What is the most common lab accident?

The three most common types of laboratory accidents are chemical spills, fires and explosions, and personnel injuries.

What should you not do in a science lab?

Things Not to Do

Do not eat, drink, chew gum, smoke or apply cosmetics in the lab.
Do not put pieces of lab equipment in your mouth.
Do not work with chemicals until you are sure of their safe handling.
Do not use the phone or computer with gloves on your hands.

Why does one need to shake the thermometer and bring down the mercury level in a clinical thermometer?

Answer. Mercury thermometers are designed with a narrow constriction at the bottom of the readout tube. As the temperature of the mercury rises, it is forced through the constriction by the increasing pressure in the bulb. This is why you need to shake a mercury thermometer before you use it.

Can I still use a mercury thermometer?

According to the U.S, Environmental Protection Agency, mercury thermometers are still utilized in chemical experiments, dairies, power plants, piping, breweries, blood banks, incubators and several other industries and processes that require precise temperature measurements.

Why do doctors shake the thermometer before using it?

The shaking is to reduce the level of the medium in the thermometer to a temperature well below normal so that an an accurate temperature can be read after using.

What are the benefits of working in a laboratory?

Six Benefits to Working in the Lab on the Weekend

Beat the commute. When I was a post doc, I commuted 60 miles one way to the lab, with the traffic.
Relaxed atmosphere. I felt a lot less harried working in the lab by myself.
Have the place to yourself.
Work more efficiently.
Concentrate on hard/long experiments.
Peace of mind.

Which is the best answer that thermometer requires to be shaken down?

(1) If the thermometer reading is below 94ºF (34.4º C), you have shaken down the thermometer sufficiently. (2) If the thermometer reads 94º F (34.4º C) or above, continue to shake down the thermometer until a desired reading is shown.

Do you shake thermometer?

Shaking the thermometer hard is what gets the mercury down and ultimately drives it through the constriction so that it rejoins into a single column. The mercury drifts to the bottom of the thermometer because of its own inertia. You’re right that the glass tube acts as a magnifier for that thin column of mercury.

Why must you always wash your hands after working in a laboratory?

Hand washing is an essential component of laboratory safety. Failure to wash your hands after removing your gloves may result in transmission of pathogens from your hands to your mucous membranes, causing infection, or contamination of nearby surfaces, posing a risk to others in the lab.

Why do I want to be a medical laboratory scientist?

Medical laboratory science provides clues that are key in the diagnosis and treatment of disease or injury, and laboratory professionals are the detectives of the health care world. They provide clues that are key in the diagnosis and treatment of disease or injury and assist in the maintenance of healthy lifestyles.

Is working in a lab fun?

There’s very different types of lab work. You could be a technician which is not super interesting but certainly much more fun than an office job. Once you’ve built up the experience and reputation you get rather good job security there. Alternatively, there’s research.

What should you do with leftover chemicals in the lab?

After an Experiment

Return any chemicals (excess reagent, product, or waste) to the appropriate location, or dispose of them as instructed;
Clean any used glassware and return the items to the appropriate location; and.
Wipe down the work surfaces.

How long do you leave a mercury thermometer in your mouth?

ORAL TEMPERATURE After shaking the mercury down, place the thermometer under the child’s tongue, with the bulb toward the back of the mouth. Tell your child to keep the lips firmly closed, but not to bite the thermometer. 3. Leave the thermometer in place for 3 minutes.

Is medical lab scientist a good career?

Job Outlook/Salaries According to Jobs Rated Almanac, medical laboratory science has 25 percent job growth and good job security. Among health related professions, it currently ranks third. Currently there is a shortage in many parts of the country guaranteeing employment and higher salaries for graduates.

Why should you tie your hair back in a lab?

Tie back long hair. Loose hair could catch fire when working with a Bunsen burner. Only bring the things you need into the lab. In some labs it’s forbidden to wear contact lenses all together because if you get chemicals in your eyes, the liquids can get trapped under the lenses.

Is working in a lab dangerous?

Laboratories can be very dangerous places to work in because of the use of potentially hazardous substances and exposure to physical harm. Additionally, many of those who work in labs are doing so alone on off hours, heightening their risk.

What careers work in labs?

Here are some medical laboratory careers to consider:

Medical Technologist (MT) MTs operate sophisticated equipment to perform a variety of lab tests on patient specimens.
Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT)
Histotechnician (HT)
Cytotechnologist (CT)
Phlebotomy Technician (PBT)

When should you wash your hands in lab?

Always wash your hands before leaving the laboratory, even though you use gloves. Wash your hands after removing soiled protective clothing, before leaving the laboratory, and before eating, drinking, smoking, or using a rest room.

Why should you not eat in the laboratory?

You should not eat in a chemistry lab because of the threat of contamination. This threat of contamination has two parts. The first part is that you never know where chemical residue may be and ingesting it could be dangerous. While you are eating you may leave crumbs or residues on the lab surfaces.

Should you wash your hands after removing gloves?

When an indication for hand hygiene precedes a contact that also requires glove usage, hand rubbing or hand washing should be performed before donning gloves. When an indication for hand hygiene follows a contact that has required gloves, hand rubbing or hand washing should occur after removing gloves.

Is working in a lab boring?

Lab work is tedious and often repetitive, but the years i put in as a lab tech i thought of it like climbing mountains. The climb sucks but it rocks when you hit a peak. Two weeks is too soon, stick with it for a year or two to get experience, looks better on your resume.

What can happen if you use glassware that has cracks or stars?

No, if the glass is broken the gasses and leak out and an explosion can occur. When glass is heated it can break. How can you safely carry a heated object?

Should you shake down a lab thermometer?

* No, do NOT shake the lab thermometers. They do not need to be shaken, and you might break them.

What is the most important rule for lab safety?

The most important lab safety rule is to know the location of and how to use safety equipment, such as a fire extinguisher.