Even when working in a perchloric fume hood Malaysia, you still have to handle your chemicals safely in your hands without accidentally slipping them off, lest you are going to face problems that may jeopardize you and your lab’s safety. There are always hazards present in a lab, and chemicals are one of them.
The commonality of this hazard is attributed to the chemicals you stored in your lab, many which are undoubtedly dangerous by nature. Even with safety equipment and warning signs, danger can still be present to disrupt your work and well-being when you are not careful enough.
Burns
There are two burning hazards: flammability and oxidizations. Flammability is straightforward. These chemicals can easily catch fire and immediately become a serious fire threat to your lab and yourself. Oxidation is also a fire risk because when such chemicals react with others, they intensify the flammability.
Represented by a similar sign to a flammable hazard but with a flaming circle instead of a fire, oxidizing substances give off electrons and undergo reaction, causing the fire or an explosion. Because of this, you must always store oxidizing chemicals separately in a secure place.
Corrosion
The main danger of acids and alkali, corrosion can burn your skin and damage the tissue. This hazard’s sign is a couple of test tubes dropping a chemical that burns off both hands and a solid black bar. Protection of your body is thus a priority. At the very least, don gloves, a lab coat and eye safety protection.
Equip your lab with eye washers to wash your eyes off chemicals. For the rest of your body, an emergency shower is essential. You must also handle glassware or other containers firmly and carefully. Never rush through your experiments. It is better to be slow but safe.
Toxicity
Many chemicals are also poisonous to inhale, make contact with your skin or swallow. Even at low exposures, toxic substances can affect your body’s health and may even damage or mutate your cells.
Fumes can also be poisonous, especially when they originate from toxic chemicals themselves. It is wise to work in a fume hood so you can observe behind the relative safety of glass. Wear a gas mask too.
Pressured gas
Displayed as a gas cylinder in its warning sign, this indicates that the gases are dangerous if they are frozen or heated, where either temperature extremes can cause an explosion, the result being burns or injuries.
Irritant or hazardous to ozone layers
If there is an exclamation mark as a warning sign, it indicates that the chemicals here harm the ozone layer and affect public health. Individually, they can also give you rashes, redness or inflammations on the skin upon contact. Unlike corrosions, your tissues won’t burn off immediately.
Usually the symptoms may be short term, but if you are unlucky, you may experience long lasting effects from the irritants. Again, as of all other chemicals, protect yourself with personal protection equipment. You probably won’t have to go far into wearing a hazmat suit, but at least cover your skin with appropriate lab wear.
