Why is good design essential for the efficiency, effectiveness, security and safety in a laboratory?

by vkiaiilivecouk (student)

Why is good design essential for the efficiency, effectiveness, security and safety in a laboratory? How can poor design hamper these? Good design is one of the most important aspects in a laboratory for its efficiency, effectiveness, security and safety. An ideal laboratory will have appropriately located and stored toxic gases and liquids, hazardous solids, unstable chemicals, ionising and non-ionising radiation sources and other artificial biohazards. This will improve the efficiency of the laboratory as it means chemicals will be near key experimental areas for example the fume cupboard, meaning that

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there will be less moving around the laboratory in search of chemicals, therefore speeding up the process and making it more efficient. However, space is also a key aspect of safety in the laboratory. The more space there is in a laboratory, the lower the risk of an accident occurring as the chance of physical interaction with others is reduced. Also, the number of people in a laboratory is also important for safety, because the more people there are working in a laboratory, the less space each person has to carry out their work, which will hinder their efficiency. If chemicals need to be added to a reaction fairly quickly, then being stored near to the fume cupboard will also improve effectiveness as the reaction will take place more quickly before much gas has been released. Appropriate storage of these chemicals will avoid harmful gases being released into the air that is being breathed in and out by the people in the laboratory, which will improve the overall safety and security of the laboratory. Likewise, if the chemicals are stored near the fume cupboard or desks where experiments are carried out, then less distance will need to be travelled which will minimise any hazards or risks, for example spilling the chemicals. (DeBolt, C, 2009) Another way of ensuring health and safety is ensuring that all the people working in the laboratory are aware of all the exits and which to use in case of an emergency. The quicker everyone evacuates the laboratory in an emergency, the quicker they can return and finish their work. In order to have a practically efficient laboratory, functional matters such as work force, supplies, waste flow, workstations, test volumes etc. must be evaluated, which will certainly produce an effect laboratory design solution. This is because a well-organised and tidy laboratory will help those who are using it to do their tasks in an easier way which will therefore encourage them to complete more of these tasks. This means that overall, the work completed in the laboratory is more effective. Also, a well-organised laboratory will help users to save time and carry out tasks more quickly, thus being more efficient. It will also reduce the risk of any accidents or injuries occuring and therefore provides more safety. References: DeBolt, C. (2009). Important Aspects of Laboratory Design. [Online] Available: http://ezinearticles.com/?Important-Aspects-of-Laboratory-Design&id=2603684. Last accessed 3rd Mar 2014.