Laboratory Safety: Electrical Safety in the Laboratory

Electricity powers modern laboratories, and special precautions must be used when working with electrical equipment. Electrical equipment in labs must safely coexist with people as well as flammable or explosive fluids and vapors. Ensuring lab workers understand the properties of electricity and how to work with it safely is the goal of this Video On Demand.

An initial discussion of how electricity works, explains volts, current and amperage, control devices such as on/off switches, fuses and circuit breakers, the principles of grounding and the usefulness of ground fault circuit interrupters. Subsequently, safe work practices to prevent fires, shocks and burns are emphasized. Tips on checking wiring insulation, equipment inspection, and prohibiting the use of extension cords helps prevent accidents. A discussion about the proper selection of lab equipment when working with flammable materials stresses excluding home appliances. Finally, dealing with electrical emergencies is detailed, and the advisability of obtaining cardio pulmonary resuscitation is stressed. A brief discussion of fighting electrical fires is also included.

It is easy to take electricity for granted, and to fail to recognize its life-giving and life-taking powers. This video training program equips lab workers with fundamental knowledge about how electricity works, how to protect themselves and the lab from wayward current, sparks and fire, and how to respond if someone receives a shock or electrical burn. Since only six-one hundredths of an amp can be fatal if it strikes a person's heart, there is little margin for error when dealing with this ever-present power source. The time lab workers spend viewing this video could prevent a fatal accident, or a serious injury or property damage incident.

This course has been updated to include GHS container labels and Safety Data Sheets (SDS) for GHS compliance.

   This course is in the Video On Demand format, to read about Video On Demand features click here.

All laboratory workers

• Introduction
• How Electricity Works
• Grounding
• Safe Work Practices
• Electrical Equipment & Flammables
• Dealing with Electrical Emergencies
• Review

• Laboratory Safety: GHS Safety Data Sheets in Laboratories
• Laboratory Safety: Orientation to Laboratory Safety
• Laboratory Safety: Flammables and Explosives in the Laboratory