It goes without saying that spillages in the laboratory environment can cause significant problems. Most importantly, all spillages must be considered a health and safety risk in the first instance and assessed accordingly. The spilled contents themselves may be hazardous to those in the vicinity. And even if this is not the case, there is a risk that work surfaces and floors might have become slippery, resulting in further accidents if not dealt with appropriately, or nearby equipment could have been damaged.
In addition to these immediate safety concerns, spilling contents in the lab can also lead to other issues. Valuable contents might be lost. The validity of key processes might also be compromised, with the risk of cross contamination for example.
So how can you reduce the risk of spillages occurring the lab?
There are of course some common sense approaches, such as making sure containers are placed well away from the edge of the bench and ensuring care is taking where transferring contents. But it is also possible to reduce spillages, particularly in certain scenarios or applications, through initial product selection.
Here are six examples from DWK Life Sciences that can help you reduce spillages in your lab.
DURAN® Silicone Lids
Many commonly used laboratory containers, such as beakers and Erlenmeyer flasks, do not have associated lids or closures. As a result, it is not uncommon for makeshift solutions to be used, such as foil, plastic plugs or glass discs. However, such containers remain vulnerable to spillages.
The DURAN® range of silicone lids can be used as an alternative. In addition to reducing the risk of spillages, they are also available in a range of eye catching colours to help contents be quickly and safely identified.
DURAN® Bottle Carrying System
The
contents of large volume bottles can be easily spilled, especially if they are
being used to transport samples from the field to a lab for analysis, or when
they are being moved around a lab itself.
The DURAN® bottle carrying system can be used
to reduce this risk. The system includes a collar that is only removable by
cutting, ensuring attachment is 100% secure in use and the side handles make
pouring more controllable and safer, ensuring the risk of spillage is reduced.
DURAN®
HPLC Conical Base Reservoirs
During a typical
HPLC process, it is a common wish to ensure every last drop of the solvent from
the mobile phase is captured. As a result, it is not unusual for those involved
in the process to slightly tip or angle the bottle containing the solvent to
allow the maximum volume to be extracted. However, this practice is risky and
can result in the spillage of expensive and potentially hazardous organics.
A safer
alternative is the use of the DURAN® HPLC conical base reservoirs. The fully
enclosed system drastically reduces the risk of spillages while also reducing
extraction time and overall solvent consumption.
DURAN® protect Plastic
Coated Glassware
Borosilicate
glass bottles are a common feature of most laboratories, providing a virtually
inert material that can be used to safely store and protect contents from
contamination. But even despite the relative strength of this glass type, a
bottle that is knocked, especially from the height of a work bench, can easily
shatter, resulting in broken glass and spilled contents.
The DURAN® protect range of plastic coated glassware avoids this by providing an external safety coating
that can be used to protect both the user and contents from accidental
spillages.
AZLON® Safety Venting Wash Bottles
Wash
bottles are used to store many of the typical cleaning solutions used in
laboratories, such as Ethanol, Methanol and Acetone. However, storing these
solutions in standard bottles can lead to solvent drips, which are caused by
pressure build up within the container itself. The AZLON® range of safety venting wash bottles avoid this
problem, thanks to the patented DripLok® vapour venting valve, which ensures a
safe release of pressure from within the wash bottle, thus reducing the risk of
solvent drips on work surfaces and surrounding areas.