Issue #13                                                                                         August 2024

Safety Moment- Safe Equipment Condition

Does your equipment work well without needing any maintenance? Probably not, most equipment needs some sort of regular maintenance or calibration. Unless your equipment is brand new, it's possible that regular wear and tear is taking a toll. It would be a good idea to occasionally inspect the equipment's power cords, switches, and dials to ensure connections are still good and no cords are corroded. It's also good to check the Equipments' structure to ensure it does not have rust or places where it may tip over if it fails during operation. 

Pictured Above- an unbalanced centrifuge. You may not notice by looking, but once it is turned on the centrifuge vibrates and may walk off the table.
Pictured Below: Improperly repaired electrical cords

Incident Spotlight- Heat Gun Fire

Heat guns are commonly used in labs, especially when the presence of flammable liquids prohibits the use of bunsen burners. But did you know they may still present a flammability hazard? Several Universities have reported laboratory fire caused by heat guns + flammable liquids, but the incident below was caused simply by the wrong type of switch being installed, allowing the gun's heating element to remain on and the fan off. You can read more about the incident here.
 

Safe Semester Start!

• Safety equipment around the lab, such as the Eyewash/ Safety Shower and Fire Extinguisher
• The location of the nearest pull station and where to meet during a fire alarm
• Hazardous Waste Satellite Accumulation Area