protection whilst they are working alone. A lone worker solution can also help you to comply with UK regulations and legislation.

How to choose a lone worker solution for your lab workers

When selecting a lone worker solution for your lab workers you need to ensure that it is suitable for both their job role, working positions and the laboratory environment. You also need to think about what you require from a lone worker management system and who will be included in your emergency response procedure, should an alarm be raised.

There are a wide range of lone worker devices available, all with different features, functionalities and ways of wearing. When choosing the right device for your lone lab workers you need to consider;

how they will wear their device (for example wearing around their neck could create another hazard, so a device that clips to their lab coat or is worn on their wrist may be better).
if their lab is particularly noisy (if this is the case a device with a more powerful sound and vibration would therefore be better suited to them).
if they work with hazardous chemicals (for those working with hazardous chemicals an ATEX rated device is vital).
the various ways in which an alarm can be raised (for lab workers facing hazards like chemical exposure, slips, trips, falls, fire or intruders they may not always be able to manually press an SOS button. A device which raises the alarm in multiple ways (for example in the event of a fall or no motion) would likely be more suitable.
what the signal strength is like in your labs (if signal strength is poor, a device with WIFI capabilities will be needed).
if you require lone workers in different labs to be able to communicate with each other (in this case a device that has this functionality is important).

If you need help choosing the right lone worker solution for your lab workers give us a call on 0330 999 8484 or email sales@lonealert.com You can also view our full range of devices below.